Instructor Information
Office Location
Dutton Hall 202-J
Office Hours
TO SET UP A MEETING: CONTACT ME BY PHONE: The VERY BEST WAY TO REACH ME IS AT MY CELL PHONE AT 
(806) 584-7569 between 9 AM and 9 PM, any day of the week.
PLEASE...NO TEXTING: Please note that I DO NOT TEXT MY STUDENTS and I DO NOT ACCEPT TEXT MESSAGES. If you can text me, then you can call me! AGAIN, my cell phone is 806 584-7569! If there is an occasion where I am traveling or cannot respond to you in a timely manner by phone, I will let you know that you can text me for that period of time. However, outside of that, PLEASE CALL! I enjoy talking to my students! If you text me, I will not respond to you! Sorry...I want to handle all student business over the phone or in an email!
If I'm not available when you call, I will call you back so please tell me your name, the best time to call you AND WHAT CLASS YOU ARE IN! That way, I can better answer your questions! Thanks! Also, we can set up a face to face conference if you want to!
EMAIL ME: You can also email me through the BLACKBOARD COURSE EMAIL feature! Again, if you email me outside the CLASSROOM ONLINE EMAIL SYSTEM, your email may not get to me. It may be treated as spam. SO, USE THE EMAIL FUNCTION IN THE ONLINE CLASS! It's in the MENU to the left of the screen and it says Send an EMAIL! Click on that and then select SEND AN EMAIL TO THE INSTRUCTORS in the CLASS!
OFFICE HOURS and APPOINTMENT TIMES:
SPRING- II - 2021: March 22nd through May 14th: I will be ON CAMPUS in my office in DUTTON HALL 202J Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 to 12:00 pm. I have a 9 am to 10:15 am course, as well as a Monday-Thursday 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm course. Please call me so we can set up an appointment time that works for you. We can meet virtually or somewhere where we can socially distance effectively (not in my office!) I have a virtual office in COLLABORATE where we can also meet face to face if you need tutoring or just to chat, if you prefer.
If you want to meet with me outside of those hours, I'm happy to do that. Please call me and we can set up a time to meet. As well, I'm happy to meet with you on a FACETIME CALL or in our COLLABORATE MEETING PLACE ONLINE! I am happy to tutor you in any way I can so you can succeed in this course! Please call me at 806 584-7569 to meet with me on any other day. I appreciate you calling me first on my cell phone if you want to meet with me in my office so that I can prepare to meet you in order to protect both of us from COVID exposure. Thank you!
SO YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE COLLABORATE: There will be a video for you to watch as to how to attend COLLABORATE MEETINGS in your COURSE MENU LIST. Go online to your BLACKBOARD CLASS and you will see it in the MENU LIST to the LEFT OF THE SCREEN. As well, please feel free to call me if you are still not sure how to use COLLABORATE for your online meeting. I am happy to do anything I can do to assist you during this difficult semester! Please call me at 806 584-7569 and let's figure out a time to work with you!
NEED MORE HELP: Call me! I can tutor you. If you need more help with tutoring in the class you are in, we can get you set up with the folks at the STUDENT SUCCESS TUTORING CENTER can help you. We will work online or over the phone, in COLLABORATE or we can facetime until the advisories for social distancing pass.
FOR ONLINE CLASSES or ON-CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED CLASSES: THE BEST WAY TO SET UP AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT is to CALL ME ON MY CELLPHONE at 806 584-7569.
FOLKS: Please, I give you my cell phone number so you can call me between 9 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week! Feel free to CALL me OR EMAIL ME SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE AND WHEN we can either visit by phone or in person! Please do not abuse your privilege of having my cell number. Again, please call me or email me. ....please DO NOT TEXT MESSAGE ME! I want to communicate with you directly!
Course Information
Recording Policy
Disability Statement
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc
Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:
Administrative Drop Policy
N/A
Student Withdrawal Procedures
N/A
Privacy Statement
The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students. If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .
Course
PSYC-2302-001 Applied Psychology
Prerequisites
PSYC 2301
Course Description
Survey of the applications of psychological knowledge and methods in such fields as government work, law enforcement and medicine.
Student Resources Student Resources Website
Department Expectations
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Occupational License Disclaimer
Hours
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Class Type
On Campus Course
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
Jacqueline Helfgott (2008). Criminal Behavior: Theories, Typologies, and Criminal Justice. Sage Publishers
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- Course will contain study guides. Online resources for studying and areas of interest can be found in RESOURCES and Weekly Content
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R. Holmes & S. Holmes (2009). Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool. Sage Publishers
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- This text will aid you in developing your profile for your final paper covering a serial killer of your choice from the list of choices offered.
