Undergraduate Programs: Syllabi 100 Level

Undergraduate Programs

Syllabi 100 Level

General Psychology
830:101:03
Spring 2006

Instructor: Erika Waters
Email: ewaters@rci.rutgers.edu
Office: Tillett 423, Livingston
Office hours:M 11:00am – 12:00pm

Text: Santrock’s Psychology: Essentials, 2nd Edition OR
Santrock’s Psychology, 7th Edition

Course Description

Psychology is a diverse field that addresses many different questions, including, “What is schizophrenia and how is it treated?”, “Why are two people attracted to each other?”, “How do childhood experiences influence a person’s later life?” and “Why do people remember some events but forget others?” In this survey course, we’ll skim the surface of these topics. By the end of the semester, you will leave with a basic understanding of the breadth of psychology. Rutgers offers more in-depth courses on each of the topics we’ll be covering, so if one chapter (or two, or three!) really catches your interest, you can always learn more.

General Information

1. Should I read the text?

Definitely. You are responsible for all information included in the text, unless I specifically say otherwise. The lecture will not replace the text; it will supplement it. Reading the text also helps you to gain a more thorough understanding of the information presented in class. In addition, check out the “apply your knowledge” questions at the end of each chapter and the book’s website, which has practice quizzes, flashcards, and other useful tools.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072937629/student_view0/index.html

2. Should I attend class?

Definitely. Lectures will sometimes overlap with the text, but they will also cover material not contained in the text. If you must miss a class, make arrangements to copy notes from one of your classmates. Make sure to find out if you missed any announcements about changes in exam dates, etc. Do not ask me for copies of lecture notes.

3. What if I have a question in lecture?

No question is too small to be asked in class. If you’re confused, someone else probably is, too. You’ll have ample opportunity to speak your mind through class and group discussions designed to help you gain a more thorough understanding of the material. Just keep in mind that there will probably be at least one other person in the room personally affected by the topic, and therefore, your comments. Please be sure to consider this before you make your remarks.

4. How will I receive important messages from the instructor?

WebCT: Go to http://webct.rutgers.edu, log in with your NetID, and click on my course. There, you will find the syllabus, lecture outlines, homework, and extra credit assignments.
Email: I have set up a class mailing list. All email will be sent to the email address you have on file with Rutgers. In order to register a non-Eden email address to the mailing list, go to the following website: https://www.acs.rutgers.edu/studentdir/

5. How will I know if you cancel class?

In the unlikely event that class is cancelled, I will inform you via email at least one hour prior to class time.

6. Tips for Success

Participating in class, asking questions, reading the text, reviewing the chapter summaries, and utilizing the book’s website are helpful techniques for improving your class performance. I am also available to discuss any difficulties you might be having with course content.

7. Academic Honesty

You are expected to follow the university’s policy on academic honesty for exams, homework, and extra credit assignments. The Rutgers University policy on academic honesty can be found at: http://teachX.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html. Consequences of violating the policy will depend on the severity of the offense and can include formal disciplinary proceedings. See “Level Three Violations” of the Academic Integrity Policy for more information.

8. Exams

Four 50-question, multiple-choice exams will cover material from reading and lectures. Unless I say otherwise, material covered in the text but not in lecture might be on the exam. Your lowest score for the first threeexams will be dropped. All students musttake Exam 4.

When is the final exam?

The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9 from 8:00am to 9:30am.

What if I miss an exam?

Exam dates are specified in the course outline. If you have a problem making an exam, notify me immediately.

If you miss an exam, notify me immediately.
Makeup exams must be completed within 1 weekof the missed exam unless extraordinary circumstances (e.g., hospitalization) prevent you from doing so.
You must present a letter from your dean’s office excusing you from the exam in order to take the makeup. The dean will most likely require appropriate documentation (like a doctor’s note) to verify your absence.
Makeup exams will be composed of essay questions.

What should I bring to each exam?

A picture ID (student ID or driver’s license). You will not be able to turn the exam in without one.

Two #2 pencils with erasers.

What if I have a question about my grade?

Questions concerning grades are to be discussed during office hours. Any disputes about test questions must be submitted to me, in writing. Include the question number and the answer you believe to be correct (with supporting page numbers from the text).

What if I’m not doing well in the class?

The week before the final exam is too late to begin worrying about your grade. It is your responsibility to see me or the Yoni if you need help. If you did not do well on the first exam, please see me immediately so we can discuss how to improve your grade.

9. Homework

You will complete 3 short homework assignments worth 5 points each. The assignments can be found on WebCT.

When are the assignments due?

The assignments are due at thebeginningof class.

