Psychology Southeast College. PSYC Introduction to Psychology EAGLE ONLINE COURSE 3-Hour Lecture/ 48 hours per semester

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1 Psychology Southeast College PSYC Introduction to Psychology EAGLE ONLINE COURSE 3-Hour Lecture/ 48 hours per semester Instructor: Robert M. Trevino, Jr., MS, LPC Instructor Contact Information: By The most expeditious way to contact me is by at rob.trevino@hccs.edu. Your e- mail will be answered as promptly as possible. is checked often during the week and periodically on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Please insert your name and 5-digit CRN in the subject line. You may also use the course website to reach me, however, do not use the Message tool on the course website (Eagle Online). It does not keep a record of messages. Use the tool to communicate. You are expected to use college-level writing skills in all written communication, including . Use standard academic English grammar, punctuation, and capitalization (i.e., do not write in all capital letters; the personal pronoun I is always capitalized). The writing style used in text messages is not appropriate for communication in this class. Do not send attachments. By Telephone Another way to contact me is via telephone/voice mail at If I am not available, leave a voic message. Clearly state the following: 1. Your name (please spell it the first few times you call) and your CRN number. 2. Your daytime phone number(s). 3. The times (daytime) when you can be reached at those numbers. 4. Your question or your message. Your call will be returned as promptly as possible. Listen to the message carefully; if I am out of the office for an extended period of time (more than a day), the message will tell you the procedure to follow. Office location and hours Faculty area on the first floor of the Angela Morales Bldg. at the Southeast Campus. I am able to meet by appointment. Course Description PSYC 2301 is a survey course of the basic principles underlying human behavior. Emphasis is placed on major areas of study in the field of psychology, such as learning, memory, personality, health and stress, child and

2 adult development, and psychological disorders. This course transfers as three (3) hours of credit to most other colleges and universities. Prerequisites PSYC 2301 requires college-level reading and writing skills. Research indicates that you are most likely to succeed if you have already taken and passed ENGL The minimum requirements for enrollment in PSYC 2301 include placement in college-level reading (or take GUST 0342 as a corequisite) and placement in college-level writing (or take ENGL 0310/0349 as a co-requisite). If you have enrolled in this course without having satisfied these prerequisites, you are at higher risk of failure or withdrawal than students who have done so, and you should carefully read and consider the repeater policy notice that follows. Course Goals The goals of all psychology courses at Houston Community College are as follows: Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to 1. Succeed in advanced psychology courses that include related content and are required for an undergraduate major in psychology 2. Succeed in advanced psychology and psychology-related courses that include related content and are required in non-psychology majors such as nursing and education 3. Understand and evaluate psychological concepts that are covered in this course and are featured in news reports, self-help materials, and as a part of the process of seeking and engaging in psychotherapy Program Student Learning Outcomes 1. All Students: Upon completion of any course in the psychology program, students will be able to define, discuss, and apply psychological terms and concepts that are covered in the course and are also referred to in news reports, self-help materials, and the process of seeking and engaging in psychotherapy. 2. Psychology Majors: Upon completion of any course in the psychology program, students who are seeking undergraduate degrees in psychology will be able to define, discuss, and apply the key terms and concepts that are covered in the course and are also included in upper division psychology course that are required for an undergraduate degree in psychology (e.g., abnormal psychology, history, and systems of psychology). 3. Non-Psychology Majors: Upon completion of any course in the psychology program, students who are seeing degrees in fields other than psychology will be able to define, discuss, and apply the key terms and concepts that are covered in the course and are also included in psychology-related course that are required for degrees in fields other than psychology (e.g., nursing skills, consumer behavior, research methods). Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) The student will be able to: 1. Discuss the major issues in at least nine areas of psychology. 2. Explain the scientific method and how it applies to psychological research. 3. Demonstrate knowledge of and identify concepts related to personal development and the development and behavior of others. 4. Apply psychological concepts to the solution of issues and problems including ethics, coping with stressful events, health and wellness, parenting, learning, memory, and /or evaluation of media presentations.

