Fall 2022 Course Syllabus
Course: PSYC-1300 (Section: 72, CRN: 92814)
Learning Framework
LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Eric Hernandez
Email hernandezea@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6317
Office Student Center - Room: 410
Office Hours I do not have on campus office hours, but you can contact me for virtual office hours/appointments via Teams/Zoom on Thursday 4PM-6PM or by Appointment.
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description Study of the 1) research and theory in the psychology of learning, cognition and motivation; 2) factors that impact learning; and 3) application of learning strategies. Students use assessment instruments (learning inventories) to identify their strengths and weaknesses as learners. Develops skills and techniques necessary for success in college including memory development, note-taking, test preparation, study skills and time management. Assists the student in making adequate social and persona
Required 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.

Textbook Title : On Course: Strategies for Success in College, Career, and Life.
Ninth Edition, Cengage Publishing.
Authors: Skip Downing and Jonathan Brennan
For students taking PSYC 1300-the book is available through e-book format on Blackboard. If you prefer not to have an electronic version, you must opt-out of the first day book materials program.
Additional Materials/Resources None.
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes PSLO 1: Reading Skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material.

PSLO 2: Critical Thinking Skills - Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.

PSLO 3: Communication Skills - Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication.

PSLO 4: 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/or 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.
Lecture Topics Outline Week 1: Chapter 1: Getting On Course 

Week 2: Chapter 2: Accepting Personal Responsibility

Week 3: Chapter 3: Discovering Self-Motivation

Week 4: Unit 1 Exam

Week 5: Chapter 4: Mastering Self-Management

Week 6: Chapter 5: Employing Interdependence

Week 7: Chapter 6: Gaining Self-Awareness

Week 8: Unit 2 Exam

Week 9: Chapter 7: Adopting Lifelong Learning

Week 10: Chapter 8: Developing Emotional Intelligence

Week 11:Chapter 9: Staying on Course

Week 12: Unit 3 Exam

Week 13: Introduction to Career Coach/Begin Core Assignment

Week 14: Thanksgiving

Week 15: Work on Core Assignment

Week 16: Core Assignment Due
Major Assignments Schedule None
Final Exam Date December 5, 2022 - 8:0 AM   Through  December 8, 2022 - 5:0 PM
Grading Scale

A = 448 +
B = 398 – 447
C = 348 – 397
D = 298 – 347
F = 297 and below

Determination of
Final Grade
Chapter Assignments 50 Points 10%
Discussions 80 Points 16%
Core Assignment 90 Points 18%
Exams 120 Points 24%
Journal Entries 160 Points 32%
Total 500 Points 100%

Course Policies
Instructor Policies
  • Assignment Availability Policy: Assignments will be available Day 1 (Monday) at 8:00AM to Day 5 (Friday) at 5:00PM. All assignments scheduled for that week will be due by the end of Day 5 at 5:00PMwith no exceptions. The reason is that I am available to address questions about assignments during working hours as well while our Help Desk can resolve Help Tickets. Assignments will be made available by week so that grades can be updated weekly, and I can properly evaluate your progress of the content. The following week’s assignments will be made available by Day 5 at 5:01PM so that students can utilize the weekend to work ahead if they choose. As a sleep researcher, I do not recommend students staying up late to work on assignments, this is another reason why my assignments are due at 5:00PM rather than 11:59PM (Foulkes et al., 2019).
  • Preferred Method of Contact: Please email me at hernandezea@lamarpa.edu from your LSCPA email address. During working hours, it is the quickest way to reach me, and I will respond within 24 hours between Monday-Friday. Emails sent over the weekend will be addressed the following Monday. Do NOT use your personal email address as those will be filtered as SPAM. You will also state which section/class you are in because I teach many PSYC courses.
  • Make-up Work Policy: Late work will NOT be accepted with the only exception being documented emergencies. If such an emergency occurs, contact the instructor immediately and be prepared to provide relevant documentation. Otherwise, complete all assignments the week they are assigned by or on the required due date. Missed assignments are assigned a grade of 0.
  • Missed Assignment Extension Policy: Missed assignments are considered LATE. See the Make-up Work Policy above. “Technical Difficulties” or “Blackboard not working”
     are not acceptable excuses (unless there is a CAMPUS WIDE outage). If you request an extension due to technical difficulties, you need to send me the following” 1) an email describing the problem a minimum of 24 hours before the assignment is due 2) A forwarded Help Desk ticket with a ticket #. If you are unable to email these requirements, consider the assignment LATE. Late assignments are assigned a grade of 0.
  • Acceptable File Formats for Assignments: I will NOTaccept assignments via email. There is an increased risk of getting viruses by downloading attachments. All assignments MUST be submitted in BlackBoard. BlackBoard is compatible with doc, docx, rtf, and pdf file formats. Do NOTsubmit Google Docs or Pages formatted assignments. Assignments in those formats will receive a 0. I will assign a 0 and leave a comment to submit the correct file format. I will not chase you down for your assignments beyond that.
  • Online Discussion Board Netiquette: An important part of conducting research, teaching others, or engaging in the scientific community is learning to express your ideas (even those still in formation); thus, the success of this course rests on part of your willingness to consistently share your reactions, questions, and ideas to the readings and course material in our discussion board. I expect proper and professional discussion etiquette (complete sentences, proper grammar, syntax, and spelling). Scientist don’t always agree with each other, but we must acknowledge different views and research.Respect each other. If you feel the need to disagree, do so respectfully and acknowledge the valid points in your classmate’s argument. Acknowledge that others are entitled to have their own perspectives on certain issues.




Attendance Policy Attendance in an ONLINE course is verified by substantial participation in the course on or before the census date published in the LSCPA Academic Calendar. Substantial participation in this online course is defined as logging in and completing/participating in at least one requirement of the course. Note: Simply logging in to your online course does not constitute attendance.

Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
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.
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.
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.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern 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.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Michelle Davis
Email:davisml1@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6341