Course Syllabus

 


Student in front of Crafton Hills College Sign 

 

Course Description:

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The content focuses on the exploration of major psychological theories and concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology. Topics include the biological bases of behavior, perception, cognition and consciousness, learning, memory, emotion, motivation, development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, core empirical findings, and historic trends in psychology.
  • Explain and compare major theoretical perspectives of psychology (e.g., behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic and socio-cultural);
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following nine general domains: (1) biological bases of behavior and mental processes, (2) sensation and perception, (3) learning and memory (4) cognition, consciousness, (5) individual differences, psychometrics/measurement, personality, (6) social processes (including those related to socio-cultural and international dimensions), (7) developmental changes in behavior and mental processes that occur across the lifespan, (8) psychological disorders, and (9) emotion and motivation;
  • Draw the distinction between scientific and non-scientific methods of understanding and analysis.
  • Recognize and understand the impact of diversity on psychological research, theory and application, including (but not limited to): age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, socio-economic status, disability, and sexual orientation.
  • Understand and apply psychological principles to personal experience and social and organizational settings.
  • Explore and understand contemporary societal influences on human experience, specifically, the presence, structure and influence of media forms. 
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to psychological topics.

Course Content:

  • Exploration of major theories, concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology.
  • Research methods, including the scientific approach, research design, the use of statistics, and ethics.
  • Major sub-disciplines in psychology including but not limited to: the biological bases of brain-behavior relationships, perception, cognition, learning, memory, emotion, motivation, development, personality and social psychology. 

Textbook:

 

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
Psychology 2e from OpenStax, ISBN 978-1-975076-45-0

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

Grading in the Course:

Your final grade will be determined by the following grading system: 

Discussion Posts (5 topics @ 20pts each) ……………………       100 pts.

Homework Packets/2 Chapters each (25 pts. Ea. 6 total)     150 pts.

Chapter Tests (25 pts. Each. 4 total) .......................................    100 pts.

Mid-Term Exam (Covering Chapters 1-6) ...............................      75 pts.

Final Exam (Covering Chapters 7-12)……………………......……       75 pts.

Research Project: ........                                                                 100 pts.

   Research Topic Proposal .............................        10 pts.

  Research Progress Checks (4 @ 10pts ea)…..   40 pts.

  Research Project Final Submission  .......…        50 pts.

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                                                                        TOTAL …….      600 points possible

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  • Your overall grade for the course will be determined by the accumulation of POINTS in the areas detailed above.  You will be able to track your grade on Canvas as individual assignments are graded and posted.  

     
    PLEASE NOTE:  In Canvas, you will be able to see your grade progress expressed as a point total as well as a percentage.  The points are what matter in the calculation of your final grade.  The percentage, while informative, can be misleading, as the percent value is only based on work completed to date. Your final grade in the course will be determined once all the points are in.

     

  • Class Participation in Canvas 

    • This course will focus on helping you understand the foundational concepts and structures of contemporary Psychology, and the work outside of class will be focused on that goal. 

      The course content is presented in Canvas as a series of modules, each module covers the content and material for two chapters at a time.  For instance, the first course module will cover Chapters, 1 and 2, the next module will cover Chapters 3 and 4, and so on.  Within each module, you will find a recorded video lecture for each chapter, copies of the slides covered in the given module, links to videos that illustrate key points, a link to the homework assignment document (fillable .PDF document) to be completed, then uploaded in Canvas for grading.  It is your responsibility to view/read all lectures, videos, documents and related materials found in each module. 

      In addition to the chapter modules, there is a research project module that will contain the instructions you will need to complete the required research project  for the course.   This module will contain supporting documents to help you with formulating your topic, conducting research focused on locating, evaluating and using peer-reviewed sources, and how to develop your ideas into a well-organized,  research summary in APA format.

      You will be expected to view the video lessons for each chapter, actively participate in discussion board discussions, while ensuring all work is completed and submitted by the due dates posted for each assignment.  You are also expected to read each chapter covered in its entirety.   The homework will require you to read and understand the textbook, as well as all related materials to answer each question item accurately. 

