Course Syllabus

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Delaware County Community College

Fall B Term 2021

PSY 140: General Psychology

CRN 404 – Section 0B

 

INSTRUCTOR: Christine Coates, MS, LPC 

EMAIL: ccoates4@dccc.edu

OFFICE: Room 3310 BCSS Division located in the Academic Building

PHONE: BCSS Division 610-359-5230

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a one-semester introduction to the basic principles and major theoretical approaches that are used to explain human behavior, with an emphasis on understanding and application of such principles and theories as they relate to ourselves and our surroundings.

Course Prerequisites: ENG 050 and REA 050

 

COURSE COMPETENCIES

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  • Explain the nature of psychology and describe the methods used by psychologists to study behavior.
  • Identify the major physiological structures involved in the study of behavior.
  • Identify the principles of sensation and perception describing illustrative phenomena.
  • Describe current theories of learning and thinking explaining their influence in education, life-span development and other life situations.
  • Describe the major trends in explaining human emotion and motivation and how they are assessed.
  • Identify the major theories of human personality and development.
  • Evaluate the impact of major trends in analyzing ourselves, interpersonal and social relationships, and the origins, classification and treatment of mental disorders.
  • Explain the relationship among physiology, perception, learning, cognition, motivation and personality, applying them to understanding life situations.

 

COURSE MATERIALS

"Psychology"  Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W., & Lovett, M. (2020). Psychology, 2e, OpenStax. 

Psychology by Open Stax

Hardcover: ISBN-13: 978-1-975076-45-0

Paperback: ISBN-13: 978-1-975076-44-3

Digital: ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-23-7

*REQUIRED

 

You have several options to obtain this book:

COURSE CALENDAR

 

Week

Date

Topic

Reading

Assignment/Activity

(everything is included in the module)

1

10/26-10/31

Introducing the World of Psychology       

Ch. 1

Ch. 1 Module

1

10/26-10/31

Psychological Research           

Ch. 2

Ch. 2 Module

2

 11/1-11/7

Biopsychology

Ch. 3

Ch. 3 Module

2

11/1-11/7

States of Consciousness

Ch. 4

Ch. 4 Module

2

 11/1-11/7

Sensation and Perception

Ch. 5

Ch. 5 Module

3

11/8-11/14

Learning and Behavior

Ch. 6

Ch. 6 Module

3

11/8-11/14

Thinking and Intelligence

Ch. 7

Ch. 7 Module

3

11/8-11/14

Memory

 

Ch. 8

Ch. 8 Module and

 

4

11/15-11/21

Lifespan Development

Ch. 9

Ch. 9 Module

4

11/15-11/21

Motivation and Emotion

Ch. 10

Ch. 10 Module

4

11/15-11/21

Personality

Ch. 11

Ch. 11 Module

5

11/22-11/28

Social Psychology

Ch. 12

Ch. 12 Module

5

11/22-11/28

Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Ch. 14

Ch. 14 Module

6

11/29-12/5

Psychological Disorders

Ch. 15

Ch. 15 Module

6

11/29-12/5

Research Paper Due 12/5/21

N/A

Research Paper

7

12/9-12/10

FINAL EXAM Due  12/10/21

N/A

Final Exam

NOTE: Schedule and assignments are subject to change.  Complete details about reading and homework assignments are in Canvas.

Important Dates:      11/24/21 WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE

                                     11/25/21 THANSGIVING

                                   12/5/21 RESEARCH PAPER DUE

                                   12/9/21-12/10/21 FINAL EXAM

GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

GENERAL GRADING INFORMATION

  1. Evaluative comments made by me about your work in this course are not intended as judgments of you as a person, but rather as informed, intelligent, and sensitive responses regarding your understanding of the concepts on which the class focuses and your use of the skills on which the assignments depend. I welcome any questions you have about the grade.  Any questions concerning your grade should be addressed with me within one week of your receipt of the grade.
  2. The course is organized by topics which are detailed in the course calendar as well as in the module descriptions for each week.
  3. I will make every effort to grade and return assignments to you within one week of receiving them.
  4. Please organize your time in a way that allows you to complete assignments thoughtfully and thoroughly.  Online courses are often more demanding time wise and thus, please make sure that you arrange your schedule in such a fashion that you are able conveniently to access the course online. Unless there is an exceptionally compelling circumstance, late work is not accepted.
  5. Please keep a copy of all your work for the course.  

