SUMMER PROGRAMS 2022
CORE-195: PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY
Units: 3 units
Summer 2022: Monday - Friday 9 AM-12 PM, 1:30-4:30
PM (lunch break 12-1:30 PM)
Classroom Location: CPA 157
Professor: Ellen Herschel, MA (she/her/hers)
Please call me: Ellen or Professor Herschel
Office: Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI)
Office Hours: Any day during the 12:00-1:30 PM lunch
break—just ask to set up a time
Email: herschel@usc.edu, (expect a response within 24-48
hours)
Ask me about: Lecture material, readings, assignments,
quizzes, college, your goals, life in general
Course management website:
https://blackboard.usc.edu/
Teaching Assistant: Jackson Trager, M.A. (he/his)
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: jptrager@usc.edu
Ask me about: grading and assignment submission
questions/issues, college, your goals, life in general
IT Support: https://summerexperience.usc.edu/it-support/
Summer Experience Hub:
https://summerexperience.usc.edu/
This is your one stop shop for access to IT Support,
Student Resources, Building Community, and the Events
Calendar
Revised April 2022
Course Description
What does it mean to have a human experience? Why are we the way we are and why do we do
the things we do? What can psychological science teach me about what it means to be human?
What can it teach me about the world? How can I use this knowledge to construct a life worth
living? And how can I use this knowledge to improve the lives of those around me? If these
questions keep you up at night, you have definitely chosen the right course. Over the next four
weeks, you will delve into the fascinating world of psychology, learn how to think like a scientist,
get your creative juices flowing, apply this new knowledge to your own life, and develop skills and
strategies that will help you excel in your future goals as a student once you reach college.
Because you will receive college credit for passing this class, we will cover all of the major topic
areas covered in a one-semester course in introductory psychology: history of psychology,
research methods, lifespan development, sensation and perception, learning and memory,
cognition, mind-body connection, mindsets and motivation, social media and mental health,
language, thinking, and intelligence, personality, social processes, mental illness, consciousness
and altered states; and the fundamentals of genetics, evolution, and neuroscience as related to
these topics.
We will watch videos in class and discuss their implications. We will do field trips within and
outside USC, as well as in-class activities and exercises to help you think more deeply about these
topics. And we will have guest speakers share their knowledge and expertise. Throughout the
month, you will be highly encouraged to apply your knowledge of the material to your own lives,
as well as to real-world social issues. We will utilize lectures, readings, presentations, and a final
project to drive home these main points.
Learning Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
Exhibit college-level mastery of basic principles of psychology by presenting on
psychological research, completing readings and assignments, participating in course
lectures, and completing in-class activities including quizzes, discussions and lab activities.
Become active consumers and communicators of empirical research in psychology
Gain a first-hand glimpse into the life of a psychological scientist by touring USC research
labs
Implement habits for physical and psychological wellbeing in your life
Apply in-class learning with field trips to Fulcrum Adventures, the Museum of Tolerance,
Huntington Gardens, and Yoga USC
Required Readings and Supplementary Materials
Many readings for this course will come from our free online textbook via NOBA or access via
Blackboard. Additional required readings and supplementary materials will be provided to you
online via blackboard.
You will be expected to read the assigned readings the night BEFORE we will go over the material
in class.
The link to your free NOBA textbook is here: http://noba.to/cs2abjhq
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 2
Course Requirements & Grading
Moment of Geek, 5 total (20% of final grade)
This is your opportunity to polish your presentation skills in an informal, supportive
environment, learn how to communicate scientific research in an accessible manner, and
most importantly, just geek out about something that fascinates you. Here are the
details...
• Find an article through popular press/podcast/tedtalk that summarizes the findings of a
recent study in psychology or neuroscience, OR go straight to google scholar and
find a published article there. Ideally, this won’t be the first article you find, but
rather one that you think is really, really cool and can’t wait to share with other
people.
• In two minutes or less, share the findings of the article with us! Tell us what the
researchers studied, how they studied it, what they found, and why you think it’s
awesome. There will be time set aside every morning for this purpose.
• A list of suggested sources will be posted on Blackboard, but you are more than
welcome to use other sources of comparable legitimacy. You are only required to
use studies that have not been specifically discussed in class, but that preferably
fall into one of the broad topic areas that we have already covered.
• If you’d like, you can use a notecard while sharing to remind yourself of specific details
of the study. Just try not to write full sentences or mechanistically recite anything
you’ve written. This is intended to be a relaxed, no-pressure chance to just talk
about science.
