General Psychology: PSY 150 Course Outline/Syllabus

Class/Lab/Credit Hours: 3/0/3 Instructor: Bobby Hamby Office Location: A-210 Office Phone: TBA e-mail:rhamby@cccti.edu Office Hours: Monday, 9-10, 11-12 Tuesday11-1; Wednesday 9-10, 11-12; Thursday 11-1 Friday 9-10, 11-12

I enjoy teaching and talking with you. Please do not hesitate to ask for my assistance, come by if you have questions, or just want to explore an idea. Believe it or not, thats what they pay me for!
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the scientific study of human behavior. Topics include history, methodology, biopsychology, sensation, perception, learning, motivation, cognition, abnormal behavior, personality theory, social psychology and other relevant topics. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the science of psychology. Prerequisite: Reading Placement or completion of RED 090.

I enjoy teaching and talking with you. Please do not hesitate to ask for my assistance, come by if you have questions, or just want to explore an idea. Believe it or not, thats what they pay me for!
Textbook: Basic Psychology, by Charles Morris and Albert Maisto. Related Program and Student Learning Outcomes: A.A./A.S. Program Outcomes: Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and its application, including interpreting and analyzing scientific data, forming hypotheses, and evaluating experiments. Students will design an experiment with appropriate use of controlled, independent and dependent variables. Graduates will apply written and oral communication principles in a variety of academic contexts. Students will support their opinions effectively in written and oral communications assignments using research documentation such as MLA or APA when necessary. General Education Outcomes: Graduates will demonstrate communication skills that include the ability to read, comprehend, and analyze information; and to express ideas effectively through written and oral communications. Students will apply comprehension and critical reading strategies to evaluate and analyze fiction and/or non-fiction texts in a variety of contexts. Students will produce unified, coherent, well developed written communication using Standard English and appropriate research and documentation techniques where necessary. Graduates will recognize and articulate an understanding of global perspectives and cultural diversity. Students will demonstrate an understanding for complex global issues such as environmental concerns, religious and cultural diversity, human rights issues, overpopulation, and the economy on the global level. Graduates will apply critical thinking strategies to think logically and solve problems using analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Students will recognize bias, differing points of view, connotative language, fallacies, the difference between fact and opinion, and other barriers to critical thinking. Course Outcomes: By the conclusion of this course, students with a C average or better will: Demonstrate an ability to accurately define psychology, and to identify various areas within psychology. Demonstrate familiarity with the history of psychology and the major theories or schools of thought. Demonstrate an understanding of the primary methods of psychological research. Demonstrate familiarity with the role of the brain and nervous system in controlling behavior. Demonstrate an understanding of the differences between sensations and perceptions and how meaning is assigned. Demonstrate an understanding of different states of consciousness and how they are altered. Demonstrate an ability to define and describe cognition, including how it is measured and various techniques for cognitive enhancement.

Demonstrate an understanding of the basis of human motivation and emotion. Demonstrate familiarity with personality development theories. Demonstrate an understanding of how various psychosocial factors, including environment, culture and gender, interact to influence behavior. Demonstrate an ability to define abnormal behavior, and to identify some of the common approaches to therapy.

Attendance: Conscientious attendance is expected and required; (20% rule, as detailed by the instructor ) Course Grading System: The parameters for grade assignments are as follows, based upon a 7-point scale: A 93-100 B 85-92 C 77-84 D 65-76 F 00-64 Note: If you require an accommodation for a disabling condition, please contact Disability Services in Student Services Note: Students are expected to adhere to all college policies and procedures outlined in the CCC & TI Student Handbook and College Catalog which are available on the college's website or in Student Services. These policies and procedures include information regarding the student code of conduct, grievance procedures, disciplinary procedures, academic integrity, and emergency preparedness procedures. Syllabus Addenda: All of the following attached items should be considered addenda to the syllabus, and as such are incorporated as part of the course syllabus.

Description of exams: There will be five multiple choice exams (each worth 100 points) throughout the
semester. The final exam will not be cumulative. Your lowest test grade will be dropped. The average of the four highest test grades will account for 90 percent of your final grade.

Paper: Each student will write a 4-6 page paper briefly describing the plot of a movie and how it relates to
psychology. Summarize the paper by giving your interpretation of the movie. I will give suggestions of movies in class. However any movie may be chosen as long as I approve it. The paper will be discussed in more detail later in the semester. The paper will account for 10 percent of your final grade

Classroom Environment: It is important for me to provide an environment most conducive to learning. At

times, we will be discussing controversial and sensitive topics and I want each student to feel comfortable expressing his/her opinion. As such, please respect myself and other students in the class as well as their opinions. I will not tolerate any discrimination toward ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etcetera. Please feel free to approach me with any concerns of this nature.

Bobbys pet peeves: Cell phones are the devil, and annoy me to no end, make sure they dont ring during our
class time, Sleeping in class, because it distracts me, and constantly coming late to class, again because it is a distraction for me, if you come in late do so quietly please