Psy 301-How the course works

Welcome to Psy 301

Spring 2001 students--read overview of the course but do not begin assignments until instructed to begin.

HOW DOES THIS COURSE WORK? This information is being changed for the spring of 2001. The course is being integrated into/with the Blackboard* procedure for Internet courses at CSULB. All students will need a campus e-mail account by the start of the fall session. Without the campus e-mail account and its corresponding password, you will not be able to access the material on Blackboard. That material includes announcements, access to e-mail and group discussions, the virtual chat office hours, an alternate version of the syllabus, a grade book, and quizzes.

You have signed up for Psychology 301, Psychology as a Discipline and a Profession--Self-Directed, a one-unit course. The unique feature of this course is that the dominant mode of presentation of the course materials is via the Internet. There will be additional readings (See What do I Have to Get?*), a few videos which may be viewed in the Peer Advising office or the reserve room of the main library , and assignments (See What do I have to Do?*) which should be submitted through Blackboard or occasionally via the Internet. A few of the larger assignments will be able to be turned in to the Peer advising office in written form. You must know (or will have to learn) how to navigate the Internet, using Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. If you have not used the Internet before, you will have a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Internet as well as the content of the course. (See What Will I Learn?*) There are a number of locations on campus where access to the Internet is available. The psychology department computer lab in Psy 304 will be open this spring, but you may also use the computer facility in LA5 (rooms 349 and 371), SPA room 206, the main library, or the Multi Media Center in the North Library. Or if you have Netscape or another browser at home you can work there.

UNIVERSITY WITHDRAWAL POLICY: It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from classes. Instructors have no obligation to withdraw students who do not attend courses, and may choose not to do so. Withdrawal from a course after the first three weeks of instruction requires the signature of the instructor and department chair, and is permissible only for serious and compelling reasons. DURING THE FINAL THREE WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION, WITHDRAWALS ARE NOT PERMITTED EXCEPT IN CASES SUCH AS ACCIDENT OR SERIOUS ILLNESS WHERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSING THE WITHDRAWAL ARE CLEARLY BEYOND THE STUDENT’S CONTROL AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF AN INCOMPLETE IS NOT PRACTICAL. ORDINARILY, WITHDRAWALS IN THIS CATEGORY INVOLVE TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY. The COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS adheres to this policy strictly, and does not sign withdrawal forms in the final three weeks of class for other reasons. The deadline to withdraw from classes in the Spring of 2001 is April ____ .

Getting Help

To ask questions of Professors Binder, Barone, and/or Melucci send an e-mail to psy301@csulb.edu and label the message as a question in the subject header box, i.e. (your name) - question. To send a comment, also send an e-mail to psy301@csulb.edu and label the message as a comment in the subject header box, i.e. (your name) - comment. During the week from Monday to Wednesday, you should receive a reply within 24 hours for messages sent before 3 (often a same-day reply). Messages sent before noon thursday should also receive a prompt reply. Messages sent on the weekend may occasionally be answered, but you should not expect a reply until the following Monday.

Background of course

Beginning with students admitted to the major in the Fall of 1998, psychology majors are required to take Psychology 301, a one unit course. For details on the description and purpose of the course, read the Course Information section of Blackboard*. To do that, you will need the campus account and your password.

Advantages of the Self-Directed Psychology 301.

You can work at your own pace.
You can work in the location most convenient to you--the Psychology Department computer lab, the computer facility in LA5, SPA room 206, the main library, or the Multi Media Center in the North Library. Or if you have Netscape at home you can work there, although the process may be slower from off campus.
You can learn about computers while you learn about Psychology.
YOU will be able to select topics most relevant for you, rather than listening to them all as you would in a class. Thus if you know you definitely do not qualify for or have no interest in graduate school, it will not be necessary to view or listen to most of the materials about graduate school.

* Whenever you see words in blue, often underlined, you have found a link. Just click on the words and you will be taken to that destination. For instance, if you click on Blackboard, you will automatically be taken there.

Psy 301 Start-up Page | CSULB homepage | CSULB Psych Dept | CSULB Psy Undergrad Peer Advising