• You will share findings from a different article a total of 5 times throughout the course.
You will also submit the link to the popular press article and the scientific study it
references on the assignment in blackboard.
Class Participation (20% of final grade)
As in upper-level college seminar classes, a substantial amount of our class time will be
devoted to discussions, exploring real-world implications of topics, and how each topic
resonates with you/ can be applied to your life. In order to encourage you to challenge
yourselves and your classmates (as well as your instructor!), you can earn up to two
points each day for active involvement during class discussions. Your total participation
points will account for 20 percent of your final grade.
• 0 points: No participation, unexcused absence, or excessive distraction
• 1 point: Limited participation, unexcused tardiness, or mild distraction
• 2 points: Active participation and thoughtful contributions to class discussion
Readings, Writing Assignments, and Quizzes (20% of final grade)
You are expected to complete each day’s reading assignments before the beginning of
class each day.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 3
Writing assignments are your chance to independently reflect on the course material and
relate what we are learning to your own life and the world around you. There will be
small prompts each week for you to respond to. Papers should be 2-3 pages double
spaced. Each paper will be due on Monday or Tuesday at 9 AM following when the topic
was covered to give you sufficient time to process how the material is relevant to your life
(see class schedule for dates). Writing assignments will be graded out of a maximum of
fifteen points each and will account for 20 percent of your grade. Papers are to be turned
in online on the Blackboard website page.
You can also expect to have a few pop quizzes sprinkled throughout the course. They
could be group or individual. These will not be a big part of your grade and should not be
stressful to complete (I know, I also get major test anxiety!), but I want to help you learn
how to take and absorb information you have previously learned and carry it forward
through the course.
Mythbusters (10% of final grade)
Each week by 6 pm on Friday, submit at least one idea, thought, belief, or attitude that
you have about a general topic for the next week (before we cover material). These are
intended to help me understand what you think of the topic for the week (e.g. what
comes to mind when you think mental illness?) so that we can talk about common beliefs
about topics and understand why some may be misleading, whereas others may be
accurate. Submissions should be made online on the class Blackboard page Discussion
Section and should be no longer than 2 paragraphs.
Final Project (30% of final grade, broken down into 3 parts)
The final project is the main assignment for the course and will allow you to get creative
with your teammates while putting together a compelling visual story about a topic of
psychology.
I will put you in groups of ~3-4 during the first week of classes and you will work together
throughout the month to create a series of tik-tok style videos to show to us on the very
last day.
Here are the requirements for the Video Project:
• Between 7 and 10 minutes long (approximately 7-10 short videos together)
• Explore a question within psychology that you find intriguing
• Tell us/ show us why that question is important
• Tell us/ show us about empirical findings from the field on that question – you
must reference at least 3 peer-reviewed, published articles
• Tell us/ show us how we can apply these findings to society or to our personal
lives
• Have fun doing this!!! Feel free to get creative, get funny, interview family, people
on the streets, add music, add dance…
• Taking videos on smartphone is fine, basic editing software is fine. If the group
does not have access to either of these, come talk to me.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 4
You will be graded on:
• Clarity and concise explanation of the research question and findings
• Clear communication of why the research question is important
• Thoughtfulness and how well-developed your ideas, questions, and main points
are
• Whether or not you reference to at least three relevant published articles
• Conveying of practical ideas on how we can apply these principles to our own lives
• Adding creative elements – interviewing people on this topic/ including a skit/
including music/ visual edits/ funny moments
• Peer feedback from your group about your contributions as a teammate
You should meet regularly with your teammates to decide and plan for the mini series.
Your topic can be anything related to psychology that you all find interesting and
important.
Here are just a few examples of questions to explore in your documentary:
•
•
•
•
•
•
How are introversion and extroversion linked to social media use?
How is gut health linked to depression?
How does caffeine intake influence cognition and emotion?
What are secrets of happy people?
How does emotional music influence people’s moods?
What makes long-term relationships work?
Wednesday, June 29th: One-page proposal on mini series video project due (5%)
Submit a one-page double-spaced paper describing the research question you wish to
explore, what you expect to find, why you expect those results, what resources you plan
to consult, and if you already have a general idea, what kind of content you will include in
the video.
– You will also need to include a list of action-items (i.e., things you need to
complete or do in order to make your documentary), and a proposed timeline for
when your group will accomplish each of those tasks
– I will provide feedback on these, the goal of which is to be helpful to your
group and make sure your plan sounds doable and complete
Friday July 8: First 2-3 videos due (7%)
Submit for review the first 2-3 videos in your series for feedback, and let me know if you
are stuck in any place along the way. I will give you guidance on how to frame the
remainder of your series or feedback if you need to re-record or edit your existing videos.
