Course Syllabus

Instructor's Information

Name: Derek Vay
Primary Contact: Use the Inbox tool within Canvas.
Email: Derek.Vay@nevadastate.edu

**Please note that all official University communication is conducted using NS-issued email addresses (e.g., @students.nevadastate.edu) in order to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If you need assistance finding or accessing your NS email account, please see the relevant section on the LASB Course Policies and Guidelines page.
Office Phone: 702-799-2270 x3813
Office Location: Liberty H.S. Room 813
Office Hours: 7:45 am to 3:00 pm

Email & Classroom Response Time

You can generally expect a response to emails within 24-48 hours (or slightly longer over weekends or holidays). Feedback for completed discussions, quizzes, and assignments depends on the length and complexity of the activity and could take up to 10 days. For questions on the status of a completed assignment, discussion, or test please contact me.

Course Description

Presents psychology as a science concerned with the actions of organisms in a social and cultural context. Satisfies Social Sciences Core Curriculum.

Required Text(s) & Materials

Title: Psychology 2e
Author: Rose Spielman, William Jenkins, Marilyn Lovett
Edition: 2nd
ISBN: 978-1-951693-23-7

You can buy your textbook from the Nevada State University Bookstore, either online or at the Rogers Student Center physical location.

Optional Supplemental Materials: Link to online textbook.

Course Learning Outcomes

After finishing this course, you will be able to:

• Psychology B.A., PLO 1: Demonstrate knowledge of psychological theories and major research   findings by applying the knowledge of psychological principles to real-world problems.
• Psychology B.A., PLO 2: Apply scientific inquiry and critical thinking skills to design, conduct, and interpret research, interpret scientific data,and evaluate scientific claims.
• Psychology B.A., PLO 3: Investigate how human diversity influences interpersonal and intergroup dynamics while explaining how these concept inform professional ethics.
• Psychology B.A., PLO 4: Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills in written and oral contexts, adhering to professional conventions,and achieving common goals

Class Schedule

Class will be every B day at Liberty High School

Assignment Description & Due Dates

[Enter a brief explanation of graded assignments in the course, points involved, and general due dates.]

Exam Description & Due Dates

[Enter a brief explanation of the style of exams, points involved, and due dates.]

Late Work Policy & Attendance Expectations

If for some reason you are absent due to an extenuating circumstance or medical situation, please report the incident using the Student Absence Notification System (SANS). Instructors will then review the information in the SANS to determine how, or whether it's possible, to address missed or late work.

[Instructors: Cleary outline your missed work, late work, and make-up work policy versus “per instructor’s discretion.”]

• Does the same policy apply to every assignment? If not, specific the policy per assignment.
  • For example, “All assignment due dates for the entire semester are posted on the first day of class. All assignments are due by the due date, and no late work will be accepted unless specified in the individual assignment instructions.”
  • For example, “XYZ assignment is due Sunday, November 6th by 11:59pm. It is worth 10 points/10% of your grade. Late work will be accepted for 10 hours with one point deducted per partial hour or full hour late until 10:00am on November 12th after which no late work will be accepted and the grade will be a 0.”
• If a student misses a make-up work session, specify your policy. For example, “If a student misses the make-up work due date or session for whatever reason, the grade will become a 0.”

Grading Criteria

[Instructor grading scheme and course points total must be established before the beginning of the semester and this information needs to be available to the students on this syllabus. It should be clear what portions of the grade are determined by which assignments and exams, if there are opportunities for extra credit and how it can be obtained, and what the letter grade determination scale for your class will be, which should be standard for the majority of classes taught at NS.]

Grading Scale (Letter Grade and Point Range):

A  93% or higher

A-   90%-92.99%

B+  87%-89.99%

B  83%-86.99%

B-  80%-82.99%

C+  77%-79.99%

C  73%-76.99%

C-  70%-72.99%

D+  67%-69.99%

D  63%-66.99%

D-  60%-62.99%

F   less than 60%

Accessing Grades and Instructor Feedback: To access your grades and find the instructor's feedback, click on Grades in the left menu. Scroll through the list until you find the new graded assignment (indicated by the blue dot to the left of the assignment name). Then click on the assignment name. You will see your grade. Below it you can click on Show Rubric to see the marked up rubric. Click on the paper title if you want to download the original document. (The instructor’s marks or comments will not appear on the downloaded document.) Click on the box to the right of the paper title to see the Turnitin report. Click on View Feedback to see the paper marked up with the instructor’s comments/corrections in DocViewer. The instructor’s feedback is on the right.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

WHAT IS AI?

AI tools are applications and other generative technologies capable of producing content (e.g., generating, summarizing), offering feedback (e.g., revising, translating), researching, assisting with coding, or other tasks typically done by humans. 
Examples include, but are not limited to, ChatGPT, Grammarly, Bing Copilot, Google Gemini, Grok, Answers.AI, Quillbot, Claude AI, DeepL, DeepAI, DALL-E, etc.

