NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

 

 

Course title: Social Psychology

 

Course prefix, number, and section number: PSYC2319 0343

 

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2025

 

Semester start and end dates: Tuesday, January 21st through Saturday, May 17th

 

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

 

Class meeting location, days, and times: Class Meets Online

 

Semester credit hours: 3

 

Course description: Study of individual behavior within the social environment. Topics may include socio-psychological processes, attitude formation and change, interpersonal relations, group processes, self, social cognition, and research methods. (Cross-listed as SOCI2326)

 

Course prerequisites: PSYC2301 General Psychology

 

Required course materials: Registration in the course gives you access to the e-book needed for PSYC 2319.  You do not need to purchase a separate textbook or access code.  Instructions on how to get your access code can be found in a document on the Course Homepage or in the course Modules. 

 

Inclusive Access is a partnership between NCTC and Pearson Education, to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. Students can gain access to Pearson’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 nctc@bibliU.com. 

 

 

Name of instructor: Matt Diggs

Office location: Online

Telephone number: By appointment

E-mail address: mdiggs@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: Online by Appointment - Throughout the semester

 

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:

Student performance will earn points toward the course grade based on the following:

 

Module Papers (5) – 100 points each for a total of 500 points

Examinations (5) – 60 points each for a total of 300 points

Module Discussions (5) – 25 points each for a total of 125 points

Institutional Effectiveness (1) - 25 and 50 points each for a total of 75 points

 

Final grade scale: 

A = 895 to 1000 (89.5%)

B = 795 to 894 (79.5%)

C = 695 to 794 (69.5%)

D = 595 to 694 (59.5%)

F = 594 and Under (Under 59.4%)

 

Technology Policy

 

You are expected to log into Canvas regularly, understand how to submit assignments, and to ensure you are uploading the correct file type. Broken files or file errors will not be considered a valid excuse for late submissions. You are responsible for making sure that you are submitting a file of the correct format (PDF or .DOC). Most programs offer an option to save or export files as either a PDF or a .DOC file. It is also essential that if you use a program such as Google Docs, that you are submitting the CONVERTED DOC file, not the "gdoc" file. Do not submit a link to your google doc on the web, as this usually requires me to have access to your personal account. Do not submit PAGES files (Macintosh) or LNK files, as these are common errors. You will be able to check your file after submission, and errors are not an excuse for late work.

 

If you are struggling with uploading a file, it is your responsibility to work with Tech Support to upload the file through Canvas on time, regardless of how slow the system may be. If email is your only option as deemed by tech support, the college timestamp of your email will be used to determine assignment submission time. Email should only be used as a last resort because other methods of submission are more reliable.

 

When submitting a written assignment, everyone will have a similarity report generated. Your similarity report is your receipt; what is listed in that report is what you can factually ensure will be graded. It is essential you turn in your written assignments through Canvas and not through other websites, even if they are connected loosely with Canvas. It is recommended that you use a computer/laptop for graded assignments and not your cell phone. One of the benefits of Canvas is that they guarantee 99.9% uptime – so it will be hard to find too much fault with Canvas.

 

Late Work Policy

 

Generally speaking, late work is only accepted for documented exceptional involuntary multiple-day events. I have two guaranteed current exceptions (which fit the criteria) to my late policy. If you are in the military and have a deployment over the deadline, I will work with you. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! If you are involuntarily in the hospital for multiple days including the deadline, or you have a medically documented reason written by a doctor why you couldn't complete an assignment over a period of time, including the deadline, I will also work with you. (Having an elective procedure where you're aware of the date should inspire you to work ahead – that will not be an acceptable reason). Both guaranteed exceptions will require verification at the end of the semester, and it may require an "incomplete" in the class. These exceptions are generally documentable, exceptional, multi-day and involuntary.

 

Exceptions to the late policy will also be made for other reasons authorized by federal law and approved by the college.

 

Furthermore, if you feel you have a documented reason that you feel should qualify for an exception, please contact me (if possible, proactively) for a discussion of that documented reason. As with the above exceptions, they should be multi-day, exceptional. documentable and involuntary as criteria I use to judge the reason. The two reasons mentioned above I can confidently say would qualify, but there may be other reasons that could qualify (but are not necessarily guaranteed to qualify). Please reach out if you feel there is something going on that falls within this range. If you were able to email me within a few hours of the deadline to ask for an exception, you probably will not qualify for an exception.

