Office:             Ginger Hall, Room 601-K

                            E-mail: i.white@moreheadstate.edu; Phone: 783-2991   

                            Admin. Assistant (Psychology Department): 783-2981

 

Text: David G. Myers, Psychology. 8^th Edition, New York: Worth Publishers, 2006

 

Course Description: This introductory course is to provide a basic understanding of the major topics related to the mind and behavior. This course will cover history of psychology, the experimental methods of psychology, the brain and behavior, development, sensation and perception, learning and memory, cognition, motivation and emotion, personality, social psychology, and psychological disorders and treatment.  The course will include in-class lectures and assigned readings from the text.

 

Information About the Class: Throughout the semester, you will receive the PSY154 class information from the MSU Online ‘BLACKBOARD’:                       http://online.morehead-st.edu/

 

The Blackboard includes grade books, announcements, the course syllabus, lecture notes, assignments, and online quizzes. On blackboard, you will also find links to useful resources.  To access the course-related material on BLACKBOARD, you must be registered online. Enrollment in Blackboard requires two items: your username and password. 

Username:        m + your MSU student ID 

Password:        the last 4 digits of social security #, followed by the 4 digits of birth year

                        (or, use your MSU e-mail password) 

You are responsible for attending Blackboard training session offered by graduate assistants (GH, Room 111). If you have any difficulty with Blackboard enrollment, you must contact me (i.white@morehead-st.edu), graduate assistant, or the Blackboard office (783-2082; or 800-440-3491) during the first week of class.

 

Grading: Grades will be based on total points earned on six exams, quizzes, and assignments. 

Scale for Final Grades:     A        for 90% or above

 

· Exams will be based on class material and reading assignments. The exams will be multiple-choice questions. Missed exams receive ‘zero’ points. Exams will not be cumulative. If any exam dates conflict with another exam, consult with me in advance.

 

· Quizzes will be based on class material and reading assignments. There will be two types of quizzes: Online and In-class. The quizzes (online) will be posted on BLACKBOARD. A total of 5 points will be given for each quiz. Each online quiz will be available on Blackboard for 7 days prior to the exam. You can take the quiz multiple times while it is available on Blackboard. If you do not have access to MSU network, you must contact the instructor immediately via e-mail (i.white@morehead-st.edu). Missed quizzes receive ‘zero’ points.

 

· Assignments will involve various types that complement the lecture. Many of these assignments will be completed in class. Some of in-class assignments involve actual experiments. Thus, there will be no make-up for any in-class assignments. Some assignments will be completed outside of class. The topics and due dates for outside assignments will be announced in class. A total of 2-5 points will be given for each (in-class or outside), depending on the nature of the assignment. Incomplete assignments receive a partial credit (< 50%). Missed assignments receive ‘zero’ points. 

 

· Research Participation or/and Research Alternative Participation is required since research credit is calculated 4% (20 points) of your total points (see attached; see also attached). Research activity will contribute points toward your final grade in the course. Research credit requires your participation in research (i.e., being a subject); or in research alternative activities. In this way you will gain further knowledge on psychological research on specific topics. To sign up for research or research alternative participation, you need to be enrolled in the ‘Sona System’ via online (see attached). Your participation will be credited after your participation is confirmed (hang onto the slip, a proof of participation). If you do not choose to select the alternative options provided in the Sona System, then you can select the 3^rd option, ‘alternative option provided by the instructor’, which involves writing papers on specific topics. If you select the 3^rd option, you must contact the instructor by Tuesday, April 1 to receive the topic and the format of your paper. Your paper will be accepted until Thursday, April 17. Based on the quality of the paper, 1-10 points will be credited (2 papers can yield 2-20 points, depending on the quality). Your research participation must be completed by 5:00pm, April 30 (the last entry of your research points). 

 

Make-Up Exams: The make-up exam must be arranged with the instructor in advance. ONE make-up exam will be given at the end of the semester (5:00pm, May 1). There will be no make-up for the quizzes or in-class assignment. In the event of an illness or if you have an unavoidable reason for missing an exam, the make-up exam will be administered only if a written excuse is provided within 2 days of the ‘missed’ exam. The make-up exam must be arranged with me in advance.

 

Weekly Study Sessions: Optional study sessions meet on Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00pm, RH419. 

 

Attendance:   Attendance at lectures is required. This is not a distance learning or online course.

 

E-mail Address:  MSU e-mail address will be used for course-related correspondence or announcement. If you are using a private e-mail address, it is your responsibility to arrange a ‘transfer’ function so that you can receive course-related information promptly. 

 

Cell Phones: Phones and other devices (iPods, iPhones, etc) must be turned off (or silent) during class. 

Use of recording device (camera, recorder, etc) is not allowed in class without instructor’s permission.

 

Academic Dishonesty: University guidelines will be enforced for any forms of academic dishonesty.

 

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE 

 

 

Jan 15-Feb 8:         The Story of Psychology                                                          prologue

                                 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science                Chap. 1

                                 Neuroscience and Behavior                                                     Chap. 2

                                 The Developing through Life Span                                         Chap. 4

 

Feb 6 (Wed): 5:00-6:00 p.m., optional review, Reed Hall 419

 

Feb 12-Mar 7:       Sensation and Perception (selected topics)                           Chap. 5&6

                                 Memory                                                                                        Chap. 9

 

Mar 5 (Wed): 5:00-6:00 p.m., optional review, Reed Hall 419

 

Mar 11-Apr 11:    Social Psychology (selected topics)                                          Chap. 18

                                 Intelligence (selected topics)                                                     Chap. 11

                                 Motivation and Work                                                                  Chap. 12

                                 Emotion                                                                                          Chap. 13