As we move along in the class, you can show me what you have and consult with me on
how you want to move forward.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 5
Thursday, July 14th: Videos are sent to me (15%) by 7 PM, and Friday July 15: Videos are
shown in class!
After we watch every group’s video series, everyone will vote on their top two favorite
videos in class. You cannot vote for your own group. The members of the group whose
video wins first place will receive extra credit (+2 points to your final grade!).
Friday July 15: Peer Feedback due by 9 AM (3%): At the end of the course, you will be
asked to provide feedback, and you will receive feedback, from your group members on
your completion of the project and your contributions throughout the course to the
project. This will count as 3% of your final grade for the project.
Extra Credit: It’s In the Syllabus!
This syllabus is your friend! If you have a logistical question about this class, the answer is
very likely somewhere in this document.
So, to preemptively reward all of you for your excellent syllabus-reading habits, each of
you will start off with one percentage point of extra credit (which will be added to your
final grade at the end of the semester). But here’s the catch: every time you email me
with a question that is objectively and definitively answered somewhere in this syllabus
(e.g., “What happens if I miss a mythbusters?”), you will lose a quarter of that point. This
does not apply to syllabus clarifications or uncertainties, if something I have written is
unclear, please ask away.
Of course, I am more than happy to answer other (non-syllabus) questions via email and
any questions in-person before/after class or during office hours, so please do feel free to
ask me things. Just also try to do your part to make sure the question hasn’t already been
answered for you before sending an email. (Pro-tip: This document is searchable).
Grading Policies
Final percentage scores will be rounded up/down to the nearest whole number from .50
(e.g. a 92.50 rounds to a 93, but a 92.49 does not) and letter grades will be assigned
according to the following scale:
A
AB+
B
93-100%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
BC+
C
C-
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
D+
D
DF
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
under 60%
I will not entertain individual appeals for “personalized rounding schemes” nor will I
create “extra assignments” for anyone to attempt to raise their grade. (Each such request
will be subject to a deduction from the “it’s in the syllabus” extra credit point described
above.)
Technology Policy: The Golden Rule
If you have a laptop or tablet, you are more than welcome to bring it to class to take
notes and to work on your final project when time permits. (Laptops can also be
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 6
borrowed from the university at no charge. See
http://itservices.usc.edu/spaces/laptoploaner for more details.)
During structured discussions or in-class activities, I will ask that all laptops/tablets be set
aside to allow for full engagement. Participation points will be docked for students who
appear excessively and/or inappropriately distracted by their computers or who use them
for non-academic purposes during class time and I reserve the right to revoke your
individual technology privileges at any time. If you were speaking to a group of people
about something you genuinely care about, you’d probably want them to pay full
attention to you. Please just be kind.
Turning in Assignments
Unless otherwise specified, assignments should be turned in electronically on the
Blackboard website for the course. (Details will be provided on the first day of class.)
Assignments are due on the due date and time listed on the course calendar. If there are
changes to any specific assignment, that will be conveyed in class and on the
announcement page on Blackboard.
Late Work Policy
As all due dates are provided at the beginning of the semester, extensions and makeup
assignments will only be granted under specific circumstances: (1) medical, personal, or
family emergencies; (2) USC- sponsored extracurricular activities; and (3) religious
holidays or other days of conscience. Just come talk to me if any of those apply to you.
Late assignments (written assignments or final project components) will only be accepted
without penalty in the above situations. All other late assignments will incur a penalty of
5% off of the maximum score for every day late including non-class days and weekends.
If you know you will have an excused absence on the day of a presentation, please let me
know as soon as possible so we can make alternate arrangements. If unforeseen
circumstances preclude you from attending class on a presentation day, please email
once you are able. If you know you will be absent on the day a presentation is due, you
are still responsible for completing the assignment on time.
Attendance and Lateness Policy
Everyone gets a 5 minute grace period at the start of class. After the 5 minute grace
period, tardiness will result in a loss of a quarter of your day’s participation points for the
day for each hour you are late. For example, if you arrive anywhere between 9:05 and 10
AM, you will lose a quarter of your points, between 10-11, half your points, and so on. If
you miss an assignment or activity due to unexcused tardiness, it will result in a score of
zero on that assignment.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 7
Unexcused absences will result in a score of zero on the daily moment of geek (if
occurring that day), zero participation points for the day, and a zero on any of the
scheduled activities or quizzes.
