Course Syllabus

 

           

Welcome to Introduction to Psychology! 

Jonastasya Griffith             jonastasya.griffith.121@my.csun.edu

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The content focuses on the exploration of major theories and concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology. Topics include the biological bases of behavior, ethics involved in research, perception, cognition, learning, memory, emotion, motivation, development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology. Students are required to spend approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes (typically 22 credits) during the term in research-related activities. (Available for General Education, D1 Social Sciences.)

I am sure that you know that CSUN plans to start the 1st three weeks of the semester for the majority of in-person classes in a virtual online format. As such, out of an abundance of caution, our Introduction to Psychology course (PSY 150) Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00-6:15pm meetings will also begin on Zoom. Our first class will be on January 24, 2022 from 5:00-6:15pm.

Once CSUN deems that it is safe to return to in-person instruction, we will hold our meetings on campus. 

Please use the following link to join the weekly class meetings:

Join Zoom Meeting: 

https://csun.zoom.us/j/89608021055?pwd=Uk9BVmVEc3UwOXBxS0t1T3h5ZWJldz09

Meeting ID: 896 0802 1055

Passcode: 605443

Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00pm-5:00pm. Please reach out to me via email in order to schedule an appointment outside this time frame!

Course Materials 

Required Text

The textbook that we will be using is From Inquiry to Understanding: Psychology, 2nd edition. For this course, you can find you you are required to have access to BryteWave. BryteWave is a resource to help students achieve better results by providing a place where they can read, study, practice, complete homework, and more. You do not have to worry about access your book or course materials outside any other platforms besides Canvas. 

You are responsible for paying for charges applied to your student account. If you do not wish to participate in this program, you have to “Opt Out”. If you Opt Out of receiving and paying for your materials via this program, you will then need to purchase materials elsewhere on your own. To Opt Out of the required digital materials you will need to go to https://accessportal.follett.com/0150.

Canvas

Course schedule, readings, assignments, etc. will be made available in Canvas. You can access Canvas through my.csun.edu using your CSUN login account to login. Course information, including the syllabus, office hours, assignments, lecture notes, announcements and grades will all be on Canvas. Access is free with a CSUN user account.

Internet Connection and Zoom
I am sure that you know that CSUN plans to start the 1st three weeks of the semester for the majority of in-person classes in a virtual online format. Once CSUN deems that it is safe to return to in-person instruction, we will hold our meetings on campus. 

Please use the zoom link to join the weekly class meetings. (DSL, LAN, or cable connection desirable) In order to access class lectures you will be required to use Zoom.  Zoom will be utilized in order to conduct lectures.  If you are having trouble logging in to the myNorthridge Portal, your CSUN email or problems with Zoom, contact IT.

