NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: General Psychology
Course prefix, number, and section number: PSYC 2301.380
Semester/Year of course: Fall/2024
Semester start and end dates: 8/26/2024 – 10/19/2024
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous online
Class meeting location, days, and times: Online
Lab meeting location, days, and times: NA
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: Registration in the course gives you access to the e-book needed for PSYC 2301. You do NOT need to purchase a separate textbook.
Inclusive Access is a partnership between NCTC and McGraw-Hill Education, to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. Students can gain access to McGraw-Hill’s adaptive online platforms with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can order a discounted loose-leaf version through the bookstore.
Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms. If you remain enrolled in the course but Inclusive Access is a partnership between NCTC and McGraw-Hill Education, to provide the best
learning resources on the first day of class. Students can gain access to McGraw-Hill’s adaptive
online platforms with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to
purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can order a discounted loose-leaf version through the bookstore.
Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their
student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms. If you remain enrolled in the course but wish to opt-out of access to the book please email the NCTC Bookstore with your name and student number to 1263mgr@follett.com.
Name of instructor: Stacie Stoutmeyer
Office location: Corinth, 339
Office telephone number: (940) 498-6467 (I am rarely in this office, so my personal WORK cell below is preferred.)
Personal work cell number: (469) 506-9167 (This cell is designated for students, so you are welcome to text and call directly.)
E-mail address: sstoutmeyer@nctc.edu (This email can get overloaded with work and spam, so Canvas email is preferred.)
Office hours for students:
Monday/Wednesday
11:00a.m –12:00p.m. (Flower Mound, Room 201 or call/text my work cell)
Tuesday/Thursday
11:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. & 2:00-3:00p.m. (Corinth, Room 339 or call/text my work cell)
Designated Work Cell for Students
Students are welcome to call or text my work cell anytime BEFORE 7p.m. This will likely be quicker than playing tag in email exchanges. See additional info in the "Contacting the Instructor" page in Canvas.
And By Appointment
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: 3 (out of 4) online exams -- 100 points each (300 points total)
DISCUSSION BOARDS 4 (out if 5) discussion boards – 20 points each (80 points total)
IE/COURSE ASSESSMENT: 1 PSYC 2301 IE/Course Assessment -- 100 points total (contains 2 parts: a short quiz & a 500-word essay)
ATTENDANCE, Signing In 3x each week: 20 points
SYLLABUS/COURSE POLICIES QUIZ: 20 points total
Final grade scale: 520 points total
520 - 465 points = A
464 - 413 points = B
412 - 361 points - C
360 - 309 point = D
308 - 0 points = F
Late work policy: Late work will not be accepted. Do not ask me to make an exception after the deadline has passed. Seeking or expecting preferential treatment over other students is not appropriate student conduct. For additional guidance on specific extenuating circumstances, such as medical emergencies or military service requirements, refer to the detailed "Late/Missed Work & Make-Up Policies" page in Canvas.
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)]”.
Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:
Plagiarism, cheating, collusion, and of any type of falsification/misrepresentation/fabrication will result in a zero for that course work. I may also submit a Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form to our department and the college depending on the nature of the event.
Falsification: At times, students fabricate stories of computer issues, submission of course work, illness, death in the family, etc. Fabricating stories of any kind for personal gain is a code of conduct issue, and NCTC identifies two forms: academic (p. 55) and non-academic (p. 57).
In NCTC’s 2023-2024 Student Handbook, read everything contained within the “Student Conduct” section as it is packed with important definitions and additional details.
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:
For this ONLINE class, students are REQUIRED to sign into this Canvas class THREE TIMES (3x) EVERY WEEK, though you may sign in more frequently. That doesn't mean there will be assignments due every time you log in. However, frequently logging in allows you to stay on top of all email, class announcements, due dates, etc. This is worth 20 points, or 4% of your overall grade.
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 this course with a “W” is Monday, September 30th.
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.
- Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.
- Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.
- Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.
- Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.
- 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
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Donna Smith
Office location: Corinth Campus, Room 209
Telephone number: 940-498-6266
E-mail address: dhooper@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Crystal Wright
Office location: FSB Exchange/Denton Campus, Room 204
Telephone number: 940-380-2504
E-mail address: cwright@nctc.edu