PSYC 2301-343-162S

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: General Psychology

Course Prefix & Number: PSYC2301

Section Number: 343

Semester: 162S

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

9781259973925

 

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Dr. Franz Klutschkowski

Campus/Office Location:

Flower Mound/Office hours are online & response to emails are within 24 hours (a little longer on weekends-holidays)

Telephone Number:

972-899-8400

E-mail Address:

Use Canvas Email for course contacts/ or fklutschkowski@nctc.edu

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

14

Exams @ 25 points each

350

14

Reading Assignments

280

2

Topic Papers @ 25 points each

50

1

Research Paper

100

1

Discussion forum

40

 

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

Students are expected to complete all assignments and should check the class on a regular basis for any updates or announcements.

 

Grades are determined on the following basis:

 

A=90%              738    points or higher    

 

B-80-89%          656+  points   

 

C=70-79%         574+  points

 

D=60-69%         492+  points

 

F=Below 60%   Below 492  points  

 

Exams:

 

Twenty point exams will be given weekly (multiple choice or true false).  All exams are to be taken online and must be completed before the weekly deadlines.  The exams may be found within the Assignments tab of this Canvas course (you will need to have the online version of this textbook in order to access the exams). 

 

There are no exceptions for missing an exam deadline.  Exams will be available in the modules section of this course for the entire week or longer.  Exams will be over the assigned chapters with one 25 question exam per chapter.  Each exam may be taken twice (highest score is recorded) and will have a specified time limit.  Please remember once an exam is started, it must be completed within the time limit.  If the exam you are taking is stopped for any reason, only that score will be recorded when the exam is stopped (because you cannot return to the exam once stopped).

 

Reading Assignments:

 

Each chapter has a graded reading assignment.  These assignments may be found within the Assignments tab of this Canvas course & then the McGraw Hill Connect tab ( you will need to have the online version of this textbook in order to access this assignment).  Each reading assignment is worth 20 points each and you must complete them before the assigned deadlines.

 

Topic Papers (TP #1 & TP #2): 

Students are required to complete two  topic papers, worth 25 points each.  Topics for this first paper must be selected from ideas found in one of the following textbook chapters:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,10, and 11.  Papers become due as noted in the schedule found in this syllabus (although papers may be turned in anytime earlier).  Late papers, for any reason will lose 10 points.

     For example:  a student selects a topic from Chapter 6, say, the student selects the topic of ‘Observational Learning’, then, the paper may consist of the definition of observational learning from the textbook and  ANY aspects that the student wishes to write about observational learning-such as, the history of it, how it relates to other forms of learning, how does it work, what are examples of it, does it work for everyone, etc.  A reference page number from the textbook is a requirement.

 

The second topic paper must be related to one of the following chapters; 12, 16  or 17.

These topic papers are intended to be less formal than the research paper (but must be typed).  Grading:  2 pages=A; 1&1/2=B; 1=C; ½ =D.

 Papers may be emailed in this Canvas Class by selecting the MODULES tab and clicking on ‘topic paper.’

Research Paper (RP): 

 

Students are required to complete a research paper, worth 100 points relating to  chapter 15 (Psychological Disorders).   Please select only ONE disorder to research (for example, you cannot chose Anxiety as a topic because it is not one disorder, you must select a specific anxiety disorder).  One reference MUST be from the textbook.  Research papers should be submitted as a file upload within this course & are due May 8 (there is no final exam, just the chapter 17 exam).  If a student wishes to select a different topic, it must be approved by the instructor.  

 

The research paper also must meet the following requirements;

--- American Psychological Association (APA) or MLA style.

Grading Rubrics ( Full pages do NOT include a title page, abstract, heading or reference page):

A = 3 full pages related to the topic, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font, at least 3 references.

B = 2 full pages related to the topic, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font, at least 2 references.

C = 1 full page related to the topic, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font, at least 1 reference.

D = 1/2 page related to the topic, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font, at least 1 reference.

            NOTE THAT REFERENCES MUST BE USED AND SHOWN WITHIN THE BODY OF THE PAPER AND  INCLUDE A COMPLETE REFERENCE LIST AT THE END OF THE PAPER.

Some extra credit may be earned for exceeding expectations on the papers

 

 

Discussion Forum (DF-A & B)

One discussion forum will be required.  The discussion forum will be accessed within the Assignments tab of this Canvas class.  The forum is in two parts; an initial posting-DF-A (30 points) and at least one reply to another students posting-DF-B (10) points.  For the initial posting students are to select any topic from the chapters we are studying in this class, describe the topic (a page number from the textbook is required); give your thoughts about the topic; and/or give related information about the topic (if you are quoting from other resources than the textbook, please note the reference).  Grading; A=1page, B=1/2 page, C or D=less than ½ page depending on the quality of the posting.  Postings may NOT be uploaded, they must be typed within the DF tab.

 

 

Reply postings may be made within the modules section and clicking on the initial postings and selecting any other students posting and clicking on the reply tab to make your reply.  Replies may consist of adding information (give reference) to the posting as well as giving your opinions.  Thoughtful responses will earn full credit.  Responses such as, ‘I agree’ or ‘I really like what you presented’ etc, will not earn any credit. 

Also, please note that demeaning, abusive replies are not acceptable and may be cause for loss of discussion forum points as well as possible removal from the course. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE :                              All exams & readings close at 11:59pm on Sundays

 

                                   Introductions, review syllabus and class expectations

                                   Study chapter 1

                                   Start working on research & topic papers  

Jan 22                      Ch 1 Exam & Ch 1 reading assignment due

 

 

 

                                  Chapter 2 reading assignment due    

Jan 29                        Ch  2 Exam________________________________    

 

 

 

                                  Chapter 3 reading assignment due    

Feb 5                         Ch  3  Exam_______________________________    

  

 

 

 

                                  Ch 4 reading assignment due   

Feb 12                      Ch  4  Exam_______________________________

 

 

 

                                   DF-A Posting is due

                                   Chapter 5 reading assignment due  

Feb 19                       Ch 5 Exam________________________________

                                       

 

 

                                   Chapter 6 reading assignment due

Feb 26                         Ch 6 Exam________________________________

 

 

 

 

                                  Chapter 7 reading assignment due                                      

March 5                        Chapter  7 Exam ___________________________ 

 

 

 

                                   Chapter 8 reading assignment due

March 12                       Ch 8 Exam________________________________

 

 

 

                                   Chapter 10 reading assignment due

March 26                      Ch  10 Exam _________________________

 

 

 

 

                                  Topic Paper # 1 is due

                                  Chapter 11 reading assignment due

April 2                       Ch  11 Exam__________________________

 

 

 

 

            April 6 = Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W”

 

                                Chapter 12 reading assignment due                             

April 9                      Ch  12 Exam _________         _____________

 

 

 

                                 Chapter 15 reading assignment due

April 23                    Ch  15 Exam_____________         _________

 

 

 

                                   Topic Paper # 2 is due

                                  DF-B  Reply is due

                                  Chapter 16 reading assignment due

April 30                     Chapter  16 Exam_______________________

 

 

                                

                                Chapter 17 reading assignment due    

May 8                       Chapter  17 Exam & Research Paper Discussion 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 

 

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 6, 2017.

 

 

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

 

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