Psychology 25 or Sociology 40 Online
Is It For Me?

Perhaps this would not be your first online course, in which case you would have a bit of a head start, knowing something of the online process. However, each online course is somewhat different from others, in process and subject matter among other things. Therefore, the following information will provide some of the most important considerations for determining whether Mr. Jepson's Psychology 25 Online course is for you.

• Hardware & Software to go anywhere. 
  You probably got to this site with a computer of your own, and are at the very least, somewhat familiar with traversing the internet.  The course requires a good basic knowledge of word processing, including how to copy, cut and paste; emailing, including opening and sending attachments; and, an openness to learning to utilize Course Compass, the online format used to present the course.  Course Compass is acquired quickly as long as you are not easily intimidated by the internet and computer experience.  An access code is needed for utilization of the course website.  The access code comes packaged with the new text sold at the MPC bookstore, or may be purchased online through: www.mypearsonstore.com
  

• Where The Course Is Located
  Both of my online course offerings (i.e.-Psychology 25: Child & Adult Development and Sociology 40: Marriage & Family Life are hosted on www.coursecompass.com
  Course Compass has Getting Started, a FAQs, and Support links where you can find answers to many of the questions you may have about taking an online course.
  Take a close look at these links and the Plan for Success link found on my homepage.
  

• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

            ~You will need to purchase a textbook for the online course you are taking (i.e.-Psychology 25:Development
              Across The Life Span, 4th edition. Robert Feldman. Prentice-Hall:2006; or,
              Sociology 40: Marriages, Families, & Intimate Relationships. Williams, Sawyer, and Wahlstrom.
              Allyn & Bacon/Pearson Education, Inc., 2006), and a Course Compass access code from the MPC Bookstore,
              or  www.mypearsonstore.com. 

               An option for text utilization can be found at www.safarix.com , where a 150 day subscription   
               may be purchased at a savings of 50%. This is the first time this option has been given, and may be
               a suitable for those students who don't object to reading  the text on a computer screen, and
               desire to reduce their initial expense by printing only those pages they want to study more
               closely.  However, if a student printed a large amount of the 700 pages included in the text, they could
               incur significant paper and ink expense.       

            ~The course requires five face-to-face meetings; the initial meeting is a highly recommended
               meeting  for getting additional course information, to illustrate navigation of the
               Course Compass site, become more familiar with course expectations, and an opportunity to meet
               other members of the course. 

                Out of area students familiar with Course Compass may take the course by arranging for testing with
                a college testing center in their area.  This requires that the student provide a name of the contact    
                person at the testing center, their phone number, email address, and a mailing address.  

            The first meeting dates stated here are a correction of those stated in the Fall Course Schedule;

            The first meeting for Psychology 25 is Wednesday, September 5th, 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Library 
            classroom LTC-203.

            The first meeting for Sociology 40 is Tuesday, September 4th, 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Library 
            classroom LTC-203.

            Students who do not attend the first meeting may be dropped to make room for
               other students on the instructor's waiting list.

               The other four meetings are for testing, each about an hour and a half long on   
               designated Tuesdays.  Alternate testing times can be made by arrangement, to be
               taken during the instructor's office hours within a one-week window of the specified exam date.

            ~Course Syllabus: Forthcoming

            ~Time requirements for the course include online work of approximately 1.5 to 3 hours
               per week, with visits of about three times per week to the site.

               Reading and study requirements range from 4 to 7 hours per week. 

               This page may not answer all your questions, but will it get you started.  Please feel free to contact me by email, and
               I will get back to you as soon as I pick-up my mail. 

               Email: gjepson@mpc.edu