PSYC 415 History of Psychology TUES & THURS 1930-2210 hrs

Term III 01 Yokota

Gary Laugel, Ph.D. 225-8922

glaugel@ad.umuc.edu

http://members.nbci.com/glaugel

Office Hours: By appointment on request

Text: History of Psychology, Third Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.

Additional Readings as assigned.

Course Schedule:

Weeks 1-3: Intro; early views; philosophical and scientific antecedents of psychology; early

nervous system studies; the founding of psychology. Chapters 1,2,3,4,5

First exam

Weeks 3-5: Early psychology in Germany; gestalt and clinical psychology; forerunners of functionalism. Chapters 6,7,8,9

Second exam

Weeks 5-8: Functionalism, cont'd; intelligence testing; behaivorism; recent trends in psychology.

Final exam

Course Description: This course examines philosophical and scientific foundations of psychology. It focuses on important ideas that have contributed to the science of psychology both before and following its formal beginning in the nineteenth century.

Course Objectives: Objectives of this course include gaining an appreciation for the idea that psychology as it exists in the 21^st century is an ongoing product of thinking that has roots reaching back is many hundreds of years, but that continues to evolve in response to ongoing scientific investigation. Students should develop an appreciation for the breadth and depth of this fascinating field, and for the idea that psychology has important philosophical and scientific underpinnings.

Course Requirements: Your course grade will be derived from three examinations, in-class presentations (two if given early in the Term, before week six; three if any are given later), and a term paper. Exams are, strictly speaking, not comprehensive, although principles learned earlier will be used in later exams. Exams may include multiple choice, short answer, and/or essay items covering text, lecture, and additional readings. Makeups, sometimes necessary due to documented emergencies, may have different formats (usually they do not include multiple choice).

The paper should be from 5 to 7 pages long double-spaced, with references on an additional page (5 or more references are OK). It is due in hard copy or on email not later than the beginning of the second class during the seventh week of the Term; if late, it is subject to a reduction of 10% of available points per calendar day or fraction of day until I physically receive it. Your topic requires instructor approval; a written description of your proposed topic should be submitted in class by the second week of the Term (a single handwritten paragraph is sufficient); otherwise, a topic may be assigned to you. Papers can be referenced using any commonly used style. Additional details will be discussed in class.

One of your presentations should should focus on your paper; other presentation material should refer to scheduled course material. They should not exceed 15 to 20 minutes each, in general.

I may make extra credit available in the form of unannounced quizzes or other activities. Quizzes, if there are any, will be short and will apply only to those present when they are given. They are not required to get an A in the course.

If there is the remotest possibility that you may not be able to be in class when an assignment is due, please plan accordingly for early submissions, etc.

Grading system: Exams will be weighted so that the best of the three exams will constitute 35% of your final course grade; the others will count 25% each. Your paper will contribute 9%, and the two presentations are worth 3% each (late presentations will be weighted to add up to the total 6%). Of the 100% of points available for the course, course grades will be assigned on a basis that is no more stringent than the following: A, 90; B, 80; C, 70; D, 60.

You are responsible for announcements made in class, which may include changes in the schedule. Please find someone in the class who can help you recover missed material! Note that plagiarism (presenting others' work as your own) will be dealt with severely, as outlined in the University of Maryland Student Handbook, and can result in a grade of "F" for the assignment or the class.

Attendance is expected; in general, a student who attends fewer than half of the class sessions will receive a grade of F(n).

Please provide your instructor with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish your course grade to be mailed to you at the end of the Term.

I look forward to an interesting and enlightening experience in this course, and encourage you to do the same!