Western Nevada College
Psychology 101 – General Psychology
Spring 2015
Instructor: Nicole Casillas, M.A.
Email: nicole.casillas@wnc.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Campus: Carson City
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the field of psychology. This course will
cover major principles and their application to the study of human behavior.
Prerequisites & Transfer Status: Psychology 101 has no course prerequisites. It transfers as
Psychology 101 to all Nevada colleges.
Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is to provide a foundation of knowledge about
psychology. This course introduces students to the major fields and principles of psychology:
neuroscience, the role of nature and nurture in psychology, perception, consciousness,
behaviorism, learning, memory, developmental psychology, cognition, intelligence, motivation,
emotion, social psychology, personality, and psychological disorders.
Students who pass this course must demonstrate that they:
1. Know important terminology, concepts, and principles from the major fields and perspectives
in psychology.
2. Can describe, explain, or apply selected concepts and principles from the major fields and
perspectives in psychology.
3. Know scientific principles and procedures used in psychology.
Linkage of course to educational program mission and program outcomes: This course will
also help students acquire knowledge and skills needed to fulfill general education requirements.
General Psychology can be used for all degrees and certificates of achievement offered at WNC.
Students are expected to improve their knowledge and skills necessary to meet four of the
general education student learning outcomes:
A. College-level communication skills.
B. Effective and efficient learning skills.
C. Understand scientific thinking and methods.
D. Understand and apply social science principles.
Required Text/Materials: Myers, D. G (2010). Psychology: Tenth Edition in Modules. New
York: Worth. ISBN-13: 9781464113642
Scantrons and number 2 pencils: Four scantrons are required for you to take exams. The
instructor will provide the four scantrons. The student is responsible to supply her/his own
number 2 pencil.
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Methods of Teaching and Learning: Methods of teaching and learning will consist of the
following: lecture, Socratic questioning, whole class discussion, small class discussion, videos,
written papers, quizzes, and exams.
Methods of Evaluations: Students will be evaluated by means of 4 exams, 10 pop quizzes, 4
assignments, participation, and attendance.
Point Scale:
4 Exams
200 points (50 points each)
10 Pop Quizzes
50 points (5 points each)
4 Assignments
200 points (50 points each)
Participation & Attendance
50 points
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total 500 points
Self Grade Ranges: The points received for the aforementioned items will
be assessed individually and based on the points earned by the student for
each exam, quiz, assignment, participation, and attendance. The course grade will be a
culmination of the points accumulated by the student and based on the grade scale below.
Students are expected to keep track of the points received for each assignment.
450-500
440-449
400-439
390-399
350-389
340-349
300-339
<299
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
90% and Above
88-89%
80-87%
78-79%
70-77%
68-69%
60-67%
<60%
W and F Grade Policy. WNC has policies regarding withdrawal and F grades.



Faculty are not allowed to issue a W grade.
Students who want to withdraw from the class must submit the request for a W to the
Admissions & Records office before the Friday that occurs at the end of the 8th week on
instruction.
Students who do not formally withdraw from the class will receive the grade they have
earned based on the points accumulated for the course.
A. Examinations: There will be four exams throughout the semester. Each exam is multiple
choice.
1. Exams will cover material from the assigned modules in the textbook and classroom lectures.
Students are responsible for materials assigned in the textbook as well as for the material
covered in class lectures.
2. Each exam grade will be used to calculate your final grade.
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B. Pop Quizzes: There will be 10 pop quizzes throughout the semester. These pop quizzes will
assess your reading and understanding of the textbook, and lecture. Read prior to attending
class! Study lecture notes prior to attending class! Each quiz will be used to calculate your final
grade. If you are absent on pop quiz day, you may make-up a pop quiz only with written proof
from a physician or athlete supervisor/coach. Please note that you are required to take the pop
quiz you missed prior to the next pop quiz. It is your responsibility to approach the instructor and
set up a date/time to take the pop quiz. You will receive a grade of 0 if you failed to take the pop
quiz prior to the next pop quiz.
C. Assignments: There will be four assignments throughout the semester. Details of each
assignment will be discussed in class and distributed roughly two weeks prior to due date.
D. Participation and Attendance: Students will receive points for participation and attendance.
Students must actively participate in class discussions, and class activities.
