Spring 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: PSYC-2301 (Section: 1, CRN: 10790)
General Psychology
LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Carol Barbay
Email barbacm@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6311
Office Educational I - Room: 110
Office Hours
MWF 9:00-9:50 AM; 10:00-10:50 AM
TR 11:00 AM-12:15 PM; 12:30-1:45 PM
Additional Contact Information
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.
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.

 

The required textbook for this course is Psychology published by OpenStax.

The link to the textbook is as follows: 

https://assets.openstax.org/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/Psychology2e_WEB.pdf?_gl=1*gz4153*_ga*MTA4NTc2MzQyMS4xNjgzOTg4MjE4*_ga_T746F8B0QC*MTY4NTM3MjYzNy4yLjEuMTY4NTM3MjY0OC40OS4wLjA.

Students may also review course lecture notes for required quiz and exam question content, as well as completing required special rqa assignments and required regular rqa assignments in the Blackboard section of the course.

You must have access to the following Microsoft Office applications to view the course lecture notes: Word and PowerPoint.

If you do not have access to Microsoft Office applications, you can gain access by going to the following webpage:

http://lamarpa.edu/Departments/Information-Technology-Services/Microsoft-Office-Pro-Plus-for-Students
 
 

Additional Materials/Resources Access to Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
Corequisites/Prerequisites
  • ENGL-0302 College Reading Skills
Learning Outcomes Learning outcomes
1. Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology. (Core Skills 1,2) Measured by course assignments and activities.
2. Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.(Core Skills 1,2) Measured by course assignments and activities.
3. Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.(Core Skills 1,2) Measured by course assignments and activities.
4. Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.(Core Skills  1,2) Measured by course assignments and activities.
5. Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.(Core Skills  1,2) Measured by course assignments and activities.
6. Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior.(Core Skills 1,2) Measured by course assignments and activities.
7. Calculate current course grade accurately, using information provided by instructor relating to individual scores from projects, assignments, quizzes and exams.(Core Skill 3) Measured by course assignments and activities.
8. Explain how personal ethnic heritage is similar to and different from other cultural perspectives in effects on social cognition. (Core Skills 1, 2, 5 ) Measured by course assignments and activities.

Core Objectives 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 MODULE 1

Syllabus review;
Chapter 1 introduction to psychology; 
Chapter 2 psychological research; ;
Chapter 15 psychological disorders; 
Chapter 16 therapy and treatment;

MODULE 2

Chapter 3 biopsychology;
Chapter 6 learning
Chapter 7 thinking and intelligence
Chapter 8 memory ;

MODULE 3

Chapter 9 lifespan psychology;
Chapter 10 emotion and motivation;
Chapter 11 personality 
Chapter 14 - stress, lifestyle and health

MODULE 4

Chapter 4 states of consciousness;
Chapter 5 sensation and perception;
Chapter 12 social psychology; 
Chapter 13 industrial-organizational psychology;

Major Assignments Schedule MAJOR ASSIGN DUE DATES
 
MAJOR ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES 16 WEEKS CLASS - DUE DATES MAY BE CHANGED AS NEEDED 
MODULE 1 

WEEK 1-2 Course Pretest Online ____TUE-FRI JAN 15-26 _____0>>>>__0__

WEEK 3 Required Attendance Assignments  1 and 2; WED _____JAN 31___20>>>>_20__

WEEK 3 Required Regular Assignment 1 WED _____JAN 31___25>>>>45____

WEEK 3 Required Special RQA Assignment 1 WED ___JAN 31___10>>>>55__

WEEK 3 Required Preview Version 1 Psychology Core Assignment; FRI ____FEB 2___10>>>>__65_

WEEK 4 Required  TED Talk Assignment 1; WED ___FEB 7__20>>>>__85__

WEEK 4 Bonus Module 1 SOAR Assignment WED __FEB 7___0>>>>__85_

WEEK 4  Required Quiz 1 - Chapters 1,2,15,16 – Online  WED-SUN  _FEB 7-11_25>>110

