Biological and Cognitive Bases of Psychology

Psychology 120 (Section 03)

Fall 2019
Tuesday & Thursday, 11:30 am – 12:50 pm
Classroom: Arts 143

Teaching Assistants: Brittany Thiessen (brittany.thiessen@usask.ca)

and Samantha Black (samantha.blackwolf@usask.ca) NOTE: Please contact one of
Instructor: Dr. Carla Krachun (csk788@usask.ca) the TAs first with any
Office: Arts 163 Phone: 306-966-6629 questions. Whenever
Office hours: Posted on door, or by appointment possible. If they can’t
Course ID (for optional MyLab): krachun36834 answer your question they
will forward it to me.
Course Description
This course is designed to familiarize students with the body of knowledge, scientific theory, and
research related to the major biological and cognitive areas of psychology. It focuses on the study of
behavior dealing with the essential problems of psychology, the methods of investigation, and the
advances that have been made in the fields of neuroscience, sensation and perception,
consciousness, memory, learning, language, and motivation and emotion.

Objectives
- To become familiar with many of the major concepts, terms, and theories in psychology,
including classic and more recent studies.
- To form a foundation of knowledge of the biological bases of behaviour, including the roles of
genes, hormones, and neuronal activity; and
- To become knowledgeable about the major cognitive processes we make use of on a daily basis
including thinking, perceiving, learning, and remembering.

Prerequisites and restrictions

- This course does not have any prerequisites
- Credit may NOT be obtained for this course and PSY 110. If you have PSY 110 please see me.
- This course is a prerequisite for the following 2nd-year psychology courses: PSY 242, 246, 252,
253, 255, and 256.
- Either PSY 120.3 or 121.3 is the prerequisite for PSY 233.

Required Textbook
Psychology (Third Custom Edition for University of Saskatchewan), by Wade, Tavris, Garry, Saucier,
& Elias. Pearson Education Canada, 2017.
Note: You can use an older edition of the textbook but I cannot guarantee that all of the exam
questions will be covered by the older edition. It is your place to decide whether or not you want to

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take this chance. The second edition does not differ much from the third, but older editions will
differ more from the current edition.
Evaluation
Exam % of grade Date of exam Location Length of exam Material covered
Term 30% October 8 Arts 143 65 minutes Chs 1-4
Exam 1
Term 30% November 7 Arts 143 65 minutes Chs 5-7
Exam 2
Final 40% TBD TBD 2 hours All chapters (1-7 plus
Exam chs 10 and 12)
Remember to bring your student ID card to all exams!

Details of exams
- All exams will consist entirely of multiple-choice questions.
- All material covered in classes AND the textbook are fair game for exam questions.
- Term exam 2 will include only the material covered since the previous exam. However, the final
exam will be cumulative (i.e., it will test all material covered for the entire semester).
- For the final exam, previously tested chapters (1-7) will comprise approximately 40-45% of the
exam; new chapters (10 and 12) will comprise approximately 55-60% of the exam.
- The final exam must be written in order to pass the course.
Missed term exams
Failure to attend an examination at the scheduled time will result in the assignment of a grade of
0% for that portion of the course unless appropriate documentation excusing the absence is
supplied. Only students with a valid reason for missing a term exam will be allowed to write a
makeup exam, scheduled in the last few weeks of the semester.

Missed final exam

Absence from the final exam will be dealt with by the College of Arts and Science (Arts 265), not
by your professor. Contact the College immediately if you miss the final exam, as a request for a
deferred final must be made within 3 business days of the missed exam. Office of the College of
Arts and Science: Arts 265; Phone: (306) 966-4231.

Important!
Final examinations may be scheduled at any time during the examination period; students should
therefore not make travel, employment, or other commitments for this period until they know
their exam schedule. Travel plans are not a valid excuse for missing an exam. When students are
unable to write a final exam through no fault of their own for medical or other valid reasons,
documentation must be provided and an opportunity to write the missed exam may be given.
Students are encouraged to review all examination policies and procedures:
http://students.usask.ca/academics/exams.php

