NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Abnormal Psychology 

Course prefix, number, and section number:  PSYC 2320.500 

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2025 

Semester start and end dates:  8/25/25 - 12/13/25 

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

Class meeting location, days, and times:

Days & Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Location: Flower Mound campus, Room 204

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: This course provides an introduction to the psychological, biological, and socio-cultural factors involved in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. It includes a review of the historical understanding of abnormal behavior and the development of modern diagnostic systems. It includes discussion of psychological research and practice as it relates to mental health and psychological functioning, as well as legal and ethical issues. (PSYC 2320 is included in the Psychology Field of Study.)

Course prerequisites: PSYC2301-General Psychology, Must be TSI Complete for Reading.

Required course materials: McGraw Hill Connect Courseware (Ebook, Assignments, etc):  Psychological Disorders Clinical Perspectives, Whitbourne (9781266250293).  Students are required to register and purchase course materials by the official date of records.  Students who fail to do so, may be dropped from the course.

** Students gain access to the required courseware once they register and complete the Connect Orientation assignments. The publisher also provides two weeks of courtesy access if needed. Purchasing materials directly from the publisher is less expensive, purchasing from other sources will cost more.

Name of instructor:  Stacie Stoutmeyer

Office location:  Corinth Campus, Room 339

Telephone number: 940-468-6467 (Canvas email is my preferred method of contact.)

E-mail address: sstoutmeyer@nctc.edu (Canvas email is my preferred method of contact.)

Office hours for students:

Mondays & Wednesdays (Flower Mound, Faculty Room 201)

• 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Tuesdays & Thursdays (Corinth Campus, Office 339)

• 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. 

For WexEx Appointments

• Email me in Canvas and we'll determine a day/time that works for us both.

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: 

1 - CLASS SYLLABUS & POLICIES QUIZ  (20 points total)

All students are required to complete and submit a 10-question “Class Syllabus & Policies” quiz online in Canvas, worth 20 points. This quiz is due BEFORE 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29th. (Note: My online deadlines will always be 5:00 p.m. on a due date.)  

1 - DIVISION'S STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES & CONDUCT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM (20 points total)

All students are also required to submit the "Student Responsibilities & Conduct Acknowledgement Form," created by our division/department and posted in our Canvas course. This is formatted as a short, 6-question quiz, and it's also due BEFORE 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29th. 

6 - IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS  (120 points total)

There will be approximately 6 required, in-class assignments, totaling 120 points. These assignments will vary in topic and type as we move through the semester. As an example, I may create various "Gallery Walk" assignments covering treatment options for the psychological disorder we covered that week--wherein students would walk to various stations in the classroom and answer a few questions at/about each station. These assignments are designed to help students engage with the material, provide visual or sensory memory enhancers, and serve as comprehension checks--while also allowing students to get up and move around versus sitting in their seats for the entire course.

3 - IN-CLASS EXAMS  (300 points total)

All students are required to take 3 (out of 4) in-class exams. Read the detailed “Exam Dates, Format, and Policy” page in Canvas for additional information.

1 - (TWO-PART) PSYC 2320 INSTITUTIONAL/IE ASSESSMENT  (100 points total)

To "assess" a college's "institutional effectiveness (IE)," the state requires that each department measure/assess certain course learning objectives and outcomes. As such, this “IE assessment," as I’ll typically refer to it in class to distinguish it from other types of assignments, is required by the psychology department for all students enrolled in PSYC 2320. The assessment consists of two required parts: a 10-question online quiz and a 500-word (minimum) essay, which will be discussed in detail the first day of class and throughout the semester. The IE quiz is worth 20 points, and the essay is worth 80 points--for a total of 100 points. Read every page in the “2301 Institutional Assessments” module in Canvas as that module provides very detailed instructions for this course component/requirement.

Final grade scale:   Out of 560 total points  

A =  560 – 502 points

B =  501 – 446 points

C =  445 – 390 points

D =  389 – 334 points

F =  333 – 0 points

Late work policy:  I have a strict late/missed work policy. Read the detailed “Late/Missed Work Policy & Make Up Policy” page in Canvas for specific information, including instructions for documented medical emergencies. Information stated on that Canvas page will be on the Class Syllabus & Policies Quiz.

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

Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy: Plagiarism, cheating, and/or collusion of any type will result in a zero for that assignment, exam, quiz, essay, or any other form of graded work. At times, students fabricate stories of illness, emergencies, computer issues, etc. Presenting false information or fabricating stories of any kind for personal gain or special consideration also constitute scholastic dishonesty and will result in a zero for that assignment, exam, quiz, essay, or any other form of graded work. Read the additional course and class policy pages on academic and conduct issues posted in Canvas (e.g., Student Conduct page, Computer Issues page, Exam Policy page, etc.).

Mrs. Stoutmeyer’s AI Policy:

I use various AI programs/platforms on a near-daily basis, and I incorporate AI into my courses. As part of the learning process in my classes, I also demonstrate how students can use various AI programs effectively and responsibility enhance the learning process. As such, I allow students to use AI assistance on a few specific aspects of coursework, which I’ll clarify as the semester progresses. (For instance, in this introductory-level course, students may use AI to help interpret the complex language and methodologies in scholarly articles and empirical studies.) However, transparency is required, and AI is strictly prohibited in several circumstances. Read Mrs. Stoutmeyer’s AI Policy page in Canvas for additional information.

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 & Absence Policy:

I take attendance each day, but students do not receive a separate attendance grade in this class. However, attendance is expected and important since many assignments and all exams are strictly in-class activities. Make-up assignments are not allowed for students who miss lectures. If you miss a lecture, please do not email me for personal notes, summaries, or updates. For additional information, read the Missed a Lecture? policy page in Canvas. 

Late Arrival/Entry Restrictions:

Late arrivals are generally disruptive to the flow of lecture and should be a rare occurrence. Once the classroom door closes, typically 5-10 minutes after class begins on standard lecture days, late entry is NOT permitted.  

Late Entry on Exam Days is NOT Allowed:

On exam days, 5 minutes after class starts,  I’ll post an “EXAM IN PROGRESS. DO NOT ENTER” sign on the door. No student may enter after that time as late arrival is unfair and disruptive to other students trying to concentrate on their exam. In this case, any late student will be turned away, earn a ZERO/0 for that exam, and must take the cumulative final at the end of the semester to replace this missed exam/zero. Read the Exam Policy, Format, and Dates page in Canvas for additional information.

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. (Information can be found at https://www.nctc.edu/drop-withdraw.)

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is November 3rd, 2025.

Student Code of Conduct

By enrolling in a course at North Central Texas College, students agree to abide by the Student Code of Conduct. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in removal from the course.

CANVAS & CONNECT ACCESS:  Students must have complete access to Canvas and Connect 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 Connect account.  Students can be removed from the course immediately up 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. Discuss the historical antecedents to modern understandings of abnormal behavior.
2. Identify and describe the major classes and characteristics of psychological disorders as presented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).
3. Describe the factors and theoretical perspectives related to the development and maintenance of different types of abnormal behavior.
4. List the primary treatments for psychological disorders and discuss their effectiveness.
5. Discuss the current research and methodological issues in the study of abnormal behavior
6. Discuss the legal and ethical issues associated with the treatment of and research related to abnormal behavior.
7. Develop an understanding of how social and cultural factors impact the expression of psychological disorders.
8. Examine the impact of biological factors on the development of psychological disorders.

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

COLLEGE POLICIES