Course Description: PSY 1513

This course includes a broad range of general psychological (cognitive, emotional, behavioral, psychosocial, biopsychological, and developmental) terms, concepts, principles, methods, and theories.  It will involve the promotion of critical and independent thinking through reading, advanced writing, and discussion activities among students in these respective topic areas associated with current research and ethical issues. 

Prerequisites: None.

Course Materials

Learning Management System

Northeast uses the Canvas Learning Management System for course delivery. For direct support of Canvas through Northeast Mississippi Community College, contact the eLearning Office located on the second floor of Cartwright Hall, Booneville, MS.

Email: canvas@nemcc.edu
Office: 662.720.7191

Textbook Requirements

• Psychology, Openstax College Rice UniversityLinks to an external site. 
• OpenStax. (2020). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax, Rice University. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

Supporting Materials

Faculty-assigned websites, online library databases, Canvas, or SmarterProctoring Live Online Proctoring. 

Recommended but not required: Flexcil app or other note-taking apps.

Goals and Objectives

Core Learning Objective Addressed: Critical Thinking

• Identifying important problems, questions, and issues.
• Analyzing, interpreting, and making judgments about information.
• Assessing assumptions and considering alternative perspectives and solutions.

Course Objectives

• Demonstrate three of the basic processes of critical thinking (such as: objectively form and analyze positions on psychological phenomenon; search and evaluate evidence in support of or opposition to positions; conceptualize positions within formal theory (i.e., apply assertions, empirical evidence, and theoretical explanations in intellectual arguments).
• Identify attitudes and value systems essential to establishing human dignity, respect, and tolerance for cultural diversity and differing worldviews.
• Identify how norms of immediate and global cultures contribute to any approach proposed to describe, explain, predict, and control human thinking, emotion, behavior, and development.
• Describe basic processes that are essential for one to establish self-awareness, self-esteem, autonomy, and self-actualization (specific cognitive processes and experiences associated with attaining these attributes).
• Identify the major contributions of psychological history and current systems to the understanding of human behavior. 
• Identify basic psychological research methods and designs used to investigate various psychological phenomenon.
• Demonstrate understanding of major conceptual positions, principles, issues, limitations, theories, and respective models of the major psychological (psychoanalytical, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and biopsychological) schools of thought.
• Demonstrate independent, empirical, and theoretical thinking when evaluating the major psychological theories.

Student Objectives/Outcomes

• Identify psychology's historical roots, schools of thought, current perspectives, major issues, and academic and professional subfields.
• Identify and explain the basic terms, principles, concepts, and methods associated with psychological science.
• Explain the genetic foundations upon which biopsychology is based.
• List and describe the basic neuroanatomical and neurochemical structures and respective functions associated with human behavior.
• Identify the systems and processes of sensation--vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and kinesthetics--as they relate to human behavior.
• Identify and describe the basic concepts and processes of perception (selective attending, organization, and interpretation of sensory input) and information processing as they relate to human behavior.
• Identify and describe the various levels of consciousness associated with states involving sleep and dreams, daydreams, hypnosis, drug-induced states, and meditation.
• Identify and explain the various learning terms, principles, concepts, theories, and respective theorists relative to conditioning and adaptive functioning.
• Identify and explain memory control processes (encoding, storage, and retrieval); memory components (sensory, short-term, working, and long-term); forms of memory (episodic, semantic, and procedural); and forgetting (retroactive and proactive) from the perspective of the information processing model.
• Identify and explain the cognitive processes of concept formation, problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making. Identify the association between artificial intelligence and cognitive processing.
• Identify and explain language structure and the language processes of acquisition and their relationships to cognitive ability.
• Identify the basic methodologies used to measure cognitive ability (intelligence), the conceptual processes used to interpret intelligence scores, and differentiate among the theories utilized to construct intelligence.
• Explain the basic concepts, principles, theories, and models utilized to describe, explain and predict human motivation and sexuality.
• Identify and describe the physiological, cognitive, and behavioral processes associated with human emotion and differentiate among their respective theoretical positions.
• Differentiate among the major theoretical approaches utilized to define, explain and assess personality (individual differences).
• Identify the basic concepts and principles that describe social cognition, interpersonal functioning, attitudes, and other group dynamics.
• Identify and explain the psychological issues, factors, and maladaptive patterns associated with stress, coping, health, and psychological function.
• Differentiate among the major clinical criteria of psychological disorders utilized to classify psychopathology.

Instructional Techniques

• Lectures on the various reading assignment topics
• Illustrations (PowerPoint slides, video clips, etc.) of the various concepts, principles, methods, and theories
• Class discussion of the various reading assignment topics
• Small group discussion of the various reading assignment topics
• Instructor feedback on written assignments
• Library research and online assignments

Methods of Evaluation

• Unit Exams on related chapters
• Quizzes and/or projects from assigned readings
• Final examination at the scheduled examination period

Grading Scale

• A = 90-100%
• B = 80-89%
• C = 70-79%
• D = 60-69%
• F = <60%

Evaluation

• Unit exams: 60%
• Final exam: 25%
• Additional Assignments: 15%

Assignments requiring feedback will be returned to students within 10 days after the due date.

Late Work

Late work will be accepted, but a 10% reduction in grade will be given. All missing assignments prior to midterm must be completed by midterm. Any assignments missed after midterm must be made up by the last week of regular class. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero.

Course Policies

Attendance

Students are required to attend all classes. Absences from class should be the result of unavoidable circumstances such as sickness, family deaths, hazardous road conditions, and so forth. Excused absences will entitle the student to reasonable opportunities to complete make-up assignments or exams. (Excused absences are those incurred as a result of attending a school sponsored activity or short-term military active duty.)  It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor BEFORE the activity to make-up work.

