Academic Year Spring 2000
General Psychology – PSY 2003.09
12 pm to 12:50 pm, MWF, WPN 273
SYLLABUS, FALL 2006
Instructor: Caleb W. Lack, Ph.D.
Office: WitherspoonBuilding359
Office Hours: Wednesdays from 11 am to 12 pm
Phone: 479.356.2006
Email:
Required Textbooks
Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2005). Invitation to Psychology – Custom Edition for ArkansasTechnicalUniversity. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
(ISBN: 0-536-95776-2)
Goals & Objectives
From the ATU course catalog: “An introduction to basic concepts in thestudy of behavior and to elementaryprinciples of genetics, individualdifferences, motivation, emotion,personality, sensation, and perception.”
Specifically, my goal for you is to become familiar with scientific psychology, the wide range of research fields and careers within, and grow in your ability to critically evaluate information of a psychological nature seen in the media.
Class Hints and Tips
This course will primarily be lecture based, with occasional in-class exercises designed to assist your learning. As such, I will be using PowerPoint slides to illustrate my lectures and assist you in your note taking. To this end, I will be posting lecture outlines online that will help to guide your notes. I do not recommend you trying to write down everything that I say during lectures, but instead focus on filling in the blanks on the outlines and paying attention to what I am discussing with you. Information on the tests will be taken from the material covered both in class and the textbook, so it is highly recommended that you read the chapters before coming to class.
Grading & Exams
There are a total of 400 points available in this class. There will be three exams, each worth 100 points, plus a final, cumulative exam worth 100 points. Each exam will cover three chapters worth of material. The final exam will cover material from all the chapters equally. Each exam will be 50 multiple choice questions (two points per question), while the final exam will consist of 100 multiple choice questions (1 point per question).
Exams will be given in-class, on the dates listed below. Make-up exams will not be given for reasons other than the following: school-related excused absence, hospitalization, possession by evil spirits (to be determined by me), or other catastrophic events (as determined by me).
Class Outline
August 23, 25Introduction to Course
ReadingsSyllabus
Aug. 28-Sept. 4 Chapter 1 – What is Psychology?
Readingspp. 1-38
Sept. 6-13 Chapter 2 – Theories of Personality
Readingspp. 39-72
Sept. 15-25 Chapter 4 – Neurons, Hormones, and the Brain
Readingspp. 73-108
September 27Review for Exam One
September29Exam One (Chapters 1, 2, 4)
Oct. 2-9Chapter 6 – Thinking and Intelligence
Readingspp. 109-146
Oct. 11-13Chapter 7 – Memory
Readingspp. 147-182
Oct. 16-23Chapter 8 - Learning
Readingspp. 183-210
October 25Review for Exam Two
October 27Exam Two (Chapters 6, 7, 8)
Oct. 30-Nov. 3Chapter 9 – Behavior in Social and Cultural Context
Readingspp. 215-250
Nov. 6-13Chapter 10 – Psychological Disorders
Readingspp. 251-288
Nov. 15-27Chapter 11 – Approaches to Treatment and Therapy
Readingspp. 289-316
November 29Review for Exam Three
December 1Exam Three (Chapters 9, 10, 11)
December 4, 6Review for Final Exam
December ?Final Exam (to be announced)
Important Dates, Fall Semester 2006
August 23Classes begin
August 24Last day to officially withdraw/drop courses with full reduction of tuition/fees
August 29Last day to register and add courses/change sections
September 4Labor Day holiday
September 27Last day to officially withdraw/drop courses with 80% reduction of tuition
October 12Mid-term
November 22-26Thanksgiving holiday
November 27Last day to drop courses with a “W” or change from credit to audit
December 7Last day of classes
December 8Reading Day
December 11-15Final examinations