Mississippi College
PSY 201
Introduction to Psychology
Rick Parker- ABD, Texas Tech University
I.
COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
II.
PREREQUISITES: None; approved for core curriculum
III.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides a survey of the fundamental processes and concepts of
human behavior. Topics include research methods, physiological bases of behavior,
sensation, perception, sense of consciousness, learning, memory, cognition, language,
and intelligence, child development, and adolescence, and adulthood. Other topics
include motivation, emotion, psychological disorders, therapies, etc.
IV.
RATIONALE:
The purpose of this course is to inform the student of the many differing
influences on an individual’s behavior and mental processes. The course is designed
to enable the student to better understand oneself and others. This course is designed
to provide students with a general, overall background for study of Psychology.
V.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
General Core Objectives:
A. Learn how to explore research, conduct activities, reflect, and assess oneself in
learning psychological principles.
B. Learn how to present research findings orally and in writing.
C. Learn how to work in teams to conduct activities and understand psychological
principles.
D. Learn and apply information related to personal development.
Specific Course Objectives:
A. Understand the scientific method, various early theories, and ethical principles
that guide animal and human research.
B. Be familiar with the importance of the physiological bases of behavior.
C. Understand how sensations and perceptions affect human behavior.
D. Understand modern views of consciousness and sleep patterns, along with the
effects of drugs on human consciousness.
E. Be aware of the different methods of learning.
F. Be aware of the biological and cultural factors that affect memory.
G. Be familiar with what constitutes intelligence and how it is measured.
H. Understand the theoretical stages that explain child development.
I. Understand the cognitive, social, and physiological changes that occur during
adolescence and adulthood.
J. Understand Psychological Disorders/ Therapies
K. Understand Social Psychology
VI.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Mississippi College expects all students to be scrupulously honest. Plagiarism and
other forms of cheating will be dealt with in accordance with the policies of the university. Further details on the school’s honesty policy are found in the undergraduate
catalog, on the M.C. webpage, and in the Office of Student Affairs.
VII.
COURSE TOPICS:
A. Research methods
B. Brain and behavior
C. Sensation and Perception
D. States of Consciousness
E. Learning and Intelligence
F. Thinking and Language
G. Memory
H. Child Development
I. Adolescent Development
J. Adult Development
K. Motivation & Emotion
L. Personality Theory & Assessment
M. Psychological Disorders
N. Therapies
O. Social Psychology
VIII.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
Instructional procedures will include lectures, group discussions, reflective
activities, and possibly video assignments. These assignments will be completed
often, yet some of these assignments will be completed for homework. Other
instructional methods may be included also.
IX.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Careful reading of assigned textbook chapters and supplemental materials is
expected of students. Students will participate in hands-on-activities, reflective
activities, and classroom discussions. Further details will be addressed during each
class period.
X.
LEARNING MATERIALS:
The textbook for this course is The World of Psychology, 7th edition, by Wood,
Wood, and Boyd. Other materials include possibly internet sites, handouts, and
videos. Additional learning materials may be distributed or incorporated into power
point lectures.
XI.
METHODS OF EVALUATION
There will be five non-comprehensive chapter tests given during this semester.
Test dates will be tentatively announced on this syllabus. Each test will comprise
10% of the student’s final grade. This means that the average of all 5 tests will
compose 50% of your final grade. Five tests will be calculated in the student’s
overall test average.
Students will be given penalized for skipping class. If a student misses a class,
then he or she will lose five points off of his/her attendance average. Students
must realize that they start off with 100 points attendance average. A student
can miss two classes, unexcused, and still have a “90” attendance average which
is an “A” average. However, all absences are counted “unexcused” except for
absences that pertain to MC sporting/school events such as basketball games,
volleyball games, etc. These MC events are considered “excused” absences.
Basically, you can only miss two classes “unexcused” and still have an “A”
attendance average. Students can only miss a certain number of classes
according to Mississippi College’s handbook. If a student misses more classes
than the handbook reports, then he or she automatically receives an “F” grade
for this course. Please check the M.C. handbook for the required number of
absences that are allowed.
If a student is tardy, he or she gets counted tardy. Two tardies count as an
absence. The total number of tardies and absences will be combined together to
figure a student’s overall attendance grade. Keep in mind that the MC
handbook only allows a certain number of absences. If the total number of
tardies plus absences exceeds the limit, then the student will receive an “F” for
this class.
