Course Syllabus

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Syllabus PDF

Course Overview:

This course is intended for undergraduate students interested in getting a general introduction to the field of psychology. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It is a broad discipline based on both theory and research. The course focuses on the exploration of major psychological theories and concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology. Topics include the biological bases of behavior, perception, cognition and consciousness, learning, memory, emotion, motivation, development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology.

This course will consist of lectures, videos, activities, and discussions. Aside from learning about psychology, I hope that you will also derive some personal benefits from this course, such as an increased understanding and acceptance of yourself and others.

Because this course is introductory level, we will focus more on breadth than depth. Feel free to reach out to me if you become interested in a particular subject for more information. You may also go to https://www.ewu.edu/library/, click on “Research & Help” and then on “Databases A to Z.” You can either look for a particular database by name or search for a database by subject (dropdown menu).

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will gain a general knowledge of the main areas of psychology and:

  • Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and historic trends in psychology.
  • Explain and compare major theoretical perspectives of psychology (e.g., behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic and socio-cultural).
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of biological bases of behavior and mental processes, sensation and perception, learning and memory, cognition, consciousness, individual differences, psychometrics/measurement, personality, social processes, developmental changes in behavior and mental processes that occur across the lifespan, psychological disorders, and 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 real world events.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to psychological topics.

Required Textbook:

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology (2nd Edition). Open Stacks, Houston, Texas.

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
Psychology 2e from OpenStax, ISBN 978-1-975076-45-0

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want. 

Expectations From Student:

You are responsible for attending and participating in class, all information presented, and all information
in the assigned portions of the text and other assignments. If you miss a class, you will be responsible for
getting notes and information from classmates on your own. I will have some materials made available to
all students. It is expected that you will attend to deadlines and conduct yourself in a respectful manner.
Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Not using your phone during class. Please leave the room if you need to use your phone.
  • Be courteous to other students and be mindful of distractions. This includes packing your
    belongings before class has ended.
  • Be on time and stay for the whole class. If possible, please inform me beforehand if you need to
    arrive late or have to leave early and do so quietly.

No audio or video recording of any class material is allowed without permission. You are encouraged to
ask relevant questions and to actively participate. Please contact me if you find you are having trouble
with the material or need to consult about other matters that may be impacting your academic
performance. The best way to reach me is through email: mochi2@ewu.edu.

Policies:

Electronic Communication

Please email me at mochi2@ewu.edu as your primary communication method and add “PSY 100” to the
subject line. Canvas emails may not be checked as often. In most cases, I should be able to respond
within 24 hours. If you haven’t received a reply, please email me again.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is the cornerstone of the university. Any student who attempts to gain an unfair
advantage over other students by violating the Academic Integrity policy may be reported to the university
and may receive a sanction up to and including XF for the course, suspension, or expulsion from the university. EWU Policy: student academic integrity

Common violations include, but are not limited to cheating and plagiarism. For example, if you want to
cite a source (including websites), make sure to rewrite the information in your own words, give proper
credit to the source, and include the reference information. This also includes using information or ideas
from the required text or other sources used in this course. You are not required to provide references to
sources used in this course, but you are expected to mention, and/or cite, the source.

Disability Accommodation

Your ability to succeed in this class is important to me. If you already have an accommodation plan
through Student Accommodation (Disability) Support Services and would like to use your approved
accommodations in this class, please let me know as soon as possible. If you do not have an
accommodation plan but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that may require an
accommodation, please contact DSS at dss@ewu.edu or 509-359-6871. You can also visit their website
at DSS.

Equal Opportunity

Eastern Washington University does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation,
gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected
veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence
of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a
person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.

Religious Holiday Accommodation

If you would like to request an accommodation for reasons of faith or conscience, please refer to EWU’s
policy on Holidays and Religious Accommodations available at policies.
Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Holidays and Religious Accommodations Request form available at holidays and religious accommodations request.

Health and Wellness

If you find yourself struggling with your mental or physical health this term, please feel free to approach
me. I will try to be flexible and accommodating. I encourage all students to make themselves aware of the
Counseling & Wellness resources available to them as a student – even before you may need them! Our
Counseling & Wellness staff provide both in-person, online, and self-paced options to support your
wellbeing. Visit be well to learn more.

Inclusion

It is my intent that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well-served by this course,
that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students
bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. I seek to present materials and
activities that are respectful of diversity: gender, sexuality, disability, age, socio-economic status,
ethnicity, race, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways
to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. I
also have a mandatory reporting responsibility related to my role as a faculty member. It is my goal that
you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in this class. I will seek to keep
information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share information
regarding sexual misconduct with the University Title IX Coordinator (509.359.6724 |or titleix@ewu.edu).
Students may speak to someone confidentially and find support via resources found here:
confidential services.

Grading:

All assignments are due at 11:59 pm on their due date. Late assignments will only be accepted in unusual
circumstances and with an automatic 10% deduction. You will be responsible for attending exams. If you
know that you will be absent the date of an exam, please let me know so we can try to schedule an
alternative date for the exam.

There will be no adjustments made for borderline grades. This policy is in place to be fair to all students
and to eliminate bias in grading. Please do not email the professor at the end of the quarter asking for
extra credit, additional work or for a grade adjustment. The professor may choose to offer extra credit
opportunities to all students that may not be reflected in the syllabus.

Assignments:

Exams

There will be a midterm and a final exam. Exams will not be cumulative. The exams will cover class and
reading material. There will be overlap, but some information that that was discussed in class may appear
in the exams. Therefore, it is recommended that you attend class, take notes, participate, and read the
assigned chapters to obtain a good grade.

Strengths and Self-care

You will complete six strengths and self-care assessments over the course of the term. You will be asked
to briefly assess yourself to identify strengths in different dimensions of who you are. You will need to
discuss how these strengths can help you deal with stressors in your academic and personal life. The
details of the assignment will be posted on Canvas.

Analytical Assignments

You will be assigned two of these. The first one will be due halfway through the term. You will be asked to
briefly analyze a topic following a specific format. The second one will be due towards the end of the
term, and you will be asked to prepare a similar assignment. The details of this assignment will be posted
on Canvas at the appropriate time.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due