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Supplies
You may want to rent a wide variety of films that are out there. Netflix contains loads of documentaries on various serial killers. Your instructor also owns an extensive film library, and you may be able to "CHECK OUT" a DVD with your
Student Performance
This course will focus on the application of psychology in understanding and assessing criminal thinking and behavior, as well as the application of this knowledge . Student performance will be measured through short quizzes over the readings, lectures and lab, lab assignments, and the application of knowledge obtained in the course, to creating and presenting a professional "profile" on a serial killer of the student's choice. Performance outcomes for this course will include:
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Learners will be able to understand and discuss the various aspects of the nature versus nurture debate, as well as theoretical views on criminality, and will be able to apply these influences to the final project, wherein they will create a profile for a serial killer of their choice, discussing both nature and nurture influences in this killers development. This outcome will also be accomplished by students attending lectures, reading the textbook, and discussion following the watching of various films.
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Learners will gain an understanding of the biological influences in crime, as well as understanding the Triune Brain model and it's relationship to neurochemistry, and criminal thinking, feeling and behavior. This will be accomplished by attending lectures, and by watching films, and completing in class and online discussions and/or labs in the Neurocriminality lab manual.
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Learners will examine issues related to socialization, parenting, education, and other social influences that prevent or enable sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors. This will be accomplished through lecture, lab, discussion and watching several films.
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Learners will examine the similarities between the adolescent and the adult criminal mind and be able to apply this knowledge in understanding how to detect problems in teens, as well as how to rear healthy teens.This will be accomplished through lecture, readings, discussion and film.
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Learners will become familiar with the language and the meanings behind terms in the field of criminal and forensic psychology, including terms such as psychopathy, sociopathy and criminality, along with other terms important to this discipline. This will be accomplished by developing a vocabulary manual throughout the semester.
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Learners will learn about the DSM-IV-tr system of diagnosis and will create a diagnosis for a crminal personality. This will be accomplished through lecture, as well as in an in-class lab.
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Learners will learn and be able to apply the typologies related to violent offenders, and how these typologies aid in profiling. Application of this knowledge will be required for the final paper (and profile presentation, if numbers of students in course will allow this).
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As the final assessment of student learning, all learners will write a paper profiling a serial killer/mass killer or spree killer of their choice. Students may also create and present a professional Profile case study, depending upon numbers of students in the class and time constraints. The purpose of the profile paper is to utilize the knowledge gained in the course, including typologies, information on mental illness and crime, crime scene and victimology analysis, information related to the brain and biological influences in crime, as well as situational and social influences on crime, in order to discuss a serial killer in a professional manner.
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Log in using the AC Connect Portal
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
Expected Student Behavior
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Students are expected to attend class, to participate in class and to prepare for class lectures and discussions by reading the text and doing homework assignments. Students are expected to turn off all electronic devices (if you have a sick child, you may bring your phone and put it on vibrate). Please do not engage in side conversations during class time, reading newspapers, taking naps, and any other distracting behaviors. If you miss class, you are expected to contact the instructor and/or other students in the class to get information about the class. Since this instructor emails reminders via AC ONLINE, and your examinations and assignments will be found there, along with course reminders and a calendar, it is best to log into your AC ONLINE classroom frequently. It is your responsibility to get the information on AC ONLINE for this course. If you don't have a computer, simply check the ones in the library. You can get onto our AC ONLINE classroom from any computer anywhere! NOTE THAT OUR LIBRARY HAS COMPUTERS THAT YOU MAY USE, AND THERE ARE MANY COMPUTER LABS ACROSS CAMPUS! PLEASE, GET IN THE HABIT OF CHECKING IN EACH DAY!
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Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty, refraining from cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarizing any of your paper for this course is strictly forbidden and may earn you a zero on the assignment. Plagiarism includes copying and pasting information from the internet and using it as your own original work, as well as failing to cite the sources you use for your information. Please go to Library link at http://www.actx.edu/library/index.php?module=article&id=7 to learn more about how to avoid plagiarism. THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS COURSE.
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As well, you will be expected to use APA style format for your paper. PLease go to the http://www.actx.edu/library/files/filecabinet/folder4/APA_Citation_Style_r2010_01_22.pdf link for more information about APA style.