Attendance is tracked based on the timely submission of online assignments. Failure to submit an assignment on time will be counted as an absence. Students who miss three assignments will be cut from the class and will be reported to the Records Office for excessive absences.

Students who are absent from class more than 14% (two weeks) of the scheduled class meetings will be reported to the Records Office for excessive absences. The instructor of the class will inform the student of the existence of excessive absences upon the student’s return to class.

Students who are removed from a class due to nonattendance will receive a CO (cut-out) status and an F grade for the course. Classes from which a student is cut out (CO) count towards enrollment under federal financial aid regulations and are factored into the Financial Aid Office's computation of attempted hours for financial aid eligibility.

Students who are cut out of a class should follow the class withdrawal process by the posted deadline to avoid receiving an F grade. A student who has been cut out may appeal to the instructor for readmission into the class.

Faculty will report attendance and Cut Outs via the Faculty Attendance Tracker.

Examinations are given at the close of each semester and at such other times as instructors deem necessary. Absence from the final examination, except in cases of extreme emergency, results in a grade of “F” being recorded for the course.

 Northeast Policies on Attendance, Withdrawals, and ReinstatementLinks to an external site.

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is a fundamental attribute of higher learning. Students who violate the principle of honesty deny themselves an opportunity to master the skills that they are credited to possess, cheat their classmates of deserved recognition, and demean the college and its degrees. It is a matter of great concern that all members of the college community strive for high standards of personal integrity.

Evaluation of each student’s level of knowledge and understanding is a vital part of the teaching process, and requires tangible measures such as reports, examinations, and homework. Any act that interferes with the process of evaluation by misrepresenting the relationship between the work being evaluated and the student’s actual state of knowledge is an act of academic dishonesty. These acts of dishonesty include but are not limited to: fraud, cheating, plagiarism, forgery, and facilitating dishonesty.

Academic Honesty Statement

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Northeast Mississippi Community College encourages the adoption and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools as aids to enhance learning and productivity. It is important to understand that AI tools are intended to support student work, not replace original thought or effort. These tools should be used only with the explicit and clear permission of each individual instructor, and then only in the ways allowed by the instructor. You may submit your request to utilize AI to tcperrigo@nemcc.edu. Students should approach the use of AI tools with academic honesty and ethical considerations. If it is proven that a student submits AI-generated work without instructor approval, the NEMCC academic honesty policy will be enforced. All assignments are subject to a verbal follow-up review.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Northeast Mississippi Community College provides adaptations and modifications to the learning environment for eligible impaired and/or disabled students. All students with a disability, including distance learning students, are strongly encouraged to contact the ADA/Section 504 Counselor/Coordinator, Mrs. Leigh Ann Stewart, located in Wright Hall 106 at (662) 720-7192, or via email at lastewart@nemcc.edu to discuss their disability and the appropriate accommodations. Students may also contact the ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer, Mr. Ray Scott, located in Ramsey Hall Room 216, or at (662) 720-7179. Students must self-identify in order to receive accommodations. NEMCC Disability Applications may be obtained from the Counseling Center in Wright Hall or online from NEMCC’s website at Assistance for Students with DisabilitiesLinks to an external site.

• Canvas Accessibility Statement
• Openstax Accesibility StatementLinks to an external site.
• Genially Accessibility StatementLinks to an external site.
• Youtube Accessibility Statement

Title IX Policy

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX, Educational Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act; and, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, as amended, the Board of Trustees of Northeast Mississippi Community College has adopted this policy assuring that no one shall, on the grounds of race, color, age, national origin, or sex, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the College. Northeast Mississippi Community College adheres to the principle of equal educational and employment opportunity without regard to race, sex, age, color, creed, or national origin. This policy includes the qualified handicapped and extends to all programs and activities supported by the College. The Section 504 Coordinator is Leigh Ann Stewart, Wright Hall (662)720-7192 and the Title IX Coordinator is Liz Calvery, (662) 720-7223.

Additional resources are available at Title IX at Northeast Links to an external site.,  Title IX Purpose at NortheastLinks to an external site. and Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLinks to an external site..

Course Communication

Weekly Announcements will be posted every Monday to review the upcoming week's topics and assignments. Periodic announcements will also be shared to remind you of assignment due dates and other important class information. Please ensure you read all course announcements promptly.

Communication will primarily be conducted via Canvas Inbox and in class. Please check your Inbox and course announcements daily for critical updates.

Assignment feedback will be provided in the submission using rubrics, comment boxes, and/or annotated feedback in Canvas. If you require further clarification on feedback, feel free to email tcperrigo@nemcc.edu.

As your instructor, I am actively monitoring your progress in this course on a weekly basis. I regularly review assignment submissions, quiz performance, and discussion participation to ensure you are on track. If I notice any concerns or patterns that may impact your success, I will reach out to you directly via Canvas Inbox or NEMCC email to offer guidance and support.

Additionally, I am available for questions, clarification, and academic support throughout the term. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need assistance. Regular and timely communication is a key component of your success in this course.

Office hours are accessible through the Penji app in Canvas or on your NEMCC-issued iPad. For effective communication, please use email or Canvas Inbox. Responses can be expected within 24–48 hours or sooner for emails sent by Thursday at 3 pm. Emails sent over weekends or holidays may experience longer response times. Face-to-face, virtual, or phone conference meetings can be arranged at any point during the term.

Questions and communication are welcomed and encouraged. Please feel free to ask questions in class, email, or message via Canvas Inbox at any time.