| West
Valley College_ |
| Department
of Psychology___ |
| Michelle
D. Reed |
| 408.741.4029 |
Honors General Psychology
with a Social Justice Emphasis
| General
Information: |
| Classes will be held twice
weekly in Room LA/SS 21. Students who fail to attend
the first class session will be dropped from the
roster, unless prior arrangements have been made
with the instructor. After the first session,
students who stop attending, but fail to formally
drop the course with Admissions & Records
will receive an F on their transcripts. |
| Course
Description: |
| General Psychology
provides students with an understanding of human
behavioral and cognitive activity from a
biopsychosocial perspective. Lecture Format: 3
units. Acceptable for credit: University of
California; California State University. Course
Number: Psych 001H. This Honors Psych 1 class has an additional focus in social justice and the psychology of ethics. |
| 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 in Social Sciences office 2d on Mondays
from 12:30-1:30 P.M., Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30
P.M., and Thursdays from 8:30-9:00 A.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: michelle.reed@westvalley.edu. Once the term begins, 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 online chapter quizzes during the semester
based upon the Myers reading assignments; the lowest chapter quiz will
be dropped at the end of the term. In addition, students will be
given four in class exams during the course, which will cover both
lecture material and supplemental materials (videos, handouts,
etc). The first three exams will consist of multiple choice, fill-in
and short answer, as well as essays. The final exam will be in an
objective format only.
Students
requiring a make-up exam will receive a 7.5% off
their exam score, if taken by the next class
session. For exams taken after that time,
additional deductions will be taken for every
calendar day. Makeup exams must be taken within
10 calendar days of the original test date;
otherwise, a zero will be recorded for the given
test. Students are allowed only one makeup exam during the term. |
| 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
paper scores are totaled. This final point total
is used to formulate the overall grade out of 800
possible points. Although participation is not
formally averaged into the grading process, it
may be taken into consideration if the student's
overall score falls on the border between two
grades.
| 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
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. |
| 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.
Sheff, David. Beautiful Boy ISBN-10: 9780547203881
.Styron, William. Darkness Visible ISBN: 0-679-73639-5 (a small book)
.A 16 page Blue Book (8 1/2 x 7"), Scantron (Form 882), No. 2 pencil,
and a non-erasable pen are required for all
exams. |
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Outcome: Demonstrate an understanding of how biological, social, and cognitive factors interact in the etiology and treatment of mental disorders.
Outcome: Identify and explain the functions of the main parts of a neuron and of the major brain structures.
***Please note: the
instructor reserves the right to change any
portion of this syllabus during the semester to
meet the needs of the class .
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