Fall 2020 Course Syllabus Course: PSYC-2301- Section: 74B General Psychology

Instructor Information
Instructor	Eric Hernandez
E-mail	hernandezea@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6341
Office	Location: Student Center - Room: 410 Hours: Monday 12PM - 5PM and T/R 9:30AM - 12PM. Temperature checks will be required. Online app. available as well.
Department	General Education and Developmental Studies Chair: Dr. Michelle Davis E-mail: davisml1@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6341 If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair. COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description	General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Prerequisites	None
Learning Outcomes	PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material. PSLO 1: Critical Thinking Skills - Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. PSLO 2: Communication Skills - Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication. PSLO 3: Empirical and Quantitative Skills - Applies the manipulation and/or analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. PSLO 5: Social Responsibility Skills - Expresses intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
Core Objectives	* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. * Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. * Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts. * Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
Program Student Learning Outcomes	1. Students will demonstrate comprehension of content-area reading material. (PSLO alpha) Measured by pre-test/post-test scores. 2. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify research findings through the application of the scientific method. ALTERNATIVELY, Exhibit an understanding and ability to apply basic research methods in psychology including research design, data analysis, and interpretation through the successful completion of embedded exam questions, class discussions, and assignments. (PSLO 1 and 3) 3. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify factors in the historical development of the study of human behavior including current theoretical perspectives prominent in the field of psychology through the successful completion of embedded exam questions, class discussions, and assignments. (PSLO 1 and 2) 4. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify terminology unique to the study of psychology through the successful completion of embedded exam questions, class discussions, and assignments. (PSLO 1 and 2) 5. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation through the successful completion of embedded exam questions, class discussions, and assignments. (PSLO 1 and 2) 6. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior through the successful completion of embedded exam questions, class discussions, and assignments. (PSLO 1 and 2) 7. Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making through the successful completion of embedded exam questions, class discussions, and assignments.(PSLO 1, 2, and 5)
Textbooks	Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost. Your book is available in web view and PDF for free. You can also choose to purchase on iBooks or get a print version via the campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com. You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended --the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.) Psychology from OpenStax, ISBN 1938168356, www.openstax.org/details/psychology
Lecture Topics Outline	Week 1: Online Preparation Week Week 2: Online Preparation Week Week 3: Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology Week 4: Chapter 2: Research Methods in Psychology Week 5: Chapter 3: Biological Psychology Week 6: Chapters 4 & 5: States of Consciousness and Sensation & Perception Week 7: Unit 1 Exam (Chapters 1 ,2 3, 4) Week 8: Chapter 6 & 7: Learning and Intelligence Week 9: Chapters 8 & 9: Memory and Lifespan Development Week 10: Chapter 11: Personality and Unit 2 Exam (Chapters 6, 8, 9, 11) Week 11: Chapters 10 & 14: Motivation & Stress, Lifestyle, & Health Week 12: Chapter 12: Social Psychology Week 13: Chapter 13: I-O Psychology Week 14: Chapter 15 & 16: Psychological Disorders and Therapy & Treatment Week 15: Unit 3 Exam
Major Assignments Schedule	Week 3: Online Orientation & Introduction Discussion Week 4: The Girl Who talked to Dolphins Discussion Week 5: Genetics Discussion Week 6: Chapter 5 Quiz Week 7: Sleep Diary Due & Unit 1 Exam Week 8: Intelligence Achievement Gap Discussion & Chapter 7 Quiz Week 9: Moral Development Discussion Week 10: Unit 2 Exam & Sleep Questions Due Week 11: Motivation Discussion & Chapter 10 Quiz Week 12: Zimbardo Discussion & Sample Data Due Week 13: Neurodiversity Discussion and Chapter 13 Quiz Week 14: Suicide and Related Terms Discussion & Combined File Due Week 15: Unit 3 Exam
Final Exam Date	December 10, 2020 - 8:00 AM   Through  December 10, 2020 - 5:00 PM
Grading Scale	Based on Total Points 895 - 1000 = A 795 - 894 = B 695 - 794 = C 595 - 694 = D < 595 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Exams = 480 points Discussion Board = 240 Sleep Research Assignment = 160 Points Quizzes = 80 Points Online Orientation = 40 Points Total = 1000
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	Late Work Policy: Late work will NOT be accepted with the only exception being documented emergencies. If such emergency occurs, contact the instructor immediately and be prepared to provide proof of the emergency. Otherwise, complete all assignments within the unit time frame or on the required due date. Missed Exam Policy: Missed exams will be assigned 0 points. The only exception to this policy will involve a medical or other emergency (your own or a dependent relative?s). In such cases, you must contact the instructor immediately (email) and provide them with documentation of the emergency. A students lowest exam grade will replace the first missed exam with proper documentation. A second missed exam will receive a zero. Undocumented missed exams will be assigned 0 points. Plagiarism is not tolerated. Minimum failure of the assignment for a first offense. Future offenses result in a grade of F for the course. Policy regarding assignment submissions: Students will be allowed 2 submission attempts per assignment. All assignment submissions must be in a compatible file format. Failure to do so means I cannot read your assignments, thus will not grade them. Extra Credit I will NOT offer individual extra credit. However, throughout the semester I may offer various opportunities to the entire class that are optional but highly recommended. The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus during the semester, if needed. The instructor also reserves the right to extend assignments, projects, or presentations at his discretion.
Attendance Policy	Communication for this class will occur through the Q&A discussion forum (using student accounts in BLACKBOARD) and postings to the Announcements page inside your BLACKBOARD course. It is a good idea to check the ANNOUNCEMENTS page for messages daily. It is OK to send emails to me at hernandezea@lamarpa.edu as a follow-up if you have not received a response in BLACKBOARD. Students are welcome to call or visit the instructor during office hours for assistance and clarification. I recommend downloading the NEW Blackboard App (Blackboard Student) to your smartphone as it will send you notifications of ANNOUNCEMENTS and deadlines.I will be providing virtual office hours to support informal learning and to provide the opportunity for you to ask CONTENT related questions. See the virtual office hours handout for more information. I expect you to read the assigned readings and complete the assignments within the designated window and deadlines. I expect that you will consult this syllabus, assignment guidelines, rubrics, as well as Blackboard announcements, before emailing me or scheduling an appointment during office hours. I will do my best to respond to emails within 48 hours between Monday and Friday during the hours of 9:00am-6:00pm (I do not respond to emails during the weekend), but I typically only respond to emails once a day, so please do not expect an instantaneous response to your email. If it is a situation that requires immediate assistance, you should call my office phone (but again, no guarantee I will be available or respond immediately). When emailing me I expect you to demonstrate standard email etiquette and that you will use the same respect in email that you would in the classroom (e.g., addressing me as Mr. Hernandez, saying ?please? and ?thank you?). Do not be surprised if I suggest that you ask a question in person or office hours, as I am not able to fully answer complex questions via email and questions regarding course performance are often better discussed in person.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA	Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other	Note to students I would really like to speak with you if you have any questions or concerns! It's better to meet early in the course, than to wait until you have a major challenge. No question or concern is too small to discuss together. Most importantly, be assured that I want students to learn and receive the grade they deserve.
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.