1. FALL 2012 COURSE SYLLABUS: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 101.04
Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Meeting time:
Room:
General Psychology
Department of Psychology
Melinda Cornwell
melinda.cornwell@qc.cuny.edu
Tuesday: 10:05 – 11:05AM, or by appointment
Tuesday and Friday mornings, 8:15 -10:05AM
Remsen Hall – 017
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the chief facts, principles, methods, and theories of
psychology. Topics discussed include the science and history of psychology, sensory and perceptual
processes, motivation and emotion, behavior development, learning and cognition,
personality, psychopathology, and social behavior.
The Department of Psychology requires students in Psychology 101 to become more familiar with
psychological research by serving as participants in research studies, attending Psychology Department
colloquia, or by writing brief reports on articles in psychological journals or on the Internet.
The requirement for this semester is four (4) research credits. You may earn a research credit in one of
four ways:
1. Participating in a research study
You earn one research credit for every hour (or part of an hour) that you participate in a study.
Studies can last anywhere from one to three hours (4 one-hour studies would earn you 4
credits).
2. Attending a Psychology Department colloquium
You earn one research credit for each colloquium hosted by the Psychology Department.
3. Writing a brief report paper on a published journal article
You earn one research credit for each brief report paper written on a published article from a
specified Psychology-related journal.
4. Writing a brief report paper on an article from an online source
You earn one research credit for each brief report paper written on a specified Psychology-
related article from the Internet. The list of allowable articles will be provided to you.
You can combine the four methods to complete your 4 credits – e.g. participate in two 1-hour studies,
attend one colloquium, and write one research report. The way you get your credits is up to you.
However…
Students who have not completed the research requirement by the last day of classes will
receive a grade of Incomplete for Psychology 101, and will have to complete the requirement
during the following semester in order to receive course credit. **Please note that the “research
credits” you earn for the research requirement are different from the credits that the course is
worth. **
Regardless of how you decide to fulfill the research requirement, ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO
REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT ON OUR ONLINE TRACKING SYSTEM:
http://queenscollege.sona-systems.com
Everything you need to know about the research requirement can be found at this web site:
http://qcpages.qc.edu/Psychology/BAPROGRAM/psych101research.html

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
 Familiarize the student with the wide variety of different schools of psychology
 Familiarize the student with the application of knowledge of psychology to everyday life
Upon completion of the course, the conscientious student should possess a basic knowledge and
understanding of psychological mechanisms underlying behavior, mental life, pathologies, and be
able to converse about psychological phenomena using this knowledge.
TEXTBOOK:
Understanding Psychology, 10th Edition, by C. G Morris and A. A. Maisto.
If a student chooses to purchase access through http://www.pearsoncustom.com/ny/qc_psych and
NOT the bookstore, we are providing a 10% discount off of MyPsychLab with e-book. From this site,
students also have the option of upgrading their access and purchasing the unbound, 3-hole punched
printed book for only $15.
a. Price to student for MyPsychLab w/ e-book for Morris, Understanding Psychology: $67.50
b. Upgrade price to student for purchasing the printed book (which will then be shipped to them): $15
GRADE SCALE: A+ 97-100, A 94-96, A- 90-93, B+ 87-89, B 84-86, B- 80 – 83, C+ 77-79, C 74-
76, C- 70 – 73, D+ 67-69, D 60-66, below 60 is failing.
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Each student is expected to come to class prepared (having read the
weeks’ assigned readings) to participate.
EXAMS: The competency of the students on the material will be assessed through the administration
of 3 exams. Each exam will include ONLY material covered since the last exam. Each exam will
consist of multiple-choice questions on the material covered in class presentations, class discussion,
and textbook readings. Each exam will be scored out of 100. Your highest grade will be counted
twice; that is, your final grade for the course will be the average of the four exam grades.
Note: Everyone must write exams at the scheduled times. There are no exceptions unless there is a
very good, documented justification (i.e. a letter from a physician, copy of death certificate, print out
of discharge instructions from emergency room, police report, MTA incident report, etcetera). All final
grades are FINAL. There will be no make-up exams. There is no extra credit. There will be no special
assignments to change your final grade. If you miss an exam and do not produce documentation, you
will receive a zero for that exam.
Statement regarding academic dishonesty:
Cheating is NOT allowed and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Any student
caught engaging in any form of academic dishonesty in this class will receive an “F” for the
course, period. During exams, you may not have any electronic equipment, including but not
limited to: cell phones, calculators, iPods, iPads, or iAnythingElse. You may not have any
papers, other than those given out by me, on your desk. Keep your eyes on your own papers,
and no talking is allowed. You may NOT leave the room during an exam for any reason; if you
do, you must turn in your exam before your departure, and you will not be allowed to re-enter
the room.

3. SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND TOPICS
PowerPoint presentations will be made available on Blackboard
Week 1 (August 28 & 31): Science of Psychology
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 1:
Week 2 (September 4 & 7): Biological Basis of Behavior
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 2
Week 3 (September 11 & 14): Sensation and Perception (Sept 14th
– last day to drop class)
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 3
Week 4 (September 18: no class) Sept 21: States of Consciousness
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 4
Week 5 September 25: no class; Sept 28 : States of Consciousness
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 4
Week 6 (October 2 & 5): Learning
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 5
Week 7 (October 9 & 12): Exam review & First Exam (2 hours)
Week 8 (October 16 & 19): Memory
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 6
Week 9 (October 23 & 26): Cognition and Mental Abilities
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 7
Week 10 (October 30 & Nov 2): Class Cancelled Due To Hurricane Sandy & Motivation and
Emotion Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 8
Week 11 (November 6 & 9): Life Span Development
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 9
Week 12 (November 13 & 16): Life Span Development & Personality (Nov 16th
– last day for
unevaluated W)
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 9, Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 10
Week 13 (November 20 & November 23): Personality/Take Home Exam #2 & Thanksgiving
Holiday Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 10
Week 14 (November 27 & Nov 30): Turn In 2nd Exam/Stress and Health Psychology & Social
Psychology
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 11, Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 14
Week 15 (December 4 & 7): Psychological Disorders
Textbook Reading(s): Chapter 12
Week 16 (December 11): Exam Review

4. Final Exam: Date to be announced