General Psychology Syllabus for 2015-2016
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Office Location

Dutton Hall 202L

Office Hours

Email or through Blackboard Collaborate

By appointment if contacted by email eerodriguez@actx.edu

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-2301-LC2 General Psychology

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills

Course Description

General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Exploring Psychology, 9^th Edition, David G. Myers

Supplies

\ 4 scatrons, pencil, pens, spiral notebook, and access to a computer. If you do not have your own computer, you will need to use AC computers located on the 4th floor of the Library.

Student Performance

\ Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

\ 1. Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology.

\ 2. Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.

\ 3. Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.

\ 4. Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.

\ 5. Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.

\ 6. Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior.

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

I expect you all to attend class, participate in class, be prepared for class, and respect everyone else who is the classroom. No cell phones. If you are waiting on an important call you must talk with me before class so I am aware. If you decided to leave the classroom to answer the phone please do not return. If you leave and come back, you have interrupted my class twice and that is unacceptable. NO texting! If it is so important that you have to text right away, you may leave and please do not return. If you do miss class it is your responsibility to get the material you missed. I will be giving assignments during class that will be due the next class so if you miss you will miss that assignment unless you contact me or someone else in the class. It is your responsibility!! Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism. All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students. There will be zero tolerance for any type of harassment!! I want this to be an environment everyone can learn and feels safe!!

Grading Criteria

Grading criteria:

There will be a total of 650 possible points for the semester. You will be able to check your grade on AC connect. Grading will be on the standard grade scale:

100-90% 650-585= A

89-80% = 584-520= B

79-70% = 519-455= C

69-50% = 454-325= D

Below 50% Below 325= F

The points will be earned:

400 points for exams (4 100 points exams and you get to replace the lowest exam grade with your highest exam grade)

100 points for attendance/in-class assignments (I will take attendance during the semester for a different amount points depending on the day and if there is an activity)

100 points for Social responsibility learning project (you will need to answer this essay online)

50 points for scientific method and experiment quiz (you will take this quiz online)

Total points possible: 650 points

4 50 question multiple choice exams on scantrons; each exam is worth 100 points and you will get to replace the lowest test grade with your highest exam grade. The exams will be taken from notes and the chapters in the book. These exams will be taken in the classroom.
100 points attendance and in class assignments. We will randomly do in class assignments that will count for differing amount of points.
50 points for online quiz. This 10 question quiz will assess your knowledge on scientific method, your ability to read a graph and your ability to think critically. This quiz will be online
100 points for social responsibility serving learning project
- You will be required to do 4 hours of community service at your chosen agency in the community. You must provide signed documentation to be after your required hours.
- You will answer 5 questions with short essays online. Each question has a rubric which will be used for grading. The questions are worth a different amount of points for a total of 100 points. You will be able to access the rubric when you are taking the exam. Here is an example of what one of the rubrics will look like.


	Exceeds Expectation	Needs Improvement	Does not meet expectations
Knowledge	30 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to each part of the question identified in the assignment. It provides evidence that the student has diligently applied or related concepts from at least 2 specific concepts from their textbook to their experience in their agency.	20 Points Does not address all of the parts of question in the assignment. It provides minimal evidence of the student’s reflective thought. There is only minimal indication that the student applied or related 1 concept from their textbook in this class to their experience in their agency.	1 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment. It does not provide evidence of the student’s reflective thought. There is no indication that the student applied or related any concepts from their textbook in this class to their experience in their agency.
Organization	10 Points Information is clearly organized.	7 Points Information is loosely organized.	1 Points Information is present, but very difficult to understand due to poor organization.
Mechanics	10 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question. And the student referenced the concepts they used in their paper with the specific page number from their text.	7 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question with major errors. And the student referenced the concepts they used in their paper with the specific page number from their text.	1 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used through the answer to the question. The student did not reference the concepts they used in their paper with the specific page number from their text.

Attendance

It’s college; I know you want to skip, but if you just show up you will do better in the class. I will take attendance during the semester worth points each time. If you are late then you will not receive the points. I understand that things come up, but please try you best to be in class and be on time!!!

__________________________________________________________________________

Calendar

Class Schedule/Outline:

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or calendar if needed.

Date Lesson/Lecture

Week of Jan 19^th Introduction, Chapter 1-Thinking Critically with

Psychological Science

Chapter 1- Thinking Critically with

Psychological Science

Week of Jan 25^th Chapter 2- The Biology of Mind

Finish Chapter 2; Chapter 3 Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind

Week of Feb 1^st Chapter 3 Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind

Neuroscience and Behavior

Thursday Feb. 4^th in class Exam 1 Chapters 1-3

Week of Feb 8^th Chapter 4 Nature Nurture and Human Diversity

Week of Feb 15^th Chapter 5 Developing Through the Life Span

Week of Feb 22^nd Chapter 6 Sensation and Perception

Week of Feb 29^th Chapter 7 Learning

Thursday March 3^rd in class Exam 2 Chapters 4-7

Week of March 7^th Chapter 8 Memory

Spring Break March 14^th- March 18^th

Week of March 21^st Chapter 9 Thinking, Language and Intelligence

Week of March 28^th Chapter 10 Motivation and Emotion

Week of April 4^th Chapter 11 Stress and Health

Week of April 11^th Finish any chapters we need to finish

Thursday April 14^th in class Exam 3 Chapters 9-11

Week of April 18^th Chapter 12 Personality

Week of April 25^th Chapter 13 Psychological disorders

Chapter 14 Therapy

Week of May 2^nd Chapter 15 Social Psychology

Week of May 9^th Exam 4 Chapters 12-15. We will need to check the

master final exam schedule for the exact date. I will keep you posted.

Additional Information

I will hold office hours by appointment.

The best way to reach me is my e-mail: eerodriguez@actx.edu

You can try and contact me on my office phone (806)371-5192

Most issues can be resolved before or after class, however we can always set-up an appointment that will work for both of us if more time is needed.

More than likely I will not allow you to make-up any exam or quiz ; but if there are extreme circumstances please come talk to me so we can figure something out!! I do want you all to be successful!!

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on: