NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	General Psychology
Course Prefix & Number:		Psyc2301	Section Number:	380	Semester/Year: 8	Spring/2018, 8 weeks
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): None
Required or Recommended Course Materials: Access/Connect Code only – King, Laura A. The Science of Psychology. 4th  edition. McGraw Hill.   ISBN 978-1-259-54437-8

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Dr. Franz Klutschkowski, Ed.D, LPC, NCP
Campus/Office Location:	Flower Mound/ Faculty Office
Telephone Number:	972-899-8400
E-mail Address:	fklutschkowski@nctc.edu    Please send all emails to me using this Canvas Course Email.

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Online	Online	Online	Online	Online

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

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 process involved in human behavior.

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
15	Chapter Exams @ 25 pts each	375
15	Textbook Reading Assignments @ 25 pts each	375
2	Discussion Forums	49
1	Research Paper	100
1	Syllabus Acknowledgement	1

 

 

Grades are determined on the following basis:

 

A=90%              810    points or higher    

B-80-89%          720 – 809  points   

C=70-79%         630 – 719  points

D=60-69%         540 -  629  points

F=Below 60%   Below 540  points  

 

Exams:

Fifteen chapter  exams will be given (multiple choice and/or true false).  All exams are to be taken online and must be completed before the posted 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). Most exams consist of 25 multiple choice/true-false questions and have a time limit of 30 minutes.  However, chapters 12 & 15 will have 50 such questions (worth ½ point each) and a time limit of 60 minutes (more class time will be devoted to these two chapters).

There are no exceptions for missing an exam deadline.  Exams will be available until the end due date at 11:59pm

Reading Assignments:

Each chapter has a graded reading assignment.  These assignments 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 this assignment).  Each reading assignment is worth 25 points each and you must complete them before the assigned deadlines.

Discussion Forums (DF-1/worth 24 points & DF-2/worth 25 points):

Two discussion forums will be required.  The discussion forum will be accessed within the assessments section of this Canvas class.  Each forum is in two parts; an initial posting-for each DF and at least one reply to each of the  DF’s, of another students postings.  If a student does not reply to other student's postings, 5 points will be lost.

For the initial posting students are to select any topic/idea from the assigned chapters we are studying in this class for each DF.  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 (double spaced or 1/2 page single spaced), 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 (although related website addresses may be included). 

DF-1:  Select a topic from chapters 1 thru 7.  Due April 8                                         

DF-2:  Select a topic from chapters 8 thru 17.  Due April 22

Reply postings may be made within the DF 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.  Small amounts of extra credit may be earned by replying to more than one student.  Thoughtful responses are requested.  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. 

 PLEASE START YOUR POSTING BY CLICKING ON THE REPLY TAB

 

Research Paper (RP):

Students are required to complete a research paper, worth 100 points relating to any aspect of a psychological disorder found in chapter 15 (Psychological Disorders) or any mental disorder found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-V).   Please select only ONE disorder to research (for example, anxiety is not a disorder, one must select a specific anxiety to research, such as Generalized Anxiety or a specific phobia).  One reference MUST be from the textbook.  Research papers should be submitted as a file upload within this course & are due May 9 (there is no final exam, just the chapter 17 online exam).  Access to upload the research paper is found under the ASSIGNMENTS tab. Format;  American Psychological Association (APA) or MLA style, with a complete reference page, fully identifying all references used in the paper.

Grading Rubrics:

A = Includes 3 or more of the student learning outcome ideas (identify by placing the letters --LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,  or 6--- at the end of a sentence which relates to a learning outcome ( for example; lets say you are talking abut depression, when you give a definition of depression, after the definition you would cite the reference where you obtained the definition and then in parenthesis type LO-4, because the definition is a psychological term).  The 6 Learning Outcomes are found in the first part of the syllabus.

For this research paper, references must be included when giving quotes, paraphrases, data, or definitions), double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font  and must have at least 3 references.

B = Includes at least 2 of the student learning outcome ideas, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font and two pages not counting title-abstract, page headings,  or reference page, at least 3 references.

C = Includes at least one of the student learning outcome ideas, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font and two pages not counting title-abstract, page headings or reference page, at least 2 references.

D = Does not include student learning outcomes ideas but presents information of loss, double spaced, no larger than 12 pt font and one page not counting title-abstract, page headings or reference page, at least 1 reference.

Note that these papers, in order to earn an A, should be at least 3 full pages, not counting headings, title-abstract-reference pages and be sure to identify where references are used within the body of the paper according to APA style, as well as 3 or more LO's   

Some extra credit may be earned for exceeding these expectations

 

 

Tentative Schedule (all tests & reading assignments close at 11:59 pm on due date)

 

March 19:

    thru

 April 8:       Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 Exams & Reading Assignments are due

 April 8:       Discussion Forum #1 - due by 11:59pm

 

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April 9:         Begin chapters noted below 

April 22:       Discussion Forum  #2 - due by 11:59pm

April 25:       Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W"

May 9:          Research Papers are due by 11:59pm

May 10:        Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 & 17 Exams & Reading Assignments are due and the semester ends.

 

 

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ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:.

Note:  your instructor does not drop any student from the class.  If you wish to withdraw from the class, you must complete the withdrawal process,   or your final grade will be posted as an “F.”

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

 

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______     

 

o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

 

o         Government/Political Science

X         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

o         American History

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

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 and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

 

[Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Crystal R.M. Wright
Office Location:	Gainesville Campus, Room 24
Telephone Number:	940-668-7731, ext. 4320
E-mail Address:	cwright@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Dr. Bruce King
Office Location:	1525 W. California St., Gainesville, Texas
Telephone Number:	940-668-4267
E-mail Address:	bking@nctc.edu