In the event you are unable to attend class, you are responsible for contacting the
professor and teaching assistants via email at least one day before class to document the
reason for your absence*.
*We understand that life sometimes happens in a way that makes 24hr notice impossible. If something comes up
unexpectedly or urgently and you are unable to email us one day in advance, please just let us know as soon as you’re
able, as well as the reason for the late notice. If this policy is abused, it may be rescinded.
For excused absences or tardiness, you will have the opportunity to make up any missed
moments of geek or quizzes when you return and your maximum class participation point
total will be adjusted to account for your absence.
Regarding COVID 19
All students must be aware of and monitor for symptoms of COVID 19. If you become
sick, please get tested, notify your teacher and do NOT come to class until you are well
again. If needed, hybrid or asynchronous learning will be provided for a student to still
gain as much educational material from the class. All students must follow current
University COVID 19 policies. Respect of other’s health and safety is expected of all
members of this course, and this includes practicing good hygiene. All individuals are
permitted and encouraged to wear masks as desired (or as required if the University reinstates a masking policy). If you have questions about COVID 19 Safety in the classroom,
please do not hesitate to ask.
Sensitivity & Safe Space Guidelines
It is my goal to foster an environment of mutual respect in which everyone can feel
comfortable voicing their opinions or sharing their stories. On the first day of class, we
will work together as a group to create ground rules for our discussions. If, at any point,
you feel like information covered in this class triggers thoughts, feelings, or concerns that
you would like to discuss further, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or to USC’s
Student Counseling Services (located on the third floor of the Engemann Student Health
Center) at (213) 740-7711.
Field Trips
In the spirit of true experiential learning, we will be taking several on- and off-campus
field trips in order to bring our topics to life and to discover new amazing experiences!
When we leave the classroom, please keep in mind that you are not only representing
yourself, but also your Summer Programs classmates, as well as the University of
Southern California. You will be expected to conduct yourself with the utmost
professionalism and respect.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 8
Grading Breakdown
Including the above detailed assignments, how will students be graded overall? Participation
should be no more than 15%, unless justified for a higher amount. All must total 100%.
Assessment Tool (assignments)
Points
% of Grade
Mythbusters
10
10
Moment of Geek
25
20%
Class Participation
40
20%
Readings, Writing Assignments, Pop Quizzes
60
20%
Final Project
30
30%
125
100
TOTAL
Grading Timeline
Assignments will returned, fully graded, within 1 week of submission.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 9
Course Schedule: A Weekly Breakdown
The schedule on the following page is tentative and subject to change based on our progress
during the semester or necessary changes in the schedule. Any major revisions will be announced
during class, posted on blackboard, and confirmed via email.
Assignments and due dates will be announced in class.
Off-campus field trips: Meeting time/place and other details discussed
during class.
Week
Date
Mon. June 20
Class Topic / Agenda / Activities
Assignments DUE This day
AM: Introductions and Syllabus
Review
PM: The Story of Psychology
Tues. June 21
AM: The Scientific method
PM: Research methods, Ethics,
and Values in Psychology
Week 1
Wed. June 22
9-11 AM: Practice MoG
11:15-4:30 PM Field Trip:
Fulcrum Adventures
June 20June 24
Thur. June 23
AM: Practice MoG
Group Project: Selection of
Groups
NOBA Readings
Sign up for Moments of Geek
for all 4 weeks
Moment of Geek Practice
Round (1/2 class)
NOBA Readings
Moment of Geek Practice
Round (1/2 Class)
PM: What is Mental Health?
Fri. June 24
Week 2
June 27July 1
Mon. June 27
AM: Developmental Psychology
PM: Guest lecture: Natalie Evans:
What is Creativity?
AM and PM: Social Psychology
Readings: Friday on NOBA
Choose a topic or research
question for your final project
Moment of Geek #1
Mythbusters #1 Due
Reflection Paper #1 Due by 9
AM
Reading: Monday June 27
(NOBA)
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 10
WATCH: two videos on
blackboard:
Dispel your morning dread and
The Surprising Science of
Happiness
Moment of Geek #2
Tues. June 28
AM: Intro to neuroscience:
Neurons, Networks, and the
Brain
Moment of Geek #3
Reading: Tuesday June 28
(NOBA)
PM: Functions of Emotions and
stress in health
Wed. June 29
AM: What is Mental Illness?
