General Psychology Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Dutton Hall 202C

Office Hours

By appointment and after each class session

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-2301-014 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, ^9th Edition, David G. Myers

Supplies

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

Here is an example of how to calculate your grade. We are assuming in this example that you were happy with your scores on exam 1 = 82, exam 2 = 89, and exam 3 = 93, so your final score would be a average of these three. We will assume that your grades for participation (15 Discussions + one Service Learning Attendance) are as follows: 75, 100, 50, 100, 100, 100, 100, 0, 100, and 100, 100, 100, 100, 0, 100. We also assume you made 100 on your Service Learning Project.

Here is how you do the math:

Your average for your exams: 82 + 89 + 93 = 264/3 = 88

Your average for your ten participation grades: 75 + 100 + 50 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 0 + 100 + 100 = 820/10 = 82

Your grade for your service learning project: 100

Remember, the exams are worth 80% of the course grade, participation is worth 15% of the course grade, and service learning project is worth 5% of the course grade.

Then complete the following equation:

88 X .80 + 82 X .15 + 100 X .05 = 70.4 + 12.3 + 5 = 87.70. Your grade for the course would be a “B.”

13. Final Grades

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = 0-59

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

Stephanie Cobb, MA,LPC

Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Amarillo College

Tentative Course Schedule

General Psychology 2301-014, Spring 2016

MTWTh 2:00pm - 3:15pm

Dutton Hall room 103

Welcome to General Psychology!

Please read and review carefully all of the policies in the syllabus. Then, read and review carefully this course schedule. Also, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions regarding the policies in this course.

In order to be prepared to discuss the assigned readings, please make every effort to read and outline the assigned chapters before you come to class.

1/19:

Orientation / Introductions

Unit One

Welcome to the circus! In this section you will learn about the origins of psychology, the biology behind it, the mind, development, and sex.

1/20:

Genie, The wild Child video, You will be given a discussion question in class to complete for the next class session.

1/21:

Introduction: Chapter 1 in Myers is an introduction to the science of psychology. The purpose of the chapter is to get you to think about how you think. This chapter teaches us how to think critically about the information we receive in many different forms. Crash Course video

Read and Outline Ch. 1 - Thinking Critically with Psychological Science (Myers)

1/25:

Continuation of Chapter 1- The scientific method, Youtube video, continuation of discussion questions. You will be given a discussion question in class to complete for February 27th.

1/26:

Your Brain: We cannot understand our psychological selves without understanding our physical selves. These chapters describe how brain activity, neurons, drugs, and hormones affect your psychological functioning. Crash Course video

Read and Outline Ch. 2 - The Biology of Mind (Myers)

1/27:

Discussion questions from chapter 2 will be shared with class. Marijuana PBL Assignment will be given out, this assignment will be due February 1st.

1/28:

How your brain works: This Chapter discusses our mental experiences and what can affect our experiences as well as how consciousness works in us, attention, inattention, sleep/wake cycles, and how drugs affect consciousness and the brain.

Read and Outline Ch. 3 - The Biology of Mind (Myers) Crash Course video

2/1:

Discussion of PBL assignment in class, quick overview of study material for Exam 1.

2/2:

Exam 1: This exam is taken online; it is not taken in the classroom. You may take the exam anytime on this day. Exam 1 covers the material assigned in Unit One.

Unit Two

2/3:

Developing through the Life Span: From birth to death and everything in between. Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 4. - Developing through the Life Span (Myers) You will be given a group assignment about Adolescent suicide, this will be due tomorrow for discussion in class.

2/4:

Discussion of Adolescence assignment in class and continuation of ch. 4 notes/lecture

2/8:

Gender and Sexuality: Let’s talk about sex! Crash Course video

Read and outline Ch. 5 - Gender and Sexuality (Myers)

You will be given a discussion question to prepare for class tomorrow.

2/9:

Continuation of Gender and Sexuality notes/lecture, discussion questions to be reviewed in class.

2/10:

Sensation and Perception: How we take in information and how we perceive that information make us who we are. Crash Course videos

Read and outline Ch. 6 - Sensation and Perception (Myers) You will be given a discussion question to prepare for class tomorrow.

2/11:

Continuation of Sensation and Perception notes/lecture, discussion questions to be reviewed in class.

2/15:

Learning: What we are all here to do! Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 7 - Learning (Myers) You will be given a discussion to prepare for class tomorrow.

2/16:

Discussion questions reviewed in class, brief overview of test material.

2/17:

Exam 2: This exam is taken online; it is not taken in the classroom. Exam 2 covers the material assigned in Unit Two. Your exam will open at 12:00am on Wednesday the 17th and remain open until 11:59pm the same day. You may take the exam at any time during the day, but once you begin you will only have 75 minutes to complete it. You cannot go back to a former question, if you do not know the answer, make an educated guess, as you are not penalized for guessing. However, you will be penalized for leaving a question blank.

Unit Three

2/18:

Memory- Don’t we all wish ours was better? Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 8 - Memory (Myers) You will be given a discussion to prepare for class tomorrow.

2/22:

Continuation of Memory notes/lecture, discussion questions to be reviewed in class.

2/23:

Thinking, Language, and Intelligence-What differentiates us from animals. Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 9 - Thinking, Language, and Intelligence (Myers) You will be given a discussion to prepare for class tomorrow.

2/24:

Continuation of Thinking, Language, and Intelligence notes/lecture, discussion questions to be reviewed in class.

2/25:

Motivation and Emotion-What’s your dream? How do you feel about that? Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 10 - Motivation and Emotion (Myers) You will be given a discussion to prepare for class on Monday the 29th.

2/29:

Continuation of Motivation and Emotion notes/lecture, discussion questions to be reviewed in class.

3/1:

Health and Stress-Are you OK? You seem a little stressed. Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 11 - Health and Stress (Myers) You will be given a discussion to prepare for class tomorrow.

3/2:

Discussion questions reviewed in class, brief overview of test material.

3/3:

Exam 3: This exam is taken online; it is not taken in the classroom. Exam 3 covers the material assigned in Unit Three. Your exam will open at 12:00am on Thursday the 3rd and remain open until 11:59pm the same day. You may take the exam at any time during the day, but once you begin you will only have 75 minutes to complete it. You cannot go back to a former question, if you do not know the answer, make an educated guess, as you are not penalized for guessing. However, you will be penalized for leaving a question blank.

3/7:

Personality-Who are you? Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 12 - Personality (Myers)

Social Psychology-Wanna be part of our group, man? Crash Course videos

Read and outline Ch. 13 - Social Psychology (Myers)

3/8:

Continuation of Social Psychology notes/lecture, discussion questions to be reviewed in class.

Disorders-What have you been diagnosed with? Crash Course videos. Group assignment: Diagnose the problem

Read and Outline Ch. 14 - Disorders (Myers)

3/9:

Treatment-Who do you see? Crash Course videos

Read and Outline Ch. 15 - Treatment (Myers)

brief overview of test material.

3/10:

Exam 4: This exam is taken online; it is not taken in the classroom. Exam 4 covers the material assigned in Unit four. Your exam will open at 12:00am on Wednesday the 9th and remain open until 11:59pm the same day. You may take the exam at any time during the day, but once you begin you will only have 75 minutes to complete it. You cannot go back to a former question, if you do not know the answer, make an educated guess, as you are not penalized for guessing. However, you will be penalized for leaving a question blank.

Additional Information

I will hold office hours by appointment.

The best way to reach me is my e-mail: s0190021@actx.edu

You can try and contact me on my office phone (806)676-7199

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: