General Psychology Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Office Hours

Available for conferences as needed

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-MCC1 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, loose leaf David G. Myers & C. Nathan DeWall with access code. You do need the access code

Supplies

Supplies: pencil, pens, spiral notebook, and access to a computer. If you do not have your own computer, or if you do not have access to a computer at some other facility, you will need to use AC computers located on the 4th floor of the Ware Student Commons or the Underground. Quizzes and an assignment will be online so please make to use reliable internet.

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, check-up online, participate in class, be prepared for class discussion and exams, and respect everyone else who is the class. It is your responsibility to let me know if you are going to miss class and/or an assignment u grade. Contact me the same day you have missed so we can get something worked out. After the fact leaves me little room to work with you. 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 quizzes, you just may not use your friend or classmates. All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students’ responses within class. 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

There will be four to six exams and an oral project which are worth 80% of your final grade.There will also be graded quizzes, short essays, etc. worth 20% of your final grade.  Some of the projects will include group work. All quizzes and major exams will be online.  All graded work will go towards the final grade. You will also have an opportunity for extra credit.  This instructor reserves the right to alter the exam schedules and grading opportunities.

The grading criteria is as follows:

A=90-100

B=80-90

C=70-80

D=60-70

F=BELOW 60

All incomplete work and late assignments will be dealt with on an individual basis; however, all missed assignments will be initially recorded as a 0.  This will keep your grade average updated at all times.  It is your responsibility to contact your professor concerning make-up work. Points will be deducted from all late assignments. All assignments are open for lengthy periods to give everyone a chance to complete them, regardless of work schedules, etc. This is the only fair policy for those students who come to class and complete all assignments. I recommend that you do not take your quizzes and major exams on your cell phones due to many issues in the past.

Weights: 20% Assignments; 80% Exams and Oral Project

  
    
    
    
    

You will also be required to complete a service project for SACS. 

Attendance

Attendance policy:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: It is expected that each online student will do their own work. Assisting a student while they are taking an online exam is cheating - don't do it and don't let others help you! Not only could you be caught (and the methods of catching cheaters are becoming more sophisticated daily) but you are cheapening your own education. The only purpose of grading this course (in this instructor's opinion) is to show your level of understanding the material. Education is your investment in YOURSELF - why would you want to cheat yourself?

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:

NO CELL PHONES OR PAGERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE TURNED ON IN THE CLASSROOM, EVEN ON VIBRATE.  THIS ALSO MEANS NO TEXT MESSAGING.  THESE ARE VERY DISRUPTIVE TO THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.  IF YOU ARE ON CALL OR HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND NEED TO HAVE THEM ON, PLEASE TALK TO ME BEFORE CLASS.  OTHERWISE, PLEASE PLACE THESE DEVICES IN BACKPACKS, PURSES, ETC. 

Disruptive behavior in class will not be tolerated.  This includes talking amongst yourselves during lecture or oral reports.  This is a college course, and you are expected to behave accordingly.  Disruptive behavior of any kind will result in your removal from class.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS AT ALL TIMES.   

Calendar

 

(UNIT ONE)  OPENS JANUARY 16TH AND CLOSES ON FEBRUARY 18TH AT MIDNIGHT

(chapter 1) -Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

(chapter 2)- The Biology of Behavior

(chapter 3)- Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind

EXAM ONE WILL COVER CHAPTERS 1-3

 

(UNIT TWO)  OPENS FEBRUARY 12TH AND CLOSES ON MARCH 17TH AT MIDNIGHT

(chapter 4)- Developing Through the Life Span

(chapter 5)-Sex,  Gender and Sexuality

(chapter 6)- Sensation and Perception

(chapter 7)- Learning

EXAM TWO WILL COVER CHAPTERS 4, 5, 6 and 7

 

(UNIT THREE) OPENS MARCH 12TH  AND CLOSES ON APRIL 14TH AT MIDNIGHT

(chapter 8) - Memory

(chapter 9)- Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

(chapter 10)- Motivation and Emotion

(chapter 11)-Stress, Health and Human Flourishing
 
EXAM THREE WILL COVER CHAPTERS 8, 9, 10, and 11

 

 

(UNIT FOUR)  OPENS APRIL 12TH AND CLOSES ON MAY 8TH AT MIDNIGHT

 

(chapter 12)- Social Psychology

(chapter 13)- Personality

(chapter 14)- Psychological Disorders

(chapter 15)-Therapy

EXAM FOUR (FINAL) WILL COVER CHAPTERS 12, 13, 14, and 15

 

 

Instructor reserves the right to modify this outline.  Students will be notified  if changes occur.   

 

 

Additional Information

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 

 

Office Hours:

 .

The best way to reach me is my e-mail at jihunt@actx.edu or cell phone (806-570-3183)

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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. 

 

Syllabus Created on:

01/11/24 6:45 PM

Last Edited on:

02/19/24 6:57 PM