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS

ASSIGNMENT NAME

POINTS

Quizzes

20% total

Chapter Assignments

20% total

Discussions

20% total

Research Paper

20% total

Final Examination

20% total

 ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS:

Quizzes- there will be a brief quiz to complete for each chapter within the module.  Quizzes will be due at the end of each week (Sunday night). 

Assignments - various writing exercises will be used to assess knowledge of topics throughout the semester.  Your responses should demonstrate your critical thinking skills, and the expectation is that your responses will include examples from the book, article, video, etc. to exhibit your abstract reasoning.  Using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation is necessary.  Points will be deducted accordingly if you do not meet these standards.  Due at the end of each week.

Discussions-  There will be a weekly discussion posted within each module.  You must respond to the prompt and reply to at least one classmate’s response. Generally, initial responses are due on Thursday of a given week, with a reply to either peers or faculty by Sunday of the same week. This pacing allows peers to read/respond to classmates’ ideas.  Logging in and posting multiple posts on one day alone will not suffice; you need to be actively engaged throughout the week to be eligible for full weekly credit.  Unfortunately, there is no way to grant extensions fairly for forums, no different than missing a class of a face-to-face course.  Participation is no longer possible after Day 4 for an initial post and Day 7 for replies.

Research Paper- In order to further an appreciation and understanding of psychology, you will research and write a scholarly paper on ONE of the following: a famous psychological experiment or study, a prominent psychologist, or a psychological concept and its applications. Paper should be 4-5 pages long, typed, and double spaced. Use at least three references. APA format. More information about this project will be posted during the semester.

Final examination – the final exam will consist of multiple choice, matching and essay questions.  Content will be derived from readings, quizzes, and class activities.

 

*Edited Standard Written English (ESWE)

Since dialects abound in our culture and we are prone to using slang often, it is important to make the distinction between what type of language is appropriate to use in a professional setting versus a personal setting.  For this reason, we will employ the use of Edited Standard Written English in this course.  If an assignment is unreadable due to grammatical and/or spelling mistakes, I reserve the right not to read it and/or to return it to you for revising. See the Purdue Online Writing Lab for additional information.

American Psychological Association (APA) Format

As necessary and per the directions for an assignment, please use the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.  You should be prepared to cite all information that is quoted and/or paraphrased from the textbook and lecture material.  This source citation should include in-text citation as well as the appropriate works cited entries.  See DCCC’s APA information guide for more information.

 

COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

DEFINING OUR ONLINE ENVIRONMENT

  1. This course does NOT require you to come to campus in order to complete any assignments including exams and/or quizzes.
  2. A week is considered 12:01 a.m. on Monday through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.  Typically, weekly deadlines will be Sundays by 11:59 p.m.   
  3. You should expect to log into the course at least once every 48 hours to check for new messages and any course updates.  

E-MAIL COMMUNICATION ETIQUETTE

  1. Please e-mail me using the e-mail feature in Canvas. If you’re not able to access Canvas, you may e-mail me using my DCCC account.
  2. Typically, I answer all e-mails within a 24-hour period.  However, please give me up to 48 hours to respond to your message. If you don’t receive a reply within 48 hours, please send the message again.
  3. I log into our course daily and check it throughout the day. Please make sure to send any questions you may have about the week’s work to me before noon on Saturdays.

DISCUSSION FORUM ETIQUETTE

  1. Our online discussions should be conducted in the spirit of collegiality. It is an opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts, ideas, and experiences with one another for the sake of advancing our knowledge and understanding of relevant issues.  When an online discussion is assigned, please fully participate in the online discussion by reading and responding respectfully to your classmates and instructor.  
  2. During an online forum discussion, I may respond in one of three ways.  First, I may respond to each person’s individual post.  Second, I may respond to certain posts on the forum.  Third, I may post a summary statement in response to posts that have been so far in the forum.  While you may not see a post from me in response to something you’ve written, it does not mean that I am not reading the forum.   

ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY

      You should plan on logging into the course at least every 48 hours to check for messages and to keep current with course content.  No Show Withdrawal (NS) is initiated by the instructor and is issued for all students who register for a course, but do not have any online activity during the first week of class or have logged in only once during the first week of class as documented by the instructor’s attendance records (or equivalent thereof for shorter terms). The NS is issued through the Registrar’s office and results in no refund of tuition and fees to the student. 

    If you choose to do so, you are responsible to withdraw yourself from the course by the student withdrawal deadline for the current term.  Students are not withdrawn from a class because they stop attending, but rather receive a grade that best indicates their level of achievement of all the competencies of the course.  Students who withdraw from classes may face significant academic or financial consequences, including paying money back to the College. If you are considering withdrawing from this course, please talk with me first. I can give you an honest assessment of your course progress and likelihood of success. If you receive financial aid, you should also check with Enrollment Central. All students should consult their academic advisor before withdrawing from any course. Also, it should be noted that the privilege of Student Withdrawal is not permitted for students who violate the College’s Academic Honesty Policy.  For a more detailed explanation, please see the College’s withdrawal policy.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

     According to the DCCC Student Handbook: “DCCC regards academic dishonesty on the part of students as unacceptable behavior that could result in dismissal. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cribbing or cheating on examinations or quizzes.”  Please see the College’s Academic Honesty policy for more information. The consequences for committing an act of academic dishonesty in this course include receiving an automatic zero for the assignment/quiz without the option of resubmission.   I report all instances of plagiarism to the Provost of the College.  Additional consequences could include failing the course and expulsion from the College.  

COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSION INFORMATION

    Images in the lecture videos are used with permission of the textbook publisher or by way of a Creative Commons license as indicated by the designer of the image.   See external websites used in the course for their respective copyright information. The lecture videos are protected by copyright and may not be used outside of the course unless permission is granted by the instructor.

ADA COMPLIANCE

    Delaware County Community College welcomes students with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to those who have self-identified and have been approved by the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Please present your accommodation letter to me as soon as possible so I can support your success. Accommodations cannot be granted retroactively. If you have not yet contacted ODS or have questions, please contact the ODS.  Students on the Marple campus and online students can visit the office in the Academic Building, room #1335 or contact Ann Binder, Director of Disability Services, at 610-325-2748 or by email at abinder@dccc.edu. Students on Branch campuses can contact Kelly Kiefer, Assistant Director of Disability Services, by email at kkiefer2@dccc.edu or by phone at 484-237-6251. All services are confidential.

    For accessibility information for the various software products used in the course, please see DCCC’s Online Learning Accessibility and Privacy statements page.

Title IX Statement

    “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”  Delaware County Community College is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students that is free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.  If you (or someone you know) has experienced any of these incidents, the College has trained staff to support you.  If you wish to speak to someone in a confidential manner, you can speak with a counselor by contacting the Career & Counseling Center at the Marple Campus, Room 1325 (610-359-5324) or the Student Services area at one of our branch campuses.    All other College employees (except counselors) who are made aware of or witness discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation are required to promptly report to the Title IX Coordinator. Any student who is aware of or who witnesses such behavior, is encouraged to promptly report to a Title IX Coordinator. All initial contacts will be treated with the maximum possible privacy. Specific information on any complaint received by any party (outside of counselors) will be reported to a Title IX Officer and subject to the College’s obligation to investigate and redress violations. Every reasonable effort will be made to maintain the privacy of those initiating a report of a complaint. In all cases, the College will give consideration to the complainant with respect to how the complaint is pursued but reserves the right, when necessary to protect the community, to investigate and pursue a resolution when an alleged victim chooses not to initiate or participate in a formal complaint.  To make an official report regarding an incident, you can contact the Office of Safety and Security or the Title IX Coordinator, Sara Evans at sevans28@dccc.edu or 610-359-5094. A complete list of DCCC’s Title IX investigators can be found here.

 

ASSESSMENT

    Delaware County Community College is committed to the continuous improvement of its courses and programs.  Student work in this course may be used to determine the extent to which the course, program, or college academic learning outcomes are being met.  Student work will be used in a way that preserves the anonymity of the student.  If a student’s work is used for assessment purposes, the fact that a student’s work has been used for assessment will have no impact, positive or negative, on a student’s grade.

College Academic Learning Goals Designation: Critical Reasoning (CR)

DCCC’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

    Students are expected to show respect for their classmates, themselves, and their instructors by conducting themselves with maturity, demonstrating sincere interest in the ideas of others, and employing good manners.  Students are expected to show appreciation for the diversity of backgrounds and skills of their classmates.  Violations of equal educational opportunities should be reported according to procedures given in the Student Handbook.  General complaint and sexual harassment complaint procedures are detailed in the Student Handbook.  Since DCCC serves a diverse community and our students belong to a number of different faith communities, please let me know in advance if assignment due dates conflict with a religious observance.  

RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS

    Any student who faces challenges securing food or other basic needs that may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact The Student Resource Center at Marple campus or Career and Counseling Services at any of the other campuses for confidential support. This will allow the College to recommend resources and services that the College could provide to help students fulfill nutritional, academic, technological, and other personal needs. Please see the Student Resource Center page for specific details about the resources and services for students.   If you are comfortable doing so, notifying your professor about the challenges you are experiencing can be extremely helpful because it may enable your professor to provide other means of support throughout the semester.  To request support when not on campus or to get more information about the resources and services the College offers, you may send an e-mail to  resourcecenter@dccc.edu or askacounselor@dccc.edu.  

 

LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES

LEARNING COMMONS

   The Delaware County Community College Learning Commons serves as a center for students, faculty and staff in a dynamic space that supports the College’s commitment to student success.  Library Services, Writing and Tutoring Services and Technology Services are available to active students and may be accessed online.  See the Learning Commons page for more information.

STUDENT AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT

   The College offers many services to support students including tutoring, counseling, and financial aid, among others.  See the College’s Support Services page for a complete listing of student and academic support resources.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT, REQUIREMENTS, AND SKILLS

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

     You can contact DCCC’s Digital Learning department for technical support at distance@dccc.edu or call or text 610-359-5158 during regular business hours.  You can also contact Canvas for 24/7 support by clicking on the Help button on the left-hand side of the screen when logged into Canvas.

     For delaGATE login issues and DCCC student email issues contact the IT Support Center at 610-359-5211 or support.dccc.edu.

DCCC COMPUTER, NETWORK, AND INTERNET POLICY

     As a DCCC student, you are asked to abide by the Computer, Network and Internet Policy of DCCC as described in the Student Handbook.

PRIVACY POLICY

     For information about the data privacy policies for the various software products used in the course, please see DCCC’s Online Learning Accessibility and Privacy statements page.

SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

Please follow these software and hardware guidelines for our course:

A.  You must have access to a computer—not just a tablet or smartphone—to complete this class. While the Canvas mobile app is a valuable tool to have on a smartphone, this course cannot be completed in its entirety using a mobile device as some features are not fully functional on a mobile device.  As of January 5, 2019, Android apps require version 5.0 or later and iOS apps require version 11 or later.   Please see the basic computer specifications recommended by Canvas.

B.  Internet Browser: Please see the browser support page for up-to-date information about which browsers Canvas supports.  For our proctored exams, you will need to use Google Chrome.

C. Word Processing: I would suggest typing all of your work in a word processing document first and saving it before submitting it via Canvas.  As a DCCC student, you have a free Office 365 account which gives you to access Word, PowerPoint, and Excel from any networked computer or tablet. To set up an account, go to the Office 365 Education page and enter your DCCC student e-mail address.  There are other free word processing applications as well such as Google Docs or org.

D.  Adobe Acrobat: Some course files are in Portable Document Format [PDF]. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to print them.

 

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also download and print it for free or purchase/rent a bound print version at a very low cost. 

Psychology by Open Stax

You have several options to obtain this book:

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due