Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Sensation & Perception (Face-to-Face)

PSY 3150-01

Course: PSY 3150-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30755

Course Description

Sensation and Perception examines how humans and other animals gather information from the physical world and become aware of their surroundings. The discipline of psychology was founded on the fundamental question of how to scientifically investigate our perception of the physical world. This semester we will examine the historical, philosophical, and scientific underpinnings of this complex question, and learn where the investigations have taken us. We will study the sensory receptors and pathways, the fundamentals of perceptual processing, and cortical integration. We will spend time investigating vision, audition, olfaction, our vestibular senses, and taste. In addition, we will focus on sensory and perceptual anomalies and variations that occur across the lifespan. These topics will be considered from a variety of orientations, including the physiological, psychophysical, ecological, neuro-cognitive, evolutionary, and computational perspectives. With exposure to a variety of viewpoints, we will come to a better understanding of the complexities of ourselves and how we sense and “make sense” of the world that surrounds us.

Required Texts

Textbooks: Goldstein, E. B., & Brockmole, J. R. (2017). Sensation and Perception, 10th Edition. Cengage Learning: Boston, MA.

Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes specific to sensation and perception:
  • the historical foundations and classic methods of sensation and perception.
  • the structure and function of the major sensory systems.
  • how sensory information is processed and perceived.
  • the importance and application of the fields of study to our lives.

Essential Learning Outcomes:
Course Learning Outcomes | Course Assessment/Evaluations | Course Assessment/Evaluations | Course Assessment/Evaluations
Course Learning Outcomes | Exams | Class Lab Activities | Class Exercises
Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World | X | X | X
Critical Thinking | X | X | X
Personal and social responsibility |  | X | X
Communication | X | X | 
Teamwork | X | X | 
Information and Digital Literacy | X | X | X
Inquiry and Analysis | X | X | X
Integrative and Applied Learning | X | X | 

Course Requirements

Course Requirements: Much of your success in this course will depend on the amount of time you dedicate to the class. The material in this course is extensive, physiologically based and can be difficult to comprehend. Several applied activities will be completed throughout the semester to help you understand the logic and relevance of the material and methods of investigation. Throughout the semester we will also dedicate class time to discussion topics where specific areas of sensation and perception will be examined in more depth. These sessions are designed to be interactive and enjoyable, while providing an open forum for exploration and discussion of perceptual anomalies, phenomenon, and experiences. You are encouraged to come to our class meetings with questions and insights to enrich the classroom experience. Much of our everyday world is filled with questions and experiences that are directly relevant to what we are studying this semester. Stay attuned to what is going on and please share what you have learned with the class!

Course Grading: Overall course grades will be determined based on performance in the following areas:
Three Exams (50 points each) | 150 points
Class Activities and Exercises | 100
Total | 250 points

Evaluation: Grades will be determined using a traditional scale (where 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D). Plus and minus grades will be used in this course.

Exams: Exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions pulled from class materials and the reading assignments. Much of the material on the exams will test your knowledge of sensory and perceptual structures and functions. The exams are not cumulative. We will take three exams this semester.

Class Activities and Exercises: Throughout the semester we will dedicate class time to examine specific sensory and perceptual functions by completing a series of laboratory exercises and experiments. These class activities have a series of analytical and reflective questions that go along with the experiments. For the most part these class activities are completed in class. A few will be completed at home or online. In class activities are relevant to the material we are covering that day or week and cannot be made up afterward. There are 100 points possible for these class exercises, experiments and activities. There will be many opportunities to earn these points throughout the semester, so it is not a problem if you miss a couple of them.

Course Outline

Class Schedule
Date | Topic | Reading

Aug 27 | Introduction; Historical Perspective | Chapter 1
Sept 2 | Historical Perspective/Psychophysics | Chapter 1
Sept 4 | The Perceptual Process | Chapter 2
Sept 9 | The Perceptual Process | Chapter 2
Sept 11 | Neural Processing | Chapter 3
Sept 16 | Neural Processing | Chapter 3
Sept 18 | Cortical Organization | Chapter 4
Sept 23 | Cortical Organization | Chapter 4
Sept 25 | Exam # 1 |

Sept 30 | Perceiving Scenes and Objects | Chapter 5
Oct 2 | Ecological Perception | Chapter 7 (p. 149-163)
Oct 7 | Perceiving Motion | Chapter 8
Oct 9 | Perceiving Motion | Chapter 8

Oct 14 | Fall Break—No Class |

Oct 16 | Color Vision | Chapter 9
Oct 21 | Color Vision | Chapter 9
Oct 23 | Color Vision | Chapter 9
Oct 28 | Exam # 2 |

Oct 30 | Audition | Chapter 11
Nov 4 | Audition | Chapter 11
Nov 6 | Audition | Chapter 12 (p. 289-298; 312-314)
Nov 11 | Cutaneous Senses | Chapter 14 (p. 337-351)
Nov 13 | Cutaneous Senses | Chapter 14 (p. 337-351)
Nov 18 | Cutaneous Senses | Chapter 14 (p. 337-351)
Nov 20 | Chemical Senses | Chapter 15

Nov 24-28 | No Class Meetings—Thanksgiving Break |

Dec 2 | Chemical Senses | Chapter 15
Dec 4 | Chemical Senses | Chapter 15

Dec 11 | Final Exam Due

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work Policy – Make-up assignments, exams, and all work extensions are only allowed for those with an academic accommodation. Any accommodations and academic adjustments needed to successfully complete the course are administered by the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center, (435) 865-8042.

Attendance Policy

Attendance: Sensation and Perception is an in-person course this semester. Your attendance is expected at all regularly scheduled class meetings. Video synchrony with Zoom is not an option in this course.

Course Fees

There are no additional course fees required for this course.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.