INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

PSYC 1001

Section 1 (8 am T/Th Sabin 002)

Professor Catherine DeSoto, Ph.D.

Teaching Assistant: Alexander Lopez

Course Description:

Survey of basic principles in psychology including cognitive, emotional, social, developmental, and biological processes, and the scientific research methods used to learn about these processes. Course requires participation in psychological research; or an alternative acceptable to both students and the department which provides a similar educational experience.

Required Text:

King, L. A.   (2016). Experience Psychology, 3rd Edition.  McGraw Hill.  ISBN: 978-0-07-786194-4

Course Objectives: 

Students, upon successful completion of this course, will:

    1.    Describe some of the major research that has been done in the field of psychology

    2.    Distinguish various research techniques used in psychology

    3.    Discuss how and why various research techniques are used to study behavior

   4.     Apply major terms and concepts in psychology to situations you might encounter in everyday life.

   5.     Use knowledge base to interpret psychology topics as they appear in the media

   6.      Be able to matriculate into more advanced courses

   7.      Recognize various kinds of influences that shape the development of an individual.

Course Requirements:

1.       Attendance is expected.  Missing a class and not getting notes and viewing any additional content will harm your learning and your grade.  If you miss a class, you should get the notes from eLearning and then check in with your TA. If you miss an in-class quiz or activity, you should make it up (as detailed below). 

2.       A test will be given approximately every 3 to 4 weeks.  Each test will consist of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and True/False questions. Each regular exam unit is worth 100 points.

3.       Students should focus on understanding lecture material.  Class notes and memory of lecture content will be the most important study tool in preparation for tests.

4.       A few in-class quizzes/class activities and outside class quizzes/activities that involve writing or taking web-based quizzes will be given to help students prepare and assess their comprehension and readiness for tests.  The purpose of the quizzes/outside assignments is to help you assess your comprehension in preparation for the tests and get individual help if needed for key concepts. These quizzes are also opportunities for (bonus) points on the next exam (they may be worth 1, 2, 3 or 4 percentage points).  If you miss an in-class quiz/activity you may make up the points by typing a one-page summary of the quiz/activity topic (be sure to accurately reflects the content of the class lecture), due within one week of the missed quiz.

5.       A comprehensive mid-term will be given shortly after the middle of the semester.  The midterm exam is worth double a regular exam: 200 points.

6.      A comprehensive final will be given during final exam week.  The final exam is worth double: 200 points.

7.      UNI psychology department requires all Introduction to Psychology students to be directly exposed to psychology research. Students must either participate as a subject in psychology studies or summarize psychology research articles.

Makeup Exam Policy:  Students who must miss for a school sponsored, military related event, or COVID-19 quarantine can arrange for a makeup to be given.  Other make-ups for regular exams are at the discretion of the professor.  Students who are making satisfactory progress may be granted a make-up which will be partly short answers and fill in the blank.  Students who are doing poorly in the class and/or miss many classes are usually not allowed a make-up exam if they miss a test day.  

Student Evaluation:  The purpose of the grade is to provide an indication of how well a student mastered the course material.  Final grades will be determined according to the following criteria:

                Test 1                                                    100

                Test 2                                                    100

                Test 3/MID TERM  (counts twice)     200

                Test   4                                                  100                         

                FINAL EXAM  (counts twice)            200

                Total pts. available:                         700 points*

Final grades will be determined based on the number of available points you have earned at the end of the semester. The following scale will be used to assign final course grades:

    A             =  90% of points possible    (or 630 or more points)

    B             =  80-90%                               (or 560 - 629 pts)

    C             =  70-79%                               (or 490 – 559 pts)

    D             =  60-69%                               (or 420 to 489 pts)

    F              =  less than 60%                   (or less than 420 points)
 

If you are within 2 percentage points of the next higher grade, you will get a “plus”.

If you are within 2 percentage points of the next lowest grade, you will get a “minus”.

                                                 CONTACT NUMBERS / Emails

Professor’s Office                     2062 Bartlett Hall (Go in door S3; my office is up the stairs on the second floor, straight down hall, on the left.)

Professor’s Email                      (best way to contact) cathy.desoto@uni.edu

Professor's Phone                     273-7475 (worst way to contact)

 Office hours                            Wednesday 11:00 - 1:00 pm; and other times by appt

Web Site                                   http://www.uni.edu/desoto/psych1001.htm

Teaching Assistant                    Alexander Lopez     lopezaay@uni.edu

TA office hours                         TBA 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                    OTHER INFORMATION

Class periods will usually involve statements by the instructor and a period of note taking.  For this class, attendenace is crucial. Sometimes, a video may be shown to stimulate class discussion. At the end of some classes there will be a writing based quiz or activity regarding the day's lecture.  At the end of some classes, I will announce an outside of class web-based activity/quiz will be available. Quizzes are used to help you determine if you learned what you should have from the lecture.  Quizzes are sometimes in the format of a group composed essay -- and may or may not be open-note. 

Because you will be quizzed and/or tested over the material from class, it is in your best interest to ask for clarification of concepts that are unclear to you.

