Syllabus

 

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:

General Psychology

Course Prefix & Number:  2-3:20pm 

Psyc 2301

Section Number: 

0501

Semester/Year:

Spring 2020 Tues/Thurs  

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:

King, Laura A.  The Science of Psychology. 4th edition. McGraw Hill.  ISBN 9781260223545

Access card only for online textbook is required

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Dr. Franz Klutschkowski, Ed.D, Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), Nationally Certified Psychologist (NCP)

Campus/Office Location:

Flower Mound/Faculty Offices

Telephone Number:

972-899-8400

E-mail Address:

Please send all course related questions or communications through the Canvas course email.  If unable to do so, I may be contacted at fklutschkowski@nctc.edu  

 

OFFICE HOURS

Sunday

Tuesday 

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 

9am to 11am and after class

 

9am to 11am and after class

 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME BY AND DISCUSS ANY CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE. 

 

 

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

375

15

Reading Assignments

375

1

Course Summary Quiz

100

1

Research Paper

 90

20

Daily Quiz Questions

60

 

Grades are determined on the following basis:

A=90%              900    points or higher    

B-80-89%          800 – 899  points   

C=70-79%         700 – 799  points

D=60-69%         600 -  699  points

F=Below 60%   Below 600  points  

Exams & Quizzes:

Fifteen exams will be given weekly (multiple choice or true false).  All exams are to be taken online and must be completed before the 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 Assignments section of this course and please pay close attention to the closing date and time of each exam.  Exams will be over the assigned chapters with 25 points per each exam 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).

At the beginning of most classes,  quiz questions will be asked of students which relate to something that was discussed by the instructor the previous class day or in the textbook over assigned chapters.  This quiz is worth 1 to 3 points each (totaling 60 points over the semester) and is also used to take attendance.    Please note if a student leaves the class anytime after this quiz and before the end of class, no credit will be given and it will be counted as an absence for that class period.

Also one summary exam will be presented which relates to a general overview of this course.  It consists of multiple choice questions and one essay question.  The time limit will be 60 minutes for this exam and all the questions are directly related to textbook material.  The essay question requires at least one primary source reference, which is why 60 minutes are given for this quiz and the essay question must be completed as a part of the quiz. The essay question may be viewed before taking the exam.

Reading Assignments:

Each chapter has a graded reading assignment and instructions are to be found within the assignments section of this course.  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 25 points each and must be completed before the assigned deadlines and there is no time limit for each chapter.

Research Paper (RP):

Students are required to complete a research paper relating to a psychological disorder found in chapter 15 (Psychological Disorders);  or any disorder found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).  The paper must be presented to the class during finals week.  If the paper is not presented, 10 points will be lost.

For this assignment, please choose one specific psychological disorder to research  (for example, anxiety is not a specific mental disorder but generalized anxiety is one). Using academic articles and your text, discuss the psychological disorder that you are researching which must include a definition of the disorder and at least one treatment method.  Personal information may be presented, as one is comfortable, but the grading requirements are as follows:
 
A = Three or more complete references which must be noted in the body of the paper.  A minimum of   
         three full pages and the content is directly related to the mental disorder (definition and           
          treatment).
B = Two or more complete references which must be noted in the body of the paper.  A minimum of
         two and a half full pages and the content is directly related to the mental disorder (definition and
      treatment).
C= One or more complete references which must be noted in the body of the paper.  A minimum of
         two full pages and the content is directly related to the mental disorder (definition and
      treatment).
D = One or more complete references which must be noted in the body of the paper.  A minimum of
         one and a half full pages and the content is directly related to the mental disorder (definition).
 
If there is a question about an acceptable mental disorder, please email the instructor (using the course email).  Please note that 'full pages' means that headings and indentations do not count.  No larger than 12 point font, double spaced and must be in a WORD document.  The paper is to be sent through the canvas assignments tab.
 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE : All exams & reading assignments are due at 11:59 on the due date

 

Jan 22                       Introductions, syllabus review and work on chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & research paper         

 

Feb 10                                Chapters 1, 2, 3& 4 reading assignments & chapter exams  are due

                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Feb 12                                        Work on chapters  5, 6, & 7

 

March  2                                 Chapters 5 thru 7 assignments close.

                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------

 March 4                              Work on chapters 8, 9, 10, & 11

 April 1                               Chapters 8, 9, 10, & 11 assignments are due.

April 3                              Last day to withdraw from this class with a grade of 'W.'

                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------

April 6                              Work on chapters 12 & 15

April 15                           Summary quiz is due

April 27                          Chapters 12 & 15 are due

                          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 29                       Work on chapters 16 & 17

May 6                           Research Paper is due

May 6                          Chapters 16 & 17 are due

May 11                       Final-research paper is to be presented and the class and the semester ends.

 

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:  Please note that the instructor does NOT drop students.  If a student wishes to withdraw from this course, the student is responsible for completing the paperwork.  If this is not done, the student will receive a final grade of “F.”

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 3.

 

 

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:

1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

 bking@nctc.edu