3 Learning Objectives OBJECTIVES FOR SLO #1: Discuss the major issues in at least nine areas of psychology. 1.1 Major schools of thought in psychology 1.2 Components of the neuron 1.3 Components of the synapse 1.4 Action potential 1.5 Major neurotransmitters 1.6 Medulla 1.7 Cerebellum 1.8 Hypothalamus 1.9 Limbic system 1.10 Components of the cerebrum 1.11 Plasticity 1.12 Endocrine system 1.13 Learning 1.14 Reinforcement 1.15 Punishment 1.16 Observational learning 1.17 Characteristics of short-term memory 1.18 Characteristics of long-term memory 1.19 Phases of prenatal development 1.20 Piaget's stages of cognitive development 1.21 Erikson's stages of psychosocial development 1.22 Alzheimer's disease 1.23 General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) 1.24 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 1.25 Definition of personality 1.26 Conscious, unconscious, preconscious mind 1.27 Id, ego, and superego 1.28 Freud's psychosexual stages 1.29 Phobias 1.30 Panic disorder 1.31 Obsessive-compulsive disorder 1.32 Dissociative identity disorder 1.33 Schizophrenia 1.34 Major subtypes of schizophrenia 1.35 Major depressive disorder 1.36 Bipolar disorder 1.37 Personality disorders OBJECTIVES FOR SLO #2: Explain the scientific method and how it applies to psychological research. 2.1 Scientific method 2.2 Descriptive methods 2.3 Representative sample 2.4 Correlational method 2.5 Experimental method 2.6 Causal hypotheses 2.7 Independent variable 2.8 Dependent variable 2.9 Experimental group 2.10 Control group 2.11 Random assignment 2.12 Placebo effect

4 2.13 Placebo 2.14 Double-blind procedure 2.15 Methods of studying the brain 2.16 Methods used by Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner OBJECTIVE FOR SLO #3: Demonstrate knowledge of and identify concepts related to personal development and the development and behavior of others. 3.1 Differences among the major theoretical perspectives in psychology 3.2 Processes that occur when a neuron is activated 3.3 How neurotransmitters affect behavior 3.4 Functions of the frontal lobes 3.5 Difference between the central and peripheral nervous systems 3.6 Functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems 3.7 How the pituitary gland affects behavior 3.8 How the adrenal glands affect behavior 3.9 How classical conditioning modifies an organism's responses to stimuli 3.10 How operant conditioning modifies an organism's responses to stimuli 3.11 Difference between positive and negative reinforcement 3.12 Factors that influence the effectiveness of punishment 3.13 Information-processing approach to memory 3.14 Reconstructive memory 3.15 The function of schemas 3.16 Causes of forgetting 3.16 Effects of teratogens and other negative factors on prenatal development 3.18 Relationship between contact comfort and attachment 3.19 Differences among the various patterns of attachment 3.20 Difference between the social learning theory and gender schema theory explanations of gender role development 3.21 Process of cognitive development as Piaget explained it 3.22 Proposed causes of Alzheimer's disease 3.23 Effects of stress on the immune system 3.24 Effects of daily hassles on stress 3.25 Factors that influence individual's capacity for resisting the effects of stress 3.26 Function of defense mechanisms in Freud's theory 3.27 Views of humanistic theorists regarding the personality 3.28 Bandura's concept of reciprocal determinism 3.29 Criteria for abnormal behavior 3.30 Possible causes of schizophrenia 3.31 Symptoms of major depressive disorder Symptoms of bipolar disorder OBJECTIVES FOR SLO #4: Apply psychological concepts to the solution of issues and problems including ethics, coping with stressful events, health and wellness, parenting, learning, memory, and /or evaluation of media presentations. 4.1 Ethical standards for psychological research 4.2 Principles of behavior genetics 4.3 Principles of behavior modification 4.4 Improving memory 4.5 Effects of the authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting styles on children's development 4.6 Differences between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping 4.7 Views of Abraham Maslow regarding self-actualization 4.8 Differences between psychologists and psychiatrists

5 Core Curriculum Objectives Credit: 3 (3 lecture) PSYC 2301 satisfies the social science requirement in the HCCS core curriculum. T he HCCS Psychology Discipline Committee has specified that address the goals of the core curriculum as follows: Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate the ability to engage in inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information, and creative thinking. Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication. Quantitative and Empirical Literacy: Students will demonstrate the ability to draw conclusions based on the systematic analysis of topics using observation, experiment, and/or numerical skills. Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate cultural self-awareness, intercultural competency, civil knowledge, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. CALENDAR DATE DEC 15 DEC 19 DEC 19 DEC 20 DEC 23 DEC 23 DEC 24 DEC 28 DEC 28 DEC 29 JAN 3 JAN 4 JAN 7 CHAPTERS ASSIGNMENT/EXAM DUE COVERED CLASS START DATE CHAPTERS 1 & 2 Introduction; Science; Brains, Bodies, & Behavior Paper 1 Deadline (10:00pm) Quiz Deadline (10:00pm) (3 quizzes) Unit Exam 1 Deadline (10:00pm) CHAPTERS 5 & 6 Learning; Memory Paper 2 Deadline (10:00pm) Quiz Deadline (10:00pm) (2 quizzes) Unit Exam 2 Deadline (10:00pm) CHAPTERS 8, 10, 11 Development, Stress & Health, & Personality Paper 3 Deadline (10:00pm) Quiz Deadline (10:00pm) (3 quizzes) Unit Exam 3 Deadline (10:00pm) CHAPTERS 12 & 13 Psychological Disorders; Treatment Quiz Deadline (10:00pm) (2 quizzes) Unit Exam 4 Deadline (10:00pm) FINAL EXAM (SEE BOTTOM OF COURSE HOMEPAGE) DETAILS Instructional Methods I feel that all students have the ability to pace themselves, plan, follow detailed direction, and be held accountable. I pride myself in being fair to all students. I will not offer any student any concessions for late work, missing assessment/assignment deadlines, or requests for extra credit. PLEASE DO NOT ASK. I feel that all students have personal lives, jobs, family, and other responsibilities. If I give any concession for late work, for instance, I feel it is unfair to those students who did whatever it is they had to do to get the work in on time. Therefore as a rule, I do not make these concessions. Please do not approach me about extra credit. The grades you earn in this course is the grade you will receive in this course, with the given assignments and exams. I provide no individual projects for individual students to increase grade. All of the work is available to the student from the beginning of class. If a student wants to work ahead, they are free to. AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT ASK. Technical Compliance Notice and How to Handle Technological Problems