AI TOOLS BANNED ON STATE-OWNED DEVICES

The State of Nevada has banned some AI tools (and other technology) due to security or intellectual property concerns. You cannot use these tools on University-owned computers or other devices:
•    Grammarly (public version)
•    DeepSeek AI
The State updates the banned technology list occasionally, so other tools may be added. You are responsible for checking the most updated list to ensure you are not using any banned tools on state-owned devices.

AI USE POLICY FOR THIS COURSE

[Instructors: Choose option A, B, or C below based on your stance on use of AI in this course. You can edit the specific prohibited and allowed uses. Edit accordingly, paste your selection here, and delete the other two options.]

OPTION A

All Use Prohibited. As a student in this course, you are expected to complete each assignment without substantive assistance from others, including AI tools. You are not allowed to use AI in ways including, but not limited to:

• Writing full essays, discussion posts, reflections, or academic papers
• Summarizing or paraphrasing source materials
• Generating answers for quizzes, exams, or other assessments
• Screen-grabbing exam or quiz questions to get the correct answer
• Submitting AI-created programming code
• Checking grammar and spelling
• Brainstorming or outlining ideas for papers or projects
• Research assistance or finding sources
• Creating images for projects or presentations
• Other: ____

OPTION B

Prohibited Uses. As a student in this course, you are not allowed to use AI on assignments in the following ways:

• Writing full essays, discussion posts, reflections, or academic papers
• Summarizing or paraphrasing source materials
• Generating answers for quizzes, exams, or other assessments
• Screen grabbing exam or quiz questions to obtain the correct answer
• Submitting AI-created code in programming classes
• Other: _____

Permitted Uses. You are allowed to use AI in the following ways:

• Checking grammar and spelling
• Tutoring or study tools (generating flashcards; sample questions)
• Brainstorming or outlining ideas for papers or projects
• Research assistance or finding sources (with AI attribution)
• Creating images for projects or presentations (with AI attribution)
• Other: _____

If you are unsure how AI can be used for a specific assignment, talk to the instructor before you get started

OPTION C

[Instructors: you may design assignment-specific AI use policies. Visit Nevada State’s Artificial Intelligence page for recommendations on developing a comprehensive AI policy for your course or review sample syllabus templates.]

AI CITATION

[Instructors: if AI use is allowed (option B or C), include this section; edit as needed for your preferred citation style and delete other info.]
This course uses the following citation style:

APA Style
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Feb 13 version) [Large language model]. {Insert URL}

 
APA in-text citation: (OpenAI, 2023)

MLA Style
“Text of prompt” prompt. ChatGPT, Day Month version, OpenAI, Day Month Year, {Insert URL}

MLA in-text citation: ("Shortened prompt”)

CONSEQUENCES FOR MISUSE

Misuse of AI may result in plagiarism or academic misconduct penalties outlined in the NS Student Code of Conduct and/or the NS Academic Conduct Policy (found under Resources & Policies). Continued misuse of AI in coursework or across courses will result in escalating consequences based on the severity and frequency of the violation, which could include receiving an F in the course, academic probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Additional Information 

[Use this section to include any additional information for the course; otherwise, delete this section.]

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Be Prepared

Normal campus operations may be interrupted by an emergency. To prepare, review the NSU Emergency Response Plan on the Campus Safety webpage.

In the event of disruptions, look for messages from NSU and from your instructors about how it impacts your courses and any changes you should expect.

 Be Informed

 Review emergency procedures and building information posted in classrooms and common areas (evacuation routes, emergency action guidance, and emergency assembly information).

University emergency planning and preparedness information is available through NSU’s Department of Campus Safety, in coordination with University Police Department (UPD) – Southern Command.

Know Your Locations

Familiarize yourself with the building(s) you’re in frequently. Know the layout, including exit locations, stairwells, and the Emergency Assembly Point (EAP). Use the Campus Maps to confirm building names. 

Update Your Information

To receive emergency notifications:

• Update your phone number and email in your Student Center
• Download the State Safe App, enable notifications, and update the app regularly

 To Report an Emergency

• Call 9-1-1 from a campus landline
• Call 702-895-3669 from a cell phone
• Select Emergency (9-1-1) in the State Safe App
• If possible, provide the building name and room number and describe the emergency

 Eyes Open (Know the Signs, Make the Call)

 Use the options below to report suspicious activity or safety concerns to University Police Department – Southern Command (non-emergency dispatch):

• Call 3-1-1 from a campus landline
• Call 702-895-3668 from a cell phone
• Select Non-Emergency (3-1-1) in the State Safe App

 Additional Resources

 For more information, consult the following resources:

• NSU Campus Safety
• UPD Southern Command
• NSU Campus Infrastructure

Student Support & Resources