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 (26 credits) during the term in research-related activities. (Available for General Education, D1 Social Sciences.)
We will be meeting every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30pm to 4:45pm. They will take place synchronous through Zoom which means in a real time virtual setting! During this time, we will meet together to discuss the topics scheduled for the day. The coursework will be on Canvas. You will need to access week to complete the assignments within each module as assigned.
Below is the Zoom information that you will need to log into for the semester:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://csun.zoom.us/j/81386245223pwd=VDhUMjlGNkhzVWRsM3F0SDhpaGdRUT09
Passcode: 518394
Meeting ID: 813 8624 5223
Office Hours: Mondays from 3:00pm-4:00pm and Tuesdays from 5:00pm - 6:00pm. 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 are required to have access to REVEL Pearson. REVEL 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. In order to sign up and access you homework materials, students will sign in via the PEARSON REVEL (located underneath the "HOME" Tab) in order to view assignments. Once you open Revel, it will prompt you to create a new Pearson account or enter your existing login information. Please Note: If you’re also registering for a Pearson MyLab (like MyMath Lab or MyVirtualChild) this term, you must register for the MyLab first, in order to use your same username and password for Revel. After the completion on these previously listed steps, your Revel content will appear. These instructions can also be found within the module “Textbook and REVEL (Pearson) Resources."
You are responsible for paying for charges applied to your student account. If you do not wish to participate in this program, you have until September 17th to “Opt Out”. If you Opt Out of receiving and paying f or 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
(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 contact lectures. If you are having trouble logging in to the myNorthridge Portal, your CSUN email or problems with Zoom, contact IT.
Finally, here are some extra resources that may be useful! Please don't hesitate to let me know if you'd like more information about any of these, or have a question that is not covered by any of them. I'm happy to work with you individually, or to source more resource information for you about anything you need.
Course Schedule
|
Class Dates |
Lecture Topics |
Reading Due Dates |
Quizzes Due Dates |
|
Tuesday (08-31-21) |
Introduction to Course and Syllabus Review |
|
|
|
Thursday (09-02-21) |
Chapter 1. Psychology and Scientific Thinking |
Ch. 1 |
|
|
Tuesday (09-07-21) |
Chapter 3. Biological Psychology |
Ch. 3 |
|
|
Thursday (09-09-21) |
Chapter 3. Biological Psychology |
Ch. 3 |
|
|
Tuesday (09-14-21) |
Chapter 4. Sensation and Perception |
Ch. 4 |
Mini Chapter Quiz (1, 3, 4) |
|
Thursday (09-16-21) |
Chapter 8. Thinking, Reasoning & Language |
Ch. 8 |
|
|
Tuesday (09-21-21) |
Chapter 8. Thinking, Reasoning & Language |
Ch. 8 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 8 |
|
Thursday (09-23-21) |
Chapter 11. Motivation and Emotion |
Ch. 11 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 11 |
|
Tuesday (09-28-21) |
EXAM 1 (Chapters 1,3-4, 8 and 11) |
- |
|
|
Thursday (09-30-21) |
Chapter 2. Research Methods |
Ch. 2 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 2 |
|
Tuesday (10-05-21) |
Chapter 7. Memory |
Ch.7 |
- |
|
Thursday (10-07-21) |
Chapter 7. Memory |
Ch.7 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 7 |
|
Tuesday (10-12-21) |
Chapter 6. Learning |
Ch. 6 |
- |
|
Thursday (10-14-21) |
Chapter 6. Learning |
Ch. 6 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 6 |
|
Tuesday (10-19-21) |
Chapter 9. Intelligence and IQ Testing |
Ch. 9 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 9 |
|
Thursday (10-21-21) |
EXAM 2 (Chapter 2, 6-7 and 9) |
- |
- |
|
Tuesday (10-26-21) |
Chapter 5. Consciousness |
Ch. 5 |
- |
|
Thursday (10-28-21) |
Chapter 5. Consciousness |
Ch. 5 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 5 |
|
Tuesday (11-02-21) |
Chapter 14. Personality |
Ch. 14 |
- |
|
Thursday (11-04-21) |
Chapter 14. Personality |
Ch. 14 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 14 |
|
Tuesday (11-09-21) |
Chapter 13. Social Psychology |
Ch. 13 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 13 |
|
Thursday (11-11-21) |
NO CLASS |
- |
- |
|
Tuesday (11-16-21) |
Chapter 15. Psychological Disorders |
Ch. 15 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 15 |
|
Thursday (11-18-21) |
EXAM 3 (Chapter 5, 13-15) |
- |
- |
|
Tuesday (11-23-21) |
ONLINE VIDEO ASSIGNMENT |
- |
- |
|
Thursday (11-25-21) |
NO CLASS |
- |
- |
|
Tuesday (11-30-21) |
Chapter 10. Human Development |
Ch. 10 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 10 |
|
Thursday
(12-02-21) |
Chapter 12. Stress, Coping and Health |
Ch. 12 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 12 |
|
Tuesday (12-07-21) |
Chapter 16. Therapy |
Ch. 16 |
- |
|
Thursday (12-09-21) |
Review before Final Exam |
Ch. 16 |
Mini Chapter Quiz 16 |
Grade Breakdown
|
Requirements |
Percentage |
Grading System |
|
REVEL Assignments/Mini Chapter Quizzes |
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.
REVEL Assignments
Homework will be assigned (roughly weekly) via the REVEL online homework system. Homework for the full semester is posted along with due dates. The due dates for these assignments are accessible either through Canvas, REVEL platform or your calendar. I will be dropping three 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.
REVEL Mini Chapter Quizzes
There will be 14 mini chapter quizzes that will assigned. These mini quizzes will help you better prepare for the future exams. These mini chapter quizzes will consist of roughly 25 multiple choice regarding the relevant chapters. These quizzes will be given via REVEL platform. Mini chapter quizzes will be opened at 8:00am prior to that days lecture. If a chapter spans two days, then it will be open at 8:00am on the first day of that specific chapter. All chapter mini chapter quizzes 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 September 20, 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 26 credits) must be finished by December 10, 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/counseling.
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-emergency.
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-help.
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-program.
If you have internet connectivity issues, please reach out to IT at https://www.csun.edu/it/internet-connectivity-users-who-do-not-have-it.