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All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students in the classroom. There will be zero tolerance for any type of harrasment or disrespect based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious ideals. Thank you for making our class a safe place to discuss ideas and to learn.! ~ Dr. Harding
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Grading Criteria
Your final grade for this course will be based on the standard grading percentages:
90-100% = A 80-89% = B 70-79% = C
50-69% = D Below 50% = F
Your final grade is based on the following items:
FOR THIS COURSE, ALL OF YOUR QUIZ QUESTIONS COME FROM LECTURES AND THE TEXT READINGS from the HELFGOTT textbook and the HOLMES AND HOLMES textbook. All of the quizzes are online and you have a week to take them. You will get to drop your lowest quiz score, so if you miss one, you are still fine!
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THERE ARE 6 Unit Quizzes, and you get to drop your lowest score. The FIVE quizzes that will count towards your grade are worth 60% of your total grade. Each quiz will be worth 12% of your final grade. Each quiz will be graded from 0% to 100%.
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THERE IS A FINAL PAPER WORTH 30% OF YOUR TOTAL GRADE
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YOU HAVE 10% OF YOUR GRADE THAT INCLUDES IN ATTENDANCE and IN-CLASS LABS, FILMS TO WATCH ONLINE FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSIONS. EACH ATTENDANCE OR IN CLASS LAB OR DISCUSSIONS IS WORTH about 2% of your final grade...so please be there! BE IN CLASS! SHOWING UP = SUCCESS!
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Because your exams are online, there is no make up policy for a missed exam, EXCEPT IN THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL OF CIRCUMSTANCES. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PROFESSOR IMMEDIATELY if you need to discuss having missed an exam. Each quiz will be open for a full week. Once the closing date has come, you may not take the quiz EXCEPT IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. While it's always tempting to wait until the last minute to take your quiz, that strategy can be harmful in an online course. Please don't wait until the last minute to take your quizzes. AS WELL, YOUR FINAL PAPER HAS A DUE DATE. The very last day that you can turn in your paper means just that! Once that date is past, YOU MAY NOT TURN IN YOUR PAPER FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER! CLOSING DATES ARE MEANT AS A FINAL CUT OFF POINT, NOT AS A DUE DATE! It will be to your advantage to work ahead on all your class materials!!!
Dr. Harding
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NOTE: EACH QUIZ HAS BETWEEN 20 TO 40 QUESTIONS, AND YOU HAVE BETWEEN 30 TO 70 MINUTES TO TAKE YOUR QUIZZES. EACH QUIZ HAS A STUDY GUIDE THAT WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE BEING TESTED ON. You can also go to the HELFGOTT text RESOURCE linked from your AC ONLINE COURSEROOM. There are practice quizzes that may help you with the material.
NOTE THAT ALL QUIZZES ARE RANDOMIZED, SO SOME ITEMS ON THE STUDY GUIDE MAY NOT BE ON YOUR VERSION OF THE QUIZ. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHICH ITEMS MAY COME UP, YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW ALL THE INFORMATION ON EACH STUDY GUIDE.
TO ACCESS THE HELFGOTT STUDY MATERIALS GO TO :
http://www.sagepub.com/helfgottstudy/01/index.htm
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THERE IS NO FINAL EXAM FOR THIS COURSE. Your final paper is intended to be the single most important grade related to your success in this course.
Attendance
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"90% of Success comes from SHOWING UP" ~
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Due to the freedom that college courses offer you, it may be tempting to skip class or wait until the last minute to work on your course projects.It is my experience that almost NONE of the learners who take this approach are able to finish the course.It is my suggestion, having taught college courses for over fifteen years now, that you either work ahead or create a plan that allows you to be in the course present and working! ATTENDANCE IN THE CLASSROOM, whether it's ONLINE OR ON CAMPUS, is CRITICAL TO YOUR SUCCESS. What I've seen is that learners who have excellent attendance complete the course in a timely manner and get the best scores on their exams. Obviously the choice is up to you.
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Thank you for adhering to our timeline. ~ Dr. Harding
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Calendar
NOTE: THIS CALENDAR IS A GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE COURSE. IN ORDER TO GET EXACT DATES, PLEASE USE THE CALENDAR TAB IN YOUR AC ONLINE COURSEROOM. AS WELL, YOUR INSTRUCTOR WILL SEND WEEKLY REMINDERS ABOUT WHAT IS DUE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE AC ONLINE COURSEROOM FOR EXACT DATES. OUR CALENDAR MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED DUE TO INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE OR MISSED CLASSES DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT IS ONLY MEANT AS A GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE COURSE. PLEASE SEE THE UPDATED WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EMAILS FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENTS.
COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR: BE SURE AND SEE THE COURSE CALENDAR FOUND IN AC ONLINE BY CLICKING ON THE CALENDAR TAB NEXT TO THE LESSONS TAB FOR ALL DUE DATES AND TIMES!