Understanding and Treatment
PM: Genes and Environment
Thur. June 30
AM: Clinical Psychology
Depression and Anxiety
PM: Substance Use and eating
disorders
Stigma and Policy
Fri. July 1
AM: Finishing Clinical Psychology
PM: How to Read a Research
Paper
Intro to Cognitive Psychology
Week 3
July 4July 8
Reading Thursday June 30
(NOBA)
Moment of Geek #5
Moment of Geek #6
Readings Friday July 1 (NOBA)
Mythbusters #2 Due
NO CLASS
Mon. July 4
Tues. July 5
Submit 1 Page Proposal for
your Final Project, including 23 articles you will reference
Reading Wednesday June 29
(NOBA)
Moment of Geek #4
AM and PM: Cognitive
Psychology-Cognition,
Intelligence
Language
Sensation and Perception
Learning and Memory
Reflection Paper #2 Due 9 AM
Reading Tuesday July 5 (NOBA- OPTIONAL)
Moment of Geek #7
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 11
Wed. July 6
AM and PM: Consciousness,
Sleep, Dreams, Drugs, & Altered
States
Thurs. July 7
AM: Field Trip: Brain and
Creativity Institute and Dornsife
Neuroimaging Center
Moment of Geek #8
Reading Wednesday July 6
(NOBA)
Readings/Assignments
Thursday July 7 (Blackboard)
Moment of Geek #9
PM: Cinema, TV, and Mental
Health
Music, Cognition, and Mental
Health
Fri. July 8
AM: Field Trip: Museum of
Tolorance
PM: Guest lecture: Sarah
Hennessy, Music and Nostalgia
Field Trip Reflection
Mon. July 11
AM: Social Media, Mental Health,
and Vulnerability
PM: Guest Lecture: Ian Anderson
Tues. July 12
Week 4
AM: Field Trip: Huntington
Gardens
PM: Mind/Body Interactions and
Connections
Exercise
Field Trip Reflections
July 11July 15
Wed. July 13
AM: Mindfulness and Meditation,
living a life of meaning
PM:
Motivation
Self Care
Moment of Geek #10
Submit First 2-3 videos in your
series
Readings/Assignments Friday
July 8 (Blackboard)
Mythbusters #3 Due
Reflection paper #3 Due 9 AM
Readings/Assignments
(Blackboard) Monday July 11
Reading for Guest Lecture TBD
Moment of Geek #11
Moment of Geek #12
Reading/Assignments
(Blackboard) Tuesday July 12
Reading and Homework
Wednesday July 13 (NOBA,
Blackboard)
Moment of Geek #13
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 12
Thur. July 14
AM: Personality, Culture,
Prejudice
PM: Relationships and the power
of giving
Moment of Geek #14
Reading Thursday July 14
(NOBA)
Final Project Videos Due 7 PM!
Fri. July 15
AM: Presentation of Final
Projects!
PM: Course reflections and wrap
up: using psychological science to
do good.
Peer Feedback Due on Final
Projects (9 AM)
Course Evaluation
Class Reflection Survey
Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment that fosters general principles of academic honesty.
These include respecting the intellectual property of others, submitting your own individual work unless
otherwise allowed by an instructor, and protecting your own academic work from misuse by others. All students
are expected to understand and abide by these principles, which are summarized online at
https://sjacs.usc.edu/students/academic-integrity. Should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty,
students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards (http://sjacs.usc.edu)
for further review.
For this class, specific examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to: conferring with another
student, looking at someone else’s paper, or using your textbook or the internet during daily quizzes; submitting
assignments that have been written by another person or lifted from the internet; and falsifying data or results
for the final project.
If you have any questions about these policies or academic dishonesty in general, I would be more than happy to
answer them, so please do ask.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 13
Academic Conduct:
Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious
academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in
Part B, Section 11, “Behavior Violating University Standards” https://policy.usc.edu/scampus-part-b/. Other forms of
academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific
misconduct, https://policy.usc.edu/research-and-scholarship-misconduct/
Support Systems:
Counseling and Mental Health - (213) 740-9355(WELL) – 24/7 on call
https://studenthealth.usc.edu/counseling/
Free and confidential mental health treatment for students, including short-term psychotherapy, group counseling, stress
fitness workshops, and crisis intervention.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1 (800) 273-8255 – 24/7 on call
http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Services (RSVP) – (213) 740-9355(WELL), press “0” after hours – 24/7 on call
http://studenthealth.usc.edu/sexual-assault
Free and confidential therapy services, workshops, and training for situations related to gender-based harm.
