| West
Valley College_ |
| Department
of Psychology___ |
| Michelle
D. Reed |
| 408.741.4029 |
General Psychology Online
Spring 2020
| General
Information: |
| This
is an online General Psychology course from 1/27/20-5/21/20. Students who fail to log-on
during the first two days of class will be dropped from the roster,
unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. After that time, if for any reason
a student has to stop participating in this course, it is his or her
responsibility to formally drop the class with Admissions and Records.
Any student failing to formally drop the course under such
circumstances, will receive an F on his or her transcript. |
| Course
Description: |
General
Psychology provides students with an understanding of human behavioral
and cognitive activity from a biopsychosocial perspective. Online
Format: 3 units. Acceptable for credit: University of California;
California State University. Course Number: Psych 001. Section
Number: 30221.
Students will be expected to read a minimum of
1 chapter per week from the primary textbook, to read from supplemental
reader(s) and posted lectures/ assignments, and to actively participate
in online discussion assignments (when applicable). The supplemental
reader(s), while brief in length, will need to be completed when
assigned, in addition to the text reading assignments. With any 3 unit
college course, students are expected to spend a minimum of 2-3 hours
of studying for every hour they spend in class. Since this is an online course
without
in-class lectures to attend, it is particularly
accelerated. Online courses in many ways are more challenging for the student, as the workload requires one to stay on task and
self-motivated throughout the semester. That said, psychology is a
fascinating field with a myriad of topics to discuss and explore; you
will learn about everything from aspects of social psychology, to how
drugs impact the brain, to what causes various disorders, such as
depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. My course offers
interesting reading, several fascinating videos, lectures/ posted
articles, and class discussions. |
| Course Objectives: |
| The
student will be required to demonstrate an ability to analyze,
synthesize, and critically evaluate basic concepts in psychology both
in testing formats and practical applications. By the completion of
this course, one must be able to explain the biopsychosocial
determinates of behavior, critically analyze and evaluate research
findings in selected topics of psychology, and identify the fundamental
aspects of abnormal psychology. |
| Office Hours: |
| Regular
office hours will be held online via Canvas on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:00
P.M.. Appointments may also be scheduled on an
individual basis. Students needing to schedule
individualized appointments should call my
voicemail a minimum of 24 hours in advance, in
order to ensure I have received the request in
time. Students are encouraged to discuss any
difficulties or questions they may have regarding
the course content. Prior to the beginning of the
semester, students may also contact me via my
e-mail address: [email protected]. During the term, all email communication
will occur from within Canvas at: https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas |
| Disability
Statement: |
| West Valley College makes
reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. College materials will
be available in alternate formats (Braille,
audio, electronic format, or large print) upon
request. Please contact the Disability and
Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010
(voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance. |
| Testing Format and
Policy: |
Students
will be given eleven (multiple-choice) chapter quizzes based
upon the text reading assignments; the lowest chapter quiz will be
dropped at the end of the term. In addition, students will be given
three MANDATORY exams during the course, which
will cover both lecture material and reading assignments.
The first two mandatory exams (each on a Thursday evening from
7:00-8:30 P.M.) will consist of (mostly) multiple choice and a few
fill-in and/or short answer items; these exams will be taken ONLINE
at a set date/time. The final exam will be taken online on Thursday,
5/21/20 from 7:00-9:00 P.M.. The final discussion topic (a written assignment) will be due on Thursday, 5/21/20. The majority of your grade in the
course will be based upon your chapter quiz and exam scores. A
small percentage (approximately 6%) of your grade will be based upon
your active, appropriate, and consistent participation in the course. |
| Grading Policy: |
Student
exams will be graded on a slight curve, which is very close to
a traditional percentage grading system. At the end of the semester,
student test and participation scores are totaled. This final point total is
used to formulate the overall grade out of the total possible points.
| Category |
Total Points Per Category |
| 10 Chapter Quizzes |
300* |
| 2 Exams |
300 |
| Final Exam |
200 |
| Participation |
50 |
| Total Possible Points: |
850* |
*Although it is highly unlikely to occur, the instructor
reserves the right to alter these (*) areas depending upon the needs of
the class. |
Cheating Policy:
|
Students caught cheating
or plagiarizing will receive an F for that exam or project. The
zero will be averaged into the student's final
grade. Additional repercussions from the college
may also occur under such circumstances.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Demonstrate an understanding of how biological, social and cognitive factors interact in the etiology and treatment of mental disorders.
Identify and explain the functions of the main parts of a neuron, and of the major brain structures.
|
| Required Texts and
Materials: |
 Myers, David G. & DeWall, C. Nathan. (2015) Psychology (Eleventh Edition). ISBN-10: 1-4641-4081-2 Available in either an ebook OR a traditional textbook version, whichever you prefer.
.Styron, William. Darkness
Visible ISBN: 0-679-73639-5 (a small book)
|
***Please note: the
instructor reserves the right to change any
portion of this syllabus during the semester to
meet the needs of the class .
|
|