Introduction to Psychology Page 1 of 8

SummerSemester 2014

Introduction to Psychology

2014SummerSemester: 06-02-14 to 07-27-14 (Revised 5-18-14)

Course Information: PSYC 1113

6:00 - 8:50 p.m. T &TR Call Number 30287, Section 307

Course Delivery Method:Lecture

Instructor: Shannon Opitz

Instructor Email:

Instructor Cell: 918-232-4238

TO CONTACT THE DIVISION OFFICE:
Division: Liberal Arts, Southeast Campus
Office: Business/Liberal Arts (Bldg 4), Room 4107
Phone:918-595-7780 or 918-595-7781
TO TAKE A MAKEUP EXAM:
Schedule an appointment with the Southeast Campus Testing Center in Room 2122 at 918-595-7693.
Hours 9 am - 6 pm Monday-Thurs / TO CONTACT ACADEMIC & CAMPUS SERVICES:
Director:Susan Burlew
Office: Administration (Bldg 2), Room 2202
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Closed for Independence Day, July 3
Phone: 918-595-7673

TCC Blackboard:

Tulsa Community College Main Website:

Course Prerequisites:

None

Course Description

Psychology’s use of the scientific method to understand behavior and mental processes is the focus of this survey class. As the foundation class for more advanced classes in psychology, this class will cover the scientific method, biopsychology, learning, lifespan development, personality theories, and psychological disorders. Other topics covered may include states of consciousness, sensation and perception, memory, motivation, emotion, stress, social psychology, and therapies.

Course Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of the core concepts, ideas, and findings in the major areas of psychology as a scientific discipline.

Explain and demonstrate how psychology uses the scientific method to investigate questions about behavior and mental processes.

Show how many psychological findings have practical applications that can be used to improve and enhance people’s lives, including yours.

Materials

  • Text: Understanding Psychology, 10th Edition, by Robert S. Feldman, McGraw-Hill, New York ©2011
  • Southeast Campus Bookstore: Student Union Second Floor (Bldg 9), Room 9206 Phone: 918-595-7625
    Hours: M-TH 8:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m.

Teaching Methods: How This Class is Organized

The class is organized into four sections. Each section includes the following: (a) one to three assigned text chapters; (b) one assignment, and (c) a regular paper-and-pencil test in class over the assigned chapters. Each of these components is described below.

400 pts4Exams(100 pts each)

270 pts4Assignments (point values will vary)

30 ptsAttendance & Participation Points (3 pts per session, 10 sessions total)

700 ptsTOTAL

The teaching methods used in class include the following: lectures, class discussions, video modules, demonstrations, and small group activities. To get the most out of this class, attend and participate in the class sessions! Think of the class presentations as an ongoing dialogue between you, the instructor, and your peers.

The learning activities used outside of class are as follows: a regular reading schedule, reviewing your notes taken in class, and engaging your critical thinking in the assignments and research projects.

Although we’ll make the most of class time, it is important to keep in mind that classroom presentations are not designed to cover all the information assigned from the text. If you want to succeed in this class, it is absolutely critical that you set up a daily reading schedule to learn the assigned text information.

The GradingSystem*

  • Expanded grading scale: The available points for each section are listed on the previous page. All together, there are 700 points available.* At the end of the semester, letter grades will be assigned according to the following cumulative point totals:

A...... 630 to 700 Points ...... 90% to 100% of total points

B...... 560 to 629 Points ...... 80% to 89.9% of total points

C...... 490 to 559 Points ...... 70% to 79.9% of total points

D...... 420 to 489 Points ...... 60%% to 69.9% of total points

F...... 419 Points & below ...... Below 60% of total points

* The instructor reserves the right to correct any errors in this syllabus, the grading scale, or the calculation of test or class grades.

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Evaluation Techniques

Reading Assignments:We will cover 8 of the 17 chapters in Understanding Psychology, 10th Edition. This material will (a) give you a solid introduction to the science of psychology;
(b) prepare you for more advanced psychology classes; and, (c) provide you with research-based applications that can be used to enhance and improve your life.

Exams:To do well on the exams, you will need to be thoroughly familiar with the information in the assigned chapters. Once again, setting up a daily reading schedule of the assigned text chaptersis critical to your success in this class.

There are 4exams in this course. You will need to purchase ScanTrons, which are available in the TCC Bookstore. Each exam has approximately 40-60 questions and is worth 100 points. All questions follow an objective format (i.e., multiple choice, true/false, or matching). Some questions may contain visual information (e.g., identifying people, images, graphs, parts of a drawing, etc.). See the Class Schedule on the following page for exam dates. Note the Makeup Exam policy on p. 5 of this syllabus.

