Main Content
Syllabus
PSYCH 100 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits): Introduction to general psychology; principles of human behavior and their applications.
Overview
PSYCH 100 is a survey course that introduces principles of human and animal thinking and behavior. The course will cover a wide range of topics from cognitive, social, developmental, clinical, personality, and biological psychology. It is designed to support the subsequent coursework of students interested in more advanced psychology courses, as well as those students choosing other academic pursuits. This course has an established start and end date; you are required to meet due dates and to have access to the Internet to complete it.
There are no prerequisites for PSYCH 100. PSYCH 100 serves as a prerequisite for many other PSYCH courses. Students who want to major or minor in psychology somewhere other than Penn State should strive to earn a C or better in the course. For Penn State students, PSYCH 100 is a three-credit General Studies course (GS). Students majoring or minoring in psychology at Penn State must earn a C or better in this course. Some other Penn State majors also require students to earn a C or better in PSYCH 100 to graduate.
Objectives
PSYCH 100 is often students' first experience with scientific psychology. The course is designed to help you become a better consumer of psychology, understand how psychology relates to everyday life and other formal areas of study, and learn why science is a necessary aspect of psychology. The specific course goals are to
- promote a better understanding of psychology as a science of human behavior;
- provide an overview of the field of psychology, including research, theory, and application;
- show how psychological questions are addressed through empirical research;
- promote thinking about how you can apply your knowledge to enhance your life;
- enable you to make more informed decisions about participating in future psychology courses;
- demonstrate situations in which learning, environment, culture, and biology interact to generate psychological phenomena; and
- relate material to broader social issues studied by other fields, such as sociology, economics, and political science.
Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Technology and Software page.
Technical Specifications
For this course, we recommend the minimum Penn State World Campus technical requirements listed below. In addition, you will need to use an approved browser, one of the compatible operating systems and have the minimim internet speed reccomendation which are listed in Honorlock's Minimum Requirement table.
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
Technical Support
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
There are five learning components for each unit:
- Class activity: You will begin each unit by completing a class activity. These activities are designed to provide an interactive introduction to the material that will be covered in the unit, and they will also provide a connection to other Introduction to Psychology students; for most activities, you will have the opportunity to see how other students responded to the activity questions. The instructions for each activity will provide you with information about how to earn credit for completing that activity. Class activities will count for 5% of your total course grade.
- Lecture presentation: Next, you will watch a PowerPoint lecture written and recorded by the course authors. The lectures are designed to introduce the information you will learn about in your core assignments, help clarify potentially confusing information, and connect course information to daily life. Please note that exams will test you on the information included in these lectures.
- Core assignments (reading and interactive learning exercises): After a considerable search, your course authors selected the Psychology in Modules e-text because it breaks longer chapters into shorter learning sections. For most units, you will be asked to read modules and then complete video and/or interactive “How Would You Know?” activities. Exams will include questions from these activities. You will access the etext and the activities are through the Achieve Learning Platform.
- Digging Deeper assignments (readings and quizzes): For most units, you will be asked to complete one or two Digging Deeper assignments. You will be provided with a list of options for each unit and will be able to choose which assignment(s) you would like to complete. Each assignment will include reading a module from the e-text and completing a quiz on that module. If you choose to complete more than the assigned number of Digging Deeper quizzes for a unit, the highest score or scores will count toward your final grade.
- Penn State Connections: These presentations are designed to provide you with some additional connections to Penn State. You will have the opportunity to learn about published research that was conducted by Penn State researchers and will learn about World Campus psychology courses that you may want to take if you enjoyed the material presented in a unit.
Digging Deeper Quizzes
Quizzes are open book/e-text and open notes, though you may not use online search engines, chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT), or other people for help. These quizzes will be graded automatically so that you can have immediate feedback. Quizzes are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on their due dates. Each quiz will be worth 1.5% of your final course grade, for a total of 22.5%.