Students should not expect everything that will be covered on the tests to be covered in class. Rather, students should read the assignments outside of class and consider class time as a period to clarify and expand on select topics.  It is my view that students who read the text should get a higher grade than those who do not. Thus, there are always 2 or 3 questions from the text book that are not covered in class at all. Besides these questions, reading the text helps students to absorb the lecture information more fully and thus improves test performance as a whole. 

Your teacher is available to help you on an individual basis during office hours (11-1:50 pm,Wed) and other times by appointment.  TA office hours will be announced in class. We want each student to do well in this course, however the ultimate responsibility is yours. Your grade will be a reflection of how well you have mastered the content of the course as measured by your performance on exams. Be prepared to attend class, to read the text and to study and we will be prepared to help any student who shows a sincere desire to learn.

Missing an in-class quiz requires you to get the notes, review them, and type a summary (one page or a little more) reflecting the content of the missed lecture, with emphasis on the topic of the quiz/activity. Hand it to me in-person, before or after class.

Student Responsibilities:

• Monitor your grades on e-learning, keep track of any missed quizzes -- if there is a problem, let me know within 2 weeks of posting.
• Read your text book as assigned.
• Spend at least an hour after each class reviewing and filling in your notes.
• If you are not doing well, ask for help early, do not wait.
• Come to class. If you are late, still come. If you miss a class, come the next class. Listen closely in class, try and focus on the concepts being explained.
• If you are a few minutes late, that is OK, but enter quietly and sit near the door.
• Be aware of research participation credit, how the grade is determined, and understand the syllabus.

Final exam schedule: final exam schedule
Good info on emailing a prof: how-to-email-your-professor-without-being-annoying-af-cf64ae0e4087#.l3nornc2m
About your professor: https://sites.uni.edu/desoto/

the required standard syllabus information :

All UNI students can take advantage of The Learning Center @ Rod Library (TLC) for assistance with writing (e.g. make-up quizzes) and/or study strategies. Located on the main floor of Rod Library, TLC hours are 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Thursday. Students are welcome to stop in for immediate assistance or schedule an appointment. TLC tutors and coaches are available to meet with students in-person at Rod Library or via Zoom.

This course meets the Course Credit Hour Expectation outlined in the UNI Course Catalog. Students should expect to work approximately 2 hours per week outside of class for every course credit hour.

Statement of Ethics: Students must observe the Academics Ethics Policies (http://www.uni.edu/policies/301). Instances of cheating and plagiarism will be dealt with on an individual basis, but understand that cheating and/or plagiarism are unacceptable and may result in an “F” for the course.

Office of Compliance and Equity Management The University of Northern Iowa does not discriminate in employment or education. Visit 13.03 Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination Statement (https://policies.uni.edu/1303) for additional information.

Student Accessibility Services The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. To request accommodations please contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS), located at ITTC 007, for more information either at (319) 273-2677 or Email accessibilityservices@uni.edu. Visit Student Accessibility Services (https://sas.uni.edu/) for additional information.

Special Syllabus Statement Regarding COVID for F2F and Hybrid courses:

Protecting our campus from COVID-19 depends on all of us acting with care and responsibility. To protect each other and our campus community, we are required to wear masks or face shields that cover our mouths and noses inside all campus buildings, including throughout the duration of class. We are asked to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms, stay away from others and seek medical attention if we’re not feeling well and/or experience any symptoms such as a fever over 100.4, and to communicate and plan proactively to make up for missed learning. We will maintain physical distancing by sitting in designated areas in the classroom. In order to facilitate contact tracing, Black Hawk County requires us to sit in assigned seats, and you are asked to adhere to your assigned seat. If your assigned seat does not work well for you, please notify me immediately so that we can work together to reassign you. Failure to follow these requirements can result in students being referred to the student conduct process and faculty being referred to the Associate Provost for Faculty. We take these steps together recognizing that my mask protects you, your mask protects me, and together wearing masks protects the entire UNI community. Our collective actions will determine our ability to remain together in an in-person learning environment.  

Special Syllabus Statement Regarding COVID Absences

Faculty must be prepared to offer online instruction and/or have assignment alternatives for individual students who are unable to attend class due to COVID-related health issues. To utilize these alternative delivery methods and/or assignments, students must report the issue by completing the Panther Health Survey; students directed not to come to campus or who are unable to participate in class due to COVID-19 related illness, self-isolation, or quarantine should utilize the information provided in the survey to have their faculty notified of their need to be absent. These same instruction/assignment alternatives should also extend to field experiences that students may not be able to attend for the same reasons. Questions related to COVID-19 testing should be directed to the Student Health Center COVID Hotline (319) 273-2100, Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

 calendar:  https://sites.uni.edu/desoto/calendar_psy101.htm

Tentative* course calendar

Pages assigned may change -- the projected timing of tests are approximations --exam days will always be finalized and announced.

Changes will be posted and highlighted  on this on-line calendar

** The course calendar will be revised as needed. Revisions will be announced once in class and posted on the course website (within this calendar).