Course Syllabus

COURSE:  PSYC101: Introduction to Psychology

SEMESTER: Spring 2026

INSTRUCTOR: Joanna Polarek

 

OFFICE HOURS: by appointment only

REQUIRED TEXT

This course utilizes open educational resources, which are free.

                             

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the science of human behavior and mental processes.  Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the nervous system and behavior, learning, perception, development, motivation, personality, attitude formation and prejudice, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

1. The nature-nurture interaction (may include mind-body connection, diversity, and social construction of reality).
2. The fundamentals of social science research (may include varied research methodologies).
3. The active construction of reality (may include sensation, perception, altered states of consciousness, and sociocultural influences).
4. The basics of lifespan development (may include cognitive, physical, moral, social, and personality development).
5. The fundamentals of learning (may include classical, operant, and observational/cognitive learning paradigms).
6. The understanding of the unique qualities of being human (may include personality theory, psychological health, psychological disorders, psychotherapy, mind-body connections, and selected aspects of evolutionary theory).

 COURSE COMPETENCIES/LEARNING OUTCOMES:

In a manner deemed appropriate by the instructor, students should demonstrate the ability to:

1. Discuss key concepts as they are manifested in the major fields and theoretical perspectives of psychology. (GE 5, 6, 7; PG2, 3)
2. Apply psychological principles to everyday life by critically evaluating information from a variety of sources. (GE 3, 5, 9; PG 1, 2, 3)
3. Describe sociocultural influences on mental processes, behaviors, and social interactions. (GE 5, 6, 8, 9;  PG 2, 3)

ASSIGNMENT POLICY:

Please note that I do not accept late assignments. Any assignment submitted late will be graded as a zero, unless prior arrangements have been made or a documented medical/family emergency arises. I will make reasonable accommodations in those cases.  All assignment due dates are clearly posted in the syllabus and on Canvas.

Methods of Evaluation

Grading Contents

Quiz One	5%
Quiz Two	10%
Quiz Three	10%
Quiz Four	10%
Quiz Five	10%
Discussions	40%
Final Project	15%
Total	100%

 

CRITICAL THINKING:

This course incorporates critical thinking throughout the curriculum. The rationale is that critical thinking is a skill that requires both practice and theory.  The discussion assignments in this course are intentionally designed to help students interpret information, consider the influence of context, present logical arguments, examine existing knowledge, and develop new ideas. 

DISCUSSION BOARDS/CLASS ATTENDANCE:

Students are expected to log in to Canvas and respond to the professor's postings before the due date listed on the calendar.  Students are expected to participate in the discussion boards by posting original responses to the professor’s posts and to their peers' posts (a minimum of 2 responses to peers' posts). 

Scholarly writing across all disciplines is one of our goals at SCCC. With that in mind, Discussion Board topics are posted on Canvas. Topics will relate to the material in our textbook and will require some real-life application of your knowledge. Your writing should be of a scholarly nature: eliminate use of slang language, back up your answers (where appropriate) with research from your textbook, the Internet, or other readings, and respond to your classmates in an inquisitive manner that will further the discussion. Please use your textbook and other sources. Make sure your post is substantive. (Substantive: Having a firm basis in reality and therefore important, meaningful, or considerable.)

PLAGIARISM AND IA

All work you submit must be original or properly cited according to APA guidelines. Plagiarism and the use of IA tools (such as ChatGPT or similar programs) to write or generate academic assignments are not allowed. If an assignment is found to be plagiarized or AI-generated, you will receive a zero for the assignment, and the incident may be reported under the SCCC academic integrity policy.

QUIZZES/EXAMINATIONS: 

All quizzes are taken through the Canvas system.  All quizzes must be taken before the due date indicated on the calendar.  All quizzes are to be completed independently by each student.

 

Grade to Point Value

NUMERICAL SCALE	LETTER
93-100	A
88-92	B+
83-87	B
78-82	C+
71-77	C
65-70	D
Below 65	F

 

 DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE:

Students who require accommodations to pursue their higher education goals should make an appointment with the Disabilities Assistance Program adviser (973-300-2153). The DAP office is located in the Learning Center. It is the student’s responsibility to provide current and comprehensive documentation that warrants such accommodation. The need to provide documentation applies to both academic and facilities accommodations.

RESPECT, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND ONLINE ETIQUETTE:

Class discussions via posts may sometimes contain personal concerns and self-disclosures.  These discussions will, at all times, be conducted within an atmosphere of mutual respect and confidentiality by all class members. If I feel that a student is violating this trust, I reserve the right to dismiss the student from class.

Conversations that do not pertain to class material during a lecture or class discussion are unacceptable. If a student engages in conversation unrelated to course material and I find it disruptive, the student will be dismissed from the course and receive a zero for that day's class participation.

SMOKE AND TOBACCO FREE CAMPUS POLICY:

Sussex County Community College focuses on providing a healthier, cleaner environment for students, employees, and visitors. Eight other community colleges in New Jersey also have a complete ban on smoking and tobacco on their campuses. While smoking has been off-limits inside buildings, the campus grounds, including the parking areas, are also smoke-free. This policy applies to employees, students, visitors, vendors, and contractors.

Academic Calendar

March 19	Classes begin; Late Registration begins
March 23	Last day to late register or add a class
March 26	Last day to drop a class with a 100% refund (tuition & fees). There are no partial refunds after this date.
March 26	Last day to change to an audit
April 27	Last day to withdraw from Late Start with a “W”
May 9	Final day of Late Start