PSYCHOLOGY 101

ONLINE

Course Information and Syllabus

Summer 2017

Professor: Shelly Fichtenkort, Ph.D.

Phone: (209) 575-6898
E-mail: [email protected]
Web page: http://fichtenkorts.faculty.mjc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

This course will introduce you to the world of psychology by exploring the facts and
theories which seek to explain and understand human behavior. Over the course of the
semester we will examine methods used by behavioral scientists, the biological basis of
behavior, states of consciousness, psychological development across the lifespan,
social influences, as well as the causes and treatment of psychological disorders, just to
name a few.

Through reading, class discussion, and exercises, this course is designed to provide
you with a thorough introduction to psychology to prepare you for future psychology
course and/or future life! Most of all, have fun and enjoy learning about what makes
you… YOU!
Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of Psychology 101: General Psychology, you will have the
knowledge necessary to:

1. Distinguish between the humanistic, behavioral, psychoanalytic, cognitive, and

neuroscience perspectives in psychology.

2. Explain the basic research methodologies used in psychological science.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Myers, David. (2014) Exploring Psychology in Modules, 9th edition

ISBN# 9781464163425 (print version with DSM update)

Print textbook is available for purchase or rental at various online sellers (Amazon, Chegg,
Barnes & Noble) and in the MJC Bookstore:
http://www.bookstore.yosemite.cc.ca.us (Links to an external site.)
Copies are on reserve in East and West campus libraries
for 2 hours in-library use

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

Class participation is essential to your success in this course. You are expected to be an
active student in this class by participating in online discussions and keeping up with all
weekly assignments.

WEEKLY DISCUSSIONS:

Discussion topics will be identified each week and will be related to the textbook reading,
lectures, and assigned exercises. You are required to participate in online discussions
twice a week (2 different postings each week) throughout the semester by 1) posting a
response to the assigned topic and 2) posting a response to another student (please
identify the student by first name).

I recommend posting your original response and then waiting a couple of days to respond
to another student's posting (maybe someone will respond to your posting and you can
address their comments).

EACH of your discussion postings must be at least 100 words and demonstrate your
understanding and application of the class material.
If you choose to write the minimum 100 words, be sure there is sufficient CONTENT.
There is no real content in statements such as “I agree with you” or “Great post” or
“Nice job”. Each posting is worth a maximum of 10 points (20 pts per week) for a
possible 200 points.

Do not wait until Sundays to post BOTH of your required discussion postings or you will
lose 5 points! It is important to participate in the class (especially discussions) during the
week and not wait until the last day to contribute. You can earn full credit by posting
once earlier in the week and then again on Sunday but if both posts are Sunday, 5
points will be deducted.

This course is designed so that each week contains a separate unit of information. The
"week" begins on Monday morning at 6:00 am and ends on Sunday at midnight (all
times are Pacific Time). Every week you will access the course and find new reading
assignments, lectures, the weekly quiz, and other materials in each MODULE. ALL
ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK ARE DUE BY THE END OF THE WEEK (SUNDAY
AT MIDNIGHT).

I will release course materials and assignments on a week-by-week basis so we are all
studying and discussing the same topics, but you may work at your own pace within
each week. NO LATE DISCUSSION POSTINGS, QUIZZES, OR OTHER
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER MIDNIGHT SUNDAY EACH WEEK.

QUIZZES:

In addition to the Week 1 SYLLABUS QUIZ, you will have a weekly 20-item multiple-
choice quiz on the reading assignment and lecture materials for that week. Quizzes will
be available from Monday at 6:00 am until the following Sunday at 11 pm. Quizzes are
worth 20 points and may be taken TWICE to obtain the highest score. You should allow
sufficient time in-between quiz attempts to study your missed questions.

You have 30 minutes to complete each quiz attempt and only the highest score will be
counted. Weekly quizzes must be completed by the end of the week (Sunday at
midnight Pacific Time). You will have a total of 10 quizzes this semester for a possible
200 points.
 EXAMS:

There are four (4) required multiple-choice exams, each worth 75 points. The questions
will be taken primarily from your reading assignments and lecture materials, but you can
expect some exam questions on class activities, discussions, or exercises. Total
possible points = 300.

Each exam will be made available online for a period of 5 days (see detailed course
calendar) and you have 75 minutes to complete the exam. Each exam may only be
taken ONCE. You must take the exam BEFORE it expires to earn credit. Absolutely no
make-ups will be offered on exams or quizzes so please plan ahead!

Important! Once you click "Take the quiz", the countdown clock begins and it cannot be
reset. You may not save the exam and restart it later. It must be completed in one sitting.
The exam must be completed within the allotted time (75 minutes from the time you begin) and
before it expires at 11:59 pm on Sundays.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EVERY WEEK - remember the "week" begins Monday at 6 am and ends

Sunday at midnight.

EACH WEEK:

Click on the Module link under the course menu on the left side of your screen.
Open the Module associated with the current week (Week 1, Week 2, etc.) and
complete all assignments.

The summary of point values for assignments is as follows:

Exams 300
Quizzes 200
Discussions 200
TOTAL POINTS 700
There are a TOTAL of 700 points available with the following grade breakdown
(no + /-):

630 - 700 A
560 - 629 B
490 - 559 C
420 - 489 D
<420 F

ACADEMIC CONDUCT:

While participating in this course, it is absolutely essential that you abide by the rules
of academic conduct. Any evidence of academic dishonesty will result in a failing
grade and a report filed with the Dean of Student Services. Offenses include, but are
not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, which includes copying work from other students
or authors (both online and textbook, including copying other discussion postings),
and discrimination. It is very important that your work be your own. If you wish to
use ideas or a quote from any source, be sure to properly reference them by citing
the author, source (book, article, website), and page number.

You will be communicating with me as well as other students through e-mail and
class discussion boards. Please be polite in all correspondence and do not post
messages or e-mails in all capitals. IF YOU DO POST A MESSAGE OR E-MAIL
LIKE THIS, it means you are shouting.

DROPPING THE COURSE:

A student who decides to withdraw from this class at any time must do so by
filing the appropriate form in the Admissions Office or online through PiratesNet.
If you miss 2 consecutive weeks of quizzes or discussions, you may be dropped
for non-participation.
 PSYCHOLOGY ONLINE SYLLABUS

WEEK TOPICS OF THE WEEK

ASSIGNED
READING (Exploring
Psychology)

Modules 1 & 2
1 Psychological Science

2 Modules
Neuroscience and Behavior
3&4
3 Modules
Consciousness and Drugs 6&8
4 Modules
Human Development 10-12
5 Learning Modules
18-20
6 Memory Modules
21-23

7 Motivation
Emotion, Modules
Stress & Health 28-29 &
30-33
8 Personality & Modules
Social Psychology 34-35 &
36, 38
9 Psychological Disorders & Modules
Therapy 39-41 &
42-43
10 Course Wrap-up
& Evaluation