General Psychology Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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-2301-005 General Psychology

Prerequisites

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

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required: Exploring Psychology, 13th Edition, Worth Publishers, ISBN# 9781319600129

*Used textbooks are acceptable for this class. 

Supplies

MATERIALS to DO THE STUFF

• Classic note taking supplies (paper, pen/pencil) for in class
• Blue/black pen or pencil only – no colored writing utensils
• For course assignments:
  • Personal access to a reliable computer
  • Reliable Internet connection
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Open computer labs on campus are available for use

Student Performance

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS – When you leave this course, you should be able to:

• Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology
• Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology
• Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology
• Use terminology unique to the study of psychology
• Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation
• Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior

Students 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

HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME TOGETHER

This 3-hour course is a hybrid style course.  Instruction in a hybrid course is delivered 50% online and 50% face-to-face contact. A sizeable portion of this course is completed outside of class. In class time involves lecture, discussions, activities, and out of class participation.  The course is completed within 8 weeks. Course format will consist of the following:

• Tuesdays: Talk About It
  • Discussion orientated, activity based, creative interaction with content
• Thursdays: Think it Through
  • Case studies and student led discussions 

DISTRACTION FREE CLASSROOM

During class the use of personal cell phones is PROHIBITED (not allowed) unless specified by the instructor. Technology may NOT be used during the entirety of class time. Photo/video/audio recording is NOT allowed at any point throughout the entirety of the course.

WAYS to USE GENERATIVE AI CORRECTLY

• In this class, AI may be used under the following circumstances:
  • At the discretion of the professor: this means, that Dr. Hargrove must specify when students may use generative AI during class or on an assignment.
  • To generate assistance with course content NOT assignment completion: Student may ask AI questions for further clarity, about summaries of readings, or for extended resources pertaining to class content, but may NOT use AI to create assignment for submission.
  • When documented correctly: ANY TIME generative AI has been used, students must provide explanation(s) as to how AI was used.

STUFF STUDENTS MAY NEED

Amarillo College provides students resources to manage the realities of the expectations outside the classroom. See the Student Resources page in Blackboard for a full list and accessibility of all Amarillo College student resources. 

LET’s BE HONEST :: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

• In order to provide a learning process and academic environment that permits students to pursue their educational goals, it is essential for all faculty, students, and staff to maintain academic integrity.
• Students should adhere to the highest level of academic honesty possible in this and every class. Academic honesty includes: doing one’s own work, avoiding cheating, plagiarism, or aiding or abetting others to cheat or plagiarize.
• All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students in the classroom.  The instructor will maintain and uphold zero tolerance for any type of harassment or disrespect.

STUDENT WITHDRAW PROCEDURES

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdraw Request Form by the course withdraw deadline (May 5th, 2026). NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdraw limitation does not include dual credit or developmental courses (Senate Bill 1321 Rule 4.10.). For more information on Drop / Withdraw policies, please visit the Registrar’s office website.

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA

A = 100-90%

B = 89-80%

C = 79-70%

D = 69-60%

F = 50%

LATE WORK

Late work is accepted up to one week after a due date has passed. Students can earn up to 85% of the overall grade within the week after the due date. NO work is accepted more than one week after a due date.

Attendance

LET’s BE IN CLASS (ATTENDANCE - read this, no really, read it)

• Attendance is taken daily.
• Attendance grade
  • REGARDLESS the reason
  • 6 pts. per day in class
  • 1 absence = - 6 pts.
  • Updated weekly
• Students who are more than 5 minutes late to class without prior communication to the course instructor, will be counted absent.
• Updates and assignments are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion and should be monitored daily online.

Calendar

Additional Information

WHAT we WILL DO ALL SEMESTER

*See TILT’d Assignment descriptions in Blackboard for more detail.

OFFICE VISITS – Come see me!

Students who attend during office visits at least one time throughout the course of the term may add 10 pts. to any grade. Multiple visits do not allow for accumulation of points (e.g.: 3 visits do not equal 30pts). Office visits CANNOT be used during weeks 7 and 8. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

POST and RESPOND – Online classmate interaction

Students will participate in 4 post and responds. PRs take place online. PRs require an initial response of 100 or more words and a minimum of 2 replies to fellow classmates of 50 or more words each. Original responses must contain a minimum of 2 textual references correctly cited using APA 7th edition. Students should check the course schedule to determine when and where discussions take place. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

QUIZZES – You got this!

1. There will be six quizzes.
2. Each quiz will be administered DURING class.
3. There will be no opportunities for make-up quizzes regardless the reason.

RESEARCH JOURNAL ENTRIES– Let’s read critically!

On specified weeks (see course schedule) students will be required to complete a journal entry for the reading assigned. Journals require each student to select a relevant psychological concept and explain, synthesize, and apply the concept using relevant, academic sources. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

SOCRATIC SEMINAR – Let’s chat about course content!

At 3 different points throughout the semester, students will respond to questions related to a chapter of the text and respond in no less than 40 words per question and then participate in a graded discussion of those questions. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

COMMON ASSESSMENT – Common understanding

Throughout the term, students will gain a deeper understanding of child psychology. As such, the common assessment will assess the depths of the various learning performance indicators through multiple choice questions and a written analysis. Students will write a response that connects multiple aspects of the course in one analysis. See the TILT’d Common Assessment in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

GROW PROJECT – Bilateral creation!

Show us how creative you can be. At the conclusion of the term, students will present an original creation in class. Presentations may include but are not limited to artwork, songs, food, games, etc. We have 2 sides of our brains for a reason. Let’s use them together.

FINAL EXAM – Show me what you know!

General psychology requires all students to complete a comprehensive final exam. The exam will be offered online during the AC schedule final exam day and time.