NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: General Psychology

Course prefix, number, and section number: PSYC 2301.402

Semester/Year of course:  Fall / 2022

Semester start and end dates:  August 22^nd – December 10^th, 2022

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Face to Face

Class meeting location, days, and times: Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:50 p.m.

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Course prerequisites: none

Required course materials: King, Laura A. The Science of Psychology. 5th edition. McGraw Hill.  Connect Access ISBN: 9781264565115.

Name of instructor: Jennifer Doran
Office location: Corinth Room 337
Telephone number: (940) 498-6424
E-mail address: jdoran@nctc.edu
Office hours for students:  Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. and from 11:00 to 12:30 p.m. and after class as needed; other days/times by appointment both in person and via web conference.

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:

• Exams (400 points):    We will have four exams that are worth 100 points each.   Please bring a scantron, notebook paper and a #2 pencil to class on exam days.   Exams will cover material from our text and material from class.   In the event of a documented emergency, a make-up (for ONE missed exam) may be offered on the day of the final.   Please refrain from phone use or restroom trips during exams.
• Class Activities / Participation (200 points):  During class we will complete activities that help to reinforce the course concepts.   Credit can only be earned if the student is present.   Grade will be determined by reviewing assignments, attendance records, and by observation.
• Article Review (150 points):  This assignment will involve critical analysis of two provided journal articles.    See the document in Canvas for additional details.
• Institutional Assessment (100 points):  This assignment will be located in Canvas.
• Case Study Assignment (150 points):  Due in Week 15.   Please see the document in Canvas and the rubric below for additional details.   

TOTAL:   1,000 possible points

Final grade scale: 

900 to 1,000 points = A

800 to 899 points = B

700 to 799 points = C

600 to 699 points = D

0 to 599 points = F

Late work policy:

Students who fall behind in a busy online course may struggle to catch up, and they may not complete the course as successfully as possible.  For this reason, late work is not typically accepted.   If you experience extenuating circumstances during the semester, please communicate with me and I can evaluate your situation on an individual basis.  

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: 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.   Recycling previous assignments is considered self-plagiarism and is not allowed.  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  

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)

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: October 31, 2022.

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.

Core Objectives: Critical Thinking, Communication, Empirical and Quantitative, Social Responsibility

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS