PSY 101 SYLLABUS – SPRING 2017
Contact Information
If you have any concerns or problems that are affecting your performance in this course or causing you to miss class, please set aside some time to talk with me. This is a part of my job (that is, you are not “bothering” me). I’ll do whatever I can to help you as long as this help does not give you an unfair advantage.
Office hours. I can meet with you in my office (SB-123) during the following days and times:
- Mondays, 10:30 am – 11:20 am
- Tuesdays, 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm
- Wednesdays, 10:30 am – 11:20 am
- Thursdays, 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm
- Other times by appointment
During office hours, you may ask me questions about the course material or talk with me about any other issues or concerns you have. This is your time.
Email address. If you can’t come to my office, you may contact me by email:
Course Web Site
PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
http://sccpsy101.com
If you do not own a computer or you wish to access the web site while you’re on campus, there are computers in the Social & Behavioral Sciences Learning Center (SBLC) in SB-East 158 (see map here). The SBLC is open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Fridays. Computers also are available in many other campus locations.
If you have trouble accessing this site or any of its pages, please contact me immediately so that I can take care of the problem.
On-Line Textbook
An Introduction to the Psychological Sciences
by Jeffry Ricker (2017)
If you took the Reading Placement Test and placed into RDG 071 or RDG 081, please come see me. You may need to spend more time studying the textbook and also develop some strategies for how to do this effectively.
Course Goals
I have two main goals for this course:
Goal 1: To help you gain a basic familiarity with some of the foundational concepts, principles, and theories of general psychology.
In order to accomplish this goal, the course material focuses on the following topics, many of which are discussed in depth:
- altered states of consciousness
- the structures and functions of the brain
- learning and memory
- the influence of social situations
- the influence of personality dispositions
- the symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental disorders
Goal 2: To help you learn how to study for a college-level course.
In order to accomplish this goal, you will be provided with study questions and practice quizzes for each section of the textbook. These aids are designed to
- help you focus on what you need learn;
- assess whether or not you are learning it well.
The study aids will be described in class.
Course Requirements
In order to do well in this course, you’ll need to learn a large amount of information. You should set aside at least six hours per week outside of class for studying.
1. Unit Tests
The course is divided into five units. At the end of each unit, you’ll be given a test containing 75 multiple-choice questions. These questions cover material from the textbook and the corresponding class discussions. The test dates and readings for each test can be found at the following links:
Test Dates and Readings
2. Assessment Project
You will participate in an assessment-related project that consists of several online assignments. I will provide details in class.
3. Participation
Regular class attendance is very important and, therefore, part of your course grade depends on your attendance. You may record the class discussions.
IMPORTANT: You will be withdrawn from the course after five(5) unexcused absences.
Grading
You can earn a total of 450 points in this class. Your final grade will be based on the following formula:
- Tests — 85% (375 points). A test will be given after each of the five units.Each of the five tests is worth 75 points (14% of your course grade).
- Assessment Project — 9% (40 points). The assessment project consists of several online assignments which will be used for assessing course-related learning outcomes. The project will be described in class.
- Attendance — 6% (25 points). There are 24 class meetings (excluding test days). You’ll earn 1 point for each class attended.
Extra credit. You can earn up to 60 extra-credit points:
- 25 points: Five extra-credit questions will be added to each of the five tests.
- 35 points: An extra-credit final exam will be made available during the last week of classes.
Grading scale. The grading scale for this course is:
- A — 88%
- B — 78%
- C — 68%
- D — 58%
Because this scale has lower cut-offs than do most standard scales and because I provide you with many opportunities to earn extra–credit points, I am very strict about these cut-offs.
I will e-mail test scores and grades to your Maricopa (MEID) gmail account after each test.
Making Up Missed Tests
Problems arising on test days. If, on the day of a test, you get up late, your car breaks down, there is an accident on the freeway, etc., please contact me as soon as possible. I’ll allow you to take the test any time on the scheduled test day without penalty. Tests will be left in the SB Learning Center (Room SB-158).
If you know before the scheduled test day that you’ll be absent, you may take the test a day or two before the scheduled test day.
Make-up tests. If you do not take a test on or before the day it’s scheduled, you MAY be allowed to take a make-up test. Here are the ground rules:
- 1-2 missed tests. You will be allowed to take up to two make-up tests, but you must make arrangements with me to do so. You have one week to take make-up tests. For example, if the original test date is on a Tuesday, you will have up to and including the following Tuesday to take the make-up test.
- 3 missed tests. If you miss a third test, you will be withdrawn from the course.
Withdrawal From the Course
You don’t need to remember withdrawal dates for this class: you may withdraw up to the end of the semester with a W if you have taken no more than three (3) tests.
As long as he or she has not taken more than 3 tests, I’ll withdraw any student (with a W) who has either:
- missed 5 or more classes, or
- missed 1 test and not made it up within one week of the scheduled test date (see the previous section).
Important Note
I may change any of the above information during the semester. I will notify you in class of any changes.
Introductory Psychology Readings 