User Name and Password:  

You must use a user name and password after the first week of class. Without these words you will not be able to access the course materials. You will receive your user name and password from your instructor after you have completed the syllabus.

In the box below please explain your understanding of user names and passwords, including how you expect to receive your user name and password for this class:

Psych 51 (online course) 1 unit	Issues in Psychology 20528
Instructor: John E. Smethers, MHS, PhD	Term Dates: 9 Jan - 10 Mar 2004
Email - jsmethers@bcconline.com	Web site - http://www.ScumbagSewerRats.com

Course Description

Journey to the unknown side of the personality through myths and folk tales. Myths are viewed as patterns of behavior which can help explain our own quest for wholeness. The quest theme defined as the voyage from unconsciousness to consciousness. Myths and folklore from English, European, Spanish-speaking and American cultures will be utilized to establish the universality of the search for wholeness.

1. Upon completion of this course, students will have been provided with a basic understanding of various behavioral patterns through the precepts of archetypal psychology and mythology. Students will use The Hero Myth Index to find the archetypes active in their lives.

2. Upon completion of this course students will have studied myths to understand how they are metaphorical to human behavior through the archetypes.

3. Students will be provided opportunities to improve general academic skills through interaction with course material and the discussion board. Creative thinking skills will be sharpened and measured by writing insight papers (see assignments), auxiliary readings, and essay questions on exams. Writing skills will be emphasized.

4. The student will be provided with an opportunity to gain insight on questions fundamental to thinking individuals throughout recorded history regarding the human condition.

Bierlein, J.F. (1994) Parallel Myths. New York: Ballantine Wllspring. 1^st ed.

In the box below type, I have my textbook for PSY 51 or I will have it by the end of the first week of class.

The first and foremost requirement for this class is to have fun! If you don’t have fun, you fail!

Reading- textbook material, lectures, and instructor posts must be read. Mythological studies in archetypal psychology introduces a new vocabulary; therefore, without reading and digesting the material, your introduction to Issues in Psychology will not prepare you for advanced course work or application in the real world, and will not have been a learning experience.

Discussion Assignments - These are creative thinking exercises. Grading will be determined by your creativity and imagination--just reiterating information or myths from the text, other books, Internet sites, or any other type of literature, without an innovative analysis or comparison, will be considered lacking. Any material quoted from published material must credit the author in APA format. Here is an example: According to Bierlein (1994) "In Jungian psychology, water is a dream symbol manifest in the myths and the unconscious mind and the wisdom contained therein" (p. 84). Then cite the source as follows:

Bierlein, J.F. (1994). Parallel Myths. New York: Ballantine Wellspring.

Late assignments will not be accepted. Deadline for assignments are Sundays at 12 midnight. Remember that you must first respond to the assignments and then post a reply to another student’s posting. Points will be deducted for not posting. (90 pts. at 10 pts per assignment)

Final Exam

The open book final will be essay. Everything that is in bold print in the lectures are areas that will be found on the final, so study those areas in preparation. (50 pts)

In the box below type: I understand that I must complete all weekly writing assignments, quizzes, and final by the due dates.

Extra Credit (optional)

Discover the archetypes dominant in your life--an online self test (20 pts)

Academic integrity is fundamental to create a positive learning environment at this institution. Violations of academic integrity include: cheating on an examination, test, or quiz; plagiarism on any paper, post, report or discussion; falsifying data, research, report, post, or discussion; presentation of forged documents; and misrepresentation of information in written form. Such violations are dealt with severely by the instructor and the administration. Please take pride in your writing. It is a presentation of yourself to the outside world. You will be rewarded for your outstanding writing skills, and you will be penalized for errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. When using ideas or words from another source, be sure to credit that source.

VIII. Grading Policy

Discussion 90 pts

Final Exam 50 pts

140 pts

Extra Credit: Hero Myth Index - 10 pts

A = 126 - 140

B = 112 - 125

C = 98 - 111

D = 84 - 97

F = 0 - 83

A syllabus is not a contract between instructor and student, but rather a guide to course procedure, requirements, grading objectives, and class topics and reading schedule. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when circumstances dictate or unusual opportunities for student learning arise. Students will be notified.

