College of DuPage

Course Syllabus

http://www.cod.edu

PSYCH 1100 General Psychology

Term: Spring 2015

Course Date: 01/14/15-05/15/15
BIC 3804
SPE 912
IAI Course Code for Majors: SPE 912
IAI Course Code For General Education: S6 900

Credit Hours
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor Contact Information:
Dr. Monica Roberts, Ed.D, LCPC
COD email: robertsm133@cod.edu
Phone number:630-942-4445 ext. 56499#

Lecture Hours: 3

Catalog Description
A survey of the study of behavior and mental processes with emphasis on the scientific nature of
contemporary psychological investigation. Topics discussed include history of psychology and major
theorists/theories, research methods, the biology of behavior, sensation and perception, stress and
adjustment, learning, memory, cognition, motivation, emotion, life-span development of behavior,
personality, abnormal behavior and its therapies, social behavior, and individual differences.

Prerequisites and Compliance Criteria

Reading Placement Test Score: Category One

Course Methods of Instruction

Lectures with Powerpoint, textbook, small group discussion, large group discussion, videos, case
studies, journaling

Objectives/Goals
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to do the following:
1. Explain the nature of psychology as a science and a profession
2. Identify basic research methods in psychology
3. Explain the strengths and weakness of various research designs
4. Describe the basic concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics including measures of
central tendency, variability, and statistical significance.
5. Evaluate the appropriateness of conclusions derived from psychological research in both the
professional literature and the media
6. Explain and apply the major theories and research of psychology including learning and
cognition, individual differences, psychometrics, personality, social processes, biological bases
of behavior, sensation and perception, motivation, emotion, stress and health, and life-span
development
7. Explain the major perspectives of psychology including biological, behavioral, cognitive,
evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural.
8. Recognize the influence of culture and gender on human behavior including ethnicity, gender,
sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, and aging.
9. Describe major applied areas of psychology including clinical, industrial/organizational, school
and health.
10. Apply psychological principles to social, educational, and organizational issues
11. Apply psychological principles to enhance self awareness and interpersonal interactions
12. Explain and appropriately apply the code of ethics in psychology in diverse situations

Topical Outline
This course will include but not be restricted to the following topics:
1. Psychology as a science
2. History of psychology : major theories
3. Research methods and statistics
4. Biological bases of behavior
5. Sensation and perception
6. States of consciousness
7. Learning
8. Memory
9. Thinking and language
10. Lifespan development
11. Individual differences
12. Motivation and emotion
13. Stress, coping and health
14. Personality and assessment
15. Psychological disorders
16. Treatment of psychological disorders
17. Social and cultural dimensions of behavior

Course Materials
Writing and note-taking utensils and materials, separate journal

Required Texts
Psychology by Hockenbury and Hockenbury; Sixth Edition
ISBN: 1-4292-4367-8

Date
01-14
01-16
01-19
01-21
01-23
01-26
01-28
01-30
02-02
02-04
02-06
02-09
02-11
02-13
02-16

In-class/ Reading
Intro/Syllabus/ Ch.1
Ch.1
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY- NO CLASSES
Ch. 2
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
QUIZ CHS. 1-4
Ch.5
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 6
Ch. 7

02-18

Ch. 7

02-20
02-23
02-25
02-27
03-02
03-04
03-06
03-09
03-11
03-13
03-16
03-18
03-20
03-23
03-25
03-27
03-30
04-01
04-03
04-06
04-08

Ch. 8
Ch. 8
QUIZ CHS. 5-8
Ch. 9
Ch. 9
Ch. 10
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 11
QUIZ CHS. 9-11
movie for Ch. 12
movie for Ch.12
movie for Ch.12
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Ch. 14
SPRING BREAK- NO CLASSES
SPRING BREAK-NO CLASSES
SPRING BREAK- NO CLASSES
Ch. 15
Ch. 15

04-10
04-13
04-15
04-17
04-20
04-22
04-24
04-27
04-29
05-01
05-04
05-06
05-08
05-13

