SYLLABUS
Psychology 140.73 W 6:00 – 9:52
Introduction to Psychology 4 Credit Hours
Professor Cleveland ClevelaAnthonyJ@jccmi.edu 1-517-796-8570
Course Description: This course is introductory in nature. This means we will cover quite a few
topics related to the discipline of study known as psychology. When we are finished by the end
of the semester, you will not be a psychologist but you will have been exposed to the major
principles, concepts and ideas upon which psychologists’ research and debate. We will travel
through the material in the textbook at a rapid pace. Yes, you will need the book and yes, you
will need to read the book. It is important for you to keep up with the reading of each chapter
(approximately 40 to 50 pages per chapter). Always refer back to the attached tentative schedule
to see what we will be discussing on each class day. I have decided to combine chapters together
that contain certain psychological themes.
Course Goals: Modern psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes.
By the end of the semester, I hope you understand exactly what that sentence implies regarding
the nature of psychological science. Yes, you will be exposed to many new words, thoughts and
concepts. I think you will find this class intellectually stimulating and perhaps, somewhat
challenging. I also hope your active participation in this class helps you in your own personal
journey of self discovery … an important developmental task for all humans. I have discovered
in the years I have been teaching here at JCC that successful students in this class tend to
demonstrate certain behavioral/personality characteristics. Allow me to list a few of them;
Class attendance … OTIF
Prior preparation … read the assigned chapters prior to class
Questions, questions, questions …
Interaction with professor and fellow students … my office hours are posted and student
study groups work well
Textbook: Psychology, 9th edition, Meyers, Werth Publishing Company
Grading:
Student Attendance (10%)
Student Participation (10%)
End of Chapter Quizzes – average grade (20%)
Section Exams (Each of the two exams will be worth 30% of your final grade …60% in total)
Please note: There will be no make up quizzes or exams. For the quizzes, I will drop the two
lowest grades when computing the semester average. This means, you may miss two quizzes
without an adverse impact upon your average quiz grade.
Grading Scale:
The grade you earn in the course will be based on the average grade you receive on all graded
work. The following scale will apply;
Final Percentage Grade
94-100 4.0
89-93 3.5
84-88 3.0
78-83 2.5
72-77 2.0
66-71 1.5
60-65 1.0
55-59 0.5
0-54 0.0
Additional Information Regarding Grades:
The I grade will be considered when the student’s work is sufficient in quality but not
quantity. It is based upon 75% attendance, quality work as determined by the instructor,
and a sufficient reason not to complete the course. An I grade may be removed by
completing the course requirements prior to the end of the next semester. If the necessary
work is not completed on time, the I grade will remain on the student’s transcript as a
permanent grade.
The W grade is awarded to students who decide to withdraw from the course prior to the
end of the semester. You, the student, must officially withdraw by completing a
withdrawal form on or before the official withdrawal date.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Each student will produce their own work
and not represent the work of others as their own via plagiarism or cheating nor will a student aid
others in the violation of the ethical principle of academic honesty. Plagiarism is the failure to
give credit for the use of material from outside sources. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:
Using data, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources without adequate
documentation
Submitting others’ work as your own
Cheating means obtaining answers/material from an outside source without authorization.
Cheating includes but is not limited to:
Plagiary in all forms
Using notes/books without authorization
Copying
Submitting others’ work as your own or submitting work for others
Altering graded work
Falsifying data
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Section I: Experimental Psychology, Neuropsychology, Developmental Psychology,
Behavior Psychology and Cognitive Psychology (part I)
Dates: Topic: Chapter(s):
8-26 Syllabus/Expectations
9-2Q1 Psychology as Science One
9-9Q2 Neuroscience Two
9-16Q3 Consciousness Three
9-23Q4 Human Development Four & Five
9-30Q5 Sensation-Perception Six
10-7Q6 Learning Seven
10-14Q7 Memory Eight
10-21-2009 SECTION I EXAM One through Eight
Section II: Cognitive Psychology (part II), Educational Psychology, Industrial-
Organization Psychology, Personality Theory, Clinical Psychology & Social Psychology
Dates: Topic: Chapter(s):
10-28Q8 Thinking & Intelligence Nine & Ten
11-4Q9 Motivation Eleven
11-11Q10 Emotions, Stress & Health Twelve
11-18Q11 Personality Thirteen
12-2Q12 Disorders & Treatment Fourteen & Fifteen
12-9Q13 Social Interactions Sixteen
12-16-2009 SECTION II EXAM Nine through Sixteen
Note: Every effort will be made to maintain the schedule as listed. However, the schedule is
subject to change at the sole discretion of Professor Cleveland.
ADO: Associate Degree Outcomes
My colleagues and I (faculty, administration and trustees of JCC) have determined each
student successfully completing Psychology 140 should have a degree of competency in two
conceptual areas;
Understanding human behavior and social systems, the principles which govern them,
and their implications for the present and future
Think critically; Demonstrating critical thinking through questioning, interpreting,
analyzing, evaluating, inferring from and synthesizing information to solve problems in a
variety of settings.
How will you develop the necessary skills in this course that correlate with these two important
ADOs?
1. Be prepared for class by reading the lecture material prior to the scheduled date.
2. Be prepared to ask lots of questions regarding what you have read.
3. The chapter quizzes/section exams are designed to help you develop an
understanding of human nature via a study of the principles of modern
psychology.
4. The chapter quizzes/section exams are designed to help you develop your critical
thinking skills by incorporating conceptual and application type test items related
to the psychological concepts under study.