Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. This course provides a broad overview of the field, including major theoretical perspectives, research methods, and applications. As a Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education course, it will help students develop analytical thinking, research literacy, and cultural awareness. This course will integrate Diversity/Global Learning and Community-Based Learning to provide experiential learning opportunities. More information about General education can be found: here

Your textbook for this class is available for free online.

Psychology (2nd ed.). Open source text available here

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:

1. You should be able to describe key psychological concepts across multiple theoretical perspectives within the field of psychology.
2. By the end of this course, you should be able to explain how psychology as a field connects with and complements other disciplines.
3. You will be asked to recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of your own, and others’, behavioral and mental processes.
4. You will be asked to apply psychological concepts to develop yourself and improve society in a professional and constructive manner.
5. You will use scientific reasoning and critical thinking to interpret psychological phenomena and identify credible sources of psychological research.
6. 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
7. Digital Literacy: Students strategically and responsibly employ appropriate technologies to explore, create, collaborate, and organize in a digital context.
8. Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute and share information effectively and ethically.
9. 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, 12 homework assignments, research participation, and a final project.

1. Exams: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete three, 50-question exams (worth 100 points each) to evaluate your knowledge of the material being covered. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice questions based on the course readings, lectures, and assignments. Every exam for this class will be online at the testing center with a 5-day window to take the exam. These will be closed book/closed notes exams. Makeup exams will not be granted. If you 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.
2. 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 final exams offered under any circumstances.
3. Quizzes: There is a quiz for each of the 15 chapters we will cover in this class. The quizzes will be completed online through the canvas portal outside of class time. You may attempt each quiz up to three times. Your highest score on the quiz will be counted towards your final grade. The exam borrows heavily from the same question banks used for the quizzes, so it behooves you to use all three quiz attempts as a way to study and prepare for the exams. Quizzes are open book, open note, and open internet. Each quiz has 5 questions and is worth 10 points. You may view quizzes after the due date, but you cannot take another attempt on the quiz after the due date.
4. In-class assignments: There will be eight in class assignments related to the “experiments” marked on the syllabus. These are placed throughout the course. If you miss an in class assignment there will not be a makeup opportunity. These are a way of rewarding those that show up to class regularly.
5. 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 April 16th. No late research participation will be accepted.
6. Perspectives Project: This assignment engages students with diverse global perspectives in psychology by allowing them to explore cultural influences on mental health through both an interactive guest speaker session (Part 1: Due March 17) and a final project (Part 2: Due April 16). Students will express their insights in a creative format of their choosing, such as written reflection, art, music, or multimedia. The final project combines these two components to encourage deep engagement with cross-cultural communication and diverse psychological perspectives. More details will be provided on Canvas.

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

Extra Credit

Due to assignments, quizzes, and in-class activities not being eligible for credit if missed, there are 100 points available for extra credit. Extra credit consists of choosing a TedTalk from the list of options provided and writing a reflection (400–500 words). Each analysis is worth ten extra credit points. More details are available on Canvas.

Late Assignments and/or Makeup Work

Missed exams, quizzes, and assignments cannot be made up without a university excused absence.

Exams and Final Exam

Makeup exams will not be granted. If you 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.

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

In-Class Assignments

If you miss an in class assignment there will not be a makeup opportunity.

Research Participation

All research participation must be completed by April 16th. No late research participation will be accepted.

How to Communicate

You are welcome to reach out via Canvas or email for any questions about course materials, assignments, or other concerns. If you prefer to email, please include “PSY 1010” in the subject line. I will respond to messages within 72 business hours. Please note that I do not check email and Canvas over weekends or holidays. Before reaching out, please review the syllabus, class announcements, and assignment details for answers to common questions, including due dates for assignments, late submission policies, and what to do if you miss an exam.

Grade Disputes

If you disagree with your grade on an exam, quiz, 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.

This is an in-person course with interactive activities, discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities. Attendance is required. Classes will not be recorded and there will not be a Zoom link made available. Material covered in class will supplement the textbook and there will be information provided in class that is not available if you are not in attendance. There are in-class assignments that cannot be made up if you are absent the day they are completed. For the highest chance of success it is strongly recommended that you attend class and keep up with the readings.

Welcome to PSY 1010! Whether this is your first college course or you are a returning student, I am excited to have you in class. Psychology is a fascinating and diverse field that will help you better understand yourself and others. Throughout this course, we will explore human thought, emotion, and behavior through various psychological perspectives. This class will cover sensitive and thought-provoking topics, so respectful communication and openness to different viewpoints are essential. You are all welcome here. You are all worthy of respect. You are all worthy of kindness. You are encouraged to engage actively, ask questions, and make the most of this learning experience. I am looking forward to an insightful and productive semester with all of you!