There will be several in-class activities, reflective activities, etc. These
assignments will compose 30% of the student’s final grade in the course. Most
assignments will be worth approximately 5 or 10 points, but some may be worth 20,
30, etc. Therefore, students need to be in class in order to receive credit. If a student
misses a class, it is his/her responsibility to contact me, Rick Parker, in order to
discuss the work missed for make-up credit. My current cell phone number is (601)
953-7060; my email is Parker10@mc.edu. I can also be emailed at
rick.parker@ttu.edu. I am available any time as I will be checking my email
periodically Monday- Friday and Sunday. I prefer that students send me e-mails, but
if email is not working, then my cell phone is always handy.
All assignments need to be completed either during class or at the beginning of
the following class period. Late work will be docked 5 points if it is not turned in
by the beginning of the following class period. If a student does not turn in a
classwork/homework assignment two days after a class period, then he or she
will not receive credit for the assignment. Students are responsible for calling
me, Rick Parker, or emailing me if they miss a classwork/homework assignment.
He or she must call or email me or call or email another classmate in order to get
a missed assignment. Rick Parker may email an assignment to a student if
possible. If not, then the student must discuss the assignment with me, Rick
Parker, in order to receive instructions about how to complete and make up a
missed assignment.
If a student does not call me or email me, Rick Parker, before two days
elapse after a missed class, then he or she will not receive credit for a missed
classwork/homework assignment. If a student can not understand directions or
instructions from Rick Parker through e-mail, the student must then call Rick
Parker (601-953-7060) to work out an arrangement in order to make up the
assignment.
Students must understand that if they miss class, they must contact me ahead
of time or on the day that they miss to discuss the missed assignment. The
missed assignment is due two days after the missed class unless prior discussion
and arrangements have been made with Rick Parker, your instructor.
The lowest classwork/homework assignment will be dropped!!! NO test scores will
be dropped!! Attendance is 20% of your overall final average!!
XII.
OTHER COURSE INFORMATION ATTENDANCE IS 20% OF YOUR
OVERALL AVERAGE.
If a student is late to the class and is marked absent during roll-call, it is that
student’s responsibility to inform the instructor the he or she was in class; otherwise
the absence will remain on the roll. A student who is more than 15 minutes late to
class will be considered absent.
XIII.
Instructor Information
Once again, my email is Parker10@mc.edu or rick.parker@ttu.edu. My phone
number is (601) 953-7060 (cell).
XIV. Disability Services
Disabilities under the ADA are categorized as physical, mental, and learning
disabilities. In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section
504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he or she must schedule an individual
meeting with the Director of Student Counseling Services immediately upon
recognition of their disability (if their disability is known they must come in before
the semester begins or make an appointment immediately upon receipt of their syllabi
for the new semester). The student must bring with them written documentation from a
medical physician and/or licensed clinician that verifies their disability. If the student
has received prior accommodations, they must bring written documentation of those
accommodations (example Individualized Education Plan from the school
system). Documentation must be current (within 3 years). The student must meet
with SCS face-to face and also attend two (2) additional follow up meetings (one mid
semester before or after midterm examinations and the last one at the end of the
semester). Please note that the student may also schedule additional meetings as
needed for support through SCS as they work with their professor throughout the
semester. Note: Students must come in each semester to complete their
Individualized Accommodation Plan (example: MC student completes fall semester IAP
plan and even if student is a continuing student for the spring semester they must
come in again to complete their spring semester IAP plan).
Student Counseling Services is located in Alumni Hall Room #4 or they may be
contacted via email at christia@mc.edu or rward@mc.edu. You may also reach them by
phone at 601-925-7790.
Tentative Schedule of Topics, Tests, and Assignments
#Dates are subject to change but will be announced#
Date
Week 1
Topic
Chapters
Science of Psychology
C1
Research Methods
C1
Week 2
Brain and Behavior
C2
Week 3
Endocrine System
C2
Genetics
Test 1
C1-C2
Sensation & Perception
C3
States of Consciousness
C4
Learning
C5
Test 2
C 3,4, 5
Week 6
Memory
C6
Week 7
Cognition, Lang, IQ
C7
Week 8
Test 3
C6-7
Week 4
Week 5
Child Development
Week 9
C8
Adolescence & Adulthood C9
Motivation
C10
Emotion
C10
Test 4
C 8,9, 10
Assessment
C13
Assessment
C13
Week 12
Assessment
C13
Week 13
Personality Theory
C14
Personality Theory
C14
Psychological Disorders
C15
Therapies
C16
Test 5
C 13,14, 15, 16
Make-up test day
last day of class
Week 10
Week 11
Week 14
Week 15