PSY-1012 General Psychology Syllabus Location: South Campus/online

Course Number: PSY-1012 Instructor: Prof. Elsa Gonzalez, MS

Course Title: General Psychology E-Mail: [email protected]
Prerequisites: None Meeting: Tuesday and Thursday
Course Credits: 3

1. Course Description: This course presents a comprehensive survey of the diverse and rapidly expanding
field of human psychology. Emphasis is placed on understanding the dynamics of the human nervous
system and how it affects our day-to-day behavior.

2. Course Outcomes:
At the end of the course, the student will be familiar with:
a) the theories and principles that surround the field of psychology.
b) the understanding of the basic concepts and terminology that are emphasized in the field.
3. Text and Materials: Zimbardo, Philip G., Johnson, Robert L., and McCann, Vivian . Psychology Core
Concepts. Newest Edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2014. ISBN: 978-0-205-97957-8.

4. Additional Resources: Other Textbooks and Materials may be introduced by the professor as resources of
information.

5. Grading Criteria for the Final Grade:

Attendance and Class Participation === 5% (If all assignments and Quizzes completed)
First Academic Assignment = 10%
First Introduction Discussion === 5%
Completed Quizzes on Time === 20%
Midterm Assignment #1 === 20 %
Final Assignment #2 === 20 %
Video Discussion (Chapter #4 LEARNING – Classical and Operant Condition) === 20%
Research Paper === Extra Points 10 Points (Must Follow APA Writing Style)

Total ============ 100 % (100 Points)

6. Grading System:

90 – 100 === A
80 – 89 === B
70 – 79 === C
0 – 69 === F

Students not attending classes and not submitting the Midterm Exam === WP
Students not attending classes and not submitting the Final Exam === WF

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7. Class Policies:

a. Students are responsible for all the material covered during the course.
b. Attendance is strongly encouraged because the entire test questions will come from material
covered in class.
c. Students must have their textbooks by the first day of class. No exceptions!!!
Failing to submit any of the required assignments, your grade may be highly affected.
d. Participation is required from all students.
e. All work must comply with APA written standards.
f. Research Paper must comply with APA written standards:

 Title page (1),

 Abstract (1),
 Content pages (7),
 Conclusion (1),
 References page (1).
 Therefore, there must be a minimum of eleven (11) pages per project.
 For more detailed information please, go to the Research Paper Tab located in the left
column.

In addition, you can contact our Writing Lab at the Hialeah campus and/or Online with Professor Ileana
Torres: http://www.fnu.edu/writing-lab/. She can also be reached at the school website:
[email protected].

g. All work must be turned in by the due date. Failure to do so may result in a grade of zero (0) for
that assignment or a decreased on the number of points earned – No Exceptions.
h. If students experience any issues that will affect their performance, they must contact the
professor prior to the assignment due date. Only e-mail messages sent from FNU Student’s E-
mail will be properly responded. Do not send messages from your PERSONAL email accounts.
i. In keeping with the professionalism for the class, absences, tardiness, and lateness should not
interfere with the completion or posting of assignments
j. Respect for colleagues, their cultural beliefs, differences of opinions, and individuality are also
required.
k. The professor reserves the right to lower a semester grade on the basis of lack of attendance,
professionalism, behavior, and low performance.
l. Cheating and Plagiarism is an unacceptable conduct and will NOT be tolerated.

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8. Course Objectives:

WEEK Objectives to be met: Learning Outcomes Text and

Materials used:
1 – What is Psychology and its Six Main A) Chapter 1: Mind,
Perspectives?(Learning Outcome b) Behavior, and
2 – How Do Psychologist Develop New Psychological
Knowledge? (Learning Outcome b) Science.
Chapters 1 and 2.
3 – How Are Genes and Behavior Linked? Textbook, videos,
(Learning Outcome b) Power Point
4 – How Does the Body Communicate Internally? slides, and Class
1 B) Chapter 2: Lecture.
(Learning Outcome b) Biopsychology,
5 – How Does the Brain Produce Behavior and Neuroscience and
Mental Process?(Learning Outcome b) Human Nature.

1 – How Does Stimulation Become Sensation?

(Learning Outcome b) C) Chapter 3:
2 – What is the Relationship Between Sensation Sensation and
Perception.
and Perception.(Learning Outcome b)
Chapters 3, 4, and
3 – What Sort of Learning Do Classical, Operant,
D) Chapter 4: 5. Textbook,
2 and Cognitive Psychology Explain?
Learning and videos, Power
(Learning Outcome b) Human Nature. Point slides, and
4 – What is Memory? How to Retrieve Memory? Class Lecture.
Is Forgetting part of the Memory? (Learning
Outcome b) E) Chapter5:
Memory.

1 – Define and Describe the Major Components of

Thoughts. (Learning Outcome b) Chapters 6 and 7.
2 – How is Intelligence Measure? (Learning Textbook, videos,
F) Chapter 6: Power Point
Outcome b) Thinking and slides, and Class
3 – Is Intelligence One or Many Abilities? Intelligence. Lecture.
(Learning Outcome b)
4 – What Innate Abilities Does the Infants
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Possess?(Learning Outcome b) G) Chapter 7: Chapters 6 and 7.
5- What are the Developmental Tasks of Development Over Textbook, videos,
Childhood, Adolescence, and Adults Face? the Lifespan. Power Point
slides, and Class
(Learning Outcome b)
Lecture.

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 Introduction to Chapter 8
1-How is Consciousness Related to Other Mental Chapter 8.
Processes? (Learning Outcome b) Textbook, videos,
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2- What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? H) Chapter 8: States Power Point
(Learning Outcome b) of Consciousness. slides, and Class
Lecture.

1 – What Motivates Us? (Learning Outcome a)

2 – Where Do Hunger and Sex Fit into the
Motivational Hierarchy?(Learning Outcome I) Chapter 9:
b) Motivation and
3 – What Processes Control Our Emotions? Emotion. Chapters 9 and
(Learning Outcome a) 10. Textbook,
5 videos, Power
4 – What Forces Shape Our Personalities? Point slides, and
(Learning Outcome a) J) Chapter 10: Class Lecture.
5- What “Theories” Do People Use to Understand Personality: Theories
Themselves and Others? (Learning Outcome of the Whole Person.
a)

1 – What Does the Social Situation Affect Our

Behavior? (Learning Outcome a)
2 – Constructing Social Realities: What Influences K) Chapter 11: Chapters 11 and
Our Judgements of Others?(Learning Social Psychology. 12. Textbook,
6 Outcome a) videos, Power
3 – What is Psychological Disorders?(Learning Point slides, and
Class Lecture.
Outcome a)
4 – How are Psychological Disorders Classified in L) Chapter 12: Chapters 11 and
the DSM-5?(Learning Outcome a) Psychological 12. Textbook,
5 – What are the Consequences of Labeling Disorders. videos, Power
People? (Learning Outcome a) Point slides, and
Class Lecture.
1 – What is Therapy? How Do Psychological M) Chapter 13: Chapters 13 and
Disorders?(Learning Outcome a) Therapies of 14. Textbook,
Psychological videos, Power
2 – How is the Biomedical Approach Used to
disorders. Point slides, and
Treat Psychological Disorders? (Learning Class Lecture.
Outcome a)
7 3 – What Causes Distress? How Does Stress
Affect Us Physically?(Learning Outcome a)

N) Chapter 14: From

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 4 -Who is Most Vulnerable to Stress?(Learning
Stress to Health
Outcome a)
and Well-Being.
5 – How Can We Transform Negative Stress into
Positive Life Strategies?(Learning Outcome
a)

Final Evaluation Class-Term

8 Class Wrap-Up, Class Feedback and Final Grading
Requirement
Submission. Conclusion.

8. Description of Graded Assessment:

A) Attendance and Participation: During the semester, attendance is strongly encouraged because the entire
test questions will come from material covered in class.

 If a student is unable to attend class, it is the student’s responsibility to get information from a
fellow student concerning the material that was missed.

 A grade would be given based on your attendance and class performance during the entire term.

 Keep in mind that reading another students notes is a difficult way to comprehend some
complicated psychological concepts.

B) Research Paper: You will be assigned, as needed, to complete a research paper according to the
syllabus.
 The instructor must approve your topic. All the students will email the instructor to submit your
topic to be approved.
 Every student needs to submit his/her topic to be approved by the instructor before starting to
work on the topic. Research papers would not be accepted unless it has been submitted and
approved by the instructor.
 By copying and pasting information to complete any assignment during the class such as
Research papers, Class activities and/or Discussion Forums would not be tolerated. Therefore,
your grade may be “0” grade.