Late homework will be penalized by 10% per day it is late.
Work turned in via email without my prior permission will not be accepted.
Work more than 1 week late will not be accepted.
Any work turned into my mailbox must be initialed and dated by one of the department secretaries in Tillett 101 (Livingston) or in the Psychology Department Office in the Psychology Building (Busch). Staff office hours are 8:30am-4:00pm.

10. Grading

Grades for this course will be based on 165 total points. The distribution is as follows:

Exams: 3 @ 50 points each = 150 points
Homework: 3 @ 5 points each = 15 points
165 total points

Final grades will be assigned based on points, as follows:

A (90%) = 149C+ (77%) = 127
B+(87%) = 144 C (70%) = 116
B (80%) = 132D (60%) = 99

Where are my grades?
Grades will be posted on http://fas.rutgers.edu, under “FAS gradebook.”

When will I know my grades?
Every effort will be made to post grades within 1 week of the exam. Homework will be posted within 2 weeks of its due date.

11. Can I earn extra credit?

Certainly! There are 3 opportunities available for earning a total of 9 extra credit points. However, I will not accept late extra credit assignments.

4 points: Summarize a scientific journal article. I will post details on webCT.
3 points: Attend the Institutional Review Board Certification film (dates TBA) or take the Human Subjects Certification test (see http://orsp.rutgers.edu/Humans/hscp.php for more information).
2 points: Complete 2 extraRPU’s, in addition to the experimental participation requirement (1 point per extra RPU completed).

12. I’m not doing well in class and I did all the extra credit. Can I do anything else to make up the grade?

No. Providing extra assignments to only one student would be unfair to your classmates.

13. Experimental Participation

Every general psychology student in the department is required to do one of the following: 1) participate in 2½ hours (5 RPU’s) of experimental research (http://psych-s.rutgers.edu/research/test/), or 2) write a summary of a journal article. Go to http://psych-s.rutgers.edu/research/test/rules.html for a complete description of the requirements. Pay careful attention to the rules! All RPU’s and/or article summaries must be completed by 4/25/06!

WARNING: Per department requirements, failure to complete the experimental participation requirement will result in your grade being lowered by ½ the standard deviation of the class average. In the past, this has been between 4 and 5 percentage points (about half a letter grade).

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Date	Topic	Reading Due	Homework / Extra Credit
1/17	Introduction
1/19	Research Methods – Basics	Ch. 1; Chs. 1 and 2
1/24	Research Methods – Application
1/26	The Brain and Behavior	Ch. 2; Ch. 3
1/31	Memory	Ch. 7; Ch. 8	HW: Design a study
2/2	States of Consciousness – Drugs	Ch. 5.4; Ch. 6.4
2/7	States of Consciousness – Nature, sleep, and hypnosis	Ch. 5.1-5.3; Ch. 6.1-6.3
2/9	Exam 1
2/14	Sensation and Perception – Basics and vision	Ch. 4.1-4.2; Ch. 5.1-5.2
2/16	Sensation and Perception – Hearing and other senses	Ch. 4.3-4.4; Ch. 5.3-5.4
2/21	Intelligence	Ch. 8.4; Ch. 10
2/23	Thinking and Language	Ch. 8.1-8.3; Ch. 9
2/27	Human Development – Child	Ch. 3.1-3.2; Ch. 4.1-4.2
3/2	Human Development – Adolescent and adult	Ch. 3.3-3.4; Ch. 4.3-4.4
3/7	Human Development – Synthesis		EC: Article Summary
3/9	Exam 2
3/14 3/16	Spring Break, No Class – Go have fun, but please be safe!
3/21	Learning – Operant conditioning	Ch. 6.3; Ch. 7.3
3/23	Learning – Classical and observational learning	Remainder of Ch. 6; Remainder of Ch. 7
3/28	Motivation and Emotion	Ch. 9; Ch. 11
3/30	Sex and Gender	Ch. 9.3; Ch. 11.3	HW: Change behavior
4/4	Health	Ch. 13; Ch. 15
4/6	Exam 3
4/11	Personality	Ch. 10; Ch. 12	HW: Personality analysis
4/13	Social – Social thinking and influence	Ch. 14.1-14.2; Ch. 16.1-16.2
4/18	Social – Intergroup relations, interaction, and relationships	Ch. 14.3-14.5; Ch. 16.3-16.5
4/20	Psychological Disorders – Abnormal behavior, anxiety, DD	Ch. 11.1-11.3; Ch. 13.1-13.3
4/25	Psychological Disorders – Mood, schizophrenia, personality	Ch. 11.4-11.6; Ch. 13.4-13.6	All RPU’s and IRB certification
4/27	Psychotherapies	Ch. 12; Ch. 14
5/9	Exam 4 8:00am – 9:30am All students must take Exam 4
5/12	Final grades posted on FAS Gradebook by 12:00pm