San Diego State University
Fall Semester 2014 – TTH 8:00 Section
Instructor:Mark A. Laumakis, Ph.D. (pronounced la-may-kiss)
Office: Life Sciences North 109 (I am only there on Thursdays from 11 a.m. until 12 noon)
Phone:(619) 594-1933
E-mail: mlaumakis@mail.sdsu.eduOffice Hours: Tuesday (online) and Thursday (in Life Sciences North 109) 11 a.m. – 12 noon
Class Time/Location:Tuesday: online in Blackboard Collaborate / Thursday 8:00-9:15 a.m. in AL-201
NOTE: All TUESDAY class sessions are online. All THURSDAY class sessions are in AL-201.
Required Text:Psychology
Authors: Licht, Hull, & BallantyneCourse Description
This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts that form the foundation of the field of psychology. Topics to be discussed include the following:
The history of psychology
Research methods in psychology
Biological bases of behavior
Sensation and perception
Consciousness
Learning
Memory
Intelligence
Development
Emotion
Personality
Psychological disorders
Treatment of psychological disorders
Social psychology
Both the textbook and class lectures emphasize an empirical approach to a scientific understanding of human behavior across these diverse domains. Most classes will be in a lecture format in order to enable us to cover the wide expanse of material that comprises this course. Nevertheless, we will also use segments of some class meetings to discuss issues raised in lectures and readings, as well as to provide demonstrations to bring to life and personalize the material covered in this course. We will also make use of various technological tools during the lecture, including the “clickers” that you will purchase at the bookstore and some of the interactive activities embedded in the on-line eBook for our textbook, in order to permit more active engagement on your part with the course material. My goal in taking this approach to teaching is to permit you to be an