Psychology 303 Psychology: The Major and the Profession Instructor: M. Dawn Terrell, PhD Email: dterrell@sfsu.

.edu Office: EP 238 Office Hrs: T 4-5:30 orW 2-3:30 Course Description: Psychology 303 is intended for new psychology majors in their junior year at SF State. It is required of all psychology majors. The course provides an overview of the field of psychology and helps students plan their experience as psychology majors at SFSU. Students in the course will learn information about the major and the Psychology Department and explore the academic and career pathways available to psychology students, including specific opportunities for students at SF State. Course Objectives: 1. To familiarize students with information about the profession such as the major sub-disciplines in psychology, characteristics of psychologists, and information about professional organizations. 2. To help students find a focus within the field of psychology. 3. To provide information that will help students design a plan of study that will maximize their chances for admission to graduate school or make them competitive in the job market with a BA degree. 4. To help students identify a faculty advisor whose interests match their future goals. Expected Outcomes: 1. Students will have an enhanced understanding of the discipline of psychology. 2. Students will be familiar with various academic and career opportunities in the field and how to pursue them. 3. Students will seek advising and develop an academic plan for completion of the psychology major. Grading: This class is offered credit/no credit only. In order to pass the course, it is necessary to earn 50 points total. This can be done by: 1) completing four modules (including the mandatory modules, Modules Three and Four) plus two online forums by 11:55 pm, Friday, November 15, 2013; or 2) by completing five of the six modules by 11:55 pm Monday, December 16, 2013 (including the mandatory modules Three and Four). Each module is worth 10 points. Participation in each online forum is worth 5 points for those students who choose to participate in the incentive grading, and who complete the course by November 15. Students must earn 50 points to receive credit for the class. Please note: This course is subject to the course repeat policy, so students will not be allowed to repeat the course more than two times to receive credit. The Modules: One - Research the Field of Psychology Two Explore Sub-fields at SFSU Three - Major Plan (mandatory) Four - Meet an Advisor (mandatory) Five Explore Graduate School Options 10 points 10 points 10 points 10 points 10 points

Six Explore Career Options

10 points

Online Forums: To be announced (must be completed by November 15) Relavant Reading: Kuther, T.L., & Morgan, R.D. (2012). Careers in psychology. Opportunities in a changing world. Belmont: Cengage Landman, R. E. , & Savis, S. F. (2013). The psychology major: Career options and strategies for success, 5th ed. New Jersey: Pearson. 5 points each

Additional Course Information: Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the instructor. The Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) is available to facilitate the reasonable accommodations process. The DPRC is located in the Student Service Building and can be reached by telephone (voice/TTY 415-338-2472) or by email (dprc@sfsu.edu). Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It occurs when someone misrepresents the work of another as his or her own. Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas, sentences, paragraphs, or the whole text written by another without appropriate acknowledgment or references. It may also include employing or allowing another person to write or alter work that a student then submits as his or her own. Plagiarism reflects an absence of academic integrity, and will not be tolerated in this class. Any student who engages in plagiarism will receive an F for that assignment, and may be subject to discipline. Plagiarism will be reported to the Department Chair and College Dean, and may be reported to the University Judicial Affairs Officer for further action. Students are responsible for knowing the SFSU regulations concerning plagiarism and student conduct, found in the University Bulletin and online at: http://www.sfsu.edu/~helpdesk/docs/rules/conduct.htm

Statement on Religious Holidays The faculty of San Francisco State University shall accommodate students wishing to observe religious holidays
when such observances require students to be absent from class activities. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor, in writing, about such holidays during the first two weeks of the class each semester. If such holidays occur during the first two weeks of the semester, the student must notify the instructor, in writing, at least three days before the date that he/she will be absent. It is the responsibility of the instructor to make every reasonable effort to honor the student request without penalty, and of the student to make up the work missed. Some Important Dates:

First Day of Instruction Drop Deadline Auditing Deadline Add Deadline Application for Graduation Deadline Credit/No Credit Option Deadline Withdrawal Deadline Late Withdrawal Deadline (Serious and Compelling Reasons) Last Day of Instruction Final Exams Grades Available on SF State Gateway Official Transcripts Available with Semester Grades

August 26 September 9 September 9 September 23 September 27 October 21 November 22 December 16 December 16 December 14, 17 - 21 January 9 January 23