Syllabus

Office: BE4152

Office Hours: 11-1150 Daily; 5-6PM W

Phone: 587-2038

Email: k8wolfe@gmail.com

REQUIRED TEXT:

Passer, M. W. & Smith, R. E. (2009). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill

Text Website: www.mhhe.com/passer4

All students should use this text website. The use of the website is free and does not require the purchase of the book. You can use the practice quizzes to help you prepare for exams and the flashcards will be of great help when you study for the term quizzes.

Course Blog: www.wolfe110.blogspot.com

The syllabus and course assignments will be posted here as well as homework answers. I will also use the blog if I need to communicate with the entire class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: PSY 110 surveys major areas of psychological science with an emphasis on the importance of gender, race and U.S. cultural contexts on individual behavior. Core topics include human social behavior, personality, psychological disorders and treatment, learning, memory, human development, biological influences, and research methods. Related topics may include sensation, perception, states of consciousness, thinking, intelligence, language, motivation, emotion, stress and health, cross-cultural psychology, and applied psychology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Provide students with a basic understanding of the scientific nature of psychology; educate students about psychological research methods and the benefits of research over testimonials and anecdotal evidence
2. Emphasize the importance of culture in understanding human behavior and mental processes and contribute to the recognition of the importance of biological factors in human behavior
3. Provide students with an understanding of the many complementary approaches to the study of psychology; equip students with knowledge about the major concepts and terminology of each of the core topics in psychology
4. Provide students with an understanding of the major theoretical approaches in psychology and their limitations; provide students with an understanding of the historical and modern approaches to the study of learning, memory, human development, personality, abnormal behavior & social behavior
5. Help students develop effective study strategies for college-level psychology courses

STUDENT OUTCOMES:

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the scientific basis of psychology and the importance of empiricism and verifiable knowledge; students will be able to design a simple experiment and identify its components.
2. Students will analyze problems from the various complementary approaches and theories within psychology.
3. Students will explain and give examples of the goals of psychological research.
4. Students will differentiate between descriptive, correlational and experimental research; students will be able to explain the limitations of testimonials and anecdotal evidence.
5. Students will describe how neurons, our human nervous system and our brain work together to affect human behavior and mental processes.
6. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the meaning of important psychological concepts and recognize examples or develop their own examples of these concepts.
7. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the major historical figures in psychology and their contributions to the areas of learning, memory, and personality as well as the early historical figures in psychology.
8. Students will describe the contributions of women and people of color to the history of psychology.
9. Students will analyze the interaction between gender, race and class in understanding human behavior and mental processes.

If you decide to quit coming to class, officially withdraw from the class as soon as possible to avoid a negative impact on your grade point average. My policy is to assign a decimal grade if a student stops coming to class and does not officially withdraw; usually this means you will get a 0.0 if you stop coming to class without withdrawing.

The last day to withdraw and not receive a “W” is January 15, 2008

The last day to withdraw and receive a “W” (requires permission of instructor) is February 22, 2008

Weather Closure/Instructor Illness: Should the college be closed for inclement weather or the instructor is absent, any assignments or exams due that day will be rescheduled to be due/taken at the next class meeting. Lectures will not be rescheduled we will continue following the syllabus when the class meets again.

GRADING

EXAMS (BEST 4 of 5) = 400 points (40%)

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM = 200 points (20%)

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES = = 140 points (14%)

HOMEWORK AVERAGE = 100 points (10%)

TERM QUIZZES (Best 8 of 10) = 160 points (16%)

Total Points = 1000 points (100%)

GRADING SCALE: Your final grade is determined using the following scale:

The total number of points you earn will be converted to a percentage of the total points possible. Your final grade will be assigned in accordance the decimal grading scale as shown below.

Points	%	Decimal Grade		Points	%	Decimal Grade
960-1000	96-100% (A)	4.0		780-789	78 (C+)	2.3
940-959	94-95 (A)	3.9		770-779	77 (C+)	2.2
930-939	93 (A-)	3.8		750-769	75-76 (C)	2.1
920-929	92 (A-)	3.7		730-749	73-74 (C)	2.0
910-919	91 (A-)	3.6		710-729	71-72 (C)	1.9
900-909	90 (A-)	3.5		690-709	69 -70 (C-)	1.8
890-899	89 (B+)	3.4		680-689	68 (C-)	1.7
880-889	88 (B+)	3.3		670-679	67 (C-)	1.6
870-879	87 (B+)	3.2		660-669	66 (C-)	1.5
860-869	86 (B)	3.1		650-659	65 (D+)	1.4
850-859	85 (B)	3.0		640-649	64 (D+)	1.3
840-849	84 (B)	2.9		630-639	63 (D+)	1.2
830-839	83 (B-)	2.8		620-629	62 (D)	1.1
820-829	82 (B-)	2.7		610-619	61 (D)	1.0
810-819	81 (B-)	2.6		600-609	60 (D)	0.9
800-809	80 (B-)	2.5		590-599	59 (D-)	0.8
790-799	79 (C+)	2.4		580-589	58 (D-)	0.7

Note: I do not bump people up to the next grade so this means you are responsible for making sure you have enough points for the grade you want in this course.

