Course Syllabus

 

Syllabus: PSY 101 Introduction to  Psychology

Course Information

Course Prefix/Number:  PSY 101.1

Semester:  Spring 2021

Class Days/Times:  Online

Credit Hours:  3

Course Title: Introduction to Psychology

 

Instructor Information

Name: Jose Amparo

E-mail:  jamparo@tocc.edu   

Office location:  Online

Office hours: Please send email to schedule an appointment to meet via video or phone. 

 

Course Description

 

Survey of general psychology. Includes a definition of psychology, history of psychology,

research methods and critical thinking, biological basis of behavior, sensory process, receiving

the world, states of consciousness, conditioning and learning, memory process, motivation and

emotions, role of health psychologists, role of stress in our lives, major stages in child and life

span development, gender identity and sexuality, intelligence, personality theories,

psychological disorders, therapeutic approaches, social psychology research.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to do the following:

1. Describe the history of psychology, including psychological perspectives and research

methods.

2. Explain how the nervous system and other biological systems influence behavior.
3. Summarize the stages and major theories of life span development.
4. Describe the processes of perceptual organization and interpretation.
5. Compare and contrast the major learning theories.
6. Discuss memory formation, retention and loss. Explain how memory can be improved.
7. Elucidate the connections between thinking, language, and intelligent behavior.
8. Summarize the major concepts of motivation and emotion and how they relate to behavior.
9. Compare and contrast the major personality theories.
10. Describe the characteristics and causal factors associated with major psychological disorders.
11. Identify and discuss the theoretical underpinnings of approaches to psychotherapy.
12. Describe the stress process and explain the interaction between stress and health.
13. Appraise social psychology research findings related to social thought, behavior, and

relations.

 

 

Course Structure

 

 

This course is structured based on topical modules and discussion posts. Students are expected to log onto Canvas weekly and respond to discussion post and engage with peers online through discussion post. Students will be required to complete the weekly modules which will be available on Monday and closed by Sunday 11:59pm. Assessment of learning and graded activities in each module includes discussion posts and end of the section quizzes. There will also be a final project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Learning Materials and Textbook Information

 

This course uses a textbook as a secondary learning resources. The required information is information, assignments, quizzes, and discussion posts that you must complete to finish the module and gain the knowledge from module.

The course will use other learning material that includes, blog readings, articles, videos, and

podcasts. Make sure you look through each module and have access to all the learning material

for that module.

 

 

Courses Outline and Important Dates

 

1. Describe the history of psychology, including psychological perspectives and research methods.
2. Explain how the nervous system and other biological systems influence behavior.
3. Summarize the stages and major theories of life span development.
4. Describe the processes of perceptual organization and interpretation.
5. Compare and contrast the major learning theories.
6. Discuss memory formation, retention and loss. Explain how memory can be improved.
7. Elucidate the connections between thinking, language, and intelligent behavior.
8. Summarize the major concepts of motivation and emotion and how they relate to behavior. 9. Compare and contrast the major personality theories.
   10. Describe the characteristics and causal factors associated with major psychological disorders.
9. Identify and discuss the theoretical underpinnings of approaches to psychotherapy.
10. Describe the stress process and explain the interaction between stress and health. Course 13. Appraise social psychology research findings related to social thought, behavior, and relations.

 

• Weekly Module available Monday at 12:00 a.m and due by Sunday (11:59pm)
• Weekly Discussion posts due Friday (11:59 p.m.)
• Weekly Discuss posts response to 2 classmates due Sunday (11:59pm)
• Quizzes due Sunday (11:59 p.m.)
• Assignments due Sunday (11:59 p.m.)

 

Evaluations and Grading & Assignments:

 

90 and above is an A                    

80 - 89 is a B

70 - 79 is a C

60 - 69 is a D

Under 60 is Failing

 

Your grade will be determined by the following:

 

Discussion Posts: 10 pts each 

Quizzes: 20 pts each

Assignments: 20 pts each

Project: 100 points

Final: 100points

Grade will be determined by the total number of points accumulated.

 

Himdag Cultural Component 

 

Human behavior and mental processes – and indeed our interpretation of such things – always

occurs within the context of culture. During the exploration of each of the topic areas within this course, emphasis will be placed on how each psychological concept is viewed through the lens of the Himdag and Tohono O’odham’s way of life and experience.

 

Policies and Expectations

 

Attendance Policy

You are expected to login the class weekly, participate in at least one discussion post, learning activity, quiz, or exam each week to meet weekly attendance for this course. Four unexcused absences may result in withdrawal and a “W” or “Y” will be recorded. You may request to be excused from class for religious observances and practices, for illness, for school or work-related travel or for personal or family emergency. If you will be absent, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.

 

Incomplete Policy

Incomplete (I) grades are not awarded automatically. The student must request an "I" from the instructor who can choose to award an Incomplete only if all three of the following conditions are met:

1. The student must be in in compliance with the attendance policy.
2. The student must have unavoidable circumstance that would prohibit the student from completing the course.
3. The student must have completed over 75% of the course requirements with at least a “C” grade.