WEEK 4  Required Exam 1 Chapters 1,2,15,16 - Online WED-SUN ___FEB 7-11__100>>>>_210___


MODULE 2 PSYC 2301

WEEK 5 Required Regular Assignment 2; MON __FEB 12___25>>>>_235__

WEEK 5 Required Special Assignment 2; MON __FEB 12__10>>>>_245___

WEEK 6 Required TED Talk Assignment 2 ; WED __FEB 21_____20>>>>_265 -

WEEK 6 Bonus Module 2 SOAR Assignment; WED _FEB 21_____0>>>>_265

WEEK 6 Required Preview Version  2 Psychology Core Assignment; FRI _FEB 22___10>>>>_275_

WEEK 7 Required Attendance Assignments 3 and 4; MON __FEB 26____20>>>>295__

WEEK 7 Optional BONUS Grade Calculation Assignment FRI _MAR 1_0>>>>_295_

WEEK 8 Required Quiz 2 Chapters 3,6,7,8; ONLINE WED-SUN __MAR 6-10____25>>>_320_

WEEK 8 Required Exam 2 - Chapters 3,6,7,8; ONLINE WED-SUN _MAR 6-10____100>>>_420__





MODULE 3 PSYC 2301

WEEK 9 Optional Course Bonus Syllabus Module3 Quiz Online MON-FRI _MAR 18-22____0>>>420___

WEEK 9 Required Preview Version 3 Core Assignment; FRI __MAR 22___10>>>_430__

WEEK 10 Required Regular Assignment 3; WED __MAR 27___25>>>455___

WEEK 10 Required Special Assignment 3 WED; __MAR 27____10>>>465__

WEEK 10 Required Attendance Assignments 5 and 6; FRI __MAR 29___20>>>485___

WEEK 11 Required  TED Talk Assignment 3 ; WED __APR 3___20>>>>505_

WEEK 11 Bonus SOAR Assignment 3 WED _APR 3____0>>>_505__ 

WEEK 12 Required Quiz 3 – Chapters 9,10,11,14; Online WED-SUN _APR 10-14___25>>>>530____

WEEK 12 Required Exam 3; Chapters  9,10,11,14; Online WED-SUN _APR 10-14____100>>>_630__


MODULE 4 PSYC 2301

WEEK 13 Optional Bonus AA 567 Assignment WED  APR 17___0>>>_630__
WEEK 14 Required Attendance Assignment 7 MON _APR 22_ _ 10>>>__640___

WEEK 14 Required Grade Calculation Assignment MON _APR 22___20>>>660____
WEEK 14 Required Final Version Core Assignment TUE _APR 23___130>>>_790_

WEEK 14 Required Regular Assignment 4; WED __APR 24___25>>>_815__ 

WEEK 14 Required Special Assignment 4 WED _APR 24___20>>>__835__ 

WEEK 14 Bonus SOAR Assignment 4  WED _APR 24_ ___0>>>835__835  

WEEK 14 Module 4 Required TED Talk Assignment 4; WED _APR 24__40>>>_875_

WEEK 14 Optional Bonus Orientation Assignment FRI _APR 26__0>>>_875____

WEEK 14 Optional PERMA Bonus Assignment FRI APR 26____0>>>__875__

WEEK 15 Required Quiz 4 – Chapters 9,10,11,14; Online WED-SUN _MAY 1-5___25>>>>900____

WEEK 15 Required Exam 4; Chapters  9,10,11,14; Online WED-SUN _MAY 1-5____100>>>_1000__


Final Exam Date May 1, 2024 - 12:0 AM   Through  May 5, 2024 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade
Your FINAL course letter grade will be based on an approximate percentage of 1000 total possible points as follows:

Letter Grades                                      Point Totals                                   Approximate Percentages

A                                                          900-1000+                                     90%+
B                                                          800-899                                        80-89%
C                                                          700-799                                        70-79%
D                                                          600-699                                        60-69%
F                                                          599 and lower                               59% and below