Exams
This course includes three timed exams. Exam questions will be drawn from the lecture presentations and the core assignments, including the readings, videos, and activities. Note that, once you start an exam, you will not be able to pause the timer or save the exam to start again later. Make sure you have ample time to complete the entire exam before you begin. You will have a total of 90 minutes for Exam 1 and 2 hours for Exams 2 and 3. At the completion of each exam, you will be given your score. Exams will not be open for review. If you have questions about what you missed, please contact your instructor. If you have a question about an exam/quiz grade, you must ask your instructor within one week of receiving the grade.
Because this is a survey course containing a lot of information, your course authors created exam study sheets to make the study load more manageable. These sheets list all of the concepts/terms you need to know for the exams. You should study so that you know the what, when, where, why, and how for each term (as applicable). Some exam questions will involve applying information, not just defining it. Don’t get caught off guard.
Please note that the exams in this course are proctored using the Honorlock online proctoring software. You will not be able to access your notes, ebook, or any other resources during the exams, so please prepare accordingly.
Information about how much each exam is worth and what each exam covers is below:
| Exam | Units covered |
Percentage of course grade
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 through 4 (55 questions) |
22.5%
|
| 2 | 5 through 8 (70 questions; 15 questions from information covered for Exam 1) |
25%
|
| 3 | 9 through 12 (70 questions; 15 questions from information covered for Exam 2) |
25%
|
Extra Credit
You may earn up to one and a half percentage points by participating in psychology research or completing research alternatives. More information is available in our course space.
Grading
Grades will be determined based on the following weighted categories:
| Category | Percentage of final grade |
|---|---|
| Class activities | 5% |
| Digging Deeper quizzes | 22.5% |
| Exam 1 | 22.5% |
| Exam 2 | 25% |
| Exam 3 | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Final grades will be assigned as follows. Note that grades are not rounded in this course. The final grades of A, B, C, D, and F will be assigned according to the table below:
| Letter grade | Numerical grade |
|---|---|
| A | 93.0–100.0% |
| A- | 90.0–92.9% |
| B+ | 87.0–89.9% |
| B | 83.0–86.9% |
| B- | 80.0–82.9% |
| C+ | 77.0–79.9% |
| C | 70.0–76.9% |
| D | 60.0–69.9% |
| F | 0.0–59.9% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Late Work
You are expected to complete work by the posted deadlines. Please check the course schedule for the times and dates that assignments are due in this course. (Times are listed as North American eastern time.) Please contact your instructor to discuss legitimate and unavoidable situations that may cause lateness (such as illness, injury, or family emergency). If you know that you are going to miss a deadline, please contact your instructor in advance of that deadline to discuss an extension. If you are unable to contact the instructor before the deadline, please contact your instructor as soon as you are able.
In the absence of a legitimate and unavoidable situation, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and will be penalized 10% of the total assignment points for each day of lateness. Unless there is a legitimate and unavoidable situation that causes prolonged lateness, work more than one week late will not be accepted.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Note: All reading assignments should be done in the online e-text or hard copy of the textbook. Unless noted as “recommended” or “optional,” all assignments are required.
| Unit 1: Introduction to Psychology | |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
Complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
| Exam 1 | |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
Complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
| Exam 2 | |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
Complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
| Exam 3 | |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
Complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
Course Communication Tools
The purpose of course communication tools is to provide students with a quick method for contacting faculty, teaching assistants, and other students of the class, in regards to course related questions, comments, and concerns. Please note that, according to University policy AD95/AD96, course communication tools may not be used as a method for emailing unauthorized content including but not limited to: solicitation for businesses, advertisements, selling or distributing personal or class materials, transmitting offensive, obscene, or harassing materials, chain letters, news posts, or other forms of “spam” email. Doing so will be considered a violation of course and/or University policies, and might also violate the student code of conduct and the expectations expressed in the Penn State Principles. Resulting penalties might include the suspension or termination of system access, as well as disciplinary or academic sanctions. When appropriate, information about violators will be passed on to University Police Services. If you have any questions in regards to whether or not a particular email you wish to send would violate University policies, please check with your instructor before sending messages to others through the University system.World Campus Student Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Privacy
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Reporting Bias
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Mental Health Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and Military
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.