6 This class is a distance-education class using Eagle Online for notes, lectures and assessments. Each student must maintain Internet access throughout this course from start to finish. Additionally, students are expected to maintain a state of technical compliance, including (but not limited to): up-to-date software as required by the instructor; a stable Internet connection; and use of the Firefox browser when using Eagle Online. The instructor is not required to give consideration for lost/missing/unacceptable work stemming from technical noncompliance and/or end-user technical issues, including loss of computer or battery failure. Failure to maintain Internet access shall not constitute a valid excuse for missed work. Any student who cannot keep up with the coursework owing to a lack of computer or Internet must drop the course. Any student found to have quit logging in (one week) and whom the Professor is unable to contact is subject to being dropped without further warning, resulting in either a "W" or a "FX" grade, depending upon the time of the term at which the behavior is noted. If a student has not reset his/her profile within PeopleSoft to reflect that which he/she uses most often, the Eagle Online system will default to delivering notifications and messages to that student's HCC default address, i.e., yourfirstname.yourlastname@student.hccs.edu (please click here to access the HCC Webmail system). The Professor is not responsible for communicating with students who fail to follow this instruction. You must contact the distance education technicians when you have technology problems by going to Student Assignments The text and course content are broken up into 4 units. Unit 1 is chapters 1, 2, Unit 2 is chapters 5, 6, Unit 3 is 8, 10, 11 and Unit 4 is chapters 12, 13. When you review the calendar you will see that the 4 unit exams and associated quizzes have Deadlines spread out through the semester. This class is structured to minimize problems with students needing make ups. The only time you have to be at a physical site is for the final. It is in person. I will provide that information to you when the time draws nearer. Chapter Quizzes For each of the chapters covered in this course, students are required to take 1 quiz per chapter. You will have two attempts at each quiz and the highest score is recorded. Each of the 4 units has a major exam, covering the chapters covered in the unit. Both quizzes and exams will have deadlines and will not be accessible after this deadline. Reaction Papers The course also requires 3 reaction papers. The student will choose a topic or a concept from the chapters covered in the associated unit and write about an experience the student has had in relation to this concept. Choose a concept that is relevant to something that you have experienced in the past and write about those experiences. So do not write about how a concept COULD relate to your life (present or future tense), write about how it HAS related to your life (past tense). To receive the full credit, the responses need to be respectful to your classmates, thoughtful, well written (spelling, grammar, etc.,), understandable, relevant, between 100 and 150 words (no more, no less), and concise (no fluff). Also, I urge you not to choose a general term found in normal

