Blackboard

Required Reading Myers, D. (2005). Exploring Psychology  in Modules, 6th Edition. New York: Worth Publishers.  ISBN 0716789310 Slife, B. (2003).  Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Psychological Issues, 13th edition. , Dushkin McGraw-Hill, 2003. ISBN 0072917172 Hock, R. R. (2002).  Forty studies that changed psychology  (4th edition).  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0130322636 Gladwell, M. (2005).  Blink. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316172324 Other handouts, readings, and webpages to be distributed in class or on the web. Email: Email and Blackboard are  requirements for this course. You will need to check your email 24 hours before each class meeting time.

Course Description
     This course surveys the major theories, principles, and methodologies of psychology with special emphasis on their relations to human behavior. The biological foundations of behavior, sensory processes, learning, perception, memory emotion, motivation, personality, and the social bases of behavior and behavior pathology are examined. Current research findings are included wherever applicable.  The course will follow a lecture/discussion format. Classroom activities, films, and brief presentations may also be used. Questions are encouraged. As a courtesy to other students, please turn off cell phones and beepers during class.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
     My goal and responsibility is to give you an overview of the field of psychology—the study of behavior and mental processes. We will assess the different theoretical approaches (psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, social, etc) to give you an appreciation of the very different approaches  psychologists take on human behavior. We will also examine 'hot topics' in psychology such as the debate over the effects of childcare on attachment, the ADHD label and diagnosis, and recovered memory in therapy (to name a few).  Critical examination of these topics will include an assessment of the prevailing wisdom, examination of the psychological literature, and drawing some conclusions based on the evidence. It is a goal that an in-depth examination of these hot topics in combination with theoretical background will serve as a basis for your critical thinking about why people do and think as they do.  
     It is also important for you to understand how psychology relates to other scientific disciplines, political agendas, and social movements. You should be mindful what psychologists have to offer (and not offer) to people. As a result, you should become a better consumer of psychology. Ultimately, I hope that you will use information in this course as a source of personal and social change. This course also serves as an introduction to all subsequent courses in the field of psychology. Skills gained in this course include: 
     ® Effective expression on psychologically relevant topics in written and oral form 
     ® The ability to think critically about the different perspectives in psychology
     ® The ability to integrate knowledge and ideas from different psychological perspectives in a coherent and meaningful manner
     ® An appreciation of  the validity of different theoretical perspectives in our understanding of mind and behavior 

Attendance
    Attendance is required.  More than one unexcused absence will lower your grade. No exceptions.  Sleeping in class is counted as an absence.

University Closing Due to Weather/Emergency
     When classes are canceled by the university, you will  receive a short at home assignment for the day that will be due at the next class meeting. Please check blackboard for these assignments. 

Evaluation
     Evaluation is based on the course objectives.   These objectives will be met by completing assignments, quizzes, in-class activities, exams as well as active participation and class attendance

Quizzes  (40%)
      Several quizzes  will assess your understanding of the material. Quizzes will contain short answer/essay  items. Quizzes will cover material since the last quiz or exam. There will be no make-up quizzes; if you are late to class the day of the quiz, you will not be able to take the quiz.
Assignments and Homework (40%)
     Several assignments will deepen and strengthen your understanding of course material. Assignments will be graded on accuracy, depth of understanding, college level writing (e.g.,  grammatically correct sentence structure and phrasing) and clarity of presentation. Written portions of assignments must be typed, stapled together, spell-checked, and proofread. Papers that are not written at the college level will be returned with a grade of zero. Extra credit assignments may appear on the web and will not be announced in class, so check bb regularly. Late papers will not be accepted and will be assigned a grade of zero
     Handing in Assignments. All assignments will be due at the beginning of class to be handed in both 1) on paper and 2) in digital drop box  on blackboard (see http://www.wpunj.edu/irt/teambb/Student/ddb/ for how to send file using ddb). All files must be in microsoft word or rtf format. All assignments should be labeled as your lastname_assignmentX_date such as haines_a1_011506.doc (or rtf).   Late assignments will not be accepted. Assignments handed in at the end of class will not be accepted. Printout failures, documents not in .doc or .rtf, not uploading an assignment attachment (bb), uploading the wrong version of an assignment (bb), inability to get on blackboard (barring a system disruption that lasts for more than 24 hours), or other computer mishaps will result in a zero for that assignment. 
Presentations and Class Participation (20%)
    Presentations in class will allow you to develop additional mastery of course content and will include expert lectures and class debates. Contributions to discussion, online contributions (bb), thoughtful responses to homework and in class assignments, rapt attention, good attendance (no more than one absence -- "excused" or otherwise), actual (even feigned) interest in the course material, thoughtful comment, turntaking, and playing off of other students' comments are all encouraged. Class "dis-participation" (disrespect for other students, leaving cell phones during class [and/or answering them], text messaging, answering or receiving text messages, SLEEPING, wandering out for a snack or to make phone calls, eating gross/crunchy things in class, chronic lateness, private conversations with a neighbor while others are speaking etc.) can not be tolerated.

Grading will be on a traditional grading scale where 88-89.9 is a B+, 90-92 is an A-,  93 or above is an A and so on. 

Communication
     Communication is essential to the learning process.  If the question is brief, email is the most efficient method of contact.  Communication between students is strongly encouraged.  It is a requirement to get two students' phone numbers and email addresses on the first day of class so that you may collaborate on notes and have a study partner.

Important Withdrawal Dates:  Tuesday 1/24 last day for 100% refund for withdrawal from a course; Tuesday 1/31 last day to request pass/fail or audit option; Wednesday 2/22   last day for 50% refund for withdrawal from a course;  Wednesday 3/9 last day to academically withdraw from the course (no refund) .

Academic Honesty
     It is expected that all work handed in for this class is based upon your learning and personal effort. Violations of academic integrity, including cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and lying can not be tolerated. Please familiarize yourself with the University's Academic Honesty Policy. 

Course Schedule
This schedule is a general outline and is subject to change.