Main Content
Syllabus
PSYCH 105 Psychology as a Science and Profession (3) Overview of history and methods of psychology as a science and profession; applications and ethical issues in psychology.
Prerequisite: PSYCH 100
Overview
PSYCH 105 is a survey course designed to cover a broad range of topics. In this course you will learn about the history and methods of psychology as a science and profession, including applications and ethical issues in psychology. PSYCH 105 is designed for students majoring in Psychology who have already completed an introductory psychology course. Students must earn a C or better in this course to graduate with a degree in Psychology. This course will not satisfy General Education requirements.
Course Objectives
This course is designed around 3 main goals:
- To help you learn about the identity of contemporary psychology—where psychology fits in the world, where it does not, how these are misunderstood, and why.
- To help you learn about psychology-related career paths, including ethics, and to dispel many common myths about psychology-related careers.
- To help you learn about psychology as a process. Surprisingly, few people understand that psychology is a science, and fewer understand how science shapes psychology. We’ll discuss related issues and their importance for psychology and society.
Required Course 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.
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
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.
Technical Specifications
| 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. |
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| 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.
Getting Tech 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!
Assessments and Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
- A = (Excellent) indicates exceptional achievement
- B = (Good) indicates extensive achievement
- C = (Satisfactory) indicates acceptable achievement
- D = (Poor) indicates only minimal achievement
- F = (Failure) indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
| Course Assessment | Point Value | Percentage of Course Grade | Time Limit | Approximate Breakdown of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam 1 | 40 | 25% | 60 minutes | 25 multiple-choice questions 4 short essay questions |
| Exam 2 | 20 | 12.5% | 30 minutes | 15 multiple-choice questions 1 short essay |
| Future Jobs Quiz or Career Paper | 20 | 12.5% | 60 minutes (Future Jobs Quiz only) | 19 multiple-choice questions (Future Jobs Quiz only) |
| Exam 3 | 40 | 25% | 60 minutes | 22 multiple-choice questions 3 short essay questions |
| Exam 4 | 40 | 25% | 60 minutes | 32 multiple-choice questions 2 short essay questions |
| Total | 160 | 100% |
Narrated Lectures
In this course, you will begin each unit by listening to and taking notes on a narrated video lesson. You can control the pace of the lesson and listen to the narrations repeatedly. The information in the narrated lessons will be tested on quizzes/exams. Optional audio files of the lessons are available for you to download and listen to offline. Note that the audio files are not meant to replace the video lessons, but you should feel free to use them as a studying supplement. Each narrated lesson has guided learning questions to help you focus on important information.
Readings, Podcasts, Videos
You will be asked to complete readings, watch videos, and listen to Podcasts. This information will be tested on quizzes and exams. Each has guided learning questions to help you focus on important information.
Guided Learning Questions
There are guided learning questions for each narrated lesson, reading, video, and podcast. Use these learning questions to guide your note-taking and studying. Students with documented accommodation that could affect this should contact their instructor to discuss.
Ungraded Lesson Learning Check Quizzes
Before you take each graded exam/quiz, an ungraded Lesson Learning Check quiz will be available to help you gauge your preparation. These are optional but strongly recommended. In addition to helping you decide how to prepare for the exam/quiz, they will also give you an opportunity to see the types of questions that will be on the exam. Perhaps you will see some of the same questions on the quiz/exam too.
Graded Exams/Quizzes
The exams are challenging. To succeed, you will need to invest a significant amount of time and dedicate yourself to learning and studying. You will be tested on the main ideas and the critical details found in the narrated lectures, podcasts, videos, and the readings.
Depending on which path you take through the careers portion of the course, you will complete either four exams and a quiz, or you will complete four exams and a short paper. Quizzes and exams include both multiple-choice and short-essay questions. They are timed and proctored and ‘closed book.’ That means that you may not use your notes or any other source on exams and quizzes. Also, you may not use any other information that was not originally included in the course by the course author or by your instructor. That means that you may not use online information outside of the course Canvas space or brought into the course Canvas space by another student. You may not consult or work with anyone else to complete graded coursework, and you may not use any information found online outside of the course without the instructor’s permission. The only exception to this is included in the instructions for the Future Jobs Paper.