The two textbooks for this course include:
Jacqueline Helfgott (2008). Criminal Behavior: Theories, Typologies and Criminal Justice. Sage Publishers.
The notation in the course outline below for this textbook is JH
Ronald Holmes & Stephen Holmes (2009). Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool. Sage Publishers.
The Notation for readings for this textbook is H&H
PLEASE NOTE: THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THIS CALENDAR DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, ILLNESS, OR OTHER UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. As well, this instructor is CURRENTLY redoing the format of this course. This calendar may change after UNIT 2. Please check back!
Please note that our first class is the second week of school, due to the Martin Luther King Holiday!
Unit 1: Week 1 and 2: Criminal Behavior and Psychological Profiling: Chapters 1 in JH, Chapters 1, 2, 3 in H&H
Unit 2: Week 3, 4 and 5: Guest Speaker Chief Investigator Loren Brand, Chapters 2 in JH, Ch 4 in H&H, Neurocriminality Booklet
Unit 3: Weeks 6, & 7: Typologies, Mental Illness and Serial Murderers, Crime Scene Analysis, Chapters 3, 4 and 5 in JH, Ch 7 in H&H
Week 8: Spring Break: No class
Unit 4: Weeks 9 and 10: Crime Scene Analysismm Sex Crimes and Psychological Profiling Rape, Cg 6 JH, Ch 8, 9 and 10 H&H
Unit 5: Weeks 11 and 12: Profiling cults, geographic proifling, Other types of crimes: Ch 7 & 8 in JH, Ch 11 and 12 in HH
Unit 6: Weeks 13, 14 and 15: Terrorism, Technology and Crime and Case Studies, Ch 9, 10 and 11, JH, Ch 13, 14 in H&H
Additional Information
CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY (APPLIED Psychology 2302):
This course is a requirement for the Forensic Science major and may also be taken as a behavioral science elective. Other majors that might benefit from this course include individuals who are interested in working with adolescent populations and various groups within the criminal population, as well as those pursuing careers in criminal justice and law enforcement, education (particularly secondary education), general education, general studies, human sciences, law (pre-law), certain specialities in medicine and nursing (psychiatric interests), paralegal studies, religion, substance abuse counseling, social work, and sociology.
Students will be evaluated in this course through the use of examinations over the lecture and reading, class and online discussions related to films, lecture and readings, class attendance and in class labs, along with a final project involving a written (and perhaps oral) profile over a selected serial killer, utilizing all course information.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: EACH STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO ENGAGE IN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS BOTH IN YOUR ONLINE TESTING SITUATION AND IN CREATING AN ORINGINAL WORK FOR YOUR FINAL PAPER. PLAGIARISM (COPYING ANOTHER'S WORK IN ANY WAY, AND/OR NOT GIVING APPROPRIATE CREDIT BY CITING WORKS IN QUOTING OTHERS OR DISCUSSING THEIR IDEAS) WILL BE PUNISHED. YOU WILL RECEIVE A 0 ON YOUR PAPER FOR ENGAGING IN PLAGIARISM. YOU MAY ALSO GET A LETTER PLACED IN YOUR ACADEMIC FILE.
TO FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION GO TO THE LINKS BELOW:
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AMARILLO COLLEGE LIBRARY: http://www.actx.edu/library/
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For help with your computer, or to use computers go to the second floor of the library.
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For information on how to do a research paper and search for references go to:
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http://www.actx.edu/library/index.php?module=article&id=8#Research
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FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PLAGIARISM AND HOW TO AVOID IT: GO TO:
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For help with your papers: go to Writers' Corner
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Mission and Services:The Writers’ Corner staff firmly believe that good writing is an essential skill for being successful in college. Our main goal, therefore, is to help students become more confident and effective writers.Whether drafting research papers, preparing marketing proposals, or working on writing projects for any class at Amarillo College, students will benefit from one-on-one tutoring sessions with knowledgeable and encouraging tutors. Our tutors review assignment requirements, provide constructive feedback, and guide students through all phases of the writing process.The Writers’ Corner is open to all students, regardless of academic discipline and skill level.
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We Offer:*One-on-one tutoring sessions with trained tutors, small workshops throughout the semester covering various aspects of academic writing, in-class presenations on the role of the Writers' Corner, a waiting area for walk-ins and early arrivals, coffee and donuts for students with appointments, EMAIL US AT: writerscorner@actx.edu
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OR stop by: LOCATION: Ordway Hall, Room 102
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Hours of Operation:
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Fall & Spring Semesters:Monday - Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and ClosedFriday, Saturday, and Sunday
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Summer Sessions: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Syllabus Created on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
Last Edited on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
