Introduction to Mythology

Resides in the UK, just outside London in Essex, studying for therapies with the British Psychoanalytic Council.
Focus: Psychodynamic psychotherapy influenced by Melanie Klein, not only Freud.
Taught in classics and humanities since 2012; religion since 2008.
Educational background:
- Bachelor's degree from MSU (1994).
- Master’s in Library Science (1995) and Religion/Psychology (1999).
- Doctoral degree finished in November 2016, graduated in 2017.
Previous work: Hosted Catonia podcast focused on myths and psychology, emphasizing feminine myth and the 'dark feminine' archetype.

Content focus: Greek and Roman mythology with implications in psychology.
Other mythologies (Babylonian, Sumerian, Egyptian, Hindu, Norse, Irish) may be included briefly for comparative analysis.
This course emphasizes a psychological approach to mythology, allowing for various perspectives.

Overview of Canvas setup shown via instructor's dashboard.
Students enrolled in HUMN 285 sections 13 and 15 in Fall 2026/Spring 2027.
Instructor's dashboard displays unpublished materials until ready for publication.
Emphasis on the simplicity and straightforward nature of Canvas organization.

Preferred contact method: Email (burkeby@montclair.edu).
- Mondays and Tuesdays may cause response delays due to scheduling.
- Zoom calls are available, keeping in mind the 5-hour time difference.
Encouragement for students to reach out if needed.

Important to read the syllabus thoroughly.
Acknowledgment of syllabus receipt is required.
Syllabus content:
- Course overview and instructor information.
- Academic policies, including ethics and plagiarism.
Course mainly covers Greek and Roman myths with some attention to other mythologies for context.
Students must develop writing and reading skills through lectures and assignments.
Total absence or minimal participation in subsections can severely affect overall grades.

Journal entries: 30% of grade; must be submitted weekly.
Research paper: 30% of grade; pre-approval for thesis and bibliography is required to prevent plagiarism.
Midterm and final exams: 20% each, totaling 40% of grade.
Clear guidance against relying on external sources during exams; answers must be from lecture content.

Assignment clarity:
- No late submissions for major assignments (midterm/final).
- Emphasis on maintaining a consistent study schedule to avoid last-minute pressures.
- Weekly journal topics and reading assignments will enhance the student's grasp of lecture material.
Method of assignment submission: Canvas allows various file types (doc, RTF, etc.), encourages clarity and care.

Midterms and finals will assess notes and lecture content, encouraging concise and relevant answers.
No extensions on midterms/finals unless extraordinary circumstances are communicated beforehand.

Attendance through weekly journal participation is required.
Late assignments: More leniency for journals vs. strict deadlines for exams.
Plans for handling missed due dates respectfully acknowledged upon communication.
Encouragement for proactive approaches to assignment scheduling and management of workload.

Various Montclair resources are available for student support (writing centers, tech support, etc.).
Highly recommended to utilize JSTOR and library resources for paper and exam research.
MLA citation style mandatory; guidance provided on proper citation formats.

Communication and flexibility emphasized throughout the course conduct.
Wish for a productive and enriching semester for all participants, encouraging regular student-instructor interaction.