PSYC 2301 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY COURSE SYLLABUS OUTLINE

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1 Revised Spring 2015 PSYC 2301 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY COURSE SYLLABUS OUTLINE PSYC 2301 General Psychology (3-3-0) A survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Prerequisite: TSI complete in READ and ENGL. F, Sp, Su ( ). Instructor: Dr. David Fonteno Office Hours: by appointment dfonteno@kilgore.edu COURSE RATIONALE Any well-educated person should understand to some degree how and why we as human beings behave and think the way we do. Psychology in general, and Introductory Psychology in particular, addresses the scientific approach to the study of behavior and mental processes. Students taking this course will be expected to explore, discuss and learn about important psychological principles and to apply these principles in understanding their own respective physical, mental and social development. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS Text: Discovering Psychology, 6 th Custom Edition, 2014, by Don H. Hockenbury and Sandra E. Hockenbury, Worth Publishers, New York, New York. ISBN # EVALUATION Evaluation of Students: EXAMS: There will be a minimum of five exams in the course. Each exam may include true-false, multiple-choice, and short essay answers. A total of one hundred (100) points per exam may be earned. The date of the exams will be addressed in class. These exams will cover lecture notes and assigned textbook readings, as well as any ancillary class materials. ESSAY: Each student will write an essay per instructions included in the Core Curriculum Component. This essay will earn up to 100 points toward the Final Grade. Completion of the essay is a required component of the course. FINAL EXAM: A comprehensive final exam, objective in nature, will be given at the end of the semester. It will earn up to 100 points toward the final Grade. Final Course Grade scale: A=90%; B=80%; C=70%; D=60%, F=<60%

2 Evaluation of Instructor. At the end of the semester, students will be given an opportunity to evaluate the instructor and the course. Approved evaluation forms are provided by the Office of Institutional Research, which is also responsible for their analysis. CLASSROOM POLICIES Attendance: Students should read the attendance policy in the Kilgore College Catalog and be aware that an instructor may drop a student from class as a result of excessive absences, which is defined as more than six hours, although students who quit attending class are ultimately responsible for withdrawing themselves. Instructors may also withdraw students from a course for lack of participation. Make-up procedure. Make-up exams will be given only under extreme emergency circumstances. The time and date of a make-up exam is at the instructor s discretion. Make-up exams are usually administered at the end of the semester. Students are limited to one (1) make-up exam. Academic honesty statement: Students are requested to read about the sanctions for academic dishonesty outlined in the Kilgore College Student Handbook. It states in part that the faculty member may recommend penalties such as withdrawal from the course, failing the course, assignment, or in other academic work; denial of a degree and/or performing additional academic work not required by other students in the course. Drop Date: As a general rule, students may drop a course until 75% of the term has been completed. Students are requested to read the Student Initiated Drops and Withdrawals statement of the Kilgore College Catalog which states in part: All course drops, whether instructor or student initiated, shall result in a W during the first twelve weeks of a long term or twenty-one days of a summer term. During the thirteenth and fourteenth weeks of a long term, or the twenty-second through the twenty-fourth days of a summer term, such drops will result in a "W" if the student is passing or "F" if the student is failing. A student may not drop or withdraw during the last two weeks of a long semester or following the twenty-fourth class day of a summer term; however, instructors should continue to drop students for absences until final examinations begin. The last day to withdraw with a W during a two week mini semester is day thirteen; during a four week term is day twenty; and during an eight week term is day thirty-four. Cell phone use during class is prohibited. Other electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets used for taking notes or research is acceptable.

3 COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES Common Core Curriculum for PSYC 2301 Social/Behavioral Science -- Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture. PSYC 2301 General Psychology (3-3-0) General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Prerequisite: Must be TSI complete in reading and writing. F, Sp, Su ( ). How will the objective be addressed? How will the objective be assessed? Critical Thinking Analysis of information Evaluation of information Students will be introduced to the five skills of critical thinking. These five skills will encompass but not be limited to analysis of information, evaluation of information and synthesis of information. This will be addressed by lecture, class discussion, power point presentations, and text readings. Students will be introduced to the five skills of critical Students will apply the five skills of critical thinking to a controversial area in psychology, by writing an essay with a clearly developed thesis, along with relevant supporting evidence, and be a minimum of two pages in length. The department will create a list of controversial topics in psychology from which the students will choose. The department will develop a grading rubric based on content, critical thinking skills, and standard English grammar. Instructors will require students to use Turnitin.com as a means to further reinforce students own personal responsibility when citing sources and/or using their own words. APA style will be used in citing sources. Students will apply the five skills of critical

4 Synthesis of information thinking. These five skills will encompass but not be limited to analysis of information, evaluation of information and synthesis of information. This will be addressed by lecture, class discussion, power point presentations, and text readings Students will be introduced to the five skills of critical thinking. These five skills will encompass but not be limited to analysis of information, evaluation of information and synthesis of information. This will be addressed by lecture, class discussion, power point presentations, and text readings thinking to a controversial area in psychology, by writing an essay with a clearly developed thesis, along with relevant supporting evidence, and be a minimum of two pages in length. The department will create a list of controversial topics in psychology from which the students will choose. The department will develop a grading rubric based on content, critical thinking skills, and standard English grammar. Instructors will require students to use Turnitin.com as a means to further reinforce students own personal responsibility when citing sources and/or using their own words. APA style will be used in citing sources. Students will apply the five skills of critical thinking to a controversial area in psychology, by writing an essay with a clearly developed thesis, along with relevant supporting evidence, and be a minimum of two pages in length. The department will create a list of controversial topics in psychology from which the students will choose. The department will develop a grading rubric based on content, critical thinking skills, and standard English grammar. Instructors will require students to use Turnitin.com as a