 

Please ask your doctor (or other authorized medical professional) to include the following information in your medical note:

 

• Dates of medical inactivity

• When you'll be eligible to return

• What about your condition renders you unable to complete school work online during this time frame

 

Anything less than this will be referred back to you. A general 'sick note' will not be sufficient. A doctor or authorized medical professional will need to let me know why you couldn't complete online school work during the period over the deadline and at what point you'll be able to resume school work. (An example was a student who was in a car accident, and had a concussion, and was not medically cleared to look at a computer screen for more than five minutes for ten days).

 

If you have an issue or a concern where you might have repeated issues, you may need to go through the OSD (Office of Student Disabilities) and document your short-term (or long-term) disability through them, at which time they may offer an equivalent note to allow for flexibility in work submission.

 

Also, to offer flexibility and grace within the course, I offer the opportunity to complete your paper early for a pre-grade. Taking advantage of this nearly guarantees you the grade you want on your paper and also guarantees you won’t run afoul of the late policy. This policy is designed to provide clarity and ensure fairness for all students.

 

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)]”. 

 

AI/Natural Language Programs (NLPs)/Large Language Models (LLMs) Usage Policy: This information is used with permission and citation with gratitude to Princeton University: The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Intellectual honesty is vital to an academic community and for my fair evaluation of your work.  All work submitted in this course must be your own, completed in accordance with the College's academic regulations. You may not engage in unauthorized collaboration or make use of ChatGPT or other AI composition software/NLPs/LLMs.

• Students must obtain permission from me before using AI composition software (like ChatGPT) for any assignments in this course. Using these tools without my permission puts your academic integrity at risk. 

• This course does make use of AI/NLPs/LLMs plagiarism checker software for the purpose of detecting the use of AI programs.

• Any violation of this policy will be considered academic dishonesty and will be documented as such

Professor Diggs’ Academic Dishonesty Policy: Students who commit acts of scholastic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary penalties, as authorized by the Dean of Students Office. To ensure that students learn to engage honestly with academic work, these actions may also result in an academic penalty within this course. To maintain fairness, I will determine the appropriate academic penalty in this course. In this course, academic integrity violations may result in consequences ranging from a failing grade on the assignment to a failing grade in the course. The severity will be determined by the Dean of Students office, and will also take into account any prior offenses by the student. You are expected to complete all work solely for this course, and may not re-use written assignments from other courses unless you have obtained written consent from me after a discussion of the reason for assignment re-submission.

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)

Professor Diggs’ Attendance Policy: This is an online course, therefore no formal attendance is taken. However, there is a strong correlation between engaging with the online classroom multiple times a week and those who receive A’s in the course. This is because frequent engagement allows you to better understand course material and take advantage of opportunities to ask questions. Canvas analytics records how long you are logged in, how many times you’ve logged in, and what pages you accessed while you were logged into the course. This information is reviewed at the end of the semester to inform decisions about students who may be on the borderline between grades. You can use this data yourself to see how you are doing, and adjust your strategies as needed. Your last date of attendance will be considered the last date you submitted an assignment for financial aid purposes, if applicable.

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: Monday, April 7th

 

CANVAS & REVEL ACCESS:  All students must have complete access to Canvas and Revel for the entire semester.  It is the student’s responsibility to have access to the internet, as well as all needed programs to complete both face to face and online courses.  Students are not to give any other person access to his/her Canvas or Revel account.  Students can be removed from the course immediately by violating this rule.  Once a student has given another person access to his/her canvas account, the credibility of any work completed becomes questionable.

 

COMPUTER ACCESS:  Students must have access to a computer for various assignments in this course.  You cannot use a cell phone to perform all requirements of this course.  If you do not have a computer, then you need to make sure that you access a computer at one of the NCTC campuses, a public library, etc. 

 

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.     Define social psychology and related terminology.

2.      Discuss the relationship between the person and the situation and its influence on attitudes, prejudice, aggression, prosocial behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

3.     Describe the dynamics of group behavior in areas of social influence, such as altruism, conformity, obedience, deindividuation, leadership, intergroup relations, and conflict and cooperation.

4.      Identify and evaluate the current and historical research, and research methods of social psychology, including ethical considerations.

5.      Apply social psychological principles to real-world issues.

 

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

 

COLLEGE POLICIES

  

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.

AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

 

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

 

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

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

 

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 208

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