Course Schedule

Class Dates	Lecture Topics	Reading Due Dates	Homework Due Dates
Monday (01-24-22)	Introduction to Course and Syllabus Review	-	-
Wednesday (01-26-22)	Chapter 1. Psychology and Scientific Thinking	Ch. 1	-
Monday (01-31-22)	Chapter 3. Biological Psychology	Ch. 3	-
Wednesday (02-02-22)	Chapter 3. Biological Psychology	Ch. 3	-
Monday (02-07-22)	Chapter 4. Sensation and Perception	Ch. 4	-
Wednesday (02-09-22)	Chapter 8. Thinking, Reasoning & Language	Ch. 8	-
Monday (02-14-22)	Chapter 8. Thinking, Reasoning & Language	Ch. 8	-
Wednesday (02-16-22)	Chapter 11. Motivation and Emotion	Ch. 11	Fill in the Blanks Due (Ch. 3, 4, 11)
Monday (02-21-22)	EXAM 1 (Chapters 1,3-4, 8 and 11)	-	-
Wednesday (02-23-22)	Chapter 2. Research Methods	Ch. 2	-
Monday (02-28-22)	Chapter 7. Memory	Ch.7	-
Wednesday (03-02-22)	Chapter 7. Memory	Ch.7	-
Monday (03-07-22)	Chapter 6. Learning	Ch. 6	-
Wednesday (03-09-22)	Chapter 6. Learning	Ch. 6	-
Monday (03-14-22)	Chapter 9. Intelligence and IQ Testing	Ch. 9	Fill in the Blanks Due (Ch. 2, 6, 7 and 9)
Wednesday (03-16-22)	EXAM 2 (Chapter 2, 6-7 and 9)	-	-
Monday (03-21-22)	SPRING	BREAK	2022
Wednesday (03-23-22)	SPRING	BREAK	2022
Monday (03-28-22)	Chapter 5. Consciousness	Ch. 5	-
Wednesday (03-30-22)	Chapter 5. Consciousness	Ch. 5	-
Monday (04-04-22)	Chapter 14. Personality	Ch. 14	-
Wednesday (04-06-22)	Chapter 14. Personality	Ch. 14	-
Monday (04-11-22)	Chapter 13. Social Psychology	Ch. 13	-
Wednesday (04-13-22)	Chapter 15. Psychological Disorders	Ch. 15	-
Monday (04-18-22)	Chapter 15. Psychological Disorders	Ch. 15	Fill in the Blanks Due (Ch. 5, 13, 14, and 15)
Wednesday (04-20-22)	EXAM 3 (Chapter 5, 13-15)	-	-
Monday (04-25-22)	Chapter 10. Human Development	Ch. 10	-
Wednesday (04-27-22)	Chapter 12. Stress, Coping and Health	Ch. 12	-
Monday (05-02-22)	Chapter 12. Stress, Coping and Health	Ch. 12	-
Wednesday (05-04-22)	Chapter 16. Therapy	Ch. 16	Fill in the Blanks Due (Ch. 10, 12, and 16)
Monday (05-09-22)	Review before Final Exam	-	-
Wednesday (05-11-22)	Review before Final Exam	-	-
Wednesday (05-18-22)	Final Exam (5:30pm-7:30pm)	-	-

Grade Breakdown 

Requirements	Percentage	Grading System
Assignments	20%	A 93-100 A- 89.5-92.5 B+ 86-89 B 82.5-85.5 B- 79-82 C+ 75.5-78.5 C 72.5-75 C- 70-72 D 60-69.5 F Below 60
Exam #1	15%
Exam #2	15%
Exam #3	15%
Attendance & Participation	10%
Group Discussion	5%
Final Exam	20%

Course Requirement

Attendance and Participation 
Students are encouraged to attend each class period in order to participate in and contribute to class discussion. Please read the assigned chapters before class so that you can better participate in these discussions. Students are expected to be prepared for class and participate in all class activities. Participation is an important part of your growth as a student. My hope is that together we can create a classroom environment in which everyone feels comfortable communicating in class.

Group Work and Group Discussion

On designated days, worksheets and activities will occur during the class period, which will then be submitted for a grade. These assignments will be based on the reading, so be sure to keep up! You also will not know when these assignments will pop up, so be sure to attend every class.

Exams

Three non-cumulative exams will be given throughout the semester, each worth 15 percent of total grade. While non-cumulative, each exam may integrate concepts from prior exams. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice, true/false, and/or matching questions that address the chapters, lectures, discussion, activities, and videos covered in the class. You will need to study material from lectures, videos, and textbook readings in order to perform well on exams. Each exam will contain 50 questions, worth two points each. The exams will be given through the online platform Canvas. You will have the opportunity to retake one exam. If you choose to do this, you will have to let me know a week prior. All exams (with the exception of the Final Exam) will be begin at beginning of the designated class start time. The Final Exam will be a cumulative exam.

Since you can to retake an exam, no make-up exams will be allowed. The only exceptions to this policy maybe be granted for specific exceptional circumstances that are verifiable (e.g. signature by doctor or medical facility for serious illness). Please let me one week in advance if you will not be taking a particular exam and need to reschedule to make up the exam.

Assignments 

Homework will be assigned (roughly weekly) via CANVAS Platform. Homework for the full semester is posted along with due dates. The due dates for these assignments are accessible either through Canvas or our calendar. I will be dropping two lowest assignments at the end of the assignment. If for any reason, you are struggling with assignments (submitting them or having any connections issues), please reach out to me as soon as possible and we can work on something. All chapter assignments are due at 11:59pm on their scheduled due dates. 