At the end of the quarter you can access your grades at www.seattlecentral.edu. Allow one week from the end of the quarter for posting.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

EXAMS (USE SCANTRON FORM #882 or 882-E only) - Total Points = 400

Each exam will consist of 40 multiple-choice questions derived from all of the material covered since the last exam. Each exam is worth 100 points. Your top 4 of 5 exam grades will count toward your final grade. Because I drop your lowest grade, I will not give make-up exams under any circumstances. Early exams may only be given at the instructor’s discretion with one weeks advance notice.

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM (USE SCANTRON FORM #882 or 882-E only) - Total Points = 200

This exam will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions derived from all of the material covered throughout the quarter. This final exam is worth 200 points. No make-ups are given for the final exam. You should use your exams, homework and quizzes as a study guide for the final exam.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES – Total Points = 140

These activities will be small group or individual activities. There may be many in-class activities throughout the quarter; some of these will be turned in. You can earn 140 points from these activities. These are graded on a proportional basis so if you participate in 100% of these you will get 140 points. If you only participate in 50% of these, you will earn 70 points. These cannot be made up if you are absent (regardless of the reason for your absence). These activities are NOT announced ahead of time.

HOMEWORK-– Total Points = 100

You will be given homework assignments related to the content we are covering throughout the quarter. Your average on all assignments will count toward your final grade and can be worth as much as 100 points. Each assignment will be graded on a 100-point scale and your average will be computed at the end of the quarter.

Homework assignments are due in class on the assigned date. No homework assignments may be emailed to the instructor. If you must be absent the day it is due, turn it in early. No homework assignments will be accepted late. Homework answers will be posted by midnight the day they are due on the course blog.

TERM QUIZZES – Total Points = 160

We will have a brief in-class quiz covering the terminology from the material in our text. All quizzes will be the same format: a list of 20 definitions and you match the definition with the term. Each quiz is worth 20 points.

These will be given in the first 15 minutes of class so if you are late you will miss the quiz and earn a zero on that quiz.

Your top 8 of 10 exam grades will count toward your final grade. Because I drop your two lowest quiz grades, I will not give make-up quizzes under any circumstances.

Each quiz will have two extra credit questions drawn from material in the chapter being covered.

WORK IS ALWAYS ACCEPTED EARLY

NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER MARCH 18, 2008

Course Policies

Academic Problems: It is important to me that you succeed in this class. If you have questions or concerns about the subject matter or your performance, please come see me as soon as possible. Do not wait until the end of the quarter to see me about academic difficulties. Additionally, there are resources on campus that may be helpful to you. Tutoring is available to students through the College-wide Tutoring Service located at BE 2102, phone 206-587-5463. You can also get a wide range of services such as counseling, tutoring, career information, mentoring, study skills, personal growth workshops, and supplemental instruction in math and English at the Student Academic Assistance office located at BE 1102 , phone 206-587-3852.

Missing Class: It is your responsibility to find out from other students what you have missed when you are absent. If you must miss class, do NOT call to inform me, just make sure you find out what you missed from another student. If you stop attending the class, you must withdraw yourself from the class. The instructor will not drop you after the first week of class; this means that if you do not withdraw officially, you will earn a 0.0 in the class.

Punctuality: You should arrive on time for class and stay the entire period (no packing up before the class ends- this disrupts the class). Let me know before class begins if you must leave early or will be late for a future class.

Student Conduct/Academic Integrity: All students should engage in behavior that is compatible with the educational mission of Seattle Central. It is your responsibility to do your own work and avoid even the appearance of academic dishonesty. Conduct that is contrary to Seattle Central’s policies (such as plagiarism, cheating, facilitating someone else's academic dishonesty, etc.) risk failure, suspension, and expulsion from Seattle Central.

Respect: You are expected to listen carefully and respectfully to other students’ contributions and questions in class. Side discussions and comments are disrespectful of everyone and distracting as well. Language, comments or actions that are racist, sexist or homophobic (or otherwise in bad taste) will not be tolerated.

Electronic devices: Any interruptions due to these devices during class or exams will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave the classroom. If your pager or cell phone goes off during an exam you will be asked to leave and you will NOT be allowed to finish the exam. A good rule is to turn them off as soon as you enter my class; otherwise you risk lowering your grade.

Special Needs: Students with disabilities who need course or seating accommodations, have emergency medical information or require special arrangements for building evacuation should contact the instructor within the first two weeks of class. Students requesting accommodations may be asked to provide documentation of their disability and work with the Disability Support Services, located in BE 1140, phone: 206-587-4183 v/tty.