Psychology 113: Introduction to Psychology
Syllabus Spring Semester 2012
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Instructor: Peg (Margaret) Racek Location: Br 162
Office/Phone: Br 360 O; 477-4077 Time: 10:30 to 11:20 MWF
E-mail: Website: http://web.mnstate.edu/racek
Office hours: MWF 9:00-10:00 & 1:30-2:30; T TH 10:00-11:30, & 1:30-2:00, and by appointment
TEXT:
Myers, David. (2009). Exploring psychology (8th Ed.). New York: Worth.
There is a study guide that can be ordered and the publisher has a website with study aids, both are highly recommended.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the field of psychology and the basic problems with which psychology is concerned. Students will learn many of the terms, principles, and basic facts of psychology. Through what you learn about psychology and its techniques, it is hoped that you will learn new ways of looking at and understanding the world.
Course Objectives:
1. To understand how information in psychology is gathered and how research is conducted. Students will demonstrate knowledge of scientific methods, including qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
2. To understand theoretical approaches relevant to psychological issues. Students will describe and apply major theories within introductory psychology and be able to critically analyze concepts and theories.
3. To understand ethical issues, diversity and inclusiveness. Students will analyze how diversity (including race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, and/or culture) shapes human life and psychology.
4. For students to examine themselves and their relationships to other persons, organizations, and institutions using a social science framework. To gain self- understanding, and be able to utilize social science knowledge in responsible (personal, professional, and civic) ways.
5. To develop skills as a consumer of psychological research.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY:
There is an extensive amount of reading required for this course. Keep up with the reading as topics are covered in class. You should read material before it is discussed in class, then review the reading material again immediately after class. Class lectures will highlight portions of the reading or may expand on a topic being covered. Material from the lectures that is not in your reading will be included on exams. You are responsible for material covered in lectures, as well as the material in the reading assignments.
Regular class attendance is expected. Students who do best in class are generally those who make it to class every day, who have read the material ahead of time, and read again before the exams. It is your responsibility to make sure you get notes from a classmate if you must miss class, and to find out any announcements (for example, schedule changes). Scheduling information will be posted on instructor website when changes are made.
Student Behavior: Respect others. Talking during class, sleeping, or reading of newspapers or other materials is not showing respect. Phone calls and texting need to happen before or after class. Students will be given two warnings if using their cell phones after which you will be asked to leave class. Laptop computers will not be allowed unless necessary for note-taking. Please discuss laptop needs with me in person.
STUDENT EVALUATION:
There will be four exams, mostly multiple choice/short answer questions, each non-comprehensive. Each exam will be worth 120 points and consist of 60 questions. There will be NO makeup exams, so if you need to miss an exam due to a major event that is unavoidable, such as extreme illness, family emergency or death in the family, you must talk to me. Points
will be lost if there is an unexcused delay in taking an exam. It is best for you to talk with me in
person about missing classes, etc., don’t rely on email contact being sufficient.
Exam 1 Chapters 1-3 120 points
Exam 2 Chapters 5,7,8 120 points
Exam 3 Chapters 9-11 120 points
Exam 4 Chapters 12,13,15 120 points
Throughout the semester assignments that pertain to topics being covered will be given. There will be 6 to 8 assignments each worth 10 pts. These assignments will consist of activities such as questions relating to a video or to a survey done in class. More information about those assignments will be provided at a later date, and will be found on instructor website.
GRADING:
90-100% of total points = A 60-69% of total points = D
80-89% of total points = B less than 60% = F
70-79% of total points = C
The instructor reserves the right to adjust final points up or down on an individual basis, in cases of special circumstances and/or students total performance in the course.
Academic Honesty: As a student at MSUM, you have rights and responsibilities that are listed in the student. You should familiarize yourself with this statement because it describes the expectations and rights for all students and faculty.
An academic environment requires intellectual honesty above all else so acts of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. This includes cheating, plagiarism and falsifying data. Acts of academic dishonesty will minimally result in a grade of zero for the assignment or test in question and notification to the Academic Dean’s Office. In addition, the instructor reserves the right to assign a course grade of “F” to a student engaged in acts of academic dishonesty.
This schedule may change throughout the semester.
Date Topic Read
1/9 Class Introduction
1/11 Intro to Psychology Ch 1
1/13 Intro to Psychology/Research Ch 1
1/16 NO CLASS (MLK)
1/18 Intro to Psychology/Research Ch 1
1/20 Neuroscience Ch 2
1/23 Neuroscience Ch 2
1/25 Neuroscience Ch 2
1/27 States of Consciousness Ch 3
1/30 States of Consciousness Ch 3
2/1 States of Consciousness Ch 3
2/3 EXAM 1 (Ch 1-3)
2/6 Developing through lifespan Ch 5
2/8 Developing through lifespan Ch 5
2/10 Developing through lifespan Ch 5
2/13 Learning Ch 7
2/15 Learning Ch 7
2/17 Learning Ch 7
2/20 Memory Ch 8
2/22 Memory Ch 8
2/24 EXAM 2 (Ch 5, 7,& 8)
2/27 Thinking/Language/Intelligence Ch 9
2/29 Thinking/Language/Intelligence Ch 9
3/2 Thinking/Language/Intelligence Ch 9
3/5 Motivation Ch 10
3/7 Motivation Ch 10
3/9 Motivation Ch 10
3/12-3/16 Spring Break
3/19 Emotions/Stress/Health Ch 11
3/21 Emotions/Stress/Health Ch 11
3/23 Emotions/Stress/Health Ch 11
3/26 EXAM 3 (Ch 9-11)
3/28 Personality Ch 12
3/30 Personality Ch 12
4/2 Personality Ch 12
4/4 Personality Ch 12
4/6 NO CLASS
4/9 NO CLASS
4/11 Psychological Disorders Ch 13
4/13 Psychological Disorders Ch 13
4/16 Psychological Disorders Ch 13
4/18 Psychological Disorders Ch 13
4/20 NO CLASS Attend Red River Psy conference
4/23 Social Psychology Ch 15
4/25 Social Psychology Ch 15
4/27 Social Psychology Ch 15
4/30 Social Psychology Ch 15
5/2 STUDY DAY NO CLASS
5/3 Thursday at noon EXAM 4 (Ch 12, 13, & 15) Follows final exam schedule