    Completion of Homework:

    • For each two-chapter module in Canvas, there is one homework assignment, consisting of questions that address key concepts covered in each respective chapter.  You will be expected to read each chapter, and answer all aspects of the question completely, and define ALL key concepts based on the content found in the book.  The Homework packets are worth a maximum of 25 points each, based on how complete and accurate they are.  Each homework packet is due by the date assigned for that particular module according to the Assignment Calendar.  However, you do not need to wait until the due date to submit the assignment – you are encouraged to submit the homework as soon as you complete it in Canvas.

      IMPORTANT:   All responses to the assigned homework questions MUST BE based on the information provided in the course textbook, and related materials provided in lecture.   Any use of external sources other than the course text/lecture will be subject to loss of points, and use of unauthorized sources could be grounds for disciplinary action (see the following section on Cheating and Plagiarism).  Unauthorized sources also would include the use of Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to provide answers -- such use of these tools for completing homework is prohibited. 

    Discussion Board/Topics:

    • There will be periodic topics posted to the discussion board, and can be found in each week’s module. You will be graded on your meaningful participation in the ongoing discussion.  Your comments/questions should demonstrate that you have completed the reading of the course text pertaining to the topic, and should reflect a genuine effort to share your thoughts and experiences with your classmates.  You are expected to post 3 times to each discussion topic:

      • Once to the instructor’s initial question prompt (10 points – 150 word response minimum) Initial Posts are due and MUST BE POSTED by 11:59pm on Thursday of the week its due.

       

      One additional post in response to TWO of your classmates’ initial posts (5 points each – 100 word response minimum) All Response Posts to classmates are due and MUST BE POSTED by 11:59pm on Sunday of the concluding weekend of the week.  Response posts are expected prior to 15 minutes (i.e. 11:45pm) of the Sunday evening deadline.  The responses to your classmates are expected to be substantive, meaningful, and reflect your understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

      • The quality and value of the discussion posts depends on the prompt and timely submission of posts by all students. Thus, attempts to post after the stated deadlines will be subject to loss of points. 

    Exams in the Course:

    • Each module in Canvas will conclude with an exam addressing the key concepts, key terms and  content covered in the two chapters covered.   The exam will take place on the date indicated in the course calendar (Fridays, unless otherwise noted), and will “go live” at 8am on the day of the test, and must be completed by 11:59 on the day of the exam.  All exams are timed exams.  Once you begin the exam, you must complete all questions on the exam by the time the clock expires.**

       

      There are two kinds of exams offered in the course.  The Chapter tests will consist of 25 multiple-choice questions that are based on the two chapters covered in the CANVAS module.  Each question is worth one point, and the test must be completed within a 30 minute time limit.

       

      The Midterm and Final Exams are longer format exams that will cover multiple chapters. The Mid-term exam will cover Chapters 1-6, and the final exam will cover Chapters 7-12.  The questions will consist of multiple formats (multiple choice, true-false, and short answer/essay) that will total 75 points for the mid-term and for the final. The Mid-term and Final Exam each must be completed within a 90-minute time limit.  

       

      For exams, students are permitted to use the course text, any materials posted in Canvas, and their own personal notes.   Students are forbidden to use outside sources or receive outside assistance from other individuals.  As the tests are subject to a time limit, you are strongly encouraged to read and prepare ahead of time.  Tests cannot be made up if missed.  

       

      All exams are to be the result of your own work – no outside assistance is permitted.  Any evidence of cheating  or use of outside sources is grounds for disciplinary action.  See the section on Plagiarism/Cheating.

       

      ** For students who qualify for accommodations through Student Accessibility Services (SAS), these time requirements will be modified or extended as specified on the SAS Accommodations form.  See the section on Accommodations below.

      Research Project: Focus on Media

      • is course requires the development and submission of a research project.  This project will be developed as a result of a series of assignments that will culminate in the planning, drafting and refining a 20-article Annotated Bibliography/Research Summary on a chosen topic related to media, and its impact on psychological constructs, such as cognition, perception, identity and social development.  A list of suggested topics and topic categories will be provided to students in Canvas.

        All students must choose a topic related to media, and how contemporary media in all its various forms influence our lives. We will apply the concepts of psychology to examine these influences, and explore an expanding body of peer-reviewed research that provides scientific evidence that supports our individual and collective understanding.