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR GRADE AT ANY TIME DURING THE SEMESTER
1. Add all of the points you have earned as of today's date, excluding any points from practice activities.
2. Request current required total course points from instructor.
3. Divide your total points by the total number of required points as of today's date.
4. For your final semester grade divide your current total by 1000 or use the grade chart above.
5. Your final grade or interim grade will be calculated based on total points only, NOT AN "AVERAGE" GRADE.
6. Remember a request for an AVERAGE GRADE IS MEANINGLESS and should be avoided.
7. Your grade at any time during the time of the semester is based on a percentage of total earned points relative to total required points at the time of calculation



Your FINAL course letter grade will be based on an approximate percentage of 1000 total possible points as follows:

Letter Grades                                      Point Totals                                   Approximate Percentages

A                                                          900-1000+                                     90%+
B                                                          800-899                                        80-89%
C                                                          700-799                                        70-79%
D                                                          600-699                                        60-69%
F                                                          599 and lower                               59% and below

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR GRADE AT ANY TIME DURING THE SEMESTER
1. Add all of the points you have earned as of today's date, excluding any points from practice activities.
2. Request current required total course points from instructor.
3. Divide your total points by the total number of required points as of today's date.
4. For your final semester grade divide your current total by 1000 or use the grade chart above.
 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR FINAL GRADE FROM REQUIRED POINT SOURCES
REQUIRED EXAMS = 400/100 = 40%
REQUIRED QUIZZES = 100/1000 = 10%
REQUIRED REGULAR ASSIGNMENTS = 100/1000 = 10%
REQUIRED SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS = 50/1000 = 5%
REQUIRED CORE ASSIGNMENT = 160/1000 = 16%
REQUIRED TED ASSIGNMENTS = 100/1000 = 10%
REQUIRED GRADE CALCULATION = 20/1000 = 2%
REQUIRED ATTENDANCE ASSIGNMENTS = 70/1000 = 7%

TOTAL 1000/1000 REQUIRED POINTS = 100%

Course Policies
Instructor Policies THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE CHANGED AS NECESSARY DURING THE SEMESTER *For further details about assignments, see additional information using link in Blackboard section of this course.


1. This course will be a 16-week course.
2. Please consider this message your invitation to explore the Start Here section of this course once you have access to the course as well as a welcome to this course.
3. The Start Here section has useful information for assisting you in being more successful in online courses in general and in this course specifically.
4. This course will involve an introductory survey of the major areas of psychology, such as learning, social, testing, personality, developmental and physiological.
5. The emphasis in this course will be on psychology as the scientific study of behavior and we will study both human and animal behavior. In order to do your best in this course, you will need a basic level of skill in reading English.
6. This course is an on-campus course with in-person face-to-face meetings. 
7. All assignments, projects, quizzes, exams and other course activities will be completed online.
8. In order to complete this course you will need a reliable computer with a reliable connection to the internet in order to complete the course activities.
9. If you do not have a computer with reliable connection to the internet, you will need to arrange access to these resources.
10. You should have basic computer-related skills as described in Step Five of the Start Here section of the course (Technical Requirements for the Course).
11. Because this course is a partially online course, you will need computer-related skills and a reliable connection to the internet.
12. There will be an orientation meeting during the semester, probably during the first face-to-face meeting.
13. If you cannot attend the orientation meeting, please get in touch with me if you have questions about the course.
14. During this orientation meeting, we discuss the syllabus for the course as well as course policies and procedures.

15. The required written assignments and optional written project documents will be graded as they are received. There will be no re-submissions or corrected documents accepted.

16. You will have 2 opportunities to complete each required quiz and exam. The higher of the 2 grades for each required quiz and exam will be used as the recorded score for purposes of calculating your final course grade.

