PSYC 2301 0231 - INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Introduction

Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

General Psychology

Course Prefix & Number: 

PSYC 2301

Section Number: 

231

Semester/Year:

Winter 2020

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 Course Materials:

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

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Jennifer Doran

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth / Room 337

Telephone Number:

(940) 498-6424

E-mail Address:

jdoran@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Online

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

By appointment

Online

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

By appointment

By appointment

 

*It is my goal to return all calls / emails within 24 hours.

 

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:

 

Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology.   (Chapter Two)

 

Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.  (Chapter One)

 

Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.   (All Chapters)

 

Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.   (All Chapters)

 

Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.

(Chapters Twelve, Fifteen)

 

Identify factors in physiological and psychological process involved in human behavior.  (Chapter Three)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

 

Graded Course Elements

Point Value

 

Percentage of Final  Grade

1.

Exams

300 points

30%

2.

Online Activities

300 points

30%

3.

Online Quizzes

100 points

10%

4. 

Class Discussions

150 points

15%

5.

Institutional Assessment

50 points

5%

6.

Psychological Disorders Paper

 100 points

10%

TOTAL:        

1,000 points

100 %

 

 

  • Exams (300 points):    We will have two exams that are worth 150 points each.   Exams will cover material from our text and material from our online class.   Exams are timed so it is important to understand the material prior to testing.

 

  • Online  Activities (300 points):  We will have two activities posted in Canvas to complete each week.  

 

  • Online Quizzes (100 points):   I will post online quizzes in Canvas for each chapter that we cover.  Quizzes cannot be completed once the due date has passed.

 

  • Class Discussions (150 points):   Discussion questions will be posted each week.   These will require you to reflect on and apply the material from our course.   Grades will be determined by meeting length requirements and by expanding on the discussion's content in a meaningful way. 

 

  • Institutional Assessment (50 points):  This assignment will be due in Week 3.   Please see the document in Canvas and the rubric below for additional details.

 

  • Psychological Disorders Paper (100 points):  This assignment will be due in Week 4.   Please see the document in Canvas and the rubric below for additional details.

 

 

  • TOTAL:   1,000 possible points

 

 

RUBRIC

for

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS PAPER

Grading Criteria

Excellent

Proficient

Approaches Expectations

Does Not Meet Expectations

Content Relevance, Accuracy and Organization

 

~Up to 80 points

61-80 points

**Presents appropriate material clearly and in a well-organized manner.

**Writing clearly demonstrates sound understanding of subject matter.  

41-60 points

**Presents material in a somewhat organized manner.

**Writing demonstrates a degree of understanding of subject matter.  

 

21-40 points

**Presents somewhat relevant material but organization is not fully achieved. **Writing demonstrates some understanding but some uncertainty with  subject matter.  

 

0-20 points

**Content is unclear.   Overall organization is difficult or impossible to follow. 

**Writing demonstrates a lack of knowledge with regard to the subject matter.  

 

 Sources

 

~Up to 10 points

8-10 points

**Cites all data obtained from sources.

**Sources are reliable and APA citation style is accurate.

 

5-7 points

**Cites most  data obtained from sources.

**Sources are largely reliable and APA citation style is somewhat accurate.

 

3-4 points

**Cites minimal data obtained from sources.

**Sources are present but not reliable; errors in APA citation style are noted.

 

 

0-2 points

**Does not cite sources.

** APA citation style is not evident.

 

 Mechanics

 

 

~Up to 10 points

8-10 points

**Ideas are communicated clearly.

**Accurate grammar/spelling.

 

5-7 points

**Ideas are generally communicated clearly.

**Grammar/spelling generally accurate.

 

3-4 points

**Ideas are often unclear due to mechanical errors.

**Errors in grammar/spelling noted.

 

0-2 points

**Message is lost due to significant mechanical errors.

**Significant errors in grammar/spelling are present.

 

TOTAL POINTS EARNED

 

 / 100 POINTS

 

 

Course Calendar

 

Week 1 –Perspectives in Psychology, Research, and Biological Psychology

                        December 21st – 27th

Readings:

  • View PowerPoints for this week
  • Read Chapter 1, 2 and 3 in your textbook
  • Review other Canvas materials for Module 1

Assignments: 

  • Respond to the Discussion Board for this week
  • Complete online activities for this week
  • Take quizzes for this week

Module Deadlines:

All assignments for Week 1 are due on or before December 27th by 11:59 pm CST.

 

 

Week 2 – Learning, Memory, Motivation and Emotion

                        December 28th – January 3rd

Readings:

  • View PowerPoints for this week
  • Read Chapters 6, 7 and 10 in your textbook
  • Review other Canvas materials for Module 2

Assignments: 

  • Respond to the Discussion Board for this week
  • Complete online activities for this week
  • Take quizzes for this week
  • Complete Exam One
    • Exam One covers Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10

Module Deadlines:

All Assignments for Week 2 are due on or before January 3rd by 11:59 pm CST.

 

 

 

Week 3 – Personality, Psychological Disorders and Treatments

                        January 4th - 10th

Readings:

  • View PowerPoints for this week
  • Read Chapters 12, 15 and 16 in your textbook
  • Review other Canvas materials for Module 3

Assignments: 

  • Respond to the Discussion Board for this week
  • Complete online activities for this week
  • Take quizzes for this week
  • Institutional Assessment Due
  • Submit any optional extra credit

Module Deadlines:

All Assignments for Week 3 are due on or before January 10th by 11:59 pm CST.

 

 

Week 4 –Social Psychology

                        January 11th – 14th

***Please note that this is a short week - all assignments are due by Thursday at NOON***

Readings:

  • View PowerPoint for this week
  • Read Chapter 13 in your textbook
  • Review other Canvas materials for Module 4

Assignments: 

  • Take quiz for this week
  • Submit Psychological Disorders Paper
  • Complete Exam 2
    • Exam 2 covers Chapters 12, 15, 16 and 13

Module Deadlines:

All Assignments for Week 4 are due on or before January 14th at NOON CST.

 

 

 

 

 

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 judgment 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)

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is January 5, 2021.

 

 

 

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)]”. 

 

Students may earn a zero for an assignment or for a course due to academic dishonesty.  

Please come to me for help with any of these topics.   You may also visit our library for

additional information:  http://www.nctc.edu/library/research-help/CitationGuides.html

 

 

Potential Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

 

 

Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

 

Faculty will:

 

  • Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

 

Students should:

  • Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
  • Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
  • Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
  • Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
  • Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
  • Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
  • Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During this period, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Adam Ramsey

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 814

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4925

E-mail Address:

aramsey@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

316 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201

Telephone Number:

940-380-2504

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

 

Syllabus File(s)

Handouts list view Handouts card view