Fall Semester, 1998
Introductory Psychology, PSYC 101 (section 1)
MWF 9:00 a.m. - 9:50
Murphy 116
Professor: Andrew McGarva, Ph.D.
Office phone: 227-2519, e-mail address: amcgarva@eagle.dsu.nodak.edu
Office Hours: Klinefelter Room 227-- MWF: 10-12; Tue: 11-12, 4:30-6:30; Thurs: 11-12 (or by appointment)
Required Text: Psychology (Rubin, Peplau, & Salovey). Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
Course Information
PSYC 101 introduces the science of psychology. The goal of psychology is the explanation and prediction of behavior. This course will survey the major theories and theorists in psychology including those focusing on abnormal, cognitive, developmental, learning, perceptual, physiological, and social issues in psychology.
Course Goals and Requirements
This course is intended to provide a foundational understanding of psychology. It should foster the ability to think critically about psychological issues as they pertain to everyday events. Students are expected to put in two hours of out of class study for every hour of in class time. Because this is a four credit hour class you should spend about eight out of class hours each week reading, reviewing lecture notes and working on papers for this course. Some students may need more, some less to do well in this course.
I will not take roll BUT tests will be composed of questions about material not only from readings but also from lectures. Therefore, your grade for the course will indirectly reflect your attendance. In other words, it is much more likely that you will do well in this course IF you come to class.
Grading
Final grades will be based on an overall point system where:
270-300 = A
240-269 = B
210-239 = C (average)
180-209 = D
179 or lower = F
Your total at the end of the semester will be the summation of points earned on quizzes, exams, and paper.
Exams
Four (4) non-cumulative tests, each counting for forty (40) points, will be given on material from class and from readings. These tests will be made up of multiple choice, short-answer, and essay questions. Be sure to bring a #2 pencil and a pen.
Quizzes
Short unannounced quizzes will be given on non-exam days on the material to be read for that day. That is, if you were scheduled to read chapter 7 for class on Sept. 26th then the quiz on that day will be on material from chapter 7. Each quiz will be worth five (5) points. There will be no opportunity to make up missed quizzed; however, the lowest two (2) will be dropped. In total, the quizzes will be worth forty (40) points.
Final Exam
The final exam will be cumulative and made up of multiple choice questions. It will count for seventy (75) points, one quarter of your overall grade. Students will not be allowed to take any exams before the scheduled time. The date of this exam will be announced.
Paper
One paper will be assigned on a topic to be discussed and will count for twenty-five (25) points. This paper will be graded on content as well as on writing quality. Papers must be typed or word-processed.
Cheating
Students caught cheating on tests or plagiarizing on papers will receive a zero for that test or paper and their name will be submitted to the Dean of Students.
Course Calendar Topic Assignments Aug. 26 Course Introduction -- Aug. 28 Methods 4 - 21 Aug. 31 Subfields 22 - 37 September 2 Evolution 38 - 43 Sept. 4 Nervous Systems 44 - 59 Sept. 7 Labor Day Holiday (no classes) Sept. 9 The Brain 60 - 73 Sept. 11 Vision 74 - 91 Sept. 14 The Other Senses 91 - 109 Sept. 16 Review Sept. 18 EXAM 1 Sept. 21 Learning Sept. 23 Classical 110 - 116 Sept. 25 Operant Conditioning 117 - 125 Sept. 28 Behavior Modification 126 - 143 Sept. 30 Stages of Memory 144 - 154 October 2 Forgetting 155 - 175 Oct. 5 Presidentís Day Holiday (no classes) Oct. 7 Cognitive Psychology 176 - 193 Oct. 9 Intelligence 194 - 211 Oct. 12 EXAM 2 Oct. 14 Child Development 212 - 230 Oct. 16 Childhood 231 - 253 Oct. 19 Adult Development 254 - 289 Oct. 21 Gender Differences 290 - 296 Oct. 23 Human Sexuality 297 - 323 Oct. 26 Consciousness 324 - 333 Oct. 28 Sleep and Dreaming 334 - 342 Oct. 30 States of Consciousness 343 - 355 November 2 Motivation 356 - 372 Nov. 4 Emotion 373 - 389 Nov. 6 EXAM 3 Nov. 9 Personality 390 - 401 Nov. 11 Veterans Day Holiday Nov. 13 Freud 402 - 409 Nov. 16 Humanistic Theories 410 - 457 Nov. 18 Abnormal Psychology 458 - 467 Nov. 20 Depression 468 - 472 Nov. 23 Schizophrenia 473 - 493 Nov. 25 Behavior Therapies 494 - 525 Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Day Holiday Nov. 30 Psychology of Attitudes/Persu. 526 - 545 December 2 Conformity 546 - 557 Dec. 4 Perceiving Others 558 - 586 Dec. 7 EXAM 4 Dec. 9 Review Dec. 11 Review
FINAL EXAM -- date to be announced