By enrolling in this course you agree to: remain up to date on required readings; participate in online discussions (posts); write weekly discussion assignments and do the final exam on time.

Students are expected to "attend" class on a regular basis. Attendance in an online course is noted through discussion assignments and posts, and becomes part of the record. If you miss a discussion assignment or post, you will be marked absent for that week. Posts and assignments cannot be made up and are not accepted late. You must post during the week they are assigned.

Students are expected to have read all material prior to the due-date to incorporate the material into assignments, discussions, and posting responses to other students. It will be through active participation that course information is learned and retained.

If students miss assignments/discussions (posts) for two weeks in a row, or miss three total assignments/discussions, he or she can be dropped by the instructor. Note, however, that it is the student’s responsibility to drop a class--not the instructor’s. If the student does not drop, but remains on the class roll, a grade of F will be issued. (If you need to drop, please check at the Barstow College office for the drop deadline.)

In the box below type: "I have read and understand the attendance and participation policy and I agree to abide by it. I understand that late discussion assignments, quizzes, and exams will not receive credit."

In the box below type, I understand the course schedule and agree to finish all assignments by the due dates posted on the front page of the course.

YOU MUST FILL OUT THIS SYLLABUS IF YOU INTEND TO TAKE THE COURSE!

It is your responsibility to make sure the instructor has all the contact information stated at the top of this syllabus by the start of classes!! It is your responsibility to email the instructor if you have any problems or do not understand this syllabus.

It is your responsibility to confirm your enrollment either via the Internet at http://bcregweb.barstow.edu/  or by calling (760) 252-2411 ext 7236 if you are having problems accessing the course material. After you have confirmed your enrollment go to

http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  and read the password link. Following this procedure will ensure you are helped in the fastest manner possible.

By enrolling for this class, the assumption is that you possess the necessary skills to read at the college level, to enter and perform research on the Internet, to using proper email etiquette and post to the discussion/assignments.

When emailing your instructor:

Include your full name. Send all email with the name of the course in the subject line and assignment number or the words: problem, question or comment. Sign all email with your name as registered at school, or else you will not receive a reply and your assignment will not be graded. You must explain the problem in the subject line, i.e., Psych 1, Research 1-- no research available, etc.. Email without an appropriate subject line will be deleted and will not be read. With the current high incidence of viruses and unsolicited email I automatically delete all email without appropriate subject lines.

Email assignments will have a one week turnaround time, and you should not expect an answer to a successfully completed/submitted assignment before the end of the one week turnaround time-period. Receiving graded assignments or answers to your questions before the above stated timelines have passed does not guarantee that you will receive replies that quickly in the future.

Online classes are NOT conducted via instantaneous transmission. Just as I am giving you a SEVEN day period to complete your work, I am to be given SEVEN days to reply to your assignments. In addition, the above stated timelines apply to ALL students and ALL responses to your questions and concerns. However, I usually won’t take that long.

I appreciate your understanding of the above stated timelines and will respond to all questions and concerns about this class within the timeframes stated above.

A posting place at the top of the discussion page indicates the instructor’s message board to you. Be sure to check this each week so that you don’t miss messages and clarifications; remember that sometimes no instructor posting will have been made, but not very often with me. Students are not to post in the instructor's posting area. Should you have a concern with your class please email me your question. Students are not allowed to post their concerns in the instructor's posting area. Students who post in the instructor's posting area will receive a warning and their posting will be deleted unanswered. Students who ignore the warning and post again in the instructor's posting area will be dropped from the course.

At the conclusion of the class students may find out their grades by calling (760) 252-6868 (local or out of state) and (877) 336-6868 (toll free within California). You may also find out your grade by going on the Internet at:

http://bcregweb.barstow.edu/. I do not post student grades and will not respond to inquiries about grades at the conclusion of the course.

In the box below type, I understand and agree to abide by the online instructions written above.