Principles of Learning

Master of Science in Animal Psychology

PSY 519

Breyer State University

Professor: James O'Heare, CABC

Syllabus

COURSE OVERVIEW: This course is designed to provide you with a solid foundational understanding of the principles of learning and how that fits into the evolutionary context of behavior.

Principles of learning offer us a powerful tool for understanding behavior. It is a technical course! The assignments and exam will be calling on you to demonstrate your understanding of not only the concepts but also the appropriate terminology so study the text and become familiar with it. Put your thinking cap on. This will be one of the more complex courses in the program.

Topics will include the relationship between evolution and learning, Measuring behavior, operant conditioning, respondent conditioning, gener aliza tion, discrimination, and stimulus control.

I hope you will find this course useful.

TIME FRAME: You will have 10 weeks in which to complete the necessary reading, written assignments and exams. Please have your textbook prior to enrolling so that you can use your time most effectively. Day 1 will begin when I send you your first welcome email. Please keep careful track of your due date. When you are ready to access your exam please email me and I will arrange access. You must request the exams prior to your deadline. This course is worth 3 credit hours.

TEXTBOOKS: There is one (1) textbook required for this course

Book 1. Learning and Behavior 5th edition by Paul Chance, ISBN # 0534598684

You can purchase any of your BSU textbooks here at the BSU bookstore:

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EVALUATION: There will be written essay assignments, and an exam for this course. The written assignments will relate to the material found in the textbooks, as will the exam. The assignments will allow you to apply what you have learned and express them in your own words. I will email you your essay assignments upon enrollment. When you have read the text and have a good understanding of the material you may request the exam. When requesting an exam be prepared to spend a significant amount of time on it. In your request identify a time and date you would like me to send it Eastern Standard Time. I will try to send it at that time and if I cannot I will correspond with you on an alternative. You will have 24 hours to complete it and send it back to me once I send it to you so check the time stamp on the email the exam comes in. Once you email your exam back to me I will grade it and return it to you shortly.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70% = Fail

COMMUNICATION: Please email me with any questions or concerns you might have through your coursework and I will endeavor to address them as fully as I can. I will usually be able to respond to questions the same day that you ask them. I will receive your email address when you enroll. If you change your email address during the course please let me and the administration office know. When you enroll please email me right away to tell me a bit about yourself, your background and your goals.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: My name is James O'Heare. I have worked as a professional animal behavior consultant for 15 years. I am the author of several books on applied dog behavior, I am an international speaker, president of The Companion Animal Sciences Institute (www.CASInstitute.com) and Director of the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior (www.IIACAB.com), and I am the Managing Editor of the Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior (www.IIACAB.com/journal.html). I have studied intensively in animal behavior and applied behavior analysis. My personal web site is at www.JamesOHeare.com.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course you will have a foundational understanding of these topics:

1). Definition of learning.
2). Relationship between evolution and learning.
3). Measuring behavior.
4). Operant conditioning.
5). Respondent conditioning.
6). Generalization, discrimination, and stimulus control.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact the instructor atjamesoheare@rogers.com

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