GENERIC SYLLABUS FOR PSYCHOLOGY 201 AND 202
Fall, and Spring Semesters 2005-2006
Dr. Leonard J. Mather, PhD

Office Hours: MW 1100-1230;  T. 1100 - 1230 R & F by appointment

Chapters for 201:  Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13 in Psychology by Meyers, 7th Edition
Chapters for 202:  8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 in Psychology by Meyers, 7th Edition
 

WEBSITE: http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lmather/ e-mail: lmather@nvcc.edu Phone: (703) 933-3970
ACADEMIC HELP FOR STUDENTS:  http://www.nvcc.edu/alexandria/student/achelp.htm

OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT: up to +10 points maximum are described in separate handouts. Max of +50 without extra credit; +60 with extra credit. Four open book tests at +5 each; +30 for Participation and  Final Exam  at +40 to +50= the Sum +100

GRADING: We have a 100 point system. A= 90-100; B= 80-89; C= 70-79; D= 60-69; F= 00-59

TO ASSIST YOU IN PREPARING FOR THE FINAL EXAM:

 http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myers7e  Extra Credit for practice tests is described in Syllabus SOP)

Information on the field of psychology go to: Psychweb as well as:  Psychcrawler
 

In order to use the practice testing you must use the instructor's email address (above) when asked.

TALLY DAY PAGE: The Tally Day Page receives rubber stamps worth +30 throughout the course participation during in-class events that vary from videos, lectures, group and/or individual exercises; credit for such participation is immediate by stamping your Tally Day Page at that moment of performance. On this page will be space to record the results of 4 Open Book Tests worth +5 points each for a total of +20. Going into the final exam, you will have accrued 20+30 (50 points). Your final exam will be worth +50 for a total of 100 points. The only exception to this plan will be with those who elect Optional Extra Credit and earn +10. In those cases, +60 is accrued going into the final and the final is then worth +40.  Extra Credit also exists in the Compendium of Extra Credit at the Circulation Desk of our Library.  Optional assignments also are on my Blackboard Site. 
 
 

FINAL EXAM: The final is a closed book, 50-item objective, multiple choice test worth +1 for each item for those who did no Optional Credit work. Otherwise the final is a 40-item test worth +1 each for those having done Optional Extra Credit work leading to +60 going into the final.
 
 

MAKE UP PROCEDURES: From time to time one encounters emergencies, illness, accidents or catastrophic events; perhaps one becomes befuddled after falling in love. Such happenings may prevent attendance and credit is lost. Points missed may be made up by way of the Optional Open Book Make Up Test scheduled in the COURSE CALENDAR OF EVENTS. The course Calendar will be presented in class with your syllabus. If your final exam score is found to be unacceptable, you may have re-takes on the final exam, and your grade may be changed as a result.   The Application for a Re-Take will be available at the Circulation Desk of our Library.
 

THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION:  A common misunderstanding is that the OOBMU will be based on what one “missed.”  The OOBMU is based on all lectures and all chapter assignments.  It is not necessarily based on material one “missed.”  Also, the only ones eligible for the OOBMU are those with less than +50.  It is possible that a person with +50 did miss some points in the past, however, +50 is in evidence and one’s goal was met.  Hence, no OOBMU is possible.  We are on a level playing field with a 100 point base.    
 

BONUS FOR GOAL DIRECTED STUDENTS WHO ACCRUE +50 OR +60 BEFORE THE FINAL AND BEFORE THE OPTIONAL OPEN BOOK MAKE UP TEST: This special group of people may request the final exam early! Simply deliver your Tally Day Page to me proving that you have earned either +50 or +60 and your final will be placed in the testing lab for you on the designated date. No shows are back to the original schedule for the final.

PSYCHOLOGY 255: Aspects of Criminal Behavior
Generic Syllabus for All Semesters
Dr. Leonard J. Mather, PhD
(Consult Class Schedule for Room # and Times)

Texts:  Criminology Today by Schmalleger, 3r Edition, and Study Guide by Ellen G. Cohen
 

Office Hours:  M & W 1100-1230;  T 1100-1230; R F by Appointment

Telephone:  (703) 933-3970

Website:  www.nvcc.edu\home\lmather

About the Course:  In the last three decades, scholars from a wealth of disciplines have studied the legal system.. As one of these perspectives, psychology has much to offer.  Thelpurpose of this course is to examine the legal system through the use of psychological concepts, methods, and research results.  The primary audience for this course is those students taking a course in psychology and the law or the criminal justice system, as well as others who seek to know more about the discoveries and practices of legal psychology.  Our course may also be used as a supplement in those psychology courses that emphasize appplied social psychology, social issues, or policy analysis.  In addition, it covers a number of topics relevant to law school courses that introduce law students stto social science findings and applications.

Course Design Plan:

There are 4 units of activities in the following areas allowing for the creation of a grade:

1.      The crime picture (+25)

2.      Crime causation (+25)

3.      Crime in the modern world (+25)

4.      Responding to criminal behavior (+25)  This area will require a paper in thinking “out of the box” for a Paradigm Shift.
 
 

COURSE CALENDAR
(Insert dates after session numbers)

(We have 16 three-hour sessions pace the date after each session)

This page of your Syllabus is to be provided by you.  On this page you are to list all 16 session dates, assigning three dates per Unit described above, taking us through the 12the session.  Sessions 13 and 14 are dedicated to sharing our Paradigm Shift findings.  Session 15 is set for Tally Day; your tally of earned points are now a known variable for your grade.  Session 16 is the Final Exam worth the number of points needed to add up to 100.  Any points, not earned for any reason now derives from the assigned chapters in a multiple choice, objective test taken on a Scantron sheet.

Re-takes of the final are possible, if your score is unacceptable to you.

 

.