General Psychology Content Overview.
Spring 2009 Semester

 

Unit One
Week 1
Introduction  
Research Methods
Week 2
Biological Foundations
Week 3
Sensation & Perception
Week 4
Consciousness
Week 5
Exam #1
Unit Two
Week 6
Learning
Week 7
Memory
Week 8
Intelligence
Motivation  & Emotion
Week 9
Social Psychology
Week 10
Exam #2
Unit Three
Week 11
Personality
Week 12
Mental Disorders
Week 13
Therapies
Week 14
Stress & Health
Life-Span Development
Week 15
Exam #3
Final Exam
Week 16
Optional Comprehensive Final Exam (see syllabus)

 

Course Content Weekly Modules

Unit One
Week 1

January 20 - 25 

Note: The class interaction project cannot be completed at the last minute before the activity summary write-up is due on Monday January 26.  The project takes 5+ days to complete and must be started by early in the week, so read the instructions now.

Chapter 1

Introduction to the Science of  Psychology

Chapter 2

Research Methods: Quantifying Behavior and Mental Processes

Class Interaction Project #1: 
(Click the blue highlighted links below for detailed project instructions) 
Human Nature Debate

Due Dates for this Activity:
January 20: post your position statement on Blackboard discussion page
January 20 - 25: discuss & debate
January 26: written activity summary due 

Lab Activity: 
(Click the blue highlighted links below for detailed lab activity instructions) 
Experimental Design

Lab Write-up Due
Wednesday January 28

  Learning Objectives for Chapter 1 
Learning Objectives for Chapter 2 
Class Notes for Chapters 1 & 2 

 

Week 2

January 26 - February 1

Chapter 3

Biological Foundations of Behavior

Lab Activity:  
Left Brain - Right Brain Test

Lab Write-up Due
Monday February 2
 
Learning Objectives for Chapter 3

 

Week 3

February 2 - 8

Note: The class interaction project cannot be completed at the last minute before the activity summary write-up is due on Monday February 9.  The project takes 5+ days to complete and must be started by early in the week, so read the instructions now.

Chapter 4

Sensation and Perception

Class Interaction Project #2: 
Evolutionary Psychology or Mind / Body Problem

Due Dates for this Activity:
February 3: post your position statement on Blackboard discussion page
February 3 - 8: discuss & debate 
February 9: written activity summary due

Lab Activity:  
Stroop Effect

Lab Write-up Due
Monday February 9

  Learning Objectives for Chapter 4

 

Week 4

February 9 - 15

Note: The Dream Analysis Lab activity cannot be completed at the last minute before the lab write-up is due on Monday February 16.  The project takes 5+ days to complete and must be started early in the week, so read the instructions now.

Chapter 5

States of Consciousness

 

Lab Activity:  
Dream Analysis


Lab Write-up Due
Monday February 16
  Learning Objectives for Chapter 5

 

Week 5

February 16 - 22 

EXAM #1

Covering Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
February 16 (Monday) - February 21 (Saturday)  in the Testing Center (Spring Creek Campus)


Exam Review



Click here to access the downloadable .mp3 audio exam  review files.

 
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Unit Two
Week 6

February 23 - March 1

Chapter 6

Learning: Principles of Modifying Human & Animal Behavior

Lab Activity: 
Operant Conditioning

Lab Write-up Due
Monday March 2

  Learning Objectives for Chapter 6

 

Week 7

March 2 - 8

Note: The class interaction project cannot be completed at the last minute before the activity summary write-up is due on Monday March 9.  The project takes 5+ days to complete and must be started by early in the week, so read the instructions now.

Chapter 7

Memory

Class Interaction Project #3: 
To Spank, or Not to Spank?

March 3: post your position statement on Blackboard discussion page
March 3 - 8: discuss & debate
March 9: written activity summary due

Lab Activity: 
Memory Exploration

Lab Write-up Due
Monday March 9

  Learning Objectives for Chapter 7
Class Notes for Chapter 7

 

Week 8

March 9 - 15

Chapter 9

Intelligence

Chapter 10

Motivation and Emotion

Lab Activities:     
Intelligence Test 


and

Emotional Intelligence Test

Lab Write-ups Due
Monday
March
16

  Learning Objectives for Chapters 9
Learning Objectives for Chapters 10

 

SPRING BREAK -- March 16 - 22

 

Week 9

March 23 - 29 

Chapter 16

Social Psychology

Lab Activity:
Norm Violation


or


Stanford Prison Study

Lab Write-up Due
Monday March 30

 
Learning Objectives for Chapter 16

 

Week 10

March 30 - April 5

EXAM #2

Covering Chapters 6, 7, 9, 10 & 16
March 30 (Monday)  through April 4 (Saturday) in the Testing Center (Spring Creek Campus)

Exam Review

Click here to access the downloadable .mp3 audio exam  review files.

 

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Unit Three
Week 11

April 6 - 12

Chapter 12

Theories of Personality 
Personality Testing & Assessment

Lab Activity: 
Personality Tests


Lab Write-up Due
Monday April 13

 

Learning Objectives for Chapter 12

 

Week 12

April 13 - 19

Note: The class interaction project cannot be completed at the last minute before the activity summary write-up is due on Monday April 20.  The project takes 5+ days to complete and must be started by early in the week, so read the instructions now.

Chapter 14

Abnormal Behavior and Mental Disorders

Class Interaction Project #4: 
Personality: Nature vs. Nurture

April 14: post your position statement on Blackboard discussion page
April 14 - 19: discuss & debate
April 20: written activity summary due

Lab Activity: 
Mental Disorders

Lab Write-up Due
Monday April 20

Reminder:  
Last Day to Withdraw is Friday April 17, 2008
Learning Objectives for Chapter 14
Class Notes for Chapter 14

 

Week 13

April 20 - 26

Chapter 15

Treatment: Psychotherapy and Medical Therapies

Lab Activity: 
On-Line Psychotherapy

Lab Write-up Due
Monday April 27

  Learning Objectives for Chapter 15

 

Week 14

April 27 - May 3

Chapter 13

Stress and Health


Chapter 11

Life-Span Development

 

Lab Activity: 
Stress Assessment

and


Life Expectancy 

Lab Write-ups Due
Monday May 4
  Learning Objectives for Chapter 13
Learning Objectives for Chapter 11
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Week 15

May 4 -  10

EXAM #3 (Monday through Monday for Exam #3 only)

Covering Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15
Exam runs from May 4 (Monday) through May 11 (Monday)  in the Testing Center (Spring Creek Campus)

To confirm, you have until closing time Monday 5-11-09 to complete Exam #3.  
The Monday exam extension applies to Exam #3 only.


Exam Review

 

 

Click here to access the downloadable .mp3 audio exam  review files.

  

 

Final Exam
Week 16

May 11 - 16

OPTIONAL COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
Covering All Textbook Chapters (Except Chapter 8)
 
May 11 (Monday) through May 16 (Saturday) in the Testing Center (Spring Creek Campus)

The optional comprehensive final exam can be taken to replace a lower score obtained on one of the three prior unit exams.  The final exam score will be factored in only if it is higher than the lowest score obtained on the three unit exams.

Important:  The optional comprehensive final exam CANNOT be used to replace a missing score on a unit exam.  That is, the student must have taken all three unit exams in order to qualify to attempt the optional comp final.

 

Copyright 2009, Collin College and Dan Lipscomb 
All material on this site is for Collin College class use only. Any unauthorized duplication or distribution is prohibited.
 

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Dan Lipscomb
Professor of Psychology

Email me

Collin
County Community
College

Lasted edited 06/05/09