Course Syllabus

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Introduction to Psychology: 8-week course 

PROFESSOR:

Cara N. Nwankwo, M.S.

cara.nwankwo@okstate.edu

018 Psychology Building

Office Hours:  Online appointment only

Course Description:

The course surveys the principles, theories, vocabulary, and applications of the science of psychology.  The course is required of all Psychology majors and also fulfills the University’s general education requirement for the social sciences. 

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 (including advantages and disadvantages) 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;
  • Describe and demonstrate an understanding of applied areas of psychology (e.g., clinical, counseling, forensic, community, organizational, school, health);
  • 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.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to psychological topics.
  • Develop an increased understanding of historical and ongoing oppression of minority group members, and learn how approaching issues of stereotyping, prejudice, and minority experience from a psychological perspective improves our understanding of human behavior.

In addition to learning a great deal of content knowledge in the course, you will also be developing a number of useful skills that are broadly generalizable in a variety of workplaces, including:

  1. The ability to think critically about information, and consider implications for policies or actions.
  2. The ability to work independently, to set goals and achieve them.
  3. The ability to complete work of high quality and on time.
  4. The ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines.
  5. The ability to navigate and utilize technology in a variety of ways.
  6. The ability to accept responsibility for your own actions and attitudes.

Course Content:

  1. Introduction Video (66 points): You will record an introduction video and post it to the Getting to know you assignment page on canvas.  You will then respond to the videos of peers to get a better idea of who you are taking this course with.  Building connections can allow you to build virtual study groups or share notes!
  2. SmartBook Adaptive Quiz: Connect (224 points): In each chapter is a series of SmartBook quiz questions that help you master the material. You will receive 16 points for each completed chapter’s LearnSmart quiz. Late submissions will receive zero (0) points.
  3. Short Writing Assignments (200 points): You will be assigned 2 short papers (100 points each). Please do not wait until the last minute to start these assignments.  Late submissions will receive a 10 point deduction each day its late. Because PSYC 1113 is a designated “S” (Social & Behavioral Sciences) course, writing assignments are mandatory. Therefore, you must submit  ̶ ̶ on time ̶ ̶ all of the exercises. Failure to do so will result in an Incomplete for the course. Each submission must demonstrate a substantial and sincere effort by the student (as judged by the instructor) to address the topic at hand. Responses that do not meet these criteria will not be regarded as valid submissions. Your written responses will be scored on response accuracy, as well as spelling, grammar, syntax, flow, and APA style.
  4. Video Participation & Comprehension Check (210 pts): Each chapter will have 3 short video lectures explaining one of the key topics of that chapter in more detail.  You will watch each video and answer the embedded questions that come up during the video. Each video will have 1-5 questions and will be worth a total of 5 points. You will have unlimited opportunities to retake these video quizzes, so make sure to retake quizzes where you initially scored low to earn maximum points. 
    • While it is possible to skip to the end of the video and just answer the questions, I can monitor your viewing of the videos and I consider skipping to the end to be cheating. You must view the whole video (at least once) to earn your points.  Students caught attempting to cheat by skipping to the end will receive a zero for that quiz.  If this happens more than once, students will be turned in for academic dishonesty and may receive an F in the course. 
  5. 2 Examinations (300 points) : You will take a 75 question multiple choice exam on canvas. All exam times are listed below and are outlined on canvas.  Late exams will only be allowed for extreme circumstances.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be calculated according to the completion of the following assignments:

 

Assignment:

Value in Points

Percentage of Total Grade

Introduction Video

66

6.6%

SmartBook Adaptive Quiz

224 (14 total at 16 pts each)

22.4%

Short Writing Assignments 

200 (100 pts each)

20%

Exams

300

30%

Video Participation Quiz

210

21%

Total

1000

100%

Late Work Policy: You may submit late work for a 10% deduction for every day it is late.  After 10 days, you will be given a zero for that assignment. 

Primary Textbook:

Your primary textbook for this class is available for free online!
Psychology from OpenStax, ISBN 1938168356 


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.

The University Store and I have collaborated with the publisher to deliver your required digital course materials at a significantly reduced price. You will have day-one access to your materials through this course in Canvas. The charge for these materials will be billed by the University Store directly to your Bursar account after the drop/add deadline. For additional information regarding inclusive access, please visit https://universitystore.okstate.edu/news/direct-bill.html  If you experience problems with your access please contact support@willolabs.com  

Connect 2.0

McGraw Hill Connect is an adaptive learning feature that highlights key topics for you to focus on, and provides links to additional material such as videos and slideshows, so you can deepen your understanding of the learning objectives. Accessing Connect 2.0: Visit the website and enter your email to enroll in the Adaptive Learning feature of this course.

Fees:

The University Store and I have collaborated with the Mcgraw Hill publishers to deliver your required digital course materials at a significantly reduced price. You will have immediate access to your materials through this course in Canvas. The charge for these materials will be billed by the University Store directly to your Bursar account after the drop/add deadline. For additional information regarding inclusive access, please visit https://universitystore.okstate.edu/news/direct-bill.html

Important Notes:

Participation Expectations

Online courses are by their nature self-paced in many regards, so it is critical that you keep up with assignments as noted elsewhere in this syllabus. Please visit Canvas early and often. Students who are the most successful in online courses are those that tend to access the course on a daily basis. This course will require 7-10 hours per week of your time, which is not any different than if  you were taking a face-to-face course.If you have not participated in at least one assignment by the end of week 2, I will be in contact with you to discuss whether or not you should continue in the course. You can click here for a list of tips for success in online classes. 

Technical Requirements

This course is offered in its entirety through Canvas. All resources, including the syllabus, readings, tests, quizzes, links to videos, will be organized through Canvas. If you are unfamiliar with Canvas, please access their online resources for a host of tutorials (https://canvas.okstate.edu). You may also call the ITLE Canvas helpline at 744-1000. You must use your campus email and password to access the course. 

Netiquette

It is expected that students in this course will communicate with others in a professional manner using appropriate internet etiquette.  The term “netiquette” is used to refer to the accepted practice of communicating respectfully with others in interactive online channels. You can find a detailed description of the netiquette requirements here and a visual aid here. 

Health Resources

As a student, you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning. Mental health concerns, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, difficulty concentrating, and/or a lack of motivation, can lead to diminished academic performance and/or feelings of distress. A lack of access to basic needs including food, housing, or hygiene products, can negatively affect your ability to do well in this course. Whatever your need, the OSU community wants to provide resources to support your needs. The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (studentaffairs.okstate.edu), Student Support and Conduct (ssc.okstate.edu), and the Basic Needs Resource Center (basicneeds.okstate.edu) are all available to you.  You can also access mental health (https://wellness.okstate.edu/student-wellness/resources.html)  and overall wellness resources (https://wellness.okstate.edu/student-wellness/index.html) to help navigate college life. If you’re struggling with any of these, you can also reach out to me and I will do my best to connect you with available resources. 

Diversity & Inclusion

University Syllabus Attachment

  • OSU'S syllabus attachment can be accessed here. 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due