Introduction to Psychology
PSYC-101

Instructor: Katie Wilson

Monday- third period (10:30)
Wednesday-third period (10:30)

Room 13

This course provides students with a general overview of the science which seeks to understand and explain behavior and mental processing. Variations in psychology faculty training and research interest influence topic emphasis. However, students will be introduced to many of the major contemporary theories and concepts in psychology. This course will prove interesting and useful to those students wishing to better understand human behavior and thinking. It should prove helpful to students preparing for a career that will bring them into contact with other people.

Myers and DeWall, Exploring Psychology 11e in Modules LaunchPad

Please be aware that your text and your assignments are all online.  This course requires that you have broadband internet.  If you don't have this at home, assignments may be done using the school's computer lab.  If you would like a physical text as well for this course, it is available either online for purchase or through your school counselors office.

1. Students will be able to identify and distinguish major psychological theories (cognitive, behavioral, biological, etc.) and the major theorists associated with them.
2. Students will apply key concepts in psychology (including but not limited to: consciousness, personality, learning, and memory) to explain interpersonal and intrapersonal behavior and experience, both their own and others.
3. Students will recognize how social scientists ask research questions, understand what data or information can be applied to answer those questions, and evaluate claims made about human behavior within the context of scientific inquiry.
4. Student can employ a knowledge of psychological concepts to understand individual differences and collective tendencies.

You will be graded on 3 multiple choice exams, 100 points each, which will cover approximately 50% of your grade.  

Learning Curve quiz. (23 total quizzes) Each quiz is tailored to your learning style and will provide you with an individualized study plan. Each Learning Curve quiz is worth 5 points for a total of 115 points.

10 video assignments worth 5 points each for a total of 50 points.

Experimental Methods Outline is 20 points

Experimental Methods Final Paper is 80 points

Participation 50 points- this includes regular attendance (absences MUST be excused) You will also turn in an answer to a question after each class so that I might verify your attendance.  Sleeping in class will result in a 0 for attendance.

OCT 21
Exam 1: (Thinking Critically with Psychological Science, Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind and Developing Through the Lifespan)
DEC 2
Exam 2: (Learning and Memory and Stress, Health and Human Flourishing)
JAN 24
Exam 3: (Personality and Psychological Disorders)

DEC 9
Experimental Method outline due 20 points
JAN 15

Final Experimental methods paper due

This course is a designated Gateway course for students enrolled in the Elementary Education, ESL, Psychology and Social Work Programs. Gateway courses are good early indicators of student readiness for further study. Successful completion of this course will provide a solid foundation for next steps in your studies so be sure to take every advantage of the available support and resources provided to you.

Because this is a college course, and a not high school class, you will be expected to conduct yourself in a way that demonstrates you are mature enough to be here.  Attending a dual credit class is a privilege, therefore, this instructor reserves the right to remove you from this class in which case you will be receiving a failing grade.  My most important job is to protect the integrity of the classroom and the learning environment.  Everyone is entitled to a learning atmosphere that is safe.

1. You will demonstrate respect for the instructor.  Please no chatting with your friends or neighbors during lecture.  If this is a problem, I will talk with you after class.  If this continues to be an issue I will speak to your counselor about class removal.

2. Please demonstrate respect for your classmates.  Rude comments are not acceptable nor are they tolerated.  

3. You are expected to keep up on the reading materials and be prepared to engage in classroom discussion.  

4.  This is a class that requires you to be self- directed and motivated.  You will be expected to review the syllabus for due dates and points possible on assignments and assessments.  

This class requires you to be a self regulated learner. Please see the following definition of this in order to fully evaluate whether this is a class you can be successful in and that you are appropriate for.

"Self-regulated" describes a process of taking control of and evaluating one's own learning and behavior. Self-regulated learning emphasizes autonomy and control by the individual who monitors, directs, and regulates actions toward goals of information acquisition, expanding expertise, and self-improvement”.

Academic Dishonesty 
Violations of academic integrity involve using or attempting to use any method that enables an individual to misrepresent the quality or integrity of his or her work at North Idaho College. These violations include the following:

• Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study in any academic exercise.
• Fabrication: falsifying or inventing any information or citation in an academic exercise.
• Plagiarism: knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in an academic exercise.
• Violation of Intellectual Property: stealing, altering, or destroying the academic work of other members of the community or the educational resources, materials, or official documents of the college.
• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: knowingly helping another to attempt to violate any provisions of this policy.”

Violations of academic integrity may result in failure of an assignment, failure of the course, or more serious sanctions.

“For a complete explanation of the North Idaho College Statement on Academic Honesty & Academic Integrity please refer to Policy 5.06 & Procedure 5.06.01: http://www.nic.edu/policy/ 

Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct applies to any student enrolled at North Idaho College.  This includes, but is not limited to, face-to-face classes and Internet classes.

NIC shall maintain a Student Code of Conduct that specifically addresses prohibited behavior and assures due process for alleged violations. The Code of Conduct shall make clear possible sanctions for such actions. Policy Manual (See 5.06)

Disability Support Services and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504/508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, North Idaho College provides accommodations to eligible students who experience barriers in the educational setting due to learning, emotional / mental, physical, visual, or hearing disabilities. Instructors will provide accommodations to students only after having received a Letter of Accommodation from Disability Support Services (DSS).

If a student would like to request accommodations, he or she must contact DSS so that a Letter of Accommodation may be sent to the instructor. Students requesting accommodations should contact DSS as early in the semester as possible to avoid delay of accommodation due to student load.  Accommodations are not retroactive. DSS provides academic accommodations, access, assistance and services at NIC and at the North Idaho Consortium of Higher Education campus.

Contact:
Disability Support Services Website
(208) 769-5947

Withdrawal
Please check the NIC Calendar for the last day students can withdraw from full-length courses.

Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal: An instructor has the right to withdraw a student for academic reasons. For more information, see the Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal Procedure.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress (SAP):Federal Regulations require North Idaho College to establish Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. The purpose of SAP standards are meant to ensure that students and academic institutions are held accountable to the taxpayer-funded federal student aid programs while students complete their academic goals in a timely manner. This process monitors student performance in all terms of enrollment, including terms in which the student did not receive financial aid. For more information, see the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress website.

For more information on withdrawals, see the NIC Student Accounts website.

Title IX

North Idaho College seeks to provide an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment.  If you have been the victim of sexual harassment/misconduct/assault we encourage you to report this.   If you report this to any college employee, (except for a licensed counselor or health care professional) she or he must notify our college's Title IX coordinator about the basic facts of the incident (you may choose whether you or anyone involved is identified by name).  For more information about your options at NIC, please go to: www.nic.edu/titleIX or call (208) 676-7156

INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT

Removal From Class For Non-Attendance:  Attendance is based on your participation in this class. Failure to attend will result in your being removed from this class and may result in your financial aid award being reduced. You are responsible for confirming the accuracy of your attendance record.