Miyazaki International College Course Syllabus
Course Title ( Credits ) SS104-2 Introduction to Psychology Content Teacher
Instructor Satoko Kimpara, Ph.D.
E-mail address [email protected]
Office/Ext 1-401/Ext. 726
Office hours Tue/Thurs 14:30-16:00, and by appt.
Language Teacher
Instructor George Knapman
E-mail address [email protected]
Office/Ext MIC 1-408 /Ext. 733
Office hours Monday / Wednesday: 3.50 – 4.50. Friday: 12.30 – 1.30
Course Description:
The class initially provides an introduction to fundamental concepts of psychology and applies those concepts to several issues. The psychology topics that will be covered are: the nature of psychology, methods of investigation in psychology, the bases of human behavior, human development, sensory/attentional and perceptual processes, learning, human memory, thinking, motivation and emotion. We will explore climate change issues and learn how psychological perspectives can help us understand these environmental problems and may provide possible suggestions.
Course Goals/Objectives:
The course aims to develop in students a basic knowledge of the features of psychology. This knowledge will be useful for students to continue to learn psychology in graduate studies, go abroad, or your real life applications. We will explore several issues, learn alternative perspectives or approaches and learn how psychological approaches can help us understand these problems and may provide possible suggestions.
The course will help students continue to develop English-language skills. In particular, there will be a focus on mastering the important vocabulary of the course. This will include weekly vocabulary quizzes. Moreover, this year, our homework will be focused on the ALC online English Skills Training Course program (Three Areas- Listening/Speaking, Reading/Writing, &
Grammar/Output) to enhance the capacities of vocabulary and listening skills.
Tentative Course Schedule
Day Topic Content/Activities ALC English
Skills Training 1 Introduction Course introduction
Getting to know each other Introduction Foundation of concepts/methodologies in Psychology Three areas
2 What is
psychology?
Introduction to psychology Unit 1
3 History of psychology Unit 2
4 Methods of
Investigation in Psychology
Methods of studying psychology Unit 3
5 The Bases of Human Behaviors
Survival through evolution (brain and behaviors)
Unit 4
6 Survival through strategies (stress and
coping)
Unit 5
7 Human Development Development throughout life Unit 6
8 Developmental theories: which is best? Unit 7
9 Sensory System Sensory, attentional and perceptional processes
Unit 8
10 Cognitive System Piaget’s Cognitive Development Unit 9
11 Adult and Older Adult Cognition Unit 10
12 Learning Skinner’s conditioning Unit 11
13 Operational learning Unit 12
A Social Learning Theory Unit 13
15 Human Memory The nature of memory Unit 14
16 Strategies for Good Memory Unit 15
17 Emotions Emotional and Social Interaction Unit 16
18 Nature of emotion; assessing emotions Unit 17
19 Motivation Motivations and Theories Unit 18
20 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations Unit 19
21 Review Review of psychology topics Unit 20
Environmental Issues/How Psychology can Help
22 Climate Change What are current environmental issues? Unit 21
23 What is Climate Change? Unit 22
24 Learn how the climate change influences Unit 23
human behaviors psychologically.(Pair-activity)
25 Presentation Activity Learn how psychology can help the climate change (Pair-Exercise)
Unit 24
26 Pair-presentation Preparation Unit 25
T Final Vocabulary Test Presentation Activity
Vocabulary Examination &
Pair-Presentation Required Materials:
No textbook is required. Handouts for each topic will be provided in the lessons. Students will need loose-leaf paper for taking notes and a folder to keep their handouts and notes together.
Course Policies (Attendance, etc.)
Students who are absent more than five times cannot receive a passing grade for this course and will be required to withdraw. If an absence is officially excused (i.e. the student has a doctor’s note or some other legitimate reason for being absent), it is not counted as an absence. The maximum number of officially excused absences is four.
Class Preparation and Review
Students are expected to spend at least one hour preparing for every hour of lesson, and one hour reviewing and doing homework
Grades and Grading
Vocabulary Quizzes & Final Vocabulary Test (30%)
Pair-Projects (20%)- Day 24 & Final Presentation
Homework (20%)
Self-Learning Online System- Homework (20 %)
Active Participation (10%)
Notes:
Attendance is not part of the grade.
