Stevens Institute of Technology

College of Arts and Letters HSS 175A FALL 2012

Name of instructor: Susan Schept Office: Morton 320 Office hours: M2:00-3:15, Thurs. 3-4 Telephone extension: 5397 Email address: sschept@stevens.edu Course description: This course introduces students to issues and theories in the following areas: neuroscience, sensation and perception, learning, memory, life-span development, personality theory, and psychopathology. Particular emphasis will be placed on exploring and critically assessing evidence regarding the assertions of the particular theory under discussion. A review of research methods used in the discipline of psychology also comprises material for this course.

College of Arts and Letters Objectives:

1) Students will demonstrate an awareness of ethical responsibility and the societal impact

of their future profession.

2) Students will demonstrate a fuller understanding of the traditional humanities and social sciences through an understanding of their relation to the study of science and/or technology. 3) Students will demonstrate awareness of cultures and societies other than their own. 4) Students will demonstrate writing and/or public speaking skills.

5) Students will demonstrate a love of learning in the liberal arts for its own sake. 6) Students will demonstrate leadership and team skills. Social Science outcomes: 1. Philosophical foundation. The student will understand the underlying theories and methods used in political science, psychology, and sociology and be able to apply them in individual and team directed research. 2. Historical foundation. The student will understand the evolution of the disciplines of the social sciences in concrete cause and effect relationships, and be able to discern schools of interpretation over time.

3. Research. The student will be able to design and conduct research in the social sciences using appropriate theories for the disciplines of political science, psychology and sociology. Quantification techniques as well as theoretical constructs will be employed in doing thesis research and data collection. 4. Tools. The student will be proficient in computing technologies necessary for the specific discipline. 5. Professionalism. The student will achieve a high degree of knowledge, accountability, and where warranted certification in professional practice. 6. Leadership. The student will be able to develop plans for research projects on a professional level. 7. Teamwork. The student will be able to contribute to research activity as part of working team member, and facilitate cooperation among the members of the team resulting in a successful project. 8. Communication. The student will enhance written and oral presentation skills using a variety of means to convey significant ideas and proposals. 9. Ethics. The student will understand and abide by professional standards of ethics appropriate to the discipline on a professional level. 10. Social Issues. The student will place into modern social context information derived from research such that the relationship between theory and practice are manifest. 11. Lifetime learning. The student will be treated as a professional with a lifelong investment in his or her field of study, and a professional goal of continuing selfassessment and self-improvement. Course outcomes: 1. You will understand the nature of the discipline of psychology including the many scientific research methods used. (1) 2. You will understand the ethical implications of the research methods used in the discipline. (9) 3. You will understand some of the main concepts included in above mentioned fields(2) 4. Your written and oral expression of knowledge and ideas will improve. (8) Required print texts: Henry Gleitman, James Gross, and Daniel Reisberg, Psychology, 8th edition. ISBN # 978-0-393-93250-8

Online materials: There are literally hundreds of websites devoted to introductory psychology. There is one in particular that I highly recommend as this site will give you access to reputable material in many of the areas of study that we will cover this semester. It is www.psychwww.com. Please follow the menu to scholarly resources on the web. Material on the brain and nervous system is an essential part of psychology. You may wish to read up on some of this information as it relates to our areas of study. I highly recommend a site called

neuroscience for kids. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html. This site is not for kids only. It is clear, concise and very readable. It will be of great assistance. Ive included several links in the syllabus for review. Most of the material will be covered in the class and well actually view some of these videos. Other materials: There will be additional in-class handouts from time to time to augment the materials in the text and on-line.

