COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course, you will begin to explore the most fascinating phenomenon thatNature has to offer - the human mind.  Why do we think, feel, and act as we do?What makes each of us unique individuals, different from one another?  By whattechniques do we answer these questions?  In this course, we will take a "whirlwind tour" through the discipline of psychology, reviewing what we've discovered about how the mind works, and how we've discovered it, within the last 100 years.  Your task will be one of conceptual mastery - to establish an intellectual foundation that will allow you to begin thinking like a behavioral scientist rather than a naïve layperson.  Your progress will be assessed via 2 hourly exams and a comprehensive final exam. 
(See "EXAMINATIONS" below for details and dates of exams.) 
Your course grade will be determined by your total accumulated points on these exams. 
(See "GRADES" below for specific criteria.)   

TEXTBOOK REQUIRED
Psychology: Themes & Variations, 5th Edition (2001). 
Author: Wayne Weiten.Wadsworth Publishing.  ISBN  0-534-36714-3

COURSE GOALS
 (1) For each student to attain a full understanding of and ability to apply the terms and concepts that are most important in the field of psychology today.
(2) For each student to begin thinking about human behavior from a scientific rather than a "common sense" perspective.
(3) To awaken and nourish in each student a curiosity about and fascination with the human mind, in all its rich variety, endless complexity, and intriguing mystery.
(4) To develop the knowledge base and skill set in each student that are essential to future success in higher level psychology courses.
 

EXAMINATIONS
HOURLY EXAMS (2) 
There will be two hourly examinations, each consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions.  Dates of these exams are 2/28 and 4/11.  Exam questions will cover material reviewed during class and assigned text reading.

FINAL EXAM
A comprehensive final examination will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions.  The exam will be on 5/9 at 8pm - 11pm.  Please note that the final exam is on a MONDAY and not during regular class hours!  You will be informed of the location for the final exam when it has been established.

MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY 
You need to provide both (1) advance notice of your absence to me (via email or phone) AND (2) acceptable documentation for the absence (e.g., an excuse from an M.D., a death notice, obituary, or funeral notice, a police report, etc.).  Unless both of these criteria are met, you will not be permitted to take a make-up.  MAKE-UP EXAMS MAY BE IN ESSAY FORMAT.
 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 You will have the choice of (1) participating in 2.5 hours of psychology research as a subject (5 "experimental participation credits") OR (2) writing a paper summarizing an empirical research study from a refereed psychology journal.  If you choose option (2), confer with me for approval of your selected article, and for format, content, and length requirements. 
 

ON-LINE SUPPORT
 A  class calendar (with each designated text reading assignment), practice quizzes for exams, MS PowerPoint files of all lecture slides, your exam scores and grades, and other valuable materials are available on-line at https://webct.rutgers.edu

Enter the site and create your webct account by following the instructions.  Then navigate through the course offerings (Psychology 830) and select this course.  (Make sure you've chosen the correct section - 07!)  Thereafter you should access the course regularly to facilitate your learning experience and optimize your exam scores.