Community College of Vermont – St. Albans - PSY-1010 Introduction to Psychology   
Instructor: Tana Randall-Wolfe email: tana.randall@ccv.edu text or call:  802-578-4067 
SPRING 2023 Syllabus 
Course Description:
This course is a survey of the basic issues, concepts, theories, and methods of psychology. Students explore the scientific approach to understanding human behavior through a study of sensory processes, perception, emotion, motivation, intelligence, learning, and personality formation. 

Essential Objectives:
1. Discuss the development of psychology as a social science.
2. Analyze how current research in neuroscience influences our understanding of the biological and environmental foundations of behavior.
3. Explore how environmental stimuli are sensed and perceived.
4. Describe the nature of consciousness and its relationship to psychological well-being.
5. Experiment with learning and memory formation and evaluate how intelligence is measured.
6. Understand key milestones in language, cognitive, and socio-moral development.
7. Compare theories of motivation and emotion.
8. Identify psychodynamic, behavioral, social, cognitive, and humanistic theories of personality and discuss the approach each takes to understanding human behavior.
9. Discuss how individuals and groups are influenced in social settings.
10. Evaluate how socio-cultural norms and values shape psychological diagnosis and treatment and discuss the importance of cultural competence in the field of psychology.
11. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding the scientific method and in interpreting and evaluating statistical and other quantitative data as applied to human behavior.
12. Explore career opportunities in the field of psychology and related professions.

Grading is cumulative.  It is based on 100 points for the class: 
30% Attendance and Participation 
15% Homework 
15% Research Paper
15% Quizzes 
10% Final Exam 
10% Final Project
5% Student strength
 
Attendance and Participation: This is a participatory class.  You get half a point for just showing up.  Participation includes cell phones off/away and engagement in the class process.  You can earn up to two points for participation.  I understand everyone has different comfort levels with groups, so there will be a variety of ways to participate in class, including asking questions, sharing information, small group, and pairs work.  
Homework is given throughout the semester to aid in understanding of topics.  Some homework is directly related to the research paper to help students improve research and writing skills.  

Research Paper: This paper is about a psychological theory you are interested in.  You will choose the theory from a list in the Canvas.  The paper will be due on the ____ class.  Focus on the history and foundation of the theory, which theorist or theorists were involved and what it is about.  Are there pros/cons to the theory?  Is it scientifically sound?  Are there ethical issues to be considered?  What is the theory based on?  5-page minimum, not including cover page.  12-point font, double spaced.  
APA citations and reference page required.  You must use 5-7 reference articles from the Hartness Library. Websites are not reliable sources.  
Use TurnItIn in our Canvas to turn your paper in.  
Quizzes: are open notes, but not open book.  This means you should take notes on your readings.  You are required to answer questions in your own words, not copied from the text, so you should take notes in your own words.  This aids in understanding new concepts. 
 Final Exam is cumulative and worth 10% of your final grade.  
Final Project is on a topic of interest in the field of psychology.  

*Note on class  format:  I am making an effort to be inclusive of student voice in this class.  I am making an effort to be more inclusive of minority voices in this learning environment.  This comes in the form of other readings and movies we will be learning from.  We must meet the requirements of the college, and HOW we do that is up for discussion.  We will use OpenStax as a foundation and jumping-off point for our discussions.  I plan for this class to be participatory and hope discussing psychology in this open format will have a positive impact on your learning experience.  
Class One: Introductions, forming our class
Introductions, hopes, expectations 
Extra Book options, Movies & discussion
Co-creating our SYLLABUS, semester plan
Plagiarism, Research Methods 
Bio-Psycho-Socio-Sexual-Spiritual model of humans

Homework: READ first chapters
WATCH BIAS – in Kanopy – see link in Canvas
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion
DRAW a picture of the brain and its structures.  Draw a picture of a neuron and show how it works.
 
Class Two: Statistics, Scientific Method, Bias, The Brain
Quiz on reading

Homework due for next week:
READ: 
WATCH: Crazywise – link in Canvas
READ: some of your extra book
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

 

Class 3: Perception, Sensation, Consciousness 
Quiz on chapters 3, 4, 5 (mostly 5) in Norton

Homework due next week:
READ: 
PICK TOPIC for first research paper (psychological theory).  TYPE an outline and bring to class. 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 4: Language, Learning
OUTLINE DUE TODAY – bring to class
Quiz on reading

Homework:
READ: 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 5: Cognitive development, child development, memory
Quiz on reading

Homework:
READ: 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion
Rough draft due next week

Class 6: Intelligence, Motivation, Emotion
ROUGH DRAFT DUE TODAY
Quiz on reading

Homework: 
READ: 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 7: Social Psychology 
Quiz on reading

Homework: 
READ: 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 8: Personality
Quiz on reading

Homework: 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

11/3 Class 9: built in catch-up day 
We will  cover things today that we have left behind in the past 8 classes.  

Homework:
Finish your research paper – due next week.
READ:

Class 10: Stress
RESEARCH PAPER DUE
Quiz on reading

Homework:
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion
READ: 

Class 11: Labelling & Disorders 
Quiz on reading

Homework 
READ: 
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 12: Treatment in the US
Quiz on chapter 17

Homework:
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 13: Prejudice, Discrimination, Stereotypes, Privilege 

Homework:
BRING DISCUSSION NOTES to class next week – at least 2 points you want to bring up in discussion

Class 14: Final Exams 
FINAL EXAM today

Homework:
Prepare your presentation on your project

Class 15: Final Class – Presentations, Career options
Project presentations
Final discussion