NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: General Psychology
Course Prefix & Number: PSYC2301	Section Number: 840	Semester: 161S
Semester Credit Hours: 3	Lecture Hours: 3	Lab Hours: 0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Course Prerequisite(s):
Required Course Materials:   Access/Connect Code only – The Science of Psychology by Laura A. King, 3rd edition, McGraw Hill ISBN# 9781259973925   A paperback spiral copy is available to purchase through McGraw Hill as well. The Norton Psychology Reader, edited by Gary Marcus. ISBN# 0393927121 Try it to order a used copy.  Mine was $10 on Amazon.com

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Laura Knowles, PhD.
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth Campus
Telephone Number:	(940) 498-6295 Department assistant or (972)885-6435 my private practice office (emergency use only)
E-mail Address:	lknowles@nctc.edu

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Point Values
1	Exam 1	100
2	Exam 2	100
3	Exam 3	100
4	Exam 4/Final Exam	100
5	Research Paper	100
6	Read/Watch/Listen and Respond Critical Thinking Reports (25 points each). Many options will be given. It is up to the student to pick the assignments they would like to complete. DO NOT wait until the last week of class to complete these.	125 max

Grade Calculation and details

 

The lowest Exam grade will be dropped.  Thus, if you are happy with your first 3 exam grades you may choose to not take the final.  Usually students do poorly on the first exam and choose to drop that score. (300 points maximum)

 

The research paper is a big project. It is a 4 page minimum (12pt font, double spaced) APA style empirical research paper. This score cannot be dropped! It is due before Thanksgiving break. (100 points maximum)

 

Read/Watch/Listen and Respond Critical Thinking Assignments are typed (12pt, double spaced) papers.  There will be many opportunities to complete these assignments as there are so many aspects of psychology I’d like to share with y’all. Each will be worth 25 points.  You only NEED to complete 4 of these (for 100 points), but I will allow you to complete 5 (maximum of 125 points). Thus, there is no need to ask for extra credit. It is already built into the syllabus.  Some of these assignments will be more difficult than others. Please know I will take that into consideration when assigning points (the written response to watching a movie will require more effort and critical thinking for maximum points than the response to reading a research article).  

 

Grade Calculation:

  300 Exams (lowest not included)

  100 Research Paper

+125 R/W/L Critical Thinking

 

XXX/500 = your grade.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

	At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1.	Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology.
2.	Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.
3.	Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.
4.	Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.
5.	Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.
6.	Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior.

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Normally I don’t have an attendance policy.  If a student believes they can pass without attending class, I allow them to test out their theory. However, since this is a high school class, that is not an option.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the information or assignments missed.  I encourage you to get a ‘class buddy’ and text them prior to the absence so they can get worksheets or assignment details for you.  If you are going to miss a test, we will figure out a way for you to make it up. Don’t freak out.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (very tentative)

Week of		Chapters and Assignments Due.
8/22	Class Info Critical Thinking Psyc 101 Health Psyc	Syllabus, Developing Critical Thinking chapters 1-2 (online) Ch. 1 Text Ch. 17 Text Ch. 2 Text & Marcus Ch. 2 - Methods
8/29	Research in psyc	Ch. 2 continued Ch. 3 Text & Marcus Ch. 4 – The Brain
Monday 9/5 Labor Day	Bio Psyc	No school, be safe
9/7	CNS, PNS, Neurons, Psyc Meds
9/9	Split Brain, Bio wrap-up
9/12	Sensation Consciousness, Sleep, Drugs	Exam 1 Ch. 4 Text and Marcus Ch. 5 Ch. 5 Text
9/19	Don’t Do Meth	How to Research Paper Ch. 4 & 5 continued
9/26	Learning Theories	Ch. 6 Text & Marcus Ch. 7
10/3	Memory Social Psyc	Ch. 7 Text & Marcus Ch. 9 Ch. 13 Text & Marcus Ch. 15
10/10	Intelligence & Language	Exam 2 Ch. 8 Text & Marcus Ch. 6 and 10
10/14 no class	IO psyc	Read Ch. 14 Text
10/17	Intelligence testing Animal Intelligence and Language Evolutionary psyc	Revisit Ch. 3 Marcus. Additional readings will be provided
10/24	Human Development	Ch. 9 Text & Marcus Ch. 8
10/28 no class
10/31	Development Gender development Emotions	Ch. 11 Text Ch. 10 Text & Marcus Ch. 11-12
11/3		Last day to drop class
11/4		Exam 3
11/7	Theories of Personality	Ch. 12 Text & Marcus Ch. 14
11/14   11/18	Psyc Disorders	Research Paper Due Ch. 15 Text & Marcus Ch. 16
11/28	Treatments &Therapy	Ch. 16 Text & Marcus Ch. 17
12/2	Finish up	All R/W/L Critical Thinking Due
12/7		Final Exam
12/10		Grades will be posted to web

 

 

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 3, 2016.

 

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

 

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).   http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA______________________________  

 

o        Communication

o        Mathematics             

o        Life and Physical Science

o        Language, Philosophy & Culture

o        Creative Arts

 

o        American History

o        Government/Political Science

x        Social and Behavioral Sciences

o        Component Area Option

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES

 

x          Critical Thinking

x          Communication

x         Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

o           Personal Responsibility

x          Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

o           Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

x        Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. http://nctc.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2014-2015/Catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR DEPARTMENT CHAIR & INSTRUCTIONAL DEAN

If you have a concern that we are not able to resolve, you may contact the department chair for further assistance. Please note that if you contact the department chair prior to discussing the issue with me, then the department chair will simply ask you to discuss the matter with me first, before he becomes involved. If you do not feel comfortable discussing the issue with me, you are free at any time to contact the department chair. 

 

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Dr. Leslie Kelley
Office Location:	Corinth Campus, Room 336
Telephone Number:	940-498-6424 (Email preferred)
E-mail Address:	lkelley@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Dean Sara Alford
Office Location:	Flower Mound 200C
Telephone Number:	972-899-8414
E-mail Address:	salford@nctc.edu