Psychology 101

Introduction to Psychology

Fall 2023 Section 4HB

Professor of Record:  Jennifer Domila-McAvoy (AKA Mrs. D)

Email: jenndm@email.sc.edu

Classroom Teacher: Mary Anna Elsey

Email: melsey@greenville.k12.sc.us

Course Description:

Introduction to Psychology is a 3 credit hour course that provides an overview of the field of psychology.  Topics to be covered throughout the course include history of psychology, biopsychology, sensation/perception, states of consciousness, memory, learning, cognition, human development, motivation/emotion, stress and health, personality, social psychology, and abnormal psychology.

Course Goals and Learning Outcomes:

The goal at the end of this course is that students understand the following concepts:

* Recognize historical psychological figures and comprehend how their contributions add to modern psychology (or not).

*Identify and understand basic physical components of the brain and how those physical components impact the way in which we behave.

*Understand the difference between states of consciousness and how each can impact human behavior.

*Distinguish between different theories of memory and any associated disorders.

*Describe in detail the different avenues in which we learn

*Understand cognition with regard to our thinking and intelligence

*Distinguish between the different stages of the life span from conception to death (including Piaget and Erikson)

*Know the origins of motivation and emotion

*Recognize the ways in which stress can affect your health and illustrate strategies that can be used to reduce one’s overall stress level

*Recognize how different social environments can affect our behavior

*Distinguish between personality development theories and describing personality through traits

*Recognize the symptoms of the more common psychological disorders and possible treatment types

Required Textbook (located in Blackboard):

Psychology 5th edition

Saundra K. Ciccarelli and J. Noland White

Attendance:

Attendance will not be required for the USC-L portion of this course (meaning it will not be recorded on Blackboard or be a portion of your grade).  Many high schools provide credit in addition to the college and that may require a certain amount of attendance.  If that is applicable to your school, student is responsible for making sure he/she adheres to those requirements.

Grading:

Your overall grade in this course will be calculated from exams (60%), quizzes (20%), and chapter crosswords (20%). 

Final Grading Scale:

90-100 = A

80-89 = B (B+ for 86-89)

70-79 = C (C+ for 76-79)

60-69 = D (D+ for 66-69)

59 or below = F

Exams

*All exams will be taken via Blackboard.  A score of zero will be recorded for any student that does not take the exam on Blackboard the day it is assigned AND AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR CLASSMATES. If you must start later than 5 minutes past the time of the rest of the class, you will need to provide medical documentation to excuse the tardy. Exams must be completed in the presence of your classroom teacher/proctor and/or using the screen share software for your school.  For these reasons, it is important to be in class on time and prepared for days in which an exam is scheduled especially.  Cell phones will be collected/put away before the exam and will not be allowed while testing.

Make up policy:

In general, there will be no make-ups for missed exams/assignments via Blackboard.  The only make-up that

will be permitted will require documentation sent to Mrs. Domila-McAvoy at jenndm@email.sc.edu

that clearly shows a medical appointment on the exact time of the exam or the death of an

immediate family member. If the make-up is approved, student will need to schedule the make-up

with Mrs. Domila-McAvoy for the end of the semester via Blackboard. This is to be used as a

last resort so it is important to take all exams/assignments when assigned.

Academic Integrity:

Any student who engages in an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade for that assignment

and will be subject to the University of South Carolina’s rules and penalties.  All students will need to adhere to all the same policies listed on this syllabus. 

Blackboard:

Blackboard is crucial for this course.  All critical elements for this course including all assignments, due dates, and grades can be viewed there.

Assignments:

Quizzes and exams will be submitted via Blackboard and crossword puzzles will be submitted via the crossword puzzle site. If a student’s school issued device blocks the crossword puzzle site, it will be necessary for the student to submit those at home with another device or at home using their phones.

Course Schedule:

The dates for the entire semester will be posted in the ‘Course Syllabus and Schedule’ area of Blackboard within a week of the first day of the course.  It is a document that can easily be printed. Please makes plans such as appointments and vacations with these dates in mind. It is best to make sure you are coming to school for all the exams. Other assignments can be completed at home if necessary.

Email Communication:

When emailing, make sure you provide a greeting (this is my name and not ‘Hey’), respectful/professional looking body (check your spelling and use punctuation with the appropriate capital letters), and signature (this is your name).  You will receive these things when I communicate with you and they are things that I expect in return. 

Office of Disability Services:

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations should officially register with the

university.  Just because a student is receiving accommodations at high school does NOT mean that will

automatically transfer to the university.  It is the student’s responsibility to self-identity and to officially

register in order to receive accommodations for the exams or other necessary assignments in this course.

You can start the process by going to https://sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/lancaster/internal/current_students/career_counseling_disability_services/disability_services/index.php