Make-up Examinations: If you are absent on exam day, you may make-up an exam only with
written proof from a physician or athlete supervisor/coach. Please note that you are required to
take the exam you missed prior to the next scheduled exam. It is your responsibility to approach
the instructor and set up a date/time to take the exam. You will receive a grade of 0 if you failed
to take the exam prior to the next scheduled exam.
Make-up Assignments: If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, you may make-up the
assignment only with written proof from a physician or athlete supervisor/coach. Please note
that you are required to make-up the assignment prior to the due date of the subsequent
assignment. You will receive a grade of 0 if you failed to turn in your make-up assignment prior
to the due date of the next scheduled assignment.
Reading/Assignments/Exams Schedule: This document provides a tentative timeline of
materials covered, exam dates, assignment due dates, and module readings. This schedule is
subject to change; any changes will be announced in class.
January 21st W
Introductions/Introduction to Course/Syllabus/Module 1
January 26th M
Modules 1, 2, & 3
January 28th W
Modules 4, 5, & 6
February 2nd M
Modules 4, 5, 6, 11 & 12
February 4th W
Modules 13, 14, 15, & 16
February 9th M
Modules 13, 14, 15, & 16
February 11th W
Exam 1/Assignment 1 Due
February 16th M
Holiday (President’s Day) NO CLASS
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February 18th W
Modules 7, 8, 9, & 10
February 23rd M
Modules 7, 8, 9, & 10
February 25th W
Modules 17, 18, 19
March 2nd M
Modules 17, 18, 19
March 4th W
Modules 20, 21, & 22
March 9th M
Modules 20, 21, & 22
March 11th W
Exam 2/Assignment 2 Due
March 16th M
Spring Break
March 18th W
Spring Break
March 23rd M
Modules 23, 24, 25, & 26
March 25th W
Modules 23, 24, 25, & 26
March 30th M
Modules 27, 28, 29, 30, & 31
April 1st W
Modules 27, 28, 29, 30, & 31
April 6th M
Modules 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, & 37
April 8th W
Modules 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, & 37
April 13th M
Modules 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, & 37
April 15th W
Exam 3/Assignment 3 Due
April 20th M
Modules 38, 39, 40, 41, & 42
April 22nd W
Modules 38, 39, 40, 41, & 42
April 27th M
Modules 43, 44, 45, & 46
April 29th W
Modules 43, 44, 45, & 46
May 4th M
Modules 43, 44, 45, & 46
May 6th W
Modules 47, 48, 49, 50, & 51
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May 11th M
Modules 47, 48, 49, 50, & 51
May 13th W
Exam 4/Assignment 4 Due
Cheating: The college expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is
beyond reproach. Students will be expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their
experiences in the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in academic work is
subject to disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty
including, but not limited to the following:
• Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on academic work,
plagiarism, and collusion.
• Cheating on academic work includes:
• Copying from another student’s test paper or academic work,
• Using during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test.
• Collaborating, without authority, with another student during an examination or in
preparing academic work.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting or soliciting, in whole or in
part, the contents of an unadministered test.
• Substitution for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for
oneself, to take a test or prepare other academic work.
• Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about the
administered test.
• Plagiarism: The appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged
incorporation of the work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
• Collusion: The unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written
work offered for credit.
Support for Students: WNC has a lot of support for students. There are tutors to help students
do better in classes, disability services for those who need special accommodations
(http://www.wnc.edu/studentservices/dss/index.php), a range of counseling services and support,
great librarians to help students learn how to locate and evaluate information, financial aid,
student health insurance, a student center with a small gym, and an active student
government. Ask your instructor or visit the College's web site for more information.
Academic tutoring, including writing help, is available on both the Carson Campus and Fallon
Campus through the Academic Skills Center. These services are free of charge. More
information is available at http://www.wnc.edu/studentservices/asc The phone number for the
skills center is 775-445-4260 (Carson Campus) or 775-423-7565 ext. 2278 (Fallon Campus).
The library is available for you to use both the Carson Campus and Fallon Campus. Library
services are free of charge. More information can be found at http://library.wnc.edu/index.html
or call 775-445-3229 (Carson Campus) or 775-423-5330 (Fallon Campus).
Course Etiquette: Be respectful to the instructor and your peers. If you are not courteous and
respectful to the instructor and your peers - you will be asked to leave the class.
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