PSY2012 - General Psychology

3 hours Lecture, 3 credit(s)

Lower-Division College Credit

Prerequisite(s): Requires placement at the college level or satisfaction of developmental education requirements in reading and writing.

AA Elective: Yes

Academic Dean’s Contact Information

LAKELAND DEAN’S OFFICE: LLC 2255 PHONE: (863) 297-1024
WINTER HAVEN DEAN’S OFFICE: WSC 101 PHONE: (863) 297-1020

Course Description:
This course introduces the science of psychology by surveying various areas of psychology including experimental, biological, cognitive, personality, health, educational, and clinical psychology.

This course is also offered in Honors format. For Honors Program sections, Honors Program permission is required.

Polk State College Mission and Program Outcomes

Polk State College, a quality driven institution transforms lives through the power of education by providing access to affordable associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates and workforce employment programs, delivered by diverse, qualified faculty and staff. In line with this purpose, Polk State’s General Education courses develop competence in the areas of 1) Communication, 2) Critical Thinking, 3) Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning, 4) Information Literacy, 5) Global Socio-Cultural Responsibility. Students should review the Polk State Catalog for a complete description of these outcomes. This course focuses on the development of competencies related to the areas of:

1. Communication

Demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak, and listen effectively, utilizing standard English.

2. Critical Thinking

Demonstrate the ability to reflect on, analyze, synthesize, and apply information through problem solving.

5. Global Socio-Cultural Responsibility

Demonstrate knowledge of global cultural influences, ethical principles, and social responsibility.

Course Objectives:

1. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the foundations of the science of psychology. (5)
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the primary objectives of psychology.
3. Demonstrate basic knowledge of theories and research in psychology. (5)
4. Demonstrate basic knowledge of themes and questions in psychology. (5)
5. Demonstrate basic knowledge of psychological terms, concepts, and language used to describe psychological phenomena. (1)
6. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the major perspectives of psychology.
7. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the scientific method and its application to the study of psychology.
8. Demonstrate effective critical thinking skills. (2)
9. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the major specialty areas of psychology.
10. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the appropriate application of psychology in solving problems. (5)

For Honors Program sections, the following Course Objectives also apply:
11. Utilize primary sources to research, write and/or create original academic work.

Course Content:

The course will survey the following topics:

History of psychology - including an overview of why psychology is a science, the influences that helped form this science, and the goals of psychology
Major perspectives of psychology

                        o    Behavioral
                        o    Biological
                        o    Cognitive
                        o    Evolutionary
                        o    Humanistic
                        o    Psychodynamic
                        o    Sociocultural

Major specialty areas of psychology such as

                        o    Clinical
                        o    Counseling
                        o    Industrial/Organizational
                        o    Educational
                        o    Developmental
                        o    Personality
                        o    Social
                        o    Health

Research methods in psychology - including an overview of the scientific method and the research designs used in the study of psychology
Critical thinking skills to include

                        o    Evaluation of the quality of information
                        o    Challenging claims that arise from myth, stereotype, or untested assumptions
                        o    Evaluation of popular media reports of psychological research

Biological bases of behavior
Themes and questions in psychology including

                        o    The interaction of heredity and environment
                        o    Subjective versus objective perspective
                        o    The interaction of the mind and body
                        o    Cultural differences and their influence on theories and research findings.

Sensation and perception
Consciousness and its variations
Learning and cognition
Memory
Thinking, language and intelligence
Motivation and emotion
Personality
Psychological disorders
Treatment of psychological disorders
Application of psychology in areas such as

                        o    Pursuit and effect of healthy lifestyles
                        o    Origin and treatment of abnormal behavior
                        o    Psychological tests

The course may survey one or both of the following, time permitting:

Lifespan development
Social psychology

Textbook and Other Requirements

Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus, at the campus bookstore, on the campus bookstore website (www.polk.bncollege.com), or via the “Shop Textbook” button on the PASSPORT schedule of classes.

The Gordon Rule

The Gordon Rule, State Rule 6A-10.30, requires each Associate in Arts (AA) degree program student to complete six credits of college-level mathematics; taking the appropriate General Education mathematics courses will satisfy the mathematics portion of the requirement.

In addition, State Rule 6A-10.030 requires each AA degree program student to complete six semester hours of English and six semester hours of additional courses in which the student demonstrates college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Because Polk State College uses a “Writing across the Curriculum” approach to meeting the writing requirement, in addition to the required composition courses, any of the required Social Sciences and Humanities courses will fulfill this writing requirement. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses used to fulfill the Communications and Mathematics areas of the General Education requirements.

This course provides emphasis on writing. Students should expect a variety of writing assignments of varying lengths.

Student Help

The professor is available for help during posted hours and by appointment during other non-class hours. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from the professor. To further the educational process, the campus Learning Resources Centers, comprised of the Teaching/Learning and Computing Center (TLCC) JDA Student Success Center, and library, are available for student use. Each resource provides qualified staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities to promote students’ academic success. The TLCCs and JDA Student Success Center provide tutoring services, computing resources, and other instructional support. The library provides information resources, individual and group study space, research assistance, information literacy instruction, and computing resources. Each facility provides free wireless access to the Internet. Polk State College Library, Student Success Center, and TLCC hours of operation and tutoring schedules are posted at each facility and on the College website.

Withdrawing From a Course

Students may officially withdraw from course(s) during any given term, provided they follow the appropriate policy and procedure. Following the conclusion of the Drop/Add Period, a student may officially withdraw without academic penalty from any credit course, provided he or she has submitted the appropriate forms to the Student Services Office no later than the published deadline. The published deadline reflects approximately (but no more than) 70% of the term, based upon the course’s scheduled duration. It is the student’s responsibility to submit these withdrawal forms; failure to do so may result in a grade of F in the course. Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. A student is not allowed to withdraw from a third course attempt. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding course withdrawal that vary from this policy. Individuals should refer to the student handbook for that program for more information. If a student stops attending class, the grade earned, usually an F, is assigned and posted. Prior to withdrawing from a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, withdrawal from the course will have on his or her financial aid status. A student cannot use course withdrawal to avoid academic dishonesty penalties. A student who has been penalized for academic dishonesty in a course is not eligible to withdraw from the course.

Repeating a Course

Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one college credit course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. Under certain circumstances, a student may petition to repeat a credit course beyond the three attempts. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding repeating a course that vary from this policy. Individuals should refer to the student handbook for that program for more information. The student should be aware that repeating a course may result in a higher course cost. A course cannot be repeated unless the previously earned grade is a D, F, or W (the Polk State College Catalog provides further details regarding this process). Prior to repeating a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating the course will have on his or her financial aid status.

Academic Dishonesty

Each student is responsible for his or her work. It is assumed that each student is honest and will abide by this standard; however, in the event that there is an indication or suspicion of cheating/plagiarism, the situation shall be dealt with in accordance with the published College policy. Copies of this policy are available in the Student Services Office. Students should also refer to the course syllabus for more specific information.

Information Technology Access/Use Policy

All individuals who employ the information technology resources provided by Polk State College (this includes, but is not limited to, telephones, computers, the Polk State College Local Area and Wide Area Networks, and the Internet) must use these resources for academic purposes only. Use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use can result in revocation or suspension of this privilege.

Equal Access/Opportunity

Polk State College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education and employment. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to students, employees, and applicants for employment or admission to the College. The College prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, genetic information or disability in any of its employment policies or practices, educational programs, or activities. For questions or concerns, please contact: Valparisa Baker, Director, Equity & Diversity (Title IX Coordinator), 999 Avenue H NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299, Office: WAD 227, 863.292.3602 Ext. 5378, vbaker@polk.edu.

Equal Opportunity For Students With Disabilities

The College complies with The Americans with Disabilities Act and provides equal educational opportunity for qualified individuals. A student with a disability who requires special accommodations or auxiliary aids under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Student Services Office on either campus and speak with a Disability Services Advisor or the Coordinator of Disability Services. Note: Limited admission programs may have performance restrictions that apply. Restrictions (where applicable) are outlined in each program’s student handbook.

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