NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Biological Psychology

Course prefix, number, and section number: PSYC 2330 0310

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2022

Semester start and end dates: January 18 – May 14, 2022

Modality:  Online

Class meeting location, days, and times: Online as desired

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: An introduction to the biological bases of behavior. Topics include evolution, genetics, research methods in behavioral neuroscience, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception, learning and memory, lifespan development, cognition, psychological disorders, and other complex behaviors.

Course prerequisites: Psyc2301 General Psychology

Required course materials: Laura A. Freberg.“Discovering Behavioral Neuroscience: An Introduction to Biological Psychology.”4^th edition.  Cengage Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-337-57093-0.

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 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.; other days/times 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:

1. Exams (300 points):    We will have two exams that are worth 150 points each.   Exams
   will cover material from our text and material from our online class.   Exams are timed
   so it is important to understand the material prior to testing.
2. Online Activities (350 points):  We will have activities posted in Canvas to complete; these should help to clarify and demonstrate understanding of the chapters in the text.  
3. Class Discussions (200 points):   Discussion questions will be posted in Canvas.   These
   will require you to reflect on and apply the material from our course.   Grades will be
   determined by meeting length requirements and by expanding on the discussion's
   content in a meaningful way. 
4. Neural Communication Model (100 points):  This assignment is based on the material for the first three weeks, and will be due in Week Four.  See Canvas for additional details.
5. Institutional Assessment (50 points):  This assignment will be due in Week 13.   Please see the document in Canvas 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: April 4, 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. Define and explain the biological foundations of behavior, including theories, history, and research methods.
2. Describe the evolution and development of the nervous system – neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurotransmission, and neuroendocrinology.
3. Identify the structures and function that underlie sensation, perception, and motor control.
4. Identify and discuss the regulation of behavior, including motivation and emotion, sexual behavior, and biological rhythms.
5. Articulate the biological components of learning, memory, and language
6. Describe the biological underpinnings of age-related changes in cognition and socioemotional functioning over the lifespan.
7. Examine how biological processes impact health and well-being.

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