Office of Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX - (213) 740-5086 – M-F 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
https://eeotix.usc.edu/
Works with faculty, staff, visitors, applicants, and students around issues of protected class. 24-hour reports (with the
option to be anonymous), contact USC’s Help & Hotline at (213) 740-2500 or (800) 348-7454 or report.usc.edu
Reporting Incidents of Bias or Harassment - (213) 740-5086 or (213) 821-8298
https://usc-advocate.symplicity.com/care_report
Avenue to report incidents of bias, hate crimes, and microaggressions to the Office of Equity and Diversity |Title IX for
appropriate investigation, supportive measures, and response.
The Office of Student Accessibilty Services – (213) 740-0776 – M-F 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
https://osas.usc.edu/
Provides the steps for students seeking accommondation and services, the University’s documentation guidelines and
general keys to success.
Campus Support & Intervention (CSI) – (213) 740-0411 uscsupport@usc.edu
https://campussupport.usc.edu/
Connects members of the USC community with supports in achieving their academic, professional, and/or personal goals.
Diversity at USC
https://diversity.usc.edu/
Information on events, programs and training, the Diversity Task Force (including representatives for each school),
chronology, participation, and various resources for students.
USC Emergency Information - UPC: (213) 740-4321 – 24/7 on call
https://dps.usc.edu/, https://emergency.usc.edu/
Emergency assistance and avenue to report a crime. Latest updates regarding safety, including ways in which instruction
will be continued if an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible.
USC Department of Public Safety – UPC: (213) 740-6000 –HSC: (323) 442-1000 – 24/7 on call
https://dps.usc.edu/
Non-emergency assistance or information.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 14
Statement on Sexual Violence1, Identity-Based Harm, and Bullying
If you experience sexual violence, identity-based harm, or any kind of bullying2 during your time at
USC, please reach out to me asap so I can help you resolve the situation by putting you in contact with
the appropriate resources and services, and answering questions to the extent that I am qualified to do
so. But, if you’d rather not talk to your teacher about these issues, I completely understand. Here are
some of those resources that I would have ended up telling you about:
Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention & Services: https://engemannshc.usc.edu/rsvp/
Sexual Assault Resource Center: http://sarc.usc.edu/
Student Counseling Services: https://engemannshc.usc.edu/counseling/
Student Support & Advocacy: https://studentaffairs.usc.edu/ssa/
Office of Equity & Diversity: http://equity.usc.edu/
Department of Public Safety: http://dps.usc.edu/contact/report/
Asian Pacific American Student Services: http://sait.usc.edu/apass/
Bias Assessment Response & Reporting: http://studentaffairs.usc.edu/bias-assessment-responsesupport/
Center for Black Cultural & Student Affairs: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/black_cultural_center/
El Centro Chicano: http://sait.usc.edu/elcentro/
LGBT Resource Center: http://lgbtrc.usc.edu/
And finally, for information about your legal rights under Title IX: http://knowyourix.org/
1
Please note that I am required by university policy and state/federal law to report all personal
disclosures of sexual violence occurring during USC Summer Programs to the appropriate campus
authorities, but that I am qualified and more than willing to support survivors throughout the process.
2
Please also note that there is no excuse for engaging in any of these behaviors, in any form, towards
anyone. If I learn that any of my students have harmed one of their classmates, I will do everything in
my power to hold them accountable to the fullest extent allowed by university policy.
Statement on Accessibility and Accommodations
As an instructor, I strive to create an environment in which every student is given an equal opportunity
to excel. If you are in need of certain accommodations (e.g., large fonts or extra time on quizzes, class
note- taker, etc.), please let me know as soon as possible and I will work with you to get you the help
you need. Remember that any information you share regarding academic accommodations is
confidential and will not be shared with other students.
Any student requesting disability-based academic accommodations is required to register with
Disability Services and Programs (DSP) in order to obtain a letter of verification for approved
accommodations. Again, please provide me with this letter as early in the course as possible. DSP is
located in GFS 120 and is open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. You can also reach
them by phone at (213) 740-0776 and online at http://dsp.usc.edu
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 15
For additional resources, you can also visit USC’s Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity in STU
311, reach them via email at kortschakcenter@usc.edu, over the phone at (213) 740-7884, or on their
website at http://kortschakcenter.usc.edu.
Syllabus for CORE 195 < PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE & SOCIETY >, Page | 16