Attendance & Participation: It is important to be in class and participate in class discussions and activities.Reading on your own and taking notes during lectures are important, but most class sessions will also include a measure of discussion and short activities to enhance learning. Each student brings a wealth of personal experience, attitudes, and opinions to the table, and we will draw on those to apply new perspectives and ideas to the material. As long as you show up ready to work, these should be easy points to earn.If you are absent or excessively late to class, you will lose points for that session. Violating classroom policies such as texting and sleeping will also result in the loss of participation points.

Assignments:During each section, an assignment will be given that will enhance what you are learning and require you to engage in the material outside the classroom. All assignments will include a written component. Be prepared to share your responses the day these are due.

Assignment instructions will be posted to BlackBoard before the semester begins, so you may work on them as your schedule permits it.Due dates are listed in the Class Schedule.If you miss class the day an assignment is due, it is your responsibility to email it to your instructor or turn it in to the instructor’s mailbox in the Academic and Campus Services office.

FormattingAssignments:

All typed assignments must be saved in Microsoft Word format if they are to be emailed to the instructor. Assignments must also be formatted according to APA standards. A sample APA paper will be posted to the course website on BlackBoard.

Late Work Policy on Assignments:

You will receive full credit if your assignment is hand-delivered or emailed to your instructor by the time class begins. Anything turned in after that time will be handled as follows: turned in one day late, 20% deduction; turned in two days late, 40% deduction; turned in three days late, 60% deduction; turned in four days late, 80% deduction; late papers not accepted after four days late.

Class Schedule

SECTION ONE

*Tues, June 3:Syllabus Review, Chapter 1 (Introduction to Psychology)

*Thurs, June 5:Chapter 2 & Chapter 17 (Psychological Research and Social Psychology)

*Tues, June 10:Chapter 17

Thurs, June 12:EXAM I (Chapters 1, 2, & 17) & Generation Comparison Assignment Due

SECTION TWO

*Tues, June 17:Chapter 3 (Neuroscience & Behavior)

*Thurs, June 19:Chapter 3& Chapter 5 (States of Consciousness)

*Tues, June 24:Chapter 5

Thurs, June 26:EXAM II (Chapters 3 & 5) & Sleep Assignment Due

SECTION THREE

*Tues, July 1:Chapter 6 (Learning)

Thurs, July 3:NO CLASS (INDEPENDENCE DAY)

*Tues, July 8:Chapter 6, Chapter 12 (Development)

*Thurs, July 10:Chapter 12Learning Reflection Assignment Due

Tues, July 15:EXAM III (Chapters 6 & 12)

SECTION FOUR

*Thurs, July 17:Chapter 15 (Psychological Disorders)Psych Disorders Presentations

Tues, July 22:EXAM IV (Chapter 15)

Note: The final exam will only cover Chapter 15 and will not be a comprehensive exam.

*Attendance will be taken on these days, 3 pts per session.

Class Grade Posted:Final class grades posted by Sunday, July 27, at 5:00 p.m. with the Registrar’s Office.

Congratulations on your accomplishment!

Course Withdrawal Policy: Last day to drop with full refund: 5 PM, Sunday, June 8, 2014

Last day to withdrawwith grade of "W": 5 PM, Thurs, July 10, 2014

Official TCC Statement: Course Withdrawal: The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed 3/4 the duration of any class. Check the TCC Academic Calendar for the deadline that applies to the course(s). Begin the process with a
discussion with the faculty member assigned to the course. Contact the Advisement Office at any TCC campus to initiate withdrawal from a course ('W' grade) or to change from Credit to Audit. Withdrawal and/or change to an audit from a course after the drop/add period can alter the financial aid award for the current and future semesters. Students may
receive an outstanding bill from TCC if the recalculation leaves a balance due to TCC. Students who stop participating in the course and fail to withdraw may receive a course grade of “F,” which may have financial aid consequences for the student.

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Administrative Withdrawal & Date of Last Attendance Policy

You are expected to actively participate in the class with regular attendance, taking quizzes, class participation, and the actual tests. Failure to do so can result in being assigned an “Administrative Withdrawal,” which is listed as an AW on your college transcript.

In the event that a student quits regularly attending and participating in the class, the date of the last graded assessment (e.g., quiz or test) will be used as the date of last attendance unless a different date more accurately reflects the student’s lack of active class participation. The instructor will not assign an AW grade simply because of poor academic performance. Any AW grade designations assigned by the instructor will be made prior to the last day to withdraw from the class with a “W” grade. Visit for more details on registration and withdrawal.

Exam Days

Plan to ARRIVE ON TIME on exam days. Important: If you arrive more than 20 minutes late on an exam day, you may not be allowed to take the exam and you will have to take it as a makeup (see "Makeup Exams" below).

Behavior During Exams

During an exam, you are expected to (a) keep your answers covered and (b) keep your eyes on your own work. You don’t need to ask permission to leave and use the restroom during an exam.

Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. All students are expected to do their own work on exams and class assignments. If the instructor has any reason to doubt the authenticity of your exam performance, the instructor may require that you retake the exam as described in the “Academic Dishonesty” section on the next page.

Makeup Exams

  • If you miss an exam, you can make it up in the Southeast Testing Center (see p. 1 of syllabus).
  • The instructor will file copies of the test with staff the day of the test.You do not need to schedule an appointment to take the exam.
  • Important Deadline: You have one week from the original exam date to take the makeup exam. Failure to take the makeup exam by the deadline will result in a grade of zero for that exam.
  • The instructor reserves the right to modify the makeup exam rules if individual circumstances warrant.

Missing Class

It is not necessary to notify the instructor if you are going to be absent on a particular day, including exam days. However, it is still your responsibility to be aware of information announced in class, and you will lose participation points if absent. Consult a classmate who can cover information for you and take notes should you have to miss class.

Student Responsibilities

  • Regular attendance and class participation.
  • Reading the information and requirements in this syllabus.
  • Awareness of information, changes, or modifications announced in class or sent to your MyTCC e-mail.
  • Arranging for another student to take notes if you're unable to attend class on a particular day.
  • Keeping track of your individual grades and overall class standing.
  • Awareness of the academic calendar deadlines during the semester, such as the last day to withdraw.
  • Filing the proper forms in the Registrar's Office if you elect to withdraw from any TCC class

Email Communications*

All TCC students receive a designated “MyTCC” email address (ex: ). All communications to you about TCC and course assignments will be sent to your MyTCC email address; and you must use MyTCC email to send email to, and receive email from, the instructor regarding this course.

Institutional Statement*

Each student is responsible for being aware of the information contained in the TCC Catalog, the TCC Student Policies & Resources Handbook, and semester information listed in the class schedule. All information may be viewed and downloaded on the TCC website:

General Education Goals*

General Education courses at TCC ensure that our graduates gain skills, knowledge, and abilities that comprise a common foundation for their higher education and a backdrop for their work and personal lives. TCC’s General Education goals are: Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Engaged Learning, and Technological Proficiency.

Classroom Etiquette*

Open and mutually respectful communication of varied opinions, beliefs, and perspectives during classroom or online discussion encourages the free exchange of ideas that is essential to higher learning and to the ability to learn from each other. Use of any electronic device is at the discretion of the instructor.

Students with Disabilities*

TCC provides accommodations for qualifying students in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For information, students may contact the disabled StudentResourceCenter, 918-595-7115, or the ResourceCenter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 918-595-7428V, 918-595-7434TTY.

Snow and Inclement Weather*

TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or emergency situations arise, TCC always gives cancellation notices – or late openings – to radio and television stations. This information is also posted on the TCC website: Your instructor may also notify you via your MyTCC E-mail account and/or through our class Blackboard web site of any class cancellations due to inclement weather.

* Standard statements required for all 2014 TCC course syllabi

Academic Dishonesty*

Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the deception of others about one’s own work or about the work of another. Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned or tolerated at campuses within the TulsaCommunity College system. TulsaCommunity College adopts a policy delegating certain forms of authority for disciplinary action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated to the faculty include, but are not limited to, the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from classes. In the case of academic dishonesty, a faculty member may:

  • require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete a substitute assignment or test;
  • record a "zero" for the assignment or test in question;
  • recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or administratively withdraw the student from the class; and/or,
  • record a grade of "F" for the student at the end of the semester.

Faculty may request that disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative level by submitting such request to the Dean of Student Services.

Syllabus Changes*

Although it is very unlikely, changes to the syllabus or the class requirements may be necessary due to extenuating circumstances or to maintain course continuity. Students will be notified in writing of any changes to the syllabus via your MyTCC e-mail account and our class Blackboard site.

* Standard statements required for all 2014 TCC course syllabi

Cell Phones: Ringer OFF and NO text-messaging/game-playing during class

Cell phone interruptions and text-messaging disrupt the class. Upon entering the classroom, please SHUT OFF the ringer, beeper, or other signaling mechanism. If you have some reasonable need for emergency contact, please discuss it with the instructor. In those cases, setting cell phones on vibrate is acceptable. Further, if you absolutely need to take a call, quietly leave and go down the hall where your conversation won’t disrupt the class.

Computers in Class

You are welcome to bring a computer to class to facilitate taking notes. However, please do not surf the Internet, send e-mail, check out online shopping sites, download music, and so forth during class.

Your Next Psychology Class

As the basic survey class designed to familiarize students with the overall field of psychology, Introduction to Psychology (PSY 1113) serves as the prerequisite to most undergraduate psychology classes. After successfully completing this class, consult with your academic advisor about any other psychology classes you might need to take to complete your major. Beyond that, if you have electives available, other psychology classes that you would probably find informative include:

  • PSY 1313 – Human Relations
  • PSY 2023 – Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 2423 – Abnormal Psychology