This course applies psychology to life. It also lays the foundation for further studies in psychology. Topics addressed:

• self-discovery
• life, career, and education planning
• professional organizations
• research opportunities
• graduate school
• APA writing format
• goal setting
• decision making
• life and stress management
• learning and memory skills
• diversity
• psychology department resources

Students wishing to major or minor in psychology should take this course their freshman or sophomore year.

Title: How to Think Straight About Psychology (11th Edition)

Authors: Keith E. Stanovich

ISBN-10: 0-13-447862-2

ISBN-13: 978-0-13-447862-3

Title: The Psychology Major: Career Options and Strategies for Success (6th Edition)

Authors: R. Eric Landrum & Stephen F. Davis

ISBN-10: 013570510X

ISBN-13: 978-0135705100

Another required text is the current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Manual 7th Ed.). I will provide a PDF copy of that book for your access via Canvas. You are also welcome to purchase a print copy on Amazon, another site, or through the bookstore (Amazon link: https://a.co/d/hhArjGL).

SUU ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Ethical Reasoning
• Integrative Learning

After I calculate your final numerical grade based on the system above, I will convert it to a letter grade based on the chart below:

Quizzes (280 points)

There will be regular reading quizzes, each worth 20 points for a total of 280 points.

FINAL EXAM (100 points)

There will be a final exam scheduled for your class during Final Exam Week (Tuesday 12/9). The final will be cumulative, will consist of questions from the course, and will be in a similar format to the weekly quizzes. The Final Exam may include some short-answer or essay questions. More information will be provided during the semester.

In-Class Activities (110 points)

We have 25 total classes with content throughout the fall semester. During many of those classes, we will have a chance to talk and write about topics. We will be having In-Class Activities regularly that will consist of many of the following – reflections, case scenarios, problem-solving situations, etc. The total number of points dedicated to In-Class Activities will be 110 points. The point value for each individual In-Class Activity will depend upon the total number of In-Class Activities given throughout the semester.

MEMORY IDENTIFICATION & REFLECTION ACTIVITY (60 points)

This activity will involve observing and documenting your memory strategies and then trying out new memory strategies not previously used over a period of a few days. The objectives of this assignment are to 1) allow you to explicitly identify strategies that are successful as well as potentially unsuccessful as a student, and 2) give you an opportunity to try new strategies that you have not used previously. More details for this assignment will be provided as described in the Calendar section of the syllabus.

Observational APA Research Paper (200 points)

This project will involve creating a hypothesis that you develop and testing this hypothesis by observing public behaviors of others. Your observational study will be reported in APA format as a formal research paper. The objectives of this assignment are to 1) provide you an opportunity to design a study, 2) collect data, and 3) write up the study using APA formatting. The intention of this assignment is to give you first-time exposure to the full research process and lay the foundations for future research-oriented courses.

O*NET (60 points)

O*NET is an acronym for Occupational Information Network. It is sponsored by the US Department of Labor. For this assignment, you will complete 2 activities on O*NET. You will complete the O*NET Interest Profiler by answering questions about your interests. You will also research careers in its career database. More information will be provided in class.

JOB AD / GRAD SCHOOOL POSTING AND RESUME / CV (60 points)

This and the next project should help you better understand the realities of entering and working in your desired profession. In this assignment, you will find and think about an advertisement for a job or graduate program in which you might be interested. What are the qualifications? What are the necessary skills? What does the employer/graduate program want in an applicant? Write a one-page report (APA format) that summarizes the ad and your thoughts about it. Also, write a resume or CV given your current qualifications and think about a way to become a more competitive applicant.

Informational Interview (60 points)

What is it like to work as a counselor, research psychologist, data scientist, and so on? How do I get there? To learn more, conduct an interview with someone in your desired profession. Ask questions relevant to the field and profession. Ask about things such as what they spend most of their time doing, what they love and do not love about their work, how they got there, and any advice they have. Write a 1-2 page report (APA format) about what you learned about the interviewee and their career path (do not submit interview notes; 45 points). You will also do a brief class presentation on what you learned in your informational interview (15 points).

YOUR ROADMAP TO SUCCESS (60 points)

This assignment is the culmination of the class component on career planning. This written essay should build on an outline wherein you identify one (or more) career goal(s), then identify key steps that would enable you to achieve that goal(s). The key steps should be fleshed out by addressing issues such as what you have to do to achieve the key steps and what resources are available to help you on the way. This assignment is intended to help you think through how you might start working now to achieve a career that you find satisfying. 2-4 pages (APA format).

Festival of excellence attendance (10 points)

You are required to attend the Festival of Excellence on Tuesday, March 31. To earn credit for attendance, you must submit a short review of one of the presentations or posters presented on that day.

Extra Credit Opportunities

Throughout the semester, you will have opportunities to earn some extra credit. Extra credit is granted for acquiring assistance from the Undergraduate Writing Center or the Public Speaking Center. Each individual student can earn 10 points of extra credit for each session they complete with proof of session completion (usually, an email from the writing center or a “pink slip” from the public speaking center).

All assignments are due on the date indicated on the schedule and Canvas.

All assignments may be completed ahead of schedule but may NOT be completed after the due date. This means that you may complete all coursework as far in advance as you wish, however the deadlines are in place to prevent students from waiting until the last minute to complete work. The deadlines are the LAST DAY you can complete the assignment.

Course Communication

Please email me at or send me a message on Canvas any time you have questions regarding the course. I will also send class announcements via Canvas and email. Finally, I will make comments on your assignments via Canvas.

Generative LLM/AI Statement: I will not penalize you if you choose to utilize a generative large language model (LLM) system (commonly called Generative AI; e.g., ChatGPT) to help you complete your written assignments – though I warn you about the pitfalls and shortcomings associated with utilizing such systems. I will grade your assignments rigorously, and I have noticed that assignments submitted with Generative LLM/AI systems – like ChatGPT – usually perform poorly.

Changes to the syllabus

The content of this course and syllabus is subject to change at the need and discretion of the instructor. Students will be notified in class and by email of any changes to the syllabus and receive new copies of the revised syllabus.

Attendance Policy: When you miss class, you miss important information. If you are absent, you are responsible for learning material covered in class. If you have an excused absence, you will be permitted to make up coursework or complete an equivalent assignment agreed upon with me.

To arrange excuses for absences that can be anticipated at the beginning of the semester, you should:

• Submit a request via email stating the dates of the anticipated absence no later than the end of the second week of the course
• Explain the reason for absence – in some cases, documentation may be required
• Include any request for make-up work

To arrange excuses for absences that cannot be anticipated (e.g., legal proceedings or illnesses), you should submit a request via email stating:

• The date(s) of the absence
• Explain the reason for absence – in some cases, documentation may be required
• Include any request for make-up work

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: Psych 1010 and INFO 1010 or INFO 2010 (or as a co-requisite)

Student Support

The SUU 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.