Psychology most broadly defined is the scientific study of behavior. This course provides a broad overview of this field of science. (For a more detailed look at this course please see the course schedule below). This course fulfills the Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education requirement. As such, it is designed not only to teach the information and skills required by the discipline, but also to teach strategies and skills that can be used for life-long learning. Regardless of your major, General Education courses build a foundation of broad knowledge and skills that help you in your further career and life.

For more information about General education: https://catalog.suu.edu/content.php?catoid=22&navoid=3773

To help reduce the economic burden my students face, I have chosen a textbook that is available to you for free online.

Visit  to access your book. Then choose your preferred format under “Get the book.”

If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost (campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com). You can use whichever format you want. Web view is recommended --the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on  so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high quality.) I also have a copy of the book in my office if you would like to use it during office hours.

Social and Behavioral Sciences Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of relevant social and behavioral science methodologies and how they are used to understand or explain human relations or interactions;
2. Identify general principles of behavioral and social functioning;
3. Connect those questions and issues to the students’ own experiences; and
4. Demonstrate a critically reasoned understanding of social patterns and individual variation congruent with and divergent from those patterns.

More specifically:

• You should be able to describe key psychological concepts across multiple theoretical perspectives within the field of psychology.
• By the end of this course, you should be able to explain how psychology as a field connects with and complements other disciplines.
• You will be asked to recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of your own, and others’, behavioral and mental processes.
• You will be asked to apply psychological concepts to develop yourself and improve society in a professional and constructive manner.
• You will use scientific reasoning and critical thinking to interpret psychological phenomena and identify credible sources of psychological research.
• By the end of this course, you should be able to describe the various types of research methods used by psychologists, with particular consideration of various research designs, limitations, and ethical principles

Digital Literacy: Students strategically and responsibly employ appropriate technologies to explore, create, collaborate, and organize in a digital context.

Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute and share information effectively and ethically.

Integrative learning: Students make connections among ideas and experiences and can synthesize and transfer their learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus.

Evaluation Methods:

Your grade in this course will be based on your performance on 3 exams, 2 discussion boards, 13 homework assignments, research participation, and a final project.

• Exams: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete three 5 exams (worth 100 points each) to evaluate your knowledge of the material being covered. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice and matching questions based on the course readings, lectures, and assignments. Every exam for this class will be online at the testing center. These will be closed book/closed notes exams. Makeup exams will only be granted to students who have requested them 2 weeks in advance or contact me within 24 hours of the exam with a documented emergency that clearly prevented them from making it to the exam each day it was available. Makeup exams are not a right and are not guaranteed. It is up to my discretion to approve all makeup exams and I reserve the right to deny a makeup exam request for any reason. Therefore, it is strongly recommended you do not miss any exams. However, if you do miss an exam there will be an optional final at the end of the semester you can take to replace your lowest exam score. See below for more information

• Homework Assignments: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete 13 homework assignments. All homework assignments will be posted to canvas at least one week before the due date. All homework assignments must be completed on your own. Late assignments will result in a 10% deduction each day for a maximum 50% point deduction. For example, if you turn something in one day late you will receive 10% off your grade for that assignment. If you turn something in 5 days late or 50 days late you would receive a 50% deduction from your grade on that assignment. All late homework is due by December 5th at midnight. Any assignments turned in after this will not be graded. Assignments cannot be turned in again once they have received a grade.

• Discussion boards: There will be 2 discussion boards in this class due the week before exam 1 and 2; see below for more information. You will be required to post on a class discussion board describing a psychological concept on your study guide for the current unit and how you have seen it demonstrated in your own life, on campus or in the media (news sources, movies, songs, magazines, etc.). You will also be required to reply to at least one classmate. No late discussion boards will be accepted under any circumstances.

• Research Participation: Given that the topics we will be covering in psychology often stem directly from research studies, it is important to see how this information is collected firsthand. To meet this objective, this course requires that you participate in research occurring here in our department by signing up for studies through the online research system called SONA. A total of six credits will be required for this class. More information on how to register for SONA will be posted to canvas in the next few weeks. All research participation must be completed by Friday December 5th. No late research participation will be accepted. It is your responsibility to make sure you are checking SONA early and often to receive full credit. Waiting until the last week to contact SONA with any issues or to try and earn your credit may result in you not being able to receive full (or any) credit for this assignment.

