Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | PSY-1010-VN01 - Introduction to Psychology

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Judith Castonguay
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Kate Hughes

General Education Requirements

VSCS Social Sciences

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of the basic issues, concepts, theories, and methods of psychology. Students explore the scientific approach to understanding human behavior through a study of sensory processes, perception, emotion, motivation, intelligence, learning, and personality formation.

Essential Objectives

1. Discuss the development of psychology as a social science, including practices that create, maintain, or dismantle social inequalities.
2. Analyze how current research in neuroscience influences our understanding of the biological and environmental foundations of behavior.
3. Explore how environmental stimuli are sensed and perceived.
4. Describe the nature of consciousness and its relationship to psychological well-being.
5. Experiment with learning and memory formation and evaluate how intelligence is measured.
6. Understand key milestones in language, cognitive, and socio-moral development.
7. Compare theories of motivation and emotion.
8. Identify psychodynamic, behavioral, social, cognitive, and humanistic theories of personality and discuss the approach each takes to understanding human behavior.
9. Discuss how individuals and groups are influenced in social settings over time.
10. Evaluate how socio-cultural norms and values shape psychological diagnosis and treatment and discuss the importance of cultural competence in the field of psychology.
11. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding the scientific method and in interpreting and evaluating statistical and other quantitative data as applied to human behavior in an ethical manner.
12. Explore career opportunities in the field of psychology and related professions.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Spring 2024 textbook details will be available on 2023-11-06. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

PSY-1010-VN01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

1. Class meetings will consist of lectures, small and large group discussions, and hands-on activities. Some on-line activities may also be assigned.

2. Videos and articles may be used as they relate to course content.

3. Three exams will be given to assess student learning. All exams are take home - done outside of class - and can be completed using texts, class notes and resource materials.

4. Students will be asked to keep and hand in a weekly journal commenting on reading assignments and/or class discussions/activities. To receive full credit (5 points each) each journal submission should be substantive, a minimum of 300 words long (2 - 3) paragraphs, and demonstrate college-level writing. A substantive post is well-developed and references the reading or another appropriate source. A substantive post is NOT one or two sentences of general statements or unsupported opinion.

5. Each student will complete a final project which will be chosen in collaboration with the instructor. Options for the final project include a research paper, a power point presentation, or a class presentation.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Regular attendance and participation in class and online discussions and activities.

2. Satisfactory completion of exams.

3. Satisfactory completion of weekly journal entries.

4. Satisfactory completion of final project.

Grading Criteria:

attendance/participation: 75 points (5 points weekly - this includes participation in online discussions and activities if assigned)

exams: 90 points (30 points each)

journal entries: 70 points (5 points for each journal entry)

final project: 65 points

TOTAL: 300 POINTS

Letter Grade Criteria:

270 - 300 - A (294 - 300 - A+; 270 - 278 - A-)

240 - 269 - B (264 - 269 - B+; 248 - 240 - B-)

210 - 239 - C (234 - 239 - C+; 218 - 210 - C-)

180 - 209 - D (204 - 209 - D+; 188 - 180 - D-)

0 - 208 - F

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Full participation requires active and thoughtful engagement in class each week. The following habits and skills are important. You'll have the opportunity to self-assess and receive instructor feedback on each of these areas at the mid-point and the end of the semester.

• Attend class regularly, on-time and for the full session.
• Complete all of the week's readings and assignments before the start of class.
• Listen to others attentively and with an open mind.
• Positively contribute to class discussions and activities.
• Ask questions and seek help when you need it.
• Challenge yourself to do your best work.

Missing & Late Work Policy

• All assignments are due on the date stated in the Weekly Schedule and can be turned in via Canvas, e-mail, or in person. Late assignments will be accepted with a reduction of 1 point for journal entries and 5 points for exams and your final project. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from completing work in a timely manner, extensions can be granted. Please speak to the instructor if this is the case.
• If you miss a class, you are responsible for checking Canvas and getting any notes, materials and assignments for the class you missed. Please reach out and ask questions if anything is unclear.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity