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:

• Exams: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete three exams 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 taken at home over canvas. These will be open book/open 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 August 7th 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 August 7th. 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 August 7th. 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.

Course Schedule:

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.