Fall Semester 2009
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate
students in an academically challenging and distinctively Christian environment
for professional success, lifelong learning, and service to God and humankind.
PSYC 4310- Social Psychology
Instructor: Dr. John M. Bell
Class Time and
Location: Mondays,
Office Hours: Monday evenings following class; weekday evenings and Saturdays by appointment
Contact Information: Cell phone—(210) 913-9230; Email—BellBunch5@att.net
Catalog Description: Individual experience and behavior in social situations with an emphasis on experimental procedures for determining the nature of interpersonal relationships
Prerequisites: none
Textbook: Myers, D.G. Social psychology (9th ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill, 2008.
Course Outcome Competencies: The student will understand and be able to write scholarly papers; demonstrate on tests, through class discussion, and in the scholarly papers critical thinking, by applying social psychological phenomena to movies, books, and other projects as assigned; and demonstrate on tests, through class discussion, and in their scholarly papers understanding of the major concepts and theoretical framework of social psychology and the empirical research that evaluates these concepts.
Course Outline:
1) 17 Aug: Course Introduction/Introducing Social Psychology (chapter 1)
2) 24 Aug: Social Thinking (chapter 2)
3) 31 Aug: Social Thinking (chapter 3-4)
4) 7 Sep: Social Influence (chapters 5-6)
5) 14 Sep: Social Influence (chapters 7-8)
6) 21 Sep: Social Relations (chapter 9)
7) 28 Sep: Social Relations (chapter 10)
8) 5 Oct: Social Relations (chapters 11-13)
9) 12 Oct: Applying Social Psychology (chapters 14-16)
10) 19 Oct: Project presentations/papers due
11) 26 Oct: Final Exam
Course Requirements: The following requirements
will be used in determining the student’s course grade:
1) Content
mastery. Evaluation measured through
objective weekly quizzes covering topics discussed and in assigned
readings/videos from the previous weeks, as well as through a cumulative final
exam composed of objective and subjective components.
2) Reflective
papers. Three reflective papers as
discussed in the assignment attachment.
3) Project. A major project as discussed in the
assignment attachment.
4) Class
participation/attendance. Learning in
the context of this course is a group process.
Therefore each member of the group is responsible to contribute to the
learning of each other. Each student’s attendance
and participation to this end will be subjectively evaluated throughout the
course. Absences, therefore, will
necessarily lower a grade.
Course Grade Criteria: Course grades will be determined on the following
basis:
1)
Weekly quizzes 20% of
grade
2)
Reflective papers 15%
3)
Project 25%
4)
Participation/attendance
10%
5)
Final exam 30%
Assignments
are due in class; no emails. Late
assignments will be accepted with a 10% per week penalty.
The
University uses a standard grade scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D =
60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF = withdrew
failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete
may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within the last two
days of a microterm to a student who is passing, but
has not completed a term paper, examination, or other required work for reasons
beyond the student’s control. A grade of
“incomplete” is changed if the work required is completed prior to the last day
of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor designates an
earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the
appropriate date, the I is converted to an F.
Attendance: Students enrolled at one of the University’s
external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings.
All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine
whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that
number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor
will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the
campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly
scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the course.
Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in
the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance
policy.
Instructor’s Policy on Academic Integrity: The
University proudly adheres to
high standards of intellectual, moral, ethical, and spiritual values, and it entrusts
each student with the solemn obligation of preserving these standards. In light of revelation, reason, and custom of the Christian
community from which the University has grown, personal integrity in keeping with
New Testament standards is expected of all students. Academic dishonesty, including cheating and
plagiarism, may be grounds for disciplinary action by the University and, at
minimum, will result in a grade of zero on that project.
Service for the Disabled: It is University
policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination
under any educational program or activity in the University. Any student who requires special arrangements
in order to meet course requirements should inform the instructor immediately.