Instructor: Alisa A. Bourne

Instructor Information:

Mrs. Bourne is a graduate of William Carey University and the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds a Mississippi Educator License with endorsements in Business, English, Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies, Psychology, AP World History, Counseling, and Administration.

Prior to accepting her current position as Administrator of The University of Mississippi High School, she served as the Guidance Counselor at South Pontotoc High School, and District Data and Guidance Coordinator at the Pontotoc City School District.

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the email link on the lessons page and in the "Communications & Tools" tab. NOTE: Replies to your emails will go to your go.olemiss.edu email account, so be sure to check it frequently.

Course Description:

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Students are introduced to the scientific method and the core ideas and theories of psychology. As a result, students will gain an understanding of the complexities and diversity of human thought and behavior.

Required Textbook:

Psychology from OpenStax
Print ISBN 1938168356, Digital ISBN 1947172077
www.openstax.org/details/psychology

Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost. Your book is available in web view and PDF for free. You can also choose to purchase on iBooks or get a print version from OpenStax on Amazon.com. You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended – the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you by on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)

The .pdf version of each chapter of your required textbook is available for download in this course.

Course Objectives include (but are not limited to):

• Describe the historical traditions, perspectives, career opportunities, and modern empirical nature of psychological inquiry.
• Distinguish the various methods and tools employed by researchers to explain human mental and behavioral processes.
• Appraise the biological structures and processes that give rise to and influence human behavior and cognitive experiences.
• Explain the ways in which human sensory and perceptual systems translate and interpret information from the environment.
• Describe the various states of consciousness including sleeping and dreaming and the impact on consciousness of both internal and external factors.
• Describe the processes through which humans learn, including behavioral and cognitive learning processes.
• Combine the elements of memory and concept formation to examine how those cognitive processes contribute to perception and judgment.
• Distinguish the elements that give rise to emotional experience, explain the various theories of emotion, and summarize the significance of emotional intelligence on mental wellness.
• Discuss the role of biological drives and motivations on human behavior and cognitive processes.
• Breakdown the various theories of human cognitive and social development.
• Outline the major personality theories, assessments, and practices of type and trait theorists and justify the practical applications of their work.
• Outline the historical progression of intelligence including the work of Charles Spearman, Robert Sternberg, and Howard Gardner.
• Formulate the conditions that lead to mental wellness, including a positive self-concept, healthy cognitive processes, and edifying interpersonal relationships.
• Describe major psychological disorders, their symptoms, and classifications.
• Explain the methods used by mental health professionals to treat people living with mental illness.
• Describe the influence of social factors on individual cognition and behavior including conformity, obedience, the bystander effect, bias, and polarization.

Course Outline:

This course consists of 15 instructional units. NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Grading Scale:

93 - 100% = A
85 - 92% = B
75 - 84% = C
70 - 74% = D
Below 69% = F

The grading format is as follows:

• Minor Grades: 50% (Discussion, Chapter Review Questions and Chapter Journal Entries) 
• Major Grades: 30% (Unit Projects and Tests)
• Proctored Exams: 20% (Mid-Term and Final)