Course Syllabus

Summer 2024 | PSY-1010-VO02 - Introduction to Psychology

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Anie Sklar
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 is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

For each topic you will make class discussion posts and write one assignment. Feel free to choose what best meets your learning preferences. Choose from watching videos (such as Ted Talks), listening to podcasts, reading articles, a free virtual textbook. Are you someone who wants to get the best grade possible in class? If so, you can make an unlimited amount of revisions on your papers.

Evaluation Criteria

Don’t forget to use the rubrics. They list everything you need to get 100%. Just click:
'Grades'
The name of the assignment/class discussion
Show Rubric

For help finding the rubrics contact the Canvas technical support. Just click on the help icon on the left side of class. You might need to scroll down.

A total points system is used.

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

To be marked as present make at least one post during the attendance week. Some students make posts before the week starts, which is fine. Don't forget to make at least one post during the actual 7 day period to be marked as present. Make your post in one of these two places:

* class discussion thread
* post your assignment

Each week students will make class discussion posts and write one assignment. The last week of class students will write a paper. Describing how they will apply what was learned to their personal and/or professional lives.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Due to life events that occur to many students over a semester (such as sickness, weddings, family illnesses) each student may have a grace week that can be used once a semester. No explanation is necessary.

For the grace week you can post your assignment anytime before the end of class without any impact on your grade. You will also get 100% for class discussion that week, even if you do not make any class discussion posts.

You can submit late papers anytime before the end of class, 10% is deducted for each late assignment. No explanation is necessary.

Are you someone who wants to get the best grade possible in class? If so, you can make an unlimited amount of revisions on your papers to increase your score.

Late class discussion posts will not be accepted. Think of it as going to an empty classroom and talking to yourself. This is different than being present during a class discussion.

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