Course structure:
This class involves both lecture and discussion. We will view videos from PBS series on the brain and time permitting, one feature film. Participation in the form of questions and/or discussion of material is always encouraged. This is your class! The more actively engaged you are, the more you will enjoy the class. You will be responsible for submitting a total of 4 short (2-3) page papers throughout the course of the semester. Each paper assignment will be discussed in class. Due dates are listed in the syllabus. You will also be responsible for presenting one short oral report. Topics will be discussed in class and presentations will begin after the midterm exam. Dates for these oral reports will be discussed and assigned based on mutually agreeable schedules. There will be an in-class midterm exam and a final exam at the end of the semester. The final exam schedule is set by the registrar. Course Schedule: Week I Aug. 27, 29, 30 Introduction to material, definitions of terms: psychiatrist, psychologist, psychoanalyst, etc. questions psychologists ask, difference between psychology and philosophy. Begin research methods Read: Chapter 1 in Gleitman Week Sept 2(no classes, Labor Day), Sept 5, 6 Research methods, ethics, view videos on Milgram, Zimbardo, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcvSNg0HZwk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0jYx8nwjFQ Begin BioPsych. Read: Gleitman, Chapter 3 Paper #1 topic handed out Week 3 Sept 10, 12, 13 BioPsych, videos on brain, (Alan Alda, Scientific American Frontiers. youtube on workings of neuron)Mind/Brain, Antonio Damasio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UabDiuTtU0M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un774LVFPI4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrSR55xXD8&feature=related (how neurons work) Week 4 Sept 17, 19, 20 sensation and perception, distinction, a bit of history, (look for videos on sensory experience) selective attention, perception of 3D, motion, form, gestalt principles, perceptual illusions http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/videos.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxKcpfFvuf8 Read chapter 4(pp.160-178 Chapter 5 Sept 19, paper 1 due Week 5 Sept. 24,26,27 Learning-Conditioning, Pavlov, Watson, Thorndikes Law of Effect, Skinner, Cognition/ insight learning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBfnXACsOI&NR=1&feature=endscreen Read: Chapter 7 Paper 2 topic handed out Week 6 Oct 1, 3,4 Memory and Language http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQr_IJvYzb Read: Chapters 8 and 10 Week 7, Oct 9(Tuesday but a Monday schedule as Monday is a holiday) 10, 11 Catch up and review Paper 2 due on Oct. 11th. Week 8 MIDTERM EXAM Monday, Oct 15, Wed. Oct. 17. Oct. 18 Begin Development-Physical, Cognitive (Piaget) and Social, video on brain from Scientific Amer. Frontiers Read: Chapter 14 Week 9 Oct. 22, 24 and 25. Continue with Development, Sesame Street videos, video on Medicated Child, Moral Dev. Kohlberg, Gilligan, Erikson Start oral presentations Paper 3 topic handed out Week 10 Oct 29, 31, Nov. 1 Continue with Development, Carol Gilligan on womens voices http://bigthink.com/ideas/13321 Start Personality, Psychoanalytic, Humanistic, Trait theory Continue with oral presentations http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=m30jsZx_Ngs&NR=1 on Carl Rogers Read: Chapter 15 Week 11 Nov. 5, 7, 8 Continue with Personality Paper 3 due on Nov. 7. Continue with oral presentations Paper 3 due on Wed. Nov. 7 Week 12 Nov. 12,14, 15 Continue with Personality, start Psychopathology and Treatment, Watch video A Beautiful Mind Read: Chapters 16, 17 Continue with oral presentations Paper 4 topic handed out. Week 13 Nov. 19 Continue with Psychopathology and Treatment Nov. 21, 22 HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Week 14 Nov. 26, 28, and 29 Continue with Psychopathology and Treatment finish oral presentations Week 15, Dec. 3, 5, and 6. Catch up and review for final exam.

Grading policies Grades will be based on the following:

Papers and oral presentation account for 33% of the grade. Midterm accounts for 33% of the grade. Final Exam accounts for 34% of the grade.

Note on attendance and on class participation: While attendance is not figured in to the grade, it does have an impact. If you have more than 3 unexcused absences, a grade will be deducted from your final total. Class participation, though not based on percentage points is also figured in as part of the total picture.

*NO Electronic Devices (computers, cell phones) are allowed in the classroom!

Adding and/or dropping the course:

Consult the registrars website (http://www.stevens.edu/registrar/) for information re: add/drop policies.

Honor board policies:

Enrollment into the undergraduate class of Stevens Institute of Technology signifies a students commitment to the Honor System. It is the responsibility of each student to become acquainted with and to uphold the ideals set forth in the Honor System Constitution. Specific student responsibilities include: Maintaining honesty and fair play in all aspects of academic life at Stevens; Writing and signing the pledge, in full, on all submitted academic work; Reporting any suspected violations to an Honor Board member or to the Dean of Student Development; Cooperating with the Honor Board during investigations and hearings.

The pledge signifies that the work submitted by a student is indeed his/her own. There is one designated pledge to be used for tests, homework assignments, lab reports, and computer

projects. The pledge shall be written in full and signed by the student on all submitted academic work. Any references used (including texts, tutors, classmates, etc.) should be listed below the written pledge: I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor System.

Students with disabilities: If you require special accommodations due to a disability, or if you need individual arrangements should the building be evacuated, you must inform the office of Student Counseling and Psychological Services, Dr. Terence Hannigan, Director, in the Howe Center, 7th floor (x5177), and ask that he inform the instructor as early as possible.

Changes in the syllabus:

The instructor may modify or alter the syllabus to make up for lost classes due to weather conditions, health, or other reasons or when she feels it would help to attain course objectives, or for any other such reasons.

*Cell phones must be turned off. On occasions designated by instructor computers may be used for specific classroom exercises.