QUIZ CHS. 12-15, discuss presentations

PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
FINAL EXAM

Presentation
Choose a chapter from the textbook and summarize it. Then relate any part or parts of that chapter to a
personal experience, a news story, TV show or movie. Presentations should be 10-15 minutes in
length. 10 minutes MINIMUM. 15 minutes MAXIMUM. You may present any way you like, using any
medium. Everyone will be required to present. YOU MUST DO BOTH PARTS OF THE
PRESENTATION FOR FULL POINTS- THE SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER AND THE
RELATING OF THE CHAPTER TO A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, NEWS STORY, TV SHOW
OR MOVIE.

Blackboard
If you have not had much experience with Blackboard, you might find it helpful to visit the COD
Student Resources for Blackboard located at http://www.cod.edu/it/blackboard.
You will only be required to submit your paper to Blackboard. Please also use Blackboard to check
your COD email for any emails from me. The entire syllabus will be on Blackboard as well.

Journaling
Journaling is a technique used in psychotherapy to help clients process their thoughts, emotionally
release, and organize their thought process on an issue they are struggling with in order to make
connections, gain insight, calm themselves, resolve issues, or problem solve. It is important to practice
this as a basic psychology technique. During several class periods we will begin the class by journaling
for a short period of time. Journals can be done on notebooks, notebook paper, laptops, or tablets and
will be either topics of your or my choosing. These will not be graded but are required for participation
points.

Grading
The total grade will be out of 100 points. The breakdown of points are as follows:

Participation- 5 points
4 Quizzes- 40 points total (10 points each)
Presentation- 25 points
Final Exam- 30 points

Grading Scale
A=100-90 points
B=89-80 points
C=79-70 points
D=69-60 points
F=Less than 60 points

Late Work
Quizzes and the final exam cannot be made up unless there are extenuating circumstances, which you
can discuss with me. The presentation dates are between 04/13 and 05/08. You must present on any
one of those dates for consideration of earning your full presentation points.

Attendance Policy
Come to class on time and stay the entire class. Since COD requires an attendance record to be turned
in with the final grades for all students, I will be taking and recording attendance daily by circulating a
sign-in sheet. Attendance is mandatory. You are given 4 ABSENCES ONLY. Any more absences and
your grade will be dropped one letter grade. If you have extenuating circumstances that impede your
attendance for longer than 4 class periods, please contact me personally to discuss. Participation is
also counted towards your grade for a total of 5 points. Not participating in discussions and
repeatedly leaving class early or coming to class late will be reflected in your participation points.

Academic Honesty
COD is committed to honesty and integrity in all respects of college life. Academic dishonesty
and plagiarism within your paper is a serious offense. Due process will be followed according to
the Student Code of Conduct.

Special Students Services

It is the policy of COD to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals who are
students with disabilities. Please let me know if you need special accommodations in instruction or
assessment for your to be able to fully participate (if you have a blue card). I will keep the
confidentiality of information you share with me. The Office of Special Students Services is located in
the SSC-3249 (630-942-4260).

Withdrawal Policy
Withdrawal from a class
The final day for a student to withdraw from any course will be equal to 75% of the time for the
respective academic session (see the Registration Calendar
http://www.cod.edu/registration/pdf/reg_calendar.pdf) through myACCESS
https://myaccess.cod.edu or in person at the Registration office, Student Services Center (SSC), Room
2221.
Administrative Withdrawal/Incomplete Grade
After the deadline, students will be required to appeal for late withdrawal and provide
appropriate documentation to the Student Registration Services Office for all requests. Students who
are granted approval to withdraw by petition will not be eligible for refunds of tuition or fees and will
receive a 'W' grade on their transcript. Appeals must be submitted prior to the designated final exam
period for 16-week classes and before the last class meeting for all other session classes. An I grade
will be submitted for the course under rare extenuating circumstances that will be approved by me.

Date Syllabus Prepared:____01-07-15___________________