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Spring 2026 Course Syllabus
Course: PSYC-2301 (Section: 71D, CRN: 11197) General Psychology |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||
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| Instructor | Spencer Acadia | ||||||||
| acadias@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6330 | ||||||||
| Office | Educational I - Room: 131 | ||||||||
| Office Hours | None | ||||||||
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| 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.
Sage Vantage courseware for Psychology (2022, 7th ed.) by J. S. Nairne & D. M. McBride |
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| Additional Materials/Resources |
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| Corequisites/Prerequisites | None | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes |
1. Understand the history of psychology and identify its historical impacts on contemporary psychology 2. Understand and identify essential topics, themes, issues, and terminology in psychology 3. Understand and identify essential theories and perspectives in psychology 4. Understand and identify essential concepts in the social and cultural aspects of psychology 5. Understand and identify essential factors in the physiological and psychological processes of human behavior 6. Understand and identify essential research methods in psychology 7. Understand and identify essential approaches and standards in the assessment and evaluation of mental health |
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| Core Objectives |
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| Lecture Topics Outline |
An Introduction to Psychology The Tools of Psychological Research Biological Processes Human Development Sensation & Perception Consciousness Learning From Experience Memory Language & Thought Intelligence Personality Motivation & Emotion Social Psychology Psychological Disorders Therapy Stress & Health |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
Week 1
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| Final Exam Date | May 7, 2026 - 12:00 AM | ||||||||
| Grading Scale |
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| Determination of Final Grade |
The maximum number of points in this course is 1,000; this is 100% of the total course grade, broken down as follows:
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| Course Policies | |||||||||
| Instructor Policies |
Late Work Because this course is structured as it is, late work does not exist. Each assignment has a required due date, and each exam has a designated access window; these dates are posted above in their respective sections. If you miss the required due date for an assignment or an access window for an exam, you lose the opportunity to complete it. You will receive a zero for that assignment or exam unless you have an official exception from LSCPA, as mentioned previously. Thus, it’s essential that you be active in the class, keep due dates and access windows on your calendar, and complete work when it’s due. Incomplete Grades If possible, an incomplete grade should be avoided, and asking for one should be a last resort. No student is guaranteed an incomplete; however, the instructor will consider giving an “I” grade under the following conditions:
The instructor is responsible for engaging you with interesting and thought-provoking content, encouraging you to think critically and analyze issues from multiple perspectives, and helping you gain a deeper understanding of psychology. The instructor is responsible for fairly evaluating your performance through scheduled graded assignments and exams. The instructor aims to reply to student emails within 72 hours (3 business days) during weekdays, Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays. Student Responsibilities Because the course is delivered entirely online via Blackboard and Sage Vantage, you are responsible for having access to a computer and reliable, stable internet access. If you do not have your own, you can visit LSCPA’s on-campus computer labs in the Gates Memorial Library, Student Success Center, and the Education Building, or use the Laptop Loan Program. You can also check with your local public library to see if they offer computer access. It's recommended to use a hardwired internet connection rather than Wi-Fi. If your connection drops out, you may lose your progress. While the instructor’s role is to facilitate the learning process, you are responsible for taking personal, independent initiative and holding yourself accountable for your learning. To do your best in this class, you must have:
Time Management Completing this course requires you to complete online work independently. Remember that exams have specific access windows, and you must take them during these windows. Also, keep in mind that assignments have both recommended and required due dates; if you follow the recommended dates (or work ahead), you won’t fall behind, but the required date is when you must finish them. Manage your time wisely each week to ensure you’re making progress throughout the course. Using the Library The Gates Memorial Library has plenty of resources to help you be academically and professionally successful. You aren’t required to use any of their resources for this course, but feel free to contact them to see what resources and services are of interest to you. Academic Integrity & Support Academic honesty is expected of all students, and any form of dishonesty will not be tolerated. For the consequences of academic dishonesty, please consult the “Academic Dishonesty” section in the Student Handbook, available from the LSCPA Policies webpage. If you need academic support specifically for this course, contact the instructor. If you need general academic support that is not specific to this course, you can contact LSCPA’s Academic Advising online or by phone at 409-984-6186 and/or LSCPA’s Pathway to Excellence program online. Mental Health Support If you need mental health support, please consult the “Mental Health Resources” information located online via LSCPA’s Student Services. Technical Support If you need technical support with Blackboard, please contact LSCPA’s Information Technology at 936-496-5379 or bbhelp@lamarpa.edu. If you need technical support with Sage Vantage, please contact Sage Vantage Support at 833-591-2849 or create an online support account to submit an incident. For other technical issues, contact LSCPA’s IT Help Desk at 409-984-6150 or submit a service ticket online. |
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| Attendance Policy |
This course is entirely online, and live classroom attendance is not required. However, for university reporting purposes, the instructor will determine your virtual attendance by reviewing assignment and exam completion and verifying your Blackboard login days and times, as required by LSCPA. |
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| Additional Information |
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| 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 Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. 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. |
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| 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 |
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