NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Biological Psychology

Course prefix, number, and section number: PSYC 2330.0300

Semester/Year of course:  Fall / 2024

Semester start and end dates:   August 26 – December 14, 2024

Modality:  Asynchronous 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: PSYC 2301 General Psychology

Required course materials: Registration in the course gives you access to the e-book needed for PSYC 2330.  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:  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 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.; other days/times by appointment in person or via WebEx.

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.   Submissions should be Word documents. 
3. Class Discussions (150 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. Institutional Assessment (100 points): Please see the document in Canvas for additional details.
5. Neural Communication Model (50 points): This assignment is based on the material for the first section of class.  See Canvas for additional details.
6. Pearson Text Activities (50 points):  Text activities are posted for each chapter.

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)]”. 

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

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: November 4, 2024

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 Revek 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. 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

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