at The University of Western Ontario

PSYCHOLOGY 3120G (Section 570)

Lectures: Wednesdays 12:30p.m.-3:30 p.m.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2011-12 Winter Semester

INSTRUCTOR

Professor Imants Barušs                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Web site: baruss.ca

Telephone: 433-3491 Ext.4369 or 1-800-265-4406                                                                                                                                                                                         E-mail: baruss@uwo.ca

Office: Dante Lenardon Hall Room 323                                                                                                                                                                                                             Office Hours: Thursdays 11:00–2:00 p.m.

COURSE WEB SITE

The web site for this course is baruss.ca/3120.htm. Information about the course will be posted from time to time on the web site.

PREREQUISITES & ANTIREQUISITES

Students are responsible for ensuring that their selection of courses is appropriate and accurately recorded, that all course prerequisites have been successfully completed, and that they are aware of any antirequisite course(s) that they have taken. Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites. The prerequisite for this course is Psychology 2840F/G, and registration in the third or fourth year of a Major, Specialization, Honors Specialization, or Honors Double Major in Psychology. There are no antirequisites for this course.

REQUIRED READING

Barušs, I. (2007). Science as a spiritual practice. Exeter, UK: Imprint Academic.

Additional required reading will be indicated in class.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this course is to examine selected topics in altered states of consciousness with a sensitive but critical attitude to the subject matter.

COURSE CONTENTS

The course will begin by examining methodological and theoretical issues in the study of altered states of consciousness, then continue with discussions of access to inner knowledge, and transcendent states of consciousness. The remaining course content will be determined in consultation with the students in the class.

EVALUATION

Homework, 40%: There will be 11 homework assignments each of which must be submitted at the beginning of the class for which it is due. The homework grade will consist of the average of the 8 best marks for homework.

Students who cannot submit a homework assignment by the due date for medical or other extraordinary reasons will be given an opportunity to submit it at a later date at the discretion of the instructor. All other late submissions will be given a grade of zero. Allowance will not be made for tests and assignments in other courses, employment, or family responsibilities.

Term Test, 20%: There will be a term test on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 worth 20% of the final grade. The term test will be essay style in format and will cover material in the assigned readings and class lectures from the beginning of the course to the time of the test.

Final Examination, 40%: There will be a final examination set by the Registrar during the Final Examination Period April 14 to 30. The examination will be essay style in format and will cover the material in the assigned readings, class lectures, and discussions from the beginning of the course to the time of the examination.

In-class Essays: Students may be asked to write short in-class essays that will not be graded nor contribute to the final grade but will be used as a basis for discussion and a record of attendance.

Students are not allowed to have a cell phone, or any other electronic device, with them during the term test or examination.

Students who cannot attend a test or examination for medical or other extraordinary reasons should obtain proper documentation and contact their Dean’s office as soon as possible. Students are directed to the Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness found at http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf. The Student Medical Certificate can be found at: http://kings.uwo.ca/pt5/assets/File/SMC_Revised_March_2011.pdf. Allowance will not be made for tests and assignments in other courses, employment, or family responsibilities. All students who cannot write a regularly scheduled test or examination and who receive accommodation from their Dean are required to write an appropriate alternate test or examination. All alternate tests and examinations will be essay style in format.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students are required to maintain the standards of academic integrity set by the University of Western Ontario. Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf. In particular, students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author they must acknowledge this fact by using quotation marks where appropriate and by using proper referencing. Plagiarism is a major academic offence.

The use of laptops by students during lectures shall be for matters related to the course at hand only. Students found to be using laptops for purposes not directly related to the class may be subject to sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct (http://www.kings.uwo.ca/files/file/about/code_of_conduct_2003.pdf). Inappropriate use of laptops during lectures creates a significant disruption. As a consequence, the use of laptops may be restricted in this class. In addition, in order to provide a safe classroom environment, students are strongly advised to operate laptops with batteries rather than power cords.