• Research Paper: You will be required to write a 2-3 page paper reflecting on the research studies you participated in and what you gained from this experience. You will find more information about this paper on canvas at the end of the semester. This paper will be due by December 5th. No late research papers will be accepted.

• Optional Final Exam: The final exam for this class will be optional. If you choose to take the final, it will replace your lowest exam score. If you do not do better on the final than your previous three exams, you will not be penalized. This will be a 50-question, multiple choice, cumulative exam. There will be no makeup optional final exams offered under any circumstances.

Note: ALL assignments must be turned in by December 5th

Grading:

The following shows percentages and their corresponding letter grades.

A: 94% and above | A-: 90-93.9% | B+: 87-99.9% | B: 84-86.9 | B-:80-83.9% | C+: 77%-79.9%

| C: 74-76.9%| C-: -70-73.9% | D+: 67-69.9%| D: 64-66.9% | D- 60-63.9%| F: Below 60

Course Schedule:

How to communicate with me:

You are welcome and encouraged to message me on canvas with any questions or comments you may have about the course materials or assignments. I prefer canvas messages because I teach several classes and it’s easier for me to figure out which class you are in over canvas. If you would like to email me, you are certainly welcome to just please include ‘Psy 1010’ in the subject line. I will respond to all messages and emails within 72 hours. I don’t check my email on the weekends or holidays so please keep that in mind. I also ask that you consult the syllabus, class announcements, and assignment details for questions that have already been answered for you, such as the due dates for assignments, late submission policies, and what to do if you miss an exam.

Late assignments will result in a 10% deduction each day for a maximum 50% point deduction. For example, if you turn something in one day late you will receive 10% off your grade for that assignment. If you turn something in 5 days late or 50 days late you would receive a 50% deduction from your grade on that assignment. All late homework is due by December 5th at midnight. Any assignments turned in after this will not be graded. Assignments cannot be turned in again once they have received a grade.

No late discussion boards will be accepted under any circumstances.

All research participation must be completed by Friday December 5th. No late research participation will be accepted. It is your responsibility to make sure you are checking SONA early and often to receive full credit. Waiting until the last week to contact SONA with any issues or to try and earn your credit may result in you not being able to receive full (or any) credit for this assignment.

You will be required to write a 2-3 page paper reflecting on the research studies you participated in and what you gained from this experience. This paper will be due by December 5th. No late research papers will be accepted.

Note: ALL assignments must be turned in by December 5th

Makeup Exams:

Makeup exams will only be granted to students who have requested them 2 weeks in advance or contact me within 24 hours of the exam with a documented emergency that clearly prevented them from making it to the exam each day it was available. Makeup exams are not a right and are not guaranteed. It is up to my discretion to approve all makeup exams and I reserve the right to deny a makeup exam request for any reason. Therefore, it is strongly recommended you do not miss any exams. However, if you do miss an exam there will be an optional final at the end of the semester you can take to replace your lowest exam score.

There will be no makeup optional final exams offered under any circumstances.

Grade Disputes:

If you disagree with your grade on an exam or assignment, you may submit a written dispute by email to the instructor within one week of receiving your grade. Grade disputes will not be considered after this one-week window or if submitted to anyone other than the instructor via canvas message or email. If applicable, include in your written dispute a reference to a page in the textbook that pertains to your rationale.

USE OF AI:

I recognize that there are a variety of AI programs available to assist with writing, idea generation, content generation, etc. AI programs are not a replacement for human creativity, originality, and critical thinking. Critical thinking is a craft that you must develop over time to develop your own individual ideas and ability to articulate ideas. However, within limited circumstances, if you consult with me FIRST, AI programs may be used as an idea generation tool in this class.

This is an in-person course. Classes will not be recorded and there will not be a zoom link for you to access. Although you will not be given class credit for attendance, attendance is required. There will be material covered in class that isn’t in your textbook. Additionally, there is information in your textbook that we will not be going over in class. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you attend class and keep up with the readings if you want to do well in this class.

The Southern Utah University Psychology Department values our students irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, nationality, capabilities, or disabilities. Our faculty and staff are committed to the intellectual, physical, and emotional health of all members of the campus community. Should anyone experience problems or issues with depression, anxiety, grief, discrimination, alienation or marginalization, helplessness or hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, we implore you to seek us out. Our commitment is to listen, and help you find the resources you need.