The structure should include the following:

 Research Paper must comply with APA written standards:
 Title page (1),
 Abstract (1),
 Content pages (7),
 Conclusion (1),
 Reference page (1).
 Therefore, there must be a minimum of eleven (11) pages per project.

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  For more detailed information please, go to the following link:
http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/index.htm.
 In addition, you can utilize the services from the Writing Lab at the Hialeah campus and online with
Professor Ileana Torres. She can be reached at http://www.fnu.edu/writing-lab/. She can also be
reached at the school website: [email protected]
 All work must be turned in by the due date. Failure to do so may result in a grade of zero (0) for that
assignment.
 You must include at least three (3) professional journal articles (Primary Sources) from the FNU
Database site to be added to the Reference Page!!!
 Include in-text citations for any information taken, quoted or paraphrased from references sources.
Once you have submitted your Research paper, Turnitin will provide you with your similarity rate
for the document.
 If your similarity rate is more than 40%, the student will be able to resubmit it one (1) more time in
the next two (2) following dates. There is no need to wait for me to grade it. For example if you get a
75% for similarity rate, you must submit it again in the next following dates!!!
 No previous Research papers will be accepted from previous classes since this is a Turnitin
assignment; therefore, the similarity rate will be extremely high.
 As a consequence the student will have to submit another Research paper and it will be graded with
a lower grade.
 Your research will be typed on your own vocabulary, research and writing. No copying or pasting
information!!! This will not be tolerated. The student will receive a “0” grade if you copied and
pasted information.
 You must include at least three (3) professional journal articles (Primary Sources) from journals in
Psychology from the FNU Database: http://www.lirn.net/accounts/login/?next=/services/ and the
passcode to log on is 24439 on your Reference page.

Please, you can refer to the DSM-5 Manual (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
located at the school library.

C) Class Assignments: Students will be assigned Class activities according to the chapter content.

D) Midterm Exam: A midterm examination will be administered to evaluate the knowledge acquired from
chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
 Failure to complete the Midterm exam by its due date may result on a grade of zero (0) for the
examination, and you may receive a WP grade for the term. NO MAKE-UPS.
 You will have three (3) hours to complete the test.

E) Final Exam: A final examination will be administered to evaluate the knowledge acquired from chapters
9, 10, 11, 12 13, and 14.
 Failure to complete the Final exam by its due date may result on a grade of zero (0) for the
examination and you will receive a WF grade for the term. NO MAKE-UPS.
 You will have three (3) hours to complete the test.

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Methods of Course Delivery: The subject matter in this course is presented in various forms which may
include various chapters, lectures, class discussion, demonstrations, collaborative activities, computer
assignments, student projects and presentations, on-line research, guest speakers or field trips.

Attendance: Please be advised that attendance and participation is 5 Points of your Final grade. You need to be
in class at all times from the beginning to the end of the class and throughout the week. If you have any
difficulties to attend to class, please let the instructor know immediately. The completion of all Quizzes and
Assignments on time will grant you the five (5) points.

Readings: It is very important that the student reads the material assigned for each class day/week, previously
to come to class, and or view and read the Power Points. The instructor will ask questions during the course of
the class to assess how much material the students have been able to understand from their readings.

Dress Code: Students are expected to dress up appropriately and professionally at all times.

This Syllabus and/or the above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to changes at the instructor’s
discretion or in the event of extenuating circumstances. Students will be informed of any changes, however, it is
the student’s responsibility to be updated on the syllabus status.

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 Psychology Program
Syllabus Acknowledgement Form

I, ____________________________________________ hereby acknowledge I have received a copy of the

syllabus for course _____________ and am aware of the following requirements of this class and the following
campus policies:

 Identification Badge to be worn while on campus

 Student portal and email access

 Parking policy (permit and visitor parking)

 Designated Smoking Area

 Dress Code

 No Drinking/Eating in classrooms and hallways

 No cell phones, pagers, etc. during class or while walking in hallways

 Attendance Requirement

 Homework

 Quiz/Exam Policy

Signature: _______________________________ Date: _____________________