        There are four distinct assignments that will be completed as follows: 

        Topic Selection/Refinement (10 points):   As described above, the research for this course will be focused on the influence of media.  You will choose and describe a topic that aligns with this area of focus,  explain what about the topic interests you, and find ONE published, peer-reviewed study that pertains to your chosen topic, and describe what specific information from this article relates meaningfully to your topic. This description will be one page in length, and will be submitted in .PDF format on Canvas. The due date for this assignment is published in the Assignment calendar found in Canvas.

        Weekly Progress Checks on Literature search – article summary (10 points each – 40 points total):  At regular intervals, you will be required to submit your Annotated bibliography draft for review of your progress.  In general, you will be expected to locate, download, read and review at least 5 published studies for each submission:

        • Deadline #1:   5 article summaries
        • Deadline #2:  10 articles total (includes the 5 articles from the first submission)
        • Deadline #3:  15 articles total (including the prior 10 articles from the prior submission.
        • Deadline #4: 20 completed articles, including complete APA bibliographic entries, and detailed paragraphs (at least 6 sentences in length) that describe how each article connects thematically to your chosen topic focus.

        Your final Annotated bibliography will be submitted along with the Final submitted research summary as described below:

         Final Submitted Research Summary/Annotated Bibliography (50 points): The final assignment will require you to submit the finalized collection of 20 research summaries as detailed above,  with a 2-page summary that identifies and describes at least 3 broad themes or findings that you discovered from your collection of articles.  This should be submitted as a single .pdf document, which will include:

        • A title page with a title describing your topic.
        • The 2 page summary detailing three broad themes found in your articles as they support your topic focus.
        • The 20 article summaries, with detailed paragraphs, arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the lead authors, and complete bibliographic entries in APA format.

         This assignment is limited to only published, peer-reviewed study articles from academic journals.     NO News Articles, Wikipedia, Blog posts, WebMD or anything that isn’t a published, peer-reviewed study is allowed!

        The due date for this assignment is published in the Assignment calendar found in Canvas and will be submitted in .PDF format in Canvas. You are encouraged to submit the research paper earlier than the due date. 

        IMPORTANT:  All work submitted in this course, and in particular, the assignments related to the research paper project as described above shall be the student’s own work.  Using an AI-content generator such as ChatGPT to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. 

        Participation in this Online Course:

        • PSYCH 100-75 is a three-unit course,  lasting for 8 weeks.  It will cover the same amount of content as a full-semester course, compressed into a significantly shorter timeframe. As such, the course will move at a fast pace The nature of this course will require you to dedicate the time and energy required to complete the textbook readings, view the recorded lessons, documents and materials provided on Canvas to learn and master the core content of this course.  Additionally, you will be required to participate in all the discussion topics in Canvas.  Each discussion will feature a different topic, which you will be required to post ONE original, detailed response by Thursday of each week, and then post 2 RESPONSES to the original posts of your classmates.  Further, you will be expected to develop, research and write a research project consisting of developing a review of peer-reviewed sources and construct an annotated bibliography that meets APA format guidelines.

          The course calendar provides the due dates for required assignments and tests for the course,  and illustrates the unrelenting pace of the course.  It will be up to you to dedicate the time and energy required to complete all course requirements by the deadlines found in the course schedule.  It will also be up to you to seek help when you need it, and I encourage you to reach out to me via email, canvas messenger or through Zoom during my published office hours on page one of this syllabus.

          NOTE: You are responsible for dropping the course should you decide not to continue in it.    I WILL NOT DROP ANY STUDENT FROM THE COURSE WHO IS STILL ENROLLED BY THE  CENSUS DATE.

        • Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to psychological topics.

        Additional Course Policies:

        • Academic and Respectful Conduct

           A critically important expectation is that this class is a safe environment. The opportunities to interact with the instructor and your classmates will occur in Canvas, on the discussion boards, through email and in office hours Zoom conference settings.  I expect that you will conduct yourself and communicate in a mature and respectful manner all circumstances.  Communication with classmates and your instructor shall be respectful at all times.  Everyone in the class has a right to express their point-of-view, and will be encouraged  to do so while respecting the views of others in the class.  Disruptive or harmful behavior will not be permitted at any time. Everyone is here to learn, and if someone’s behavior prevents that learning from taking place, the instructor has the right and duty to remove that student from the course.  This includes (but is not limited to) rude and offensive behavior as well as the inappropriate use of the online resources and technology that comprises the virtual classroom.