It is not enough to memorize a definition or set of facts. To do well, you will need to understand why these terms are important, the main ideas of lessons and the readings, podcasts, and videos, and the important details. Again, consider using the guided learning questions to direct your studying. Make sure you have enough time set aside to complete the entire exam before you begin. Students may not share quiz/exam information with anyone for any reason without the permission of the instructor. Since the exams include a few short-answer questions, these must be manually graded by the instructor. Your final score for the exams will be posted by the instructor once all grading is complete. If you have a question about an exam/quiz grade, you must ask your instructor within one week of receiving the grade.
Future Jobs Paper Assignment
You will have an opportunity to complete a Future Jobs Paper instead of a quiz. Details can be accessed via the Course Schedule and the Lesson 7 module. For the option you choose, your grade will display in the appropriate location of the grade book. For the option you did not choose, the grade will display as a "0" but will be dropped from your final grade calculation. If you submit both, the first one you submit will be the one that is graded. If you have a question about your paper grade, you must ask your instructor within one week of receiving the grade.
Late Work
This is a semester-based course with deadlines. Students are expected to complete work by posted deadlines. Please check the Course Schedule for the times and due dates (times are listed in Eastern time in North America). 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 (or if you are not able to contact the instructor before the deadline, as soon as you are able). Decisions regarding extensions will be made by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
In the absence of a legitimate and unavoidable situation, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, late work 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 1 week late will not be accepted.
Letter Grades
The final grade will be determined as follows:
| Letter Grade | Numerical Grade |
|---|---|
| A | 100–93.0% |
| A- | 92.9–90.0% |
| B+ | 89.9–87.0% |
| B | 86.9–83.0% |
| B- | 82.9–80.0% |
| C+ | 79.9–77.0% |
| C | 76.9–70.0% |
| D | 69.9–60.0% |
| F | 59.9–0% |
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.
Contacting Your Instructor
You can contact your instructor through the Canvas Inbox. Select the compose icon, and then choose Psych 105 from the course drop-down menu. Finally, choose Teachers from the contacts icon next to the To field. Please be aware that a copy of everything you send through Canvas goes to other World Campus staff associated with the course.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
| Lesson 1: It’s a Big Misunderstanding | |
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| Assignments: |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 2: The Rise of Insanity | |
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| Assignments: |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 3: Do You Mind? | |
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| Assignments: |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 4: Studying Human Nature | |
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| Assignments: |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Exam 1 | |
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| Assignments |
Complete the following activities in the order listed. This exam will count toward your course grade (the optional Lesson Learning Check 1 will not).
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| Lesson 5: (Mis)Understanding the Psychology Major | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 6: Get a (Psychology) Job | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Exam 2 | |
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| Assignments |
Complete the following activities in the order listed. This exam will count toward your course grade (the optional Lesson Learning Check 2 will not).
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| Lesson 7: Advanced Schooling or Career Research | |
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| Assignments |
Pick one of the following two options:
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
Option 2: Career Research Instead of working through lessons on advanced schooling, you will complete a short paper (a couple of pages) on a job. Hopefully, you will pick a job that you could consider in the future.
For the option you choose, your grade will display in the appropriate location of the grade book. For the option you did not choose, the grade will display as a "0" but will be dropped from your final grade calculation. |
| Lesson 8: The Truth about Truth | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 9: Breaking Through the Breakthrough Myth | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 10: Constructing Psychology | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Exam 3 | |
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| Assignments |
Complete the following activities in the order listed. This exam will count toward your course grade (the optional Lesson Learning Check 3 will not).
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| Lesson 11: Signs of a Strong Relationship | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 12: Together to Support a Cause | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 13: Ethics and Helping Careers | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Lesson 14: Pseudoscience | |
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| Assignments |
Consider the guided learning questions for this lesson while you complete the following activities in the order listed:
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| Exam 4 | |
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| Assignments |
Complete the following activities in the order listed. This exam will count toward your course grade (the optional Lesson Learning Check 4 will not).
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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.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.