Physiological Psychology
PSY 515.110
Texas A&M University – Central Texas
Joyce Bateman Jones Ed.D. SLP
Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Bateman Jones
Office: Building 104, Central Texas College
Phone: 254-526-1540, Secretary: Ms. Harriet Ott Phone: (254) 526-1540
Email: Through Blackboard email or joyce.bateman-jones@ctcd.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
This is an online, but not a self-paced class. Lesson and testing windows are
established to give the online student flexibility. Each Lesson (group of chapters) and
the related assignments must be completed within the lesson and testing windows.
Course Overview:
Physiological Psychology is an overview of biological approaches to behavior with an
emphasis on the structure and function of the nervous system in relation to behavior.
The instructional goals include (1) developing an understanding of the structure and
function of the nervous system, (2) relating nervous system function to behavior,
(3) relating dysfunction to aberrant behavior, (4) appreciation of the influence of
interventions on function and behavior, and (5) critical evaluation of research in
physiological psychology.
Textbook
Carlson, N. R. Physiology of Behavior. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2013
The study will cover each chapter in the text book. The chapters have been grouped into
a format of eight lessons. Each Lesson will have a two week window for completion.
Some may overlap
Since graduate students often anticipate specializing in specific areas the term project will
provide an opportunity to select and develop depth of study in a chosen area of research..
Lessons will include:
A Discussion Board assignment.
A timed, open book exam.
Assignments
Read and study each chapter. Reading with good comprehension is essential,
but not sufficient for most students to obtain knowledge of the material on an “A” level.
The information needs to be encoded (Remember your previous studies of memory?) or
changed to a form that the brain can use. This study will introduce hundreds of new
terms. It will be tempting to use rote memory. Results will be much more positive if
you compare, contrast, and organize these new terms. As a professional you will be
called upon not to recite but to practice critical thinking. Make this your goal as you
study.
Take notes as you read.
Outline
Use Cornell noting taking formats.
Writing is a pathway to the brain.
Read out loud.
Re-auditorization or listening to yourself provides another avenue
to the brain for learning.
Design your own test questions.
Most teachers will admit that they learn more than their students as
they teach. Writing questions and answers requires critical
thinking.
Discuss the chapter material with your classmates.
Play “mental ping pong.” Shop talk among professionals engages
neurotransmitters which enhance learning.
Use visualization techniques.
Many of the concepts in your text book are very visual in nature
because they actually exist in concrete form or carry on a concrete
action. Convert the words in the text book into “mind pictures” for
better encoding. This will increase your ability to compare and
contrast new concepts.
Complete the Discussion Board requirements. (100 total points…see scoring
rubric)
Take Exam related to each Lesson. (100 points per lesson, total 800 points)
Complete research project. (100 points)
Extra Credit
From time to time extra credit will be available.
Total
1000 points
The final grade in the course will be a simple average of Discussion Board, eight exams,
and the research project.
Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records
Office and ask for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is
always the responsibility of the student. The record’s office will give a deadline for
which the form must be returned, completely signed. Once you return the signed form
to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go into Duck Trax and confirm that
you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office
immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid penalty
for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will
receive an F in the course.
Academic Honesty
Texas A&M University Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of
personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an
examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource
materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of
academic dishonesty.
Disability Services
If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do so
by providing documentation to the Director of Student Affairs listed below:
Americans with Disabilities Act
Ms. Gail Johnson
Student Affairs
Coordinator of Disability Support Services
Texas A&M University – Central Texas
1001 Leadership Place, Room 114E
Killeen, TX 76549
(254) 501-5831
g.johnson@ct.tamus.edu
Library Services
The study of Human Development draws from a strong theoretical and research base.
This course includes peer reviewed outside reading which are available through the
library system. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical
reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research
techniques including: exploring information resources such as library collections and
services, identifying sources such as subject databases and scholarly journals, executing
effective search strategies, retrieving, recording, and citing relevant results correctly,
and interpreting search results and deciding whether to expand the search.
Unilert
Emergency Warning System for Texas A&M University - Central Texas
UNILERT is an emergency notification service that gives Texas A&M UniversityCentral Texas the ability to communicate health and safety emergency information
quickly via email and text message. By enrolling in UNILERT, university officials can
quickly pass on safety-related information, regarldess of your location. Please enrol
today at http:/TAMUCT/UNILERT.
Technology Requirements and Support
Technology Requirements
This course will use the new TAMU-CT blackboard Learn Learning management system
for class communications, content distribution, and assessments.
For this course, you will need reliable and frequent access to a computer and to the
Internet. You may need a headset with microphone or speakers and a microphone to
be able to listen to online resources and conduct other activities in the course. If you do
not have frequent and reliable access to a computer with Internet connection, please
consider dropping this course or contact me, Dr. Joyce Jones at 254-526-1540.
Blackboard support the most common operating systems;
PC: Windows 7, XP, windows Vista, windows 2000,
MAC: Mac os10.6 “Snow Leopard®” Mac OS 10.5 “Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.4
“tiger®”
Check browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the
TAMU-CTBlackboard logon page. (http://tamuct.blackabord.com) This is a CRTICAL
step as these settings are important for taking an exam or submitting an assignment.
Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to Blackboard Student
Orientation under My Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials in this
orientation course. The new Blackboard is a brand-new interface and you will have to
come up to speed with it really quickly. This orientation course will help you get there.
There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the left hand menu bar.
The first week of the course includes activities and assignments that will help you get up
to speed with navigation, sending and receiving messages and discussion posts, and
submitting an assignment. Your ability to function within the Blackboard system will
facilitate your success in this course.
Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement – make sure your
computer is configured correctly and address issues will in advance of deadlines.
Technology Support
For technological or computer issues, students should contact the TAMU-CT Blackboard
Support Services. These services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Support Portal:http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsuport
Online chat (through the support portal)
http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport
Phone (855)-661-7965
Lesson
Pre Lesson
Chapters
none
Assignments
Discussion Board
Window
During the first
week of class
Lesson One
Chapter One
Discussion Board
Exam #1
Lesson Two
Chapters Two and
Three
Discussion Board
Exam #2
Lesson Three
Chapter Four
Discussion Board
Exam #3
Lesson Four
Chapter Five
Discussion Board
Exam #4
Lesson Five
Chapters Six,
Seven, and Eight
Discussion Board
Exam #5
Lesson Six
Chapters Nine, Ten,
Eleven, and Twelve
Discussion Board
Exam #6
Lesson Seven
Chapters Thirteen
and Fourteen
Discussion Board
Exam #7
Term Project
Student selected
topic
Minimum eight
pages, APA style
Lesson Eight
Chapters Fifteen,
Sixteen, Seventeen,
Discussion Board
Exam #8
Monday, August 26
– Sunday,
September 8
Monday, September
9 – Sunday,
September 22
Monday, September
23 – Sunday,
October 6
Monday, October 7
– Sunday, October
20
Monday, October 21
– Sunday,
November 3
Monday, November
4 – Sunday,
November 17
Monday, November
18 – Sunday,
December 1
May be submitted at
any time before
December 2
Monday, December
2 – Friday,
and Eighteen
(Note: not a
comprehensive final
exam.)
December 13
(Note: 12 day
window)