Syllabus for PSY-101-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to Psychology provides you with a broad, general introduction to psychology. You examine its basic subject matter, its approaches to gathering and evaluating evidence about the causes and correlates of behavior, and the ways psychological knowledge can be applied to improve the quality of individual and community life. Taking this course is important preparation for more advanced courses in psychology, which develop in greater depth topics you read about and discuss in this course.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

Your goals and objectives in studying Introduction to Psychology include the following:

• Gaining comprehension of psychology. You will achieve it by demonstrating the ability to:
  1. describe major approaches to the study of the behavior of organisms.
  2. identify major problems in psychology.
  3. explain the origins of psychology and identify important contributors.
  4. describe basic terminology, important concepts, and significant research findings.
  5. evaluate the methodology of psychology, including its limitations.
  
  
• Developing scientific values and skills. The development of these values and skills includes your ability to:
  1. demonstrate intellectual curiosity about human and animal behavior.
  2. explain the scientific method.
  3. identify the operation of individual bias in experimentation, observation, and reporting what has been observed or measured.
  4. evaluate all generalizations on the basis of the evidence on which they claim to be based.
  
  
• Realizing personal development. Although the evidence might not be manifest for a long time, you should be able to:
  1. demonstrate understanding and tolerance of the behavior of other people, allowing greater acceptance of what is labeled different, deviant, abnormal, pathological, or crazy.
  2. recognize the forces acting on you to limit or prevent your freedom of choice, both those rooted in your past (such as guilt, traumatic memories, obligations, bad contracts, unrewarding experiences, punishment, low self-esteem, or shyness), those rooted in the present (including social pressures to conform, comply, obey, and do what others reward you for; personal pressure to be recognized, approved of, accepted, and loved), and those based in the future (such as unrealistic expectations, aspirations, concern for liabilities and responsibilities, desire for security, or fear of death).
  3. exercise your curiosity about explaining why people (including you) behave as they do.
  4. develop intelligent skepticism about accepting unwarranted claims—those made in the mass media as well as those made by credentialed authorities.
  5. recognize the psychology of and in everyday life.

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COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to complete the work of the course:

Textbook

Psychology and Life, 19th ed., by Philip G. Zimbardo and Richard J Gerrig (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2010).

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COURSE STRUCTURE

Introduction to Psychology is a three-credit course consisting of six written assignments, a midterm examination, and a final project in the form of a paper. Study assignments include readings in the textbook (see Assignment Modules). The course is divided into six modules.

At the end of each module you will complete a written assignment and send it to your mentor for correction and grading. The course also requires you to take a proctored midterm examination and complete a final project. For details about the midterm examination, scroll down to Examination.

In addition to the six written assignments you will do for this course you are required to participate in three online discussions. For details about the online discussions at the end of the course, scroll down to Online Participation.

For the course's assignment activities (reading assignments, online discussions, and written assignments), click Assignment Modules on the navigation bar to the left of your screen. That will take you to a list of the individual modules, which you can then click for the relevant assignments.

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

In addition to submitting six written assignments for this class, you are required to introduce yourself and participate in three (3) graded online class discussions.

Your first posting, "Introductions", will give you a chance to tell your mentor and classmates something about yourself and to find out who they are. You should post your introduction in the Introductions forum on the class Discussion Board and respond to at least two of your classmates' responses.

Communication with your mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online class discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses.

Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate or your mentor, state and support your position.

You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation, including your use of relevant course information to support your point of view, and your awareness of and responses to the postings of your classmates. Remember, these are discussions. responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, mature, and respectful.

Your initial responses to the discussion questions and subsequent comments on classmates' responses are due on the days specified by the course Calendar.

For additional information on online discussions, see Online Discussions in the Online Student Handbook.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

The six (6) written assignments in the course are built around associated modules. You will answer four questions for each assignment.