Incompletes are not a substitute for incomplete work due to frequent absences or poor academic performance.  Incomplete grades that are not made up by the end of the ninth week of the following semester will be automatically changed to an F if the agreed upon work, as stipulated on the written form signed by the instructor and the student when the I grade is awarded, is not completed.

 

Instructor Withdrawals

Students who have missed four consecutive classes (or the equivalent) not submitted any assignments nor taken any quizzes by the 45th day census report, due on [date of 45th day found in Academic Calendar on TOCC website] are assumed NOT to be participating in the class and may be withdrawn at the faculty member’s discretion. [faculty members should be clear in their withdraw policy, if you do not withdraw students please note in appropriate sections].  

 

Student Withdrawals

Students may withdraw from class at any time during the first 2/3 of the semester without instructor permission and without incurring any grade penalty.  Please be sure to withdraw yourself by [withdrawal deadline date found in Academic

Calendar on TOCC website] if you do not expect to complete the class, otherwise you may receive an "F" grade.

 

Special Withdrawals (Y) Grade

The “Y” grade is an administrative withdrawal given at the instructor’s option when no other grade is deemed appropriate.  Your instructor must file a form stating the specific rationale for awarding this grade.  “Y” grades are discouraged since they often affect students negatively.  Your instructor will not award a "Y" grade without a strong reason.

 

Equal Access Statement/Disability Accommodations

Tohono O’odham Community College seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. The College will comply with all applicable regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to ensure an equal educational opportunity. This process includes self-identifying as a student with a disability, providing supporting documentation of their disability, and being approved for services through the Disability Resources Office (DRO).It is the student's responsibility to make known to their instructor(s) the student’s specific needs within the context of each class in order to receive appropriate accommodations. We will work together in order to develop an accommodation plan specifically designed to meet the individual student's requirements.

 

For more information or to request academic accommodations, please contact: Anthony Osborn, TOCC Disabilities Resource Coordinator, aosborn@tocc.edu, or 520-383-0033 for additional information and assistance.

 

Title IX   

Tohono O'odham Community College encourages each student to have the knowledge and skills to be an active bystander who intervenes when anyone is observed or being harassed or endangered by sexual violence.  Sexual discrimination and sexual violence can undermine students’ academic success and quality of life on campus and beyond. We encourage students who have experienced or witnessed any form of sexual misconduct to talk about their experience and seek the support they need.

 

Confidential support and academic advocacy can be found with: Student Services Title IX Coordinator/Counselor, Alberta Espinoza, M.Ed. located in I-We:mta Ki: Room 18. Phone 520-383-0033 email: aespinoza@tocc.edu  

 

Conduct: Bias, Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment

Tohono O’odham Community College faculty and staff are dedicated to creating a safe and supportive campus environment as a core value.  Harassment based on age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and tribal sovereign status will not be tolerated.

 

DISCLAIMER: This syllabus is designed to evolve and change throughout the semester based on class progress and interests. You will be notified of any changes as they occur.  

 

 

Course Policies:

• Students are expected to attend each class., arriving on time, except in the case of an excused emergency.

 

 

               

 Make-up policy:

Late assignments that can be made up will be accepted but will be penalized 25%.  Laboratories cannot be made up except in the case of college closure. At the instructor’s discretion, extra credit opportunities and optional activities may be provided.

 

Academic Integrity:

Violations of scholastic ethics are considered serious offenses by Tohono O’odham Community College, the Student Services Department, and by your instructor. Students may consult the TOCC Student Handbook sections on student code of conduct, on scholastic ethics and on the grade appeal procedure.  Copies are available at Tohono O’odham Community College.

 

All work done for this class must be your own, or the original work of your group.  While you may discuss assignments with other class members, the final written project must clearly be original. You may use work from books and other materials if it is properly cited. Copying from a book without proper reference or from a person under any circumstances will result in an “F” for the assignment, and at the instructor’s discretion, possibly an “F” for the course. If you are uncertain about proper citations ask your instructor or the librarian. 

 

 

 

Course Feedback:

All assignments will be graded and returned to the students promptly, typically within a week after the assignment is closed for handing in.  E-mail and phone messages will be returned within two days.  A student or the instructor may request a student conference at any time during the semester.  Quarterly grade reports will be provided to each student, either in person, by email or via the electronic system of Canvas.

 

 

Student Faculty Communication.

 A faculty member will respond to a student’s communication within 24 hours of receiving the communication excluding weekends and college closures. If a course is online a faculty will login their Canvas classroom a minimum of three times per week spread evenly through-out the week - and respond to any discussion posts and check on student progress in the course.

Definitions:

Respond: Faculty provides oral or written response to student’s communication, either providing the student with a response to the student’s communication or informing the student when the faculty member will provide a response.

Student: A student under this policy is someone registered for a course that the faculty member is instructing or a student the faculty member has been assigned to for academic advising.

Communication: Is any form of written or oral information from a student that is permitted within the course syllabus or through communication methods permitted by TOCC. This excludes assignments, quizzes, and exams (see pg. 20 of Faculty Handbook for this guidance).