Instructor: Dr. Tomie
Email: tomie@rci.rutgers.edu
Office: Room 227, Busch
Office hours: Thursday 4 - 6 PM Course Website

TEXT:  Domjan, M. (2006).  The principles of learning and behavior (5th ed.).  Custom          paperback version for Rutgers University.  New York: Thomson/Wadsworth Publishing.

EXAMS:  There will be four hourly exams (on 2/15, 3/7, 3/28, and 4/11) and the final exam
(on 5/2 and on 5/14).  Neither the hourly exams nor the final exam will be cumulative. 

GRADING:

1.         All students must take the final exam.  Dropping the final exam grade is not an option. Your final exam grade will account for 25% of your course grade.

2.         The remaining 75% of your course grade will be based on the three highest grades you receive on the four hourly exams, each of which will account for 25% of your course grade.  This means that your single worst score on the four hourly exams will be disregarded altogether. 

3.         If a student misses two or more of the four hourly exams, the first absence will be disregarded, but each additional absence will result in the recording of a 0% grade that will account for 25% of the student's course grade.           

4.         There will be no make-up exams given for missing an hourly exam, regardless of cause.

5.         The final exam will be given on Friday, May 2 (the last scheduled class meeting).  A make-up final exam will be given on Wednesday, May 14 (in accordance with the University's final exam schedule).  Students who take the final exam on May 2 will not be allowed to take the final exam on May 14.  Students who miss both final exams will be given a TF grade for the semester. 

6.         Course grades will be determined strictly by performance on exams.  There will be no extra credit given for papers or additional work. 

 

WEEK OF                   READING ASSIGNMENT  

 

Jan 20    Chapter 1:  Introduction (pp. 1-27).

Jan 27    Chapter 2:  Elicited Behavior, Habituation and Sensitization (pp. 28-58).

Feb 3     Chapter 3:  Classical Conditioning: Foundations (pp. 59-90). 

Feb 10   Chapter 3:  Classical Conditioning: Foundations (pp. 59-90). 
                                                            HOURLY EXAM #1:  FRI 2/15
 
Feb 17   Chapter 4:  Classical Conditioning: Mechanisms (pp. 91-123).
 
Feb 24   Chapter 4:  Classical Conditioning: Mechanisms (pp. 91-123). 

Mar 2     Chapter 5:  Instrumental Conditioning:  Foundations (pp. 124-161). 
                                    HOURLY EXAM #2:  FRI 3/7

Mar 9    Chapter 6:  Schedules and Choice Behavior (pp. 162-190). 
 
Mar 16                         SPRING RECESS

Mar 23  Chapter 7:  Instrumental Conditioning:  Motivational Mechanisms (pp. 191-216).
                                    HOURLY EXAM #3:  FRI 3/28

Mar 30  Chapter 8:  Stimulus Control of Behavior (pp. 217-250). 

Apr 6    Chapter 9:  Extinction of Conditioned Behavior (pp. 251-278).

Apr 13  Chapter 10:  Aversive Control:  Avoidance and Punishment (pp. 279-314).                                                      HOURLY EXAM #4:  FRI 4/18

Apr 20  Chapter 11:  Animal Cognition I:  Memory Mechanisms (pp. 315-351).

Apr 27  Chapter 12:  Animal Cognition II:  Special Topics (pp. 352-385)

 

                        FINAL EXAM:  FRIDAY, MAY 2 (10:20 - 11:40 AM)    

 

                        MAKE-UP FINAL EXAM:  WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 (4:00 - 5:20 PM)