Instructor: Florette Cohen
Email: florettec@gmail.com
Office: 301 Tillett Hall
Office hours: by appointment

Required Text:  Psychology: Kassin in Modules, by Saul Kassin

Goals of this class:
            Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and the mind. As such it is a diverse field dealing with everything from biology/physiology to learning development to social interaction. This is an introductory course!! Contrary to the beliefs of some students we will not be able to learn all there is to know in the field of psychology. We will however skim the surface of as many topics allowed for in 14 weeks.  The goal of this course is to expose you briefly to each subfield of psychology so you can leave with a basic understanding of psychology and its many subfields. The psychology department offers in-depth courses on each of the topics we’ll be covering. If you decide that a career in psychology may enhance your life, feel free to browse through the catalogue of classes offered here at Rutgers.
EXAMINATIONS
HOURLY EXAMS (3) 
There will be three hourly examinations, each consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions.  Dates of these exams are listed on the class calendar.  Exam questions will cover material reviewed during class and assigned text reading. You are responsible for all material in the chapters assigned unless otherwise indicated!
Please make use of the textbook website: www.prenhall.com/kassin for supplemental readings, chapter reviews and practice exams!!!
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 WILL BE IN ESSAY FORMAT (AND SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DIFFICULT)!
 
ADDITIONAL CREDIT
 You are required to participate in research over the semester. However, you will have the option of (1) participating psychology research as a subject ("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. 
Evaluation:
            Evaluations are based on your three exams, each worth 30%, and class attendance/participation, worth 10%.  A total of 100 points may be earned, with the grading scale as follows:

            A            91-100           C+           77- 80
            B+           87- 90            C             71- 76
            B             81- 86            D            60- 70

            As the class is designed to give you experience with our field, your presence at all lectures is required! In all cases, an absence must be justified with written documentation from the Dean’s office. In order to keep note taking down to a minimum, Power point presentations will be available for download before each class. I do not want to spend an hour and twenty minutes talking (I don’t really care much for the sound of my own voice) and would like to encourage daily class discussions pertaining to the daily topic. This may be difficult with such a large class but it is possible!  
            Please type any written assignment in 12 point font, and use double spacing.  Also, ‘spell check’ and ‘grammar check’ your work. 
            Students requiring special accommodations should contact me as soon as possible.

Additional sources of information:
Research articles will be made available throughout the course as necessary.
Please contact me any time by email if you have questions about the work we are doing. 

**Schedule of Reading Assignments and Exams**   
**(All dates are approximate and changes will be announced in class)**

Class 1 (7/9) - Introduction:
Topics: What is psychology?   

Class 2 (7/10) – Methodology in psychology
Topics: Scientific methods 

Class 3 (7/11) - Behavioral neuroscience
Topics: Neurons

Class 4 (7/12) - Behavioral neuroscience
Topics: The Brain Conditioning,

Class 5(7/16) –Learning
Topics: Observation.

Class 6(7/17) –Learning
Topics: Conditioning

Class 7 (7/18) - Memory
Topics:  Memory types (short-term, long-term). 

Class 8 (7/19) – Thought and Language
Topics: Problem solving, making judgments

Class 9 (7/23) – Exam 1

** 7/24 – Reading day—No Class**

Class 10 (7/25) – Nature and Nurture
Topics: Genes, Evolution, The great debate

Class 11 (7/26) - Development
Prenatal—Old Age.

Class 12 (7/30) - Intelligence
Topics: Testing, Education.

Class 13 (7/31) - Emotion
Topic: Physiology, Expression. 

Class 14 (8/1) - Emotional development
Topics: Cognition, culture.

Class 15 (8/2) – Extra credit assignment/Movie

Class 16 (8/6) – Exam 2

Class 17 (8/7) – Social Influences
Topics: Perception, Relationships.

Class 18 (8/8) Social and Cultural Groups
Topics: Social status.                  

Class 19 (8/9) –Personality
Topics:  Psychoanalysis, Humanism, traits.

Class 20 (8/13) – Psychological Disorders
Topics: Overview, Anxiety, Somatoform, Dissociative.

Class 21 (8/14) - Treatment
Topics: Therapy, psychotherapy.

Class 22 (8/15) – Exam 3
Topics: Personality, Disorders, Treatment