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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PS 101-2"
COURSE NAME: "General Psychology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: John Dennis
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 11:30-12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduces the study of psychology, the study of the human mind, in some of its many facets: epistemological issues, the brain, perception, learning, language, intelligence, motivation, development, personality, emotion, social influences, pathology and therapy, and prevention. These will be seen from the scientific and scholarly point of view, but with emphasis on their relevance to everyday life. An important focus of the course will be the significance of theories and how they influence the gathering of data, as well as the difficulty of objectivity when the object of study is also its primary tool: the human mind. One of the goals of the course will also be to prepare the student to read psychological literature with a critical eye, keeping in mind the difficulties involved in attempting to study human subjectivity in an objective way.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course includes the following topics: affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, evolutionary, personality, and social psychology.  This course is designed to teach you skills necessary to apply the psychological science knowledge you are learning in this class to your life. To do this, this course follows the philosophy that what we know (knowledge) and what we do (skills) are fundamentally connected.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course will engage students in an active learning environment where the development of skills, like written and oral communication, critical thinking, and problem solving, etc., goes hand in hand with the development of psychological science knowledge. The course will prepare students to understand and apply core concepts in psychology, and will help them develop the skills necessary to be a critical consumer of psychological science.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Exploring PsychologyDavid G. MeyersMacmillan1-4641-5407-4     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
ExamsDuring the semester, 3 exams will be administered roughly every 4 weeks. The exams will cover everything that was done in class as well as all assigned material. Each midterm is non-cumulative and covers approximately 1/3 of the course material. Exams will include a variety of question types (e.g., multiple choice, identification, short answer, problem solving, etc.) and the number of questions included on each exam will increase from Exam 1 to Exam 3. The final is cumulative and will include about twice as many questions as was included in Exam 1. You grade for the category will be based on your best 3 Exams, as the lowest test score will be dropped. If you miss any Exam, that will be your dropped score. NO MAKE UPs will be allowed for any reason.75
QuizzesQuizzes will be administered in class approximately every two weeks. Each quiz will consist of a variable number of multiple-choice questions that review the material/concepts covered in the preceding classes. There will be a total of 6 pop-quizzes, which sum up to 50 points. Your lowest grade on the quizzes will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes. If you miss class on a day when a pop-quiz is administered, that will be your dropped score.Pop quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class period. It is your responsibility to arrive in class ON TIME.25

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance is NOT mandatory but is essential to earn a good grade for this course. It is unlikely that you will do well in this course if you don’t attend class, engage in discussion, and  keep up with the readings. 

CLASSROOM POLICY 
Computers and other electronic devices cannot be used during class lectures and discussions.

EXAMINATION POLICY 
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

COMPUTERS, 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

  Topic Readings
week 1 Intro  
  Research methods Chapter 1
week 2    
  Biological bases Chapter 2
week 3    
  Sensation & Perception Chapter 6
week 4    
  Learning Chapter 7
week 5    
  Exam 1  
week 6 Memory Chapter 8
     
week 7 Memory Chapter 8
   
week 8 Thinking  Chapter 9
     
week 9 Emotion Chapter 10
  Exam 2  
week 10 Developmental
 Chapter 4
 

week 11  
  Personality 
Chapter 12
week 12  
  Social 
Chapter 13
week 13  
  Abnormal Chapter 14
week 14 Conclusion  
  Exam 3