Research Participation Requirement

Every student will be required to complete research credits or an alternative writing assignment to receive completion of this course. Failure to complete this requirement will result in an INCOMPLETE GRADE for the course. You must be 18 or older to be eligible to participate for research credits. If you do not meet the age requirement (or you do not wish to participate), an alternative assignment will be offered on the CSUN Psychology Research Area website, (https://www.csun.edu/social-behavioral-sciences/psychology/psychology-research-area/participant-info-psy-150250). Additionally you will find the research participation packet with all of the info necessary to sign up for and participate in research.  

On approximately February 14, 2021, you will be automatically entered into the subject pool and will receive an email from the research coordinator with instructions on how to start signing up for research studies. If you have not received an email by that date, please email the research coordinator at: psychpool@csun.edu,

For those eligible and willing to complete research credits, approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes (or roughly 22 credits) must be finished by May 13, 2021 (10 minutes = 1 credit).  You will receive two credits when you complete the mandatory prescreen questions. In order to receive research credits, you will need to visit the CSUN Psychology Research Area website and (1) watch a series of instructional videos that will give you step-by-step instructions on completing your research credits, (2) read the Privacy Policy, and (3) read the Participant Information Packet.  

This participation in research requirement does not contribute to your overall grade in the course. However, by not completing this requirement, you will be issued an Incomplete until you complete this requirement. If you complete the research requirement after the end of this term, you will need to notify me that you have completed this requirement (I will not be able to know otherwise). If I am no longer teaching at CSUN, you must contact my supervisor Gidget Viani at gidget.brogdon.982@csun.edu and put on the email subject line: PSY 150 Research Requirement Completion. Include your name, my name, and the term you were enrolled in PSY 150. If you receive an Incomplete, you will have one year to complete this requirement. If you do not complete this requirement, the Incomplete will automatically become a Fail in the course. Questions? Contact the Research Coordinator by email: psychpool@csun.edu    

Additional Resources 

University Counseling Services (UCS)

UCS provides free and confidential consultations to help students deal with academic stress, relationship problems, family/roommate conflicts, personal growth, crisis events (e.g., rape, divorce, assault) and other mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation). Students may visit UCS in Bayramian Hall (BH 520) or call 818-677-2366 (V), 818-677-7834 (TTY) for an appointment, or visit http://www.csun.edu/counselingLinks to an external site..

During the pandemic, UCS is offering counseling in a virtual format, over phone and/or Zoom. They also have a separate list of resources put together for managing stress during the pandemic: https://www.csun.edu/counseling/mental-health-services-and-resources-students-during-covid-19-state-emergencyLinks to an external site..

Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)

If you have a documented need for accommodations (for example, due to ADHD, anxiety, physical disabilities), please register with the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) office or the National Center on Deafness (NCOD). The DRES office is located in Bayramian Hall, room 110 and can be reached at 818.677.2684. NCOD is located on Bertrand Street in Jeanne Chisholm Hall and can be reached at 818.677.2611. If you think you may qualify for accommodations for any reason, but have not yet been assessed, please get in touch with me so that I can put you in touch with an assessment team. DRES accommodations are not a crutch or a leg up – they level the playing field so that everyone in this course has an equitable chance at succeeding. Please make sure you use all accommodations to which you are entitled!

If you are approved for exam accommodations with DRES, I will be notified, and I will be able to extend the time available to you for each exam directly in Canvas.

CSUN Information Technology Services

If you have any difficulties with the technology used in this course (either your personal device that you use for your coursework, Zoom software, Canvas, or SPSS), you can contact information technology services (IT) at www.csun.edu/IT/need-helpLinks to an external site..

In addition, if you need a device to use for this course (e.g., iPad OR Laptop]), you may be able to borrow one from CSUN by contacting the device loaner program at https://www.csun.edu/it/device-loaner-programLinks to an external site..

If you have internet connectivity issues, please reach out to IT at https://www.csun.edu/it/internet-connectivity-users-who-do-not-have-itLinks to an external site..