          Another key expectation is that you understand that you are responsible for your own learning, and that your efforts in this course are focused on learning the key concepts of this course through your own honest, diligent efforts.  You will be expected to read all the assigned chapters, complete all assignments on time and in accordance with the guidelines, and prepare to perform at your best with all exams planned for the course.   This includes refraining from committing acts of academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism.

           Plagiarism and Cheating; Use of Unauthorized materials and assistance.
                     Plagiarism is the act of stealing or passing off someone else’s words, ideas, etc. as your own. Engaging in plagiarism is a violation of academic integrity and will not be tolerated at Crafton Hills College.  Similarly, cheating is the willful misrepresentation of your work on tests or assignments, as well as inappropriately receiving information or assistance from outside sources.  

          In recent years, it’s become increasingly common for students to rely on the internet search engines to supply information in response to homework items as well as test questions.   In this course, such action is construed as an inappropriate use of outside materials and assistance, and will be regarded as a violation of academic integrity.   For the purposes of this course, and specifically, the exams and homework assignments, the course textbook will be the primary source of information, and any evidence that students are using outside sources of information, such as copying and pasting information found in an internet search, will result in disciplinary action.

           

          IMPORTANT:  All work submitted in this course, and in particular, the assignments related to the research paper project shall be the student’s own work.  Using an AI-content generator such as ChatGPT to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity.  This expectation will be clarified and reinforced throughout the course.

          Violations of academic integrity may result in the following consequences:  The loss of points or a score of zero for the assignment in question; a formal sanction from the college following an inquiry as part of the student disciplinary process,  loss of priority registration, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion from the college.  Any formal disciplinary sanction levied by the college becomes part of the students’ educational record at the college. 

          The process for violations of the Student Code of Conduct (including violations of academic integrity) are outlined in the campus catalog. 

           

          Missed Work Assignments/Exams

          The due dates for assignments, and the dates and times for exams are provided in the course assignment calendar provided to students.  It is your responsibility to prepare and submit assignments by the due date, and to take each exam in the testing window times provided.   There will be no exceptions to this expectation.  

          In cases of extreme emergency, contingencies may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Students must contact me as early as possible in such circumstances.

          Communicating with the Instructor:

          If you need to get in touch with me for any reason, you may contact me using the contact information found on page one of this syllabus.  eMail is the most reliable mode of communication, and I strive to respond to student email inquiries within the next college day.  This means that email messages that are sent in the late evening, or on the weekend will generally be responded to by the next college day (e.g. Monday if the message is sent on the weekend), except in cases of extreme urgency or emergency.   Using the Messaging function in Canvas will also work with getting a message to me.

          You may also communicate with me through Zoom during the posted Zoom Office Hours and Zoom link in this syllabus and posted in the assignment calendar.  I am also available at other times, by appointment.

          It is important to keep in mind that all communication with me or any of your professors should be respectful, complete, and the use of proper grammar, capitalization and punctuation is an absolute requirement.  Anything less is considered rude and disrespectful, and will not win you any favors. 

          It will also be important for you to check your email messages as well as the Announcements section of the course in Canvas as key information will be provided throughout the course.

          Where to Go for Help:

          • Student Accessibility Services

            Crafton Hills College adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and guidelines regarding accessibility accommodations to assist students in fully participating in their college experience. If you have a verifiable disability that constitutes an educational limitation, and could benefit from instruction, it is important that you contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Office and speak with a counselor about accommodations (NOTE: no accommodations may be made until you first register with SAS). All disclosures of accessibility concerns/accommodations will be kept strictly confidential. For more information, call (909) 389-3325 or visit the SAS web page:  https://www.craftonhills.edu/current-students/student-accessibility-services/index.php

            As Crafton Hills College, the SAS office is located on the first floor of the Crafton Center, next to Admissions and Records.

             

            Access to Internet/Information Resources:

            If you are having difficulty with getting access to the internet, the Crafton Hills College Library provides free WIFI access to the internet, as well as Chomebook Laptops to check out for use in the library.  Consult the Library website at  https://www.craftonhills.edu/current-students/library/index.php  to reserve access to a laptop.