5 Creative thinking Inquiry Innovation Communication Effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through -written communication -oral communication -visual communication Empirical and Quantitative Skills Manipulation of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions Analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions Social Responsibility See the Analysis, Evaluation, and Synthesis sections. Using raw data students will covert that data into measures of central tendency and measures of variability that will lead to a scientific explanation of the data. Using parametric statistical data, students will analyze a bell curve, including illustrating the relationship between IQ classifications and a person s predicted ability to survive in an academic setting. This exercise will aid in a basic understanding of research parameters and to develop better consumers of researched data. means to further reinforce students own personal responsibility when citing sources and/or using their own words. APA style will be used in citing sources. Essay graded based on content, critical thinking skills, and standard English grammar using a departmental rubric. Embedded questions multiple choice test All instructors will use standard embedded questions. All questions are addressing the basic obtainment levels held across the field of General Psychology. Embedded questions multiple choice test All instructors will use standard embedded questions. All questions are addressing the basic obtainment levels held across the field of General Psychology.

6 Intercultural competence Knowledge of civic responsibility Ability to engage effectively in regional communities -national communities -global communities Presentation of social psychological concepts including prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes, ethnocentrism delivered by lecture, text readings, power point presentations and class discussions. Presentation of the national social problem of drug abuse and psychological components of drug addiction delivered by lecture, text readings, power point presentations, and class discussions.. Embedded questions - multiple choice test All instructors will use standard embedded questions. All questions are addressing the basic obtainment levels held across the field of General Psychology Embedded questions multiple choice test All instructors will use standard embedded questions. All questions are addressing the basic obtainment levels held across the field of General Psychology.. Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities Student learning outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology. 2. Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology. 3. Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology. 4. Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.

7 5. Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation. 6. Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior. ADA STATEMENT Kilgore College is committed to making reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in reaching their academic potential. If you choose to request accommodations for a documented disability which may impact your performance, attendance, or grades in this course, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services. Please note that classroom accommodations cannot be provided prior to your instructor s receipt of an accommodation letter from the Office of Disability Services. For more information about accommodations, please contact the Disability Services office on the second floor of the Devall Student Center: (903) DISCLAIMER Your instructor reserves the right to make modifications in content and schedule as necessary to promote the best education possible within prevailing conditions affecting this course. Course Outline Unit I: Part 1-The student will be able to discuss the evolution of psychology, including the influence of philosophy and physiology. The student will be able to discuss the roles played by early founders of psychology and how they contributed to establishing psychology as a separate scientific discipline. The student will gain an understanding of the experimental and scientific method, along with demonstrating an understanding of basic statistical methods used in psychology. The student will gain an understanding of the ethical principles in the practice of psychology. Part 2- The student will be able to describe the basic components of the neuron and the processes that explain how information is communicated between neurons. The student will gain an understanding of the two major parts of the central nervous system and gain an understanding of the four cortex lobes and association areas. The basic structure and function of the limbic system will be presented. Assessment: Textbook topic paper, unit examination, attendance, and participation. Unit 2: Part 1- The student will be able to distinguish between sensation and perception, and will be able to define the transduction process. The student will be able to explain the visual process, including the key structures of the eye. The student will be able to describe the process of hearing, and the key structures of the ear. The student will be able to describe the process of olfaction. The student will gain an understanding of the basic principles of perception. Part 2- The student will gain an understanding of the conscious experience and the limitations of attention. Sleep, dreams, and mental activity

8 will be discussed. The student will gain an understanding of hypnosis and how hypnosis is used in the clinical setting. The student will be able to compare and contrast meditation and hypnosis. The student will gain an understanding of psychoactive drugs and how drugs affect neural activity. Assessment: Textbook topic paper, unit examination, attendance, participation, and the Core Curriculum Essay topic. Unit 3- Part 1: The processes of learning, including classical and operant conditioning, will be presented. The foundations of behaviorism will be discussed, along with how negative and positive reinforcement affect learning. Strategies of basic behavior modification will be discussed. Part 2: The basic processes of memory will be presented, including the function, duration, and capacity of memory. The student will gain an understanding of how misinformation, source confusion, and schemas can contribute to distorted or false memories. The roles of different brain structures in normal memory will be presented. Assessment: Textbook topic paper, unit examination, attendance, and participation. Unit 4- Part 1: The nature of personality theories and the four basic theoretical perspectives in personality will be presented. The various methods of personality assessment will be presented. Part 2: Personal perception and how impressions of others are formed, along with attribution and the fundamental attribution error will be discussed. The components of an attitude, and the conditions under which attitudes are determined will be presented. Prejudice, stereotypes, and stereotype threats will be presented. Social influence and conformity, social factors of obedience, and the influence of groups on behavior will be presented. Assessment: Textbook topic paper, unit examination, attendance, and participation. Unit 5- The student will be able to define psychopathology and gain an understanding of various psychological disorders, including anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, and schizophrenia. The core features of the DSM-5 and suicide will be presented. Assessment: Textbook topic paper, unit examination, attendance, and participation.