Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | PSY-1010-VO06 - Introduction to Psychology

Online Class

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

Faculty

David Tomasi
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Gilberto Diaz Santos

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

PSY-1010-VO06 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information 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

Methods:

· Small-group and whole-class discussion

· Lectures

· Small group activities

· In-class reaction writing and writing assignments

· Tests and quizzes

· Mid-term and final exams

· Research project

Note on Artificial Intelligence:

The use of generative Artificial Intelligence is not allowed in this course, with the exception of spellcheck, grammar check and similar tools. This course rests in the value of students engaging in the learning process without relying on Artificial Intelligence-generated content. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills independently, owning their learning journey from start to finish. If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of CCV’s Academic Integrity Policy.

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

Course Pedagogy:

·Participation: Your thoughts, ideas, and questions about course concepts are welcomed in our classroom community. You are encouraged to ask questions about concepts as they come up. Please remember that participation is part of your final grade, and that you must be actively engaged in class discussions on a weekly basis.

·Importance of Homework: Completing reading assignments prior to arriving in class will greatly improve your comprehension of the concepts we discuss in class, and will aid you in being able to ask informed questions about the concepts we explore.In order to ensure consistent completion of reading assignments, you will be quizzed weekly on the assigned content. The homework involves weekly reading assignments, short writing assignments, being prepared for class activities, and any (unannounced) quizzes we might have.

·Collaboration: You are encouraged to study and discuss the course work with classmates; however, the final work you turn in must be your own. Copying someone else’s work is unacceptable. You are encouraged to help each other understand the concepts involved. There is a clear distinction between discussing work and copying someone else’s work. If you simply copy what someone else has done, you are not increasing your understanding of the material. It is very easy to recognize copying.

·Presentation: Sloppy, untidy submission of work will be penalized for two main reasons. First, it is not the responsibility of the grader to attempt to decipher your work because it is either hardly readable or disorganized. Second, in order to practice professionalism, it is important that you learn to communicate your work in the most professional manner possible. This includes the presentation of concepts through class discussion, written assignments, oral presentations, and research papers. Assignments must be submitted as hard copies, hand written or printed on paper, on time. Electronic copies, on flash drives or other e-devices, will not be accepted.

·Electronics: Use of laptops during class sessions is not permitted without express advance permission of instructor and legitimate academic need. In addition, Leave cell phones OFF and put away while class is in session.Use of cell phones for calls or texting is strictly not allowed. That said there are times when we all have to manage urgent outside situations. If you are anticipating an urgent message during class, you may ask for permission to leave your phone on vibrate so you may respond to the urgent call when it comes in. All urgent calls must be taken outside of the classroom.

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Requirements for the Psychology Project / Paper

Students are expected to write a paper on the chosen Psychology area. The content of the paper needs to address and/or be related to one area and/or subject discussed in class. For instance, students can choose from multiple clinical/medical techniques, strategies, traditions, and methods and analyze or compare them. They can focus on clinical-medical, anthropological, historical, philosophical factors (or the combination of the above) related to the chosen Psychology area or focus on one or multiple authors/scientists/practitioners. Students can also include personal experiences (individual or group/session-based) with Psychology.

For every statement and/or claim (for instance: “depression is cause by chemical imbalances”) students are expected to provide a scientific reference in the form of peer-reviewed research studies, journal articles or scholarly sources (preferably randomized case-control study, or similarly valid study on the hierarchy of evidence) and/or meta-analysis. The suggested amount of references in the bibliography is 5-7, with sources published in the last 7 years, unless one or more of such references contains a theoretical or historical examination of the Psychology area presented. Added materials such as statistical analyses, graphs, images, links to slideshows or websites are accepted, but not required.

•Midterm exam:please write a1-page(at least) draft proposal of the chosen topic / Psychology area. Due on Class 8

•Final exam:please write a10-pages(at least) essay on your Psychology project (the same topic you have chosen for the draft). If you want, you can also include a power point, slide show or video (facultative) to help you present your work to the class.Due on Class 14

Format:

All work submitted for the Final Project must be submitted handwritten or typed. Please follow standard norms for written assignment: Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard Referencing Style Guide, etc.

For Reference, please view the following website:https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

Structure:

Your assignments must all have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. They must also address the key components being asked for in the assignment. Outlines must have clear organization.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Note on Homework:

The combination of homework, research and paper is means to an end. It is a way for you to use the skills and structures that we study in class when you are outside of class. Although every homework assignment will not count toward your homework grade, you are expected to complete it as preparation for the class and it does count toward your participation grade for the day.

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance and participation in classes are critical to the passing of this course. They are essential components of a student's success in college and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. Absences are excused in the case of documented illness/hospitalization, documented school activities, religious holidays, and funerals. If you are sick for more than one day or have an emergency, please send an e-mail to the Instructor. A pattern of late arrival or early departure will constitute absence at the instructor's discretion.

More than one absence may result in failure to pass. Three absences (9 hours of class) or more will lead to a no credit grade.

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