Introductory Psychology Syllabus

Santa Ana College PSYC 100 • Introduction to Psychology • 3 Units Fall 2020 #83402• T 9:35 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. synchronous online

Course Syllabus:  if you would like to download the syllabus, you can find it here Introductory Psychology Syllabus CRN83402.pdf

 

Meet Your Instructor: Kelly Spillman  spillman_kelly@sac.edu 

 

Course Description:  Addresses principles of research, perception, development, learning, motivation, emotion, and abnormal behavior. Emphasizes application of psychological principles to personal adjustment.

 

Textbook Information: Textbook: Psychology (2014) Spielmen. Openstax: Rice University ISBN-10: 1938168356
https://openstax.org/details/psychology (Links to an external site.) (Textbook is available free on Canvas)

Course Learning Objectives: Addresses principles of research, perception, development, learning, motivation, emotion, and abnormal behavior.

Student Learning Objectives:  Compare and contrast the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.

GRADING SYSTEM:

Discussion Boards           15%

Quizzes                                   20%

Tests                                         35%

Assignments                       30%

 

Grading Scale

90 to 100             A

 80 to 89               B

70 to 79                C

60 to 69                D

59 or below        F

Discussion Boards: There will be weekly discussion boards.  You will have specific instructions for your post. Most weeks you will also have specific directions for how to reply to other students' posts. The due date for discussion is every Friday by 4 pm. The highest 13 out of 15 discussion board grades will count toward your final grade.

Quizzes:  There will be a weekly quiz due every Monday by 4 pm. The quizzes may be multiple-choice, short answer or essay. The quiz may involve information from Zoom lectures, the textbook or a video or article. The highest 13 out of 15 quizzes will count toward your final grade.

Assignments: There will be three assignments this semester in CANVAS. These assignments involve completing an observational study, trying to develop a new habit and a mental health resource project . You will have at least two weeks to complete each assignment. Detailed directions will be given later in the semester. You will submit your assignment answers in Canvas. Assignments will not be accepted after the due date. 

Tests: There will be four tests taken online in CANVAS. Tests will have 50 multiple choice questions. The tests are timed at 100 minutes.  It is important to take good notes during Zoom lectures, read the assigned chapters in the textbook and review the PowerPoints. Tests will be open for one week which provides flexibility. Tests are to be taken alone and can only be taken one time. Due to the flexibility of how long the test is available, make-up tests are given only for documented, excused absences.

Canvas: You will be turning in assignments through Canvas. The assignment information will be posted under modules. Only open the assignment up when you are ready to submit all answers. You are not able to open the actual assignment up multiple times. You will be able to view the questions, videos and articles in Canvas in the assignment folder under lessons. You will also be able to view the study guides in Canvas and view the gradebook to see your average.

Zoom lectures: We will be meeting every Tuesday through Zoom at 9:35 am. Since you have registered for a synchronous class, you are expected to attend Zoom lectures. This is also your chance to ask any questions about the readings and weekly classwork. This will also give you an opportunity to interact with classmates.

 

Other Class Policies:

1. If you are absent on a non test day, you do not need to contact the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain notes from another classmate. The instructor does not forward notes. The syllabus shows the chapter and topics that will be covered in class each day.
2. Cheating: will not be tolerated. Cheating and/or plagiarism will result in a failing grade and/or expulsion from the course -- refer to the college guidelines regarding cheating.

According to the Websters New World Dictionary, to plagiarize means "to take (ideas, writings, etc.) from (another) and offer them as one's own." This also includes copying and pasting information from the internet, submitting an assignment that you did not write yourself, or using notes or a cell phone during a test. This also means that if you are repeating the course, you may NOT turn in work from the previous semester. If you are caught, you will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

3. Class behavior: The following are some behaviors which are unacceptable and are annoying. An unacceptable behavior can be defined as anything that someone says or does that interferes with the ability of themselves or others to achieve the learning objectives that day. Unacceptable behavior includes: the use of cell phones or other electronics during class and/or test time, without the express permission of the professor and/or an accommodation form from DSP&S; completing other tasks, such as work for another class; outside reading, talking to other students, sleeping in class, tardiness to class.

If you are caught in one of these unacceptable behaviors, you will be politely asked to leave the classroom. If you refuse to leave, security will be called to have you removed from the room.

Simply stated: if you must engage in any of these three behaviors during class time, you should do so outside of the classroom, out of view.

4. "I" Grades: According to the college policy, you may request an Incomplete, "I," after the last day to drop only in verifiable cases of emergency when the student is unable to complete the course due to extenuating circumstances which occur during the final weeks of the course.

Approval to receive an "I" and assignment of a replacement grade are at the discretion of the instructor. The student must arrange with the instructor to complete the work for the course prior to the end of the following semester. You may not re-enroll in a class in which an "I" is pending.

5. Changes to the syllabus: The instructor retains the right to make changes and/or alterations to this syllabus. If any changes are made, the instructor will notify the students.