General Psychology Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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.

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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

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Course

PSYC-2301-011 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.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Exploring Psychology, 9^th  Edition with DSM-5 Updates, David G. Myers

 

Supplies

Access to a computer and internet service is required. If you do not have your own computer, you will need to use AC computers located on the 4^th 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

My expectation is that you will read every chapter in this textbook and gasp :) find yourself enjoying it.  Dr. Myers is a terrific author who clearly writes with an eye to providing interesting and relevant information.  I promise that you will experience much less frustration with all assignments if you first actively read the chapters in the textbook.  The points are best read in context and not picked through to simply answer questions.  Decide to enjoy Dr. Myers’ presentation!

My expectation is that you will attend class online, complete all assignments, ask questions when something needs clarification, ask questions related to the material just for the fun of it, be prepared for exams, share in your social responsibility learning project, respect everyone in this class at all times, and engage in academic honesty with zero cheating or plagiarism. 

My expectation is that you will do your own work.  Please use your textbook and notes for exams and assignments, but make sure they are yours. 

My expectation is that each of you will do well in this course. My view of intelligence is that it is associated with growth.  Purposeful effort and experience with trying a variety of strategies is the way to develop intelligence and ability. Good academic performance comes from persistent effort and good strategy choices:  Poor academic performance comes from a lack of effort and poor choices of strategy (APA, 2015).  Here is a good example of an effective strategy to choose when reading your textbook. Before even beginning to read the chapter, survey the entire chapter noting its key sections. Once you begin reading, think about the Learning Objective Questions given at the beginning of each major section. Be sure to note and process all photos, graphs, and captions.  Take the time to mentally answer the Retrieve It boxes scattered throughout the chapters. Then after reading the entire chapter, test yourself using the three sections of the Chapter Review. Taking advantage of the textbook’s opportunities for retrieval practice will aid you in retaining the concepts presented. 

Grading Criteria

There will be a total of 1,000 possible points in this course.  They will be allocated as follows:

Exams                                                                                                                              Total of 360 points or 36%

Unit 1 Exam                                                                            90 points                                 

Unit 2 Exam                                                                            90 points 

Unit 3 Exam                                                                            90 points 

Unit 4 Exam                                                                            90 points 

Chapter Assignments                                                                                                      Total of 300 points or 30%

15 Multiple Choice/Rationale Papers (20 pts each)              300 points 

Discussion Forum                                                                                                            Total of 160 points or 16%

8 Weekly Discussion Posts (20 pts each)                             160 points 

Social Responsibility Project                                                                                           Total of 100 points or 10%

Core Curriculum Quiz                                                                                                      Total of 50 points or 50%

Attendance / Participation / Pop Quizzes                                                                        Total of 30 points or 30%

Letter Grades:

For Exams & Assignments                                      For Final Course Grade

A = 90 – 100%                                                         A = 900 – 1000

B = 80 – 89%                                                           B = 800 – 899

C = 70 – 79%                                                           C = 700 – 799

D = 60 – 69%                                                           D = 600 – 699

F = 0 – 59%                                                              F = 0 – 599

Hint:  To calculate your grade divide the number of points you did earn by the number of possible points you could have earned.

Brief assignment descriptions:

      Multiple-choice online exams (4 units)

Multiple choice / rationale assignments for each chapter (15 chapters) – details and grading rubric will be presented in a file for you to print and reference each week.

Weekly online discussion posts focusing on assigned textbook readings, relevant YouTube videos, and APA format exercises.  Reading your classmates’ posts will increase your engagement and help you form a meaningful connection to the material.  I expect respectful interactions with your classmates at all times.  The grading rubric will be presented in a file for you to print and reference each week.

The social responsibility project will give you the opportunity to volunteer for a few hours at a community organization and describe your experiences.  Details will be explained later.

Core curriculum quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice questions focusing on the scientific method, reading graphs, and critical thinking.

Attendance, participation, and possible pop quiz points will reflect overall effort demonstrated throughout the course.

Attendance

You will need to check online every day for updates and assignments. If you miss assignment and exam due dates then your course grade will be negatively affected.

Calendar

Additional Information

Makeup Policy:  Please review the exam and assignment dates for this course.  If your schedule cannot accommodate these dates and times, you will need to drop this course and find a course that does fit your schedule.  This is an accelerated, eight-week course: You will need to have arranged your affairs to accommodate keeping up with reading the textbook and completing all assignments. No exams or assignments will be given or accepted after the deadlines posted in your course schedule.  The only exception will be a true emergency such as a death in the family or serious illness.  Documentation from a physician or psychologist must be provided indicating you were unable to complete the exam or assignment. 

Office Hours:  The best way to reach me is by e-mail.  I prefer that you email me using your AC Connect Google class email account.  It lets me know which course you are in and helps me keep track of your messages. Remember that when you email me within the AC Connect class that my reply will go to your gmail account that is connected with this course.  Please be sure to check that gmail account regularly. If you need to contact me by phone, please leave a message at 806.654.0805

Technical Problems:  If you experience a technical problem with some online aspect of the course, you will need to contact the HelpDesk / AskAC at 371-5000 or 371-5373.

Dropping the Class: The last day to withdraw is January 18.  You must officially drop a class in the Registrar’s office.  If you simply stop attending, a grade of F will appear on your transcript.