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Cancelled Exams
If the instructor has to cancel an exam for any reason (for example because the university is closed
due to bad weather), the exam will be held in the next class meeting.
Class Schedule (Tentative dates for covering specific chapters; exam dates are fixed)
Sept. 5, 10: Chs. 1 and 2, What is Psychology, & How Psychologists Do Research
Sept. 12, 17, 19: Ch. 3, Genes, Evolution, and Environment
Sept. 24, 26; Oct. 1, 3: Ch. 4, The Brain and Nervous System
Oct. 8 – Term Exam 1 Important!
Oct. 10, 15: Ch. 5, Body Rhythms and Mental States The instructor will not be posting
Oct. 17, 22, 24: Ch. 6, Sensation and Perception slides or recording the lectures.
You will need to come to class
Oct. 29, 31; Nov. 5: Ch. 7, Learning and Conditioning
and take notes. Also, students
Nov. 7 – Term Exam 2
may NOT record the lectures or
Nov. 19, 21, 26: Ch. 10, Memory take photographs or videos
Nov. 28; Dec. 3, 5: Ch. 12, Motivation without the instructor’s
Final Exam: During exam period, TBA permission. If you need to record
lectures for medical reasons,
Bonus Marks for Research Participation!!! please come see me.
To earn up to 5 extra marks for this course, you can
participate in the Psychology Participant Pool. You may earn these bonus marks by either
participating in research studies or by completing article summaries. As a participant, your login
information will be e-mailed out to you shortly after the pool opens. Please be patient, it takes a
while to get everyone into the system! If you do not receive your login information or have any
other questions about the participant pool, please e-mail the Participant Pool Coordinator, Dakota
Zirk, at research.admin@usask.ca. The Participant Pool is entirely voluntary; you only have to
participate if you want to!

Classroom Protocol
Please, no texting, chatting, or accessing the internet while class is in session as these are very
distracting for the instructor and other students. If you use a laptop to take notes, please be aware
of how distracting this can be for others. Sit where it will be least distracting to those around you
(e.g., near the back of the room or the outer edge of a row of seats), and type quietly.

Academic Dishonesty
The University of Saskatchewan is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to uphold the policies of the University in this respect and avoid
any behavior that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation
of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result
in obtaining a grade of 0 in an assignment or course. In some cases, it may also results in
suspension or expulsion from the university.

All students should read and be familiar with the Regulations on Academic Student Misconduct
http://www.usask.ca/secretariat/student-conduct-appeals/StudentAcademicMisconduct.pdf as
well as the Standard of Student Conduct in Non-Academic Matters and Procedures for Resolution

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of Complaints and Appeals http://www.usask.ca/secretariat/student-conduct-
appeals/StudentNon-AcademicMisconduct.pdf. For more information on what academic integrity
means for students see the Student Conduct & Appeals section of the University Secretary Website
at http://www.usask.ca/secretariat/student-conduct-appeals/forms/IntegrityDefined.pdf
Access and Equity Services (AES)
Students who have disabilities (learning, medical, physical, or mental health) are encouraged to
register with Access and Equity Services (AES) if they have not already done so. Students who
suspect they may have disabilities should contact AES for advice and referrals. In order to access
AES programs and supports, students must follow AES policy and procedures. For more
information, check www.students.usask.ca/aes or contact AES at 306-966-7273 or aes@usask.ca.
Students registered with AES may request alternative arrangements for mid-term and final exams.
Students must arrange such accommodations through AES by the stated deadlines. Instructors
shall provide the exams for students who are being accommodated by the deadlines established
by AES.
College Supports
Students in Arts & Science are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Student Office and/or
the Trish Monture Centre for Success with any questions on how to choose a major; understand
program requirements; choose courses; develop strategies to improve grades; understand
university policies and procedures; overcome personal barriers; initiate pre-career inquiries; and
identify career planning resources. Contact information is available at:
https://artsandscience.usask.ca/undergraduate/advising/

Other Useful Links

Course Calendar (listing of U of S courses and prerequisites)
http://www.usask.ca/calendar/coursecat/.

Current course offerings and timetables

https://pawnss.usask.ca/banprod/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched

Information on descriptors for grading at the U of S

https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php. Please note: There are
different literal descriptors for undergraduate and graduate students.
Academic Courses Policy (information on U of S policies on course delivery, examinations and
assessment of student learning)
http://policies.usask.ca/policies/academic-affairs/academic-courses.php

Land Acknowledgment
As we gather here today, we acknowledge we are on Treaty Six Territory and the Homeland of the
Métis. We pay our respect to the First Nation and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our
relationship with one another. We recognize that in the course of your studies you will spend time
learning in other traditional territories and Métis homelands. We wish you safe, productive and
respectful encounters in these places.