17. All quizzes and exams in this course will be completed online using the Blackboard Learning System. Students must use a wired, dedicated connection to the internet for completing exams and quizzes, which will be timed activities. . This requirement means that difficulties because of dropped internet connections associated with wireless connections will not be used as a reason for extended quiz or exam availability time.

18. All submitted assignments will be graded and marked with the number of points assigned. An explanation for the grading details result will be available by email request. The purpose of this policy is to encourage more effective two-way communication between the course instructor and individual students.

19. All late assignments will be assigned a point credit of 1 point. Late reception of assignments will be defined as reception by the Blackboard system after the due date and due time. There will be a 15 minute grace period after the due date and due time, during which there will be no late penalty assessed.

20. All assignments created by students must be saved doc or docx file format. Using any other file format will result in a 1-point penalty for each assignment not created in doc or docx file format. Any document submitted in pages file format (default format for Apple devices, such as imac notebooks, ipads and iphones) will receive zero points credit. 

21. GRIEVANCES, COMPLAINTS, AND CONCERNS REGARDING THIS COURSE: If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that cannot be resolved through discussion with the instructor, please consult GEDS Department Chair. 
Physical location: EDUC 1- Room 131-133.


22. Research has shown a strong positive relationship between attendance, participation and college success.

23. I STRONGLY recommend regular participation in this course, both mental and physical. Participation will help you succeed in this course!! Caution: I will not automatically drop your name from the class roll because you do not participate in class activities.

24. MAKEUP POLICIES - There are limited opportunities to make up missed work in this course.
A. Required assignments, quizzes and exams may be submitted late by instructor approval.
B. Students who have missed required work because of official college business and who can provide verification from a college official such as an athletic coach or student organization sponsor may turn in required work late for credit such as an assignment, quiz or exam. Bonus or extra credit work may not be submitted late for any reason.
C. No other justification will be accepted for turning in or completing work after the published due date.
D. If there is a technical problem with BlackBoard which affects all students, such as the system not working properly, there may be an extension of the availability for the quiz or exam or due date for a required assignment.
E. All students are responsible for reading and understanding these guidelines.
F. All students are responsible for maintaining a reliable connection to the internet for completing work in this course.
G. Failure to complete an exam or study guide quiz because of a failed wireless connection is not an acceptable reason for an extension of quiz or exam
H. All work will be graded as submitted.
I. The instructor will accept NO re-submissions or corrected documents. 
J. The instructor will consider an assignment submission with no document attached as an incomplete and incorrect submission. 

25. Instructor agrees to grade all assignments submitted in Blackboard within 14 calendar days after the stated due date in course syllabus.

26. Students will not bring drinks or drink containers into face-to-face meetings for this course.

27. Students may partially compensate for lost course points by completing bonus course activities.

Attendance Policy ATTENDANCE POLICY
Research has shown a strong positive relationship between attendance, active participation and college success.

I STRONGLY recommend regular participation in this course, both mental and physical. Participation will help you succeed in this course!!

Caution: I will not automatically drop your name from the class roll because you do not participate in class activities.
Additional Information ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
JAN  15, 2024 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
JAN 16, 2024 – First class day
JAN 31, 2024 - Census Date (12th class day)   
FEB 26, 2024 - Last day to drop a course or withdraw without academic penalty 
MAR 11-15, 2024 - Spring Break - no classes
MAR 29, 2024 - Easter Holiday
APR 12, 2024 Last day to drop a course or withdraw with academic penalty
APR 19, 2024 - Last day to apply for Spring graduation and pay for diploma, cap and gown                                
MAY 1-5, 2024 (Wednesday-Sunday) Final exam and quiz availability period for this course
MAY 9, 2024 - Last class day
MAY 9, 2024 - Final grades for graduates due by 4:00 pm
MAY 10, 2024 - Final grades for all others due at noon
MAY 10, 2024 – Commencement, 5:30 pm

DEPARTMENT CHAIR - GENERAL EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES - OFFICE
DR. STEVEN J. ZANI - EDUC 131-133







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 diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 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. Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431