General Psychology Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

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-2301-003 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 ResourcesStudent 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

Exploring Psychology, 12th Edition,David G. Myers & C. Nathan DeWall 

Supplies

Supplies: 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 Ware Student Commons or the Underground. Your exams will be given online so you need to make sure you have reliable internet access. I WILL NOT RESET AN EXAM DUE TO INTERNET GOING DOWN, COMPUTER RESTARTING.

EXAMS/QUIZZES will NOT be reset due to wifi interference or bad connection, nor will it be reset if you accidently start before being prepared or if computer restarts while taking exam/quiz. DO NOT take exam/quiz on mobile device, I will not reset if this is taken on a mobile device of any kind.

Student Performance

These are the MINIMUM competencies. After studying the material presented in this course, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program:

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 ringers on and NO texting during class time. 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!! I do not take make-up work or give extra credit. I do not allow make-up on EXAM or Discussions. Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism. This means that although that some of this class is online you should be doing your own work. I whole heartedly expect you to use your notes and books on all assignments and exams, you just may not use your friend or classmates. 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!!

Attendance is part of your grade and is taken at the end of the class to ensure the student is here the entire class period.

Grading Criteria

You will be able to check your grade on AC connect. As well as in Blackboard. Allow a few days after assignments, quizzes, and exams are complete for grading to appear. Grading will be on the standard grade scale:

100-90% = A

89-80% = B

79-70% = C

69-60% = D

59 and Below = F

Attendance

It’s college; I know you want to skip, but if you just show up you will do better in the class. It’s an 8 week class so if you miss you will get behind very quickly. You will be required to sign attendance each day in class on the days you attend and I will take attendance for the days you sign in to Blackboard connect.. We will also be doing assignments in class if you miss them there is no make-up assignment. If you contact me before the class if you miss, we may be able to work something out. I understand that things come up, but please try you best to be in class and be on time!! If you contact me after missing class about an assignment you leave little room for me to work with you. I do not allow make-up work or make-up exams.

Dropping the Class: The last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” on your transcript is Monday, March 1, 2022.  Please visit with me about your concerns regarding completing the class and desire to withdraw.  As part of the process to withdraw, it will be your responsibility to obtain the necessary form and send it to me to sign. You must officially drop a class through the Registrar’s office.  If you simply stop attending, a grade of F will appear on your transcript

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• For the Social Responsibility Assignment:
  • You will be required to complete 4 hours of community service at a service agency in your community. This would likely be a nonprofit organization that provides a service to the entire community.
    • Possible agencies include the Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Maverick Girls and Boys Club, and the SPCA or local pound. YOU MUST GET APPROVAL FROM ME PRIOR if the Agency is not on the list. 
    • If you are unsure if your agency qualifies, please ask me before you complete the volunteer hours. If you are in the Amarillo area, you might find some options by signing up for Hands On Amarillo at: https://www.actx.edu/studentlife/volunteer-opportunities-and-service-learning
  • You must provide signed documentation verifying that you completed all of the hours.  
    • If you do not provide verification of all 4 hours completed, you will receive a 0 for your overall Social Responsibility Assignment. 
  • After you have completed your hours, you will then answer questions about the experience, entering your answers directly onto the template. 
    • You will complete the “Social Responsibility Assignment Template” and submit it through Blackboard as a Word document or Rich Text file. 
      • Do NOT create your own file – use the TEMPLATE, filling in your answers after each question (you can simply add your answers to the template and do not need to change anything on the template itself).
      • At least for your answers, follow MLA style. Additional information on MLA is provided in our course, on the page for this assignment.
      • Do NOT submit this assignment as a PDF.  Only Microsoft Word or Rich Text files are acceptable.
  • Each question has a rubric, which will be used for grading. The questions are worth different amounts of points.  You will be able to access the rubric within the assignment in Blackboard.
  • Although you can complete your volunteer hours with other classmates, you are required to complete the template on your own.  Submit your own independent work for a grade.
  • If you have done this for another class in a previous semester, you must complete another 4 hours and submit a new template, tailored to THIS class.
    • For example, you are required to cite our textbook in your answer to #3 – use the textbook we are using in this class.
  • Prior to the final deadline for this assignment, and by the due date indicated on our course calendar, please tell me at which agency you plan to volunteer.
  • See additional information about this project in our Blackboard class, including the rubric by which you will be graded.
  • If you’re actually reading this, thank you. Please email me: “I read the syllabus” and I’ll give you a 3 point bonus on your first discussion. My email is below.

Calendar

Additional Information

 

Office Hours:

I will not hold Office hours as I work 8-5p M-Th. You are welcome to come by my office if needed to the Enrollment Center, email, or text works well also.

The best way to reach me is my  cell or email e-mail:  806-677-6674 caarnold@actx.edu

You can try and contact me on my office phone (806)371-5355 or cell (806) 677-6674 (texting works best)

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.  

 

I do not allow make-up exams or make-up assignments. Please contact me as soon as you know you will miss class and we can work something out. Do not wait until after the fact, waiting shows that you don't care and it leaves me little room to work with you on a resolution.

If you are struggling, reach out to me earlier rather than later to see if something can be adjusted or worked out.