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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Title:
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General Psychology
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Course Prefix & Number:
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Psyc2301
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Section Number:
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0406
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Semester/Year:
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Fall 20
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Semester Credit Hours:
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3
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Lecture Hours:
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3
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Lab Hours:
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0
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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.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required Course Materials:
King, Laura A. The Science of Psychology. 4th edition. McGraw Hill. ISBN 978126092230
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Rene Hernandez
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Campus/Office Location:
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Corinth
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Telephone Number:
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e-mail
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E-mail Address:
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rhernandez@nctc.edu
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OFFICE HOURS
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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6:00PM-6:30PM
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End of Class
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Other times available by appointment
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)
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At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
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Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology.
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Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.
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Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.
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Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.
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Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.
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Identify factors in physiological and psychological process involved in human behavior.
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Point Values
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1
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Midterm
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25
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1
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Final Exam
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25
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10
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LearnSmart Activities (Best of 13, 2 points each)
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20
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Attendance (See Below)
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20
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Institutional Assessment (See Below)
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10
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Extra Credit (See Below)
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Up to 10
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Total Score
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Letter Grade
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100-90.0
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A
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89.99-80.0
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B
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79.99-70
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C
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69.99-60
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D
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≤59.99
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F
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Note: Please ignore the "total" column on the grade book in canvas and calculate your grade manually using the information above. The system will not allow me to hide that column, and it does not always calculate accurately. Additionally, Please Note that I do NOT round grades. If you feel like you may need additional help in order to get your grade where you want it, you will NEED to complete extra credit opportunities.
COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
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Date
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Topic
(Come Prepared for...)
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Complete Your Learn Smart Activity By…
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08/24/2020
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Chapter 1
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08/24/2020 at 6:00 PM
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08/31/2020
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Chapter 2
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08/31/2020 at 6:00 PM
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09/07/2020
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Chapter 3
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09/07/2020 at 6:00 PM
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09/14/2020
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Chapter 4
Extra Credit- Self Care 1 Due
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09/14/2020 at 6:00 PM
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09/21/2020
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Chapter 6
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09/21/2020 at 6:00 PM
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09/28/2020
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Chapter 8
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09/28/2020 at 6:00 PM
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10/05/2020
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Chapter 9 / Review
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10/05/2020 at 6:00 PM
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10/12/2020
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Midterm (Chapters 1,2,3,4,6,8, & 9)
Extra Credit- Self Care 2 Due
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-
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10/19/2020
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Chapter 10
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10/19/2020 at 6:00 PM
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10/26/2020
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Chapter 11
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10/26/2020 at 6:00 PM
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11/02/2020
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Chapter 12
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11/02/2020 at 6:00 PM
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11/09/2020
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Chapter 13
Extra Credit- Self Care 3 Due
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11/09/2020 at 6:00 PM
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11/16/2020
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Chapter 15
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11/16/2020 at 6:00 PM
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11/23/2020
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Chapter 16
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11/23/2020 at 6:00 PM
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11/30/2020
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Catch up and review for final
Extra Credit- Self Care 4 Due
OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT DUE
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-
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12/7/2020
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Final (Chapters 10,11,12,13,15, & 16)
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-
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LEARN SMART ACTIVITY POLICY
Thirteen (13) Learn Smart Activities will be assigned this semester. However, only your top ten (10) scores will count toward your grade. This will help you to be able to better adapt to the Learn Smart program.
Assignments are due by the date and time listed on the schedule above. Assignments for the first half of the class will be available on 08/24/2020. Assignments for the second half of the class will be available on 10/12/2020. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
Extra Credit Opportunity- Self Care Activities
I will spend all semester harping on how important self care is for you. Therefore, I will give you an opportunity to engage in some self care AND earn some extra credit at the same time! Submit an image of yourself participating in a self care activity, and earn half a point of extra credit! Completion of all four submissions will result in an additional point of credit!
A total of four of these assignments will be available during the class. Images should be of the variety that you wouldn't mind your grandmother seeing. You must be clearly visible in the picture, otherwise I won't know it's you!
Optional Extra Credit Paper- Class Summary Report
- The paper must be submitted as a complete paper. This means you will need an introduction and conclusion.
- Appropriate grammar, punctuation, and spelling is required.
- Citations from your book or any other source must follow APA guidelines.
- Your paper must include at least one (1) source other than your textbook. Use your best judgment when choosing your source(s).
- Every submitted paper must include at least one (1) paragraph summarizing the important points of every chapter that we covered in this class. This means that you will need to have a paragraph covering each of the following chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16.
- Your paper must include at least one (1) paragraph summarizing your thoughts on the material that was covered and what you've learned. Additionally, you may wish to let me know how what you learned has influenced your life.
- Your paper is due in my e-mail box by 6:00 PM on 11/30/2020. Late papers will not be accepted.
Institutional Assessment
In an effort to assess your learning outcomes, NCTC requires that we assess the skills that you have gained over the course of the class. The Institutional assessment will be comprised of a selection of multiple choice items, as well as a short essay question. The assessment will be completed as an assignment on Canvas, which will open at 12:01 AM on 11/02/2020 and must be completed by 11:59 PM on 11/09/2020.
While this assessment is only worth 10 points of your grade, failure to complete the assessment will result in an automatic F for the class. Exceptions to this policy will not be made.
Course Specific Testing Procedures
On test days students will be expected to (to the best of their ability):
- Place all materials (i.e. Bags, note books, textbooks, Cell phones, tablets, etc.) at the front of the room away from where students are sitting.
- Sit with as much space as possible between themselves and another student.
- In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, students are advised to not bring any unnecessary items to class on testing days.
Additional policies include the following:
- Any student wearing a hat of any sort will be asked to remove it and show the instructor the top and bottom of the hat.
- Once the first student has completed and turned in their test, no further tests will be handed out. Please be prompt on testing days.
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 ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is a vital part of your classroom experience. However, I also understand that things happen and are often outside of our control.
Every student will begin the class with 20 attendance points. Additionally, you will be given two "free" absences. There are intended to help you get through emergency situations. Every absence from class after your first two (3rd, 4th, etc.) will result in 5 points being taken from your attendance points. Please Note, this point deduction can take your Attendance points into the negative range. Please see example 2 below.
Example 1: A student who misses 4 class periods throughout the entire semester will receive an attendance grade of 10.
Example 2: A student who misses 7 class periods throughout the entire semester will receive an attendance grade of -5.
Attendance will be taken before the end of class. If you arrive late it is your responsibility to meet with the instructor after class (or during breaks) to get yourself marked as present. I will keep this score, but it will not be posted to Canvas. I expect that you will keep track of this for your own records and ease of reference.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is 11/02/2020.
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)_______