7 conversation, (i.e. Learning, Stress or Memory ) - words found in the title of a chapter. You need to include somewhere in the title area, the key term and the chapter and page number in the text from which term was taken. I will grade depending on all these factors. These assignments, too, have deadlines and can be found on the calendar. A 0 will be earned if not submitted by the deadline. Do not wait until the last minute to do this. Through experience, I am able to recognize if the response is hastily thrown together, and grades are usually reflective of this. Deductions are given if directions are not followed. Unit Exams Unit Exams 1-4 (1 for each unit) are timed exams and will consist of 50 multiple choice questions. All of these exams will be administered online through Eagle Online. All of the unit exams will appear homepage on the first day of classes and are available up to a certain date in the semester. These deadline dates are noted in the calendar. You will have 80 minutes from the time you click on the exam to complete each individual unit exam. If you log off or leave the exam for any reason, the clock will continue until 80 minutes are complete. So it is important that you fully trust the internet connection you are using at this time. Points will be deducted if the 80 minute limit is surpassed. Questions will come predominantly from information in the text. See the bottom of the course homepage ( Info on Final Exam ) for more details. DO NOT WAIT TIL THE LAST MINUTE TO COMPLETE EXAMS. There are sometimes issues with this program (Eagle Online). I will be able to help if you are attempting the exam any day before the stated Deadline. If you me as soon as you are having the problems, I might be able to resolve the problem. However, if you wait until the Deadline date to attempt any exams, it will be difficult for me to have the time to provide assistance in time to beat the Deadline. My advice: TAKE EXAMS EARLY!! Remember, the deadlines are not due dates. You have the ability to do exams and assignments early. This will alleviate any last minute emergencies a student might experience. Plan to take all exams at or before the scheduled deadline time. THERE ARE NO MAKE UPS IN THIS CLASS. If you miss an exam or an assignment, remember I drop the lowest test grade and the lowest paper grade in the course. Again, it is to your advantage to take the exams well before the exam Deadline. Final Exam The comprehensive departmental final exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. It will be a no-book, no-note exam. This will be taken in the DE Testing Center at the end of the semester. See the Student Supplementary Handbook for a list of the Learning Objective Questions and Key Terms that will be included on the final. In studying for the final, the best tool is the Handbook, which is crucial for the final. Each objective may have a specific corresponding Final Exam test question related to it. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you earn a 49% or below on the final exam, your final grade in the course will be an automatic F. Instructional Materials Both the textbook and the Student Supplementary Handbook listed below are required for this course. This course utilizes Eagle Online for all assignments and exams (except the final).

8 The Student Supplementary Handbook is also required and contains the Learning Objective Questions and Key Terms for the comprehensive departmental final exam. The textbook needs to be purchased at your nearest campus bookstore or preferred textbook website (if done before the class begins). A hardcopy of the handbook can be purchased in the bookstore at minimal cost or you can get it for free on the course website. Text REQUIRED: Book: Mastering the World of Psychology, 5th Ed Author: Wood, Wood, and Boyd ISBN: Student Supplemental Handbook REQUIRED: Saenz, K., & Boyd, D. (2010). Student supplementary handbook to accompany Mastering the world of psychology (7 th ed.). Houston: HCCS. (This is provided for you for free on the course website). Learning Objectives - The textbook contains Learning Objective Questions and Key Terms for each of the nine core chapters and required topics. The Student Supplementary Handbook includes the Learning Objective Questions and Key Terms for the comprehensive Departmental Final Exam. You are responsible for all the items listed. A hardcopy can be purchased in the bookstore at minimal cost or you can get it for free on the course website. Eagle Online Student User ID Your Eagle Online login user ID will be your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the W number). All HCC students have a unique User ID. If you do not know your User ID you can look it up by visiting the HCC home page: From click on DISTANT ED at the top. Then under the column TECH SUPPORT click on the ONLINE COURSES link. Then, on the right you should see Eagle Online Sign-In. Follow the instructions. The default student password is distance. Students will then be prompted to change their password after their first login. Please visit DE Technical Support website if you need additional assistance with logging in. HCC Policy Statement - ADA Services to Students with Disabilities Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Service (DSS) office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. Students who are requesting special testing

9 accommodations must first contact the DSS office for assistance each semester. For questions, please contact Donna Price at or the Disability Counselor at your college. To visit the ADA website, please visit then click future students, scroll down the page and click on the words Disability information. District ADA Coordinator - Donna Price Central ADA Counselors - Jaime Torres, Martha Scribner also for Deaf and hard of Hearing Services and Students Outside of the HCC District Service areas. Northwest - Mahnaz Kolaini Northeast - Kim Ingram Southeast - Jette Lott Southwest - Dr. Becky Hauri Coleman - Dr. Raj Gupta After student accommodation letters have been approved by the DSS office, students will receive an confirmation informing them of the Instructional Support Specialist (ISS) assigned to their professor. HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned, and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected to be familiar with the University's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty : includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating on a test includes: Copying from another students test paper or computer; Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test; Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization; Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a test that has not been administered; Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered. Plagiarism means the appropriation of another s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one s own written work offered for credit. Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic

10 dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the Student Handbook). HCC Policy Statement: Attendance Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class (accessing the online course) regularly is the best way to succeed in this class. You are encouraged to spend an ample amount of time preparing for this course as well as completing assignments on the course website. Students may be withdrawn from the class following six assignments or tests left incomplete or undone. Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance. Simply put, going to class greatly increases your ability to succeed. You are expected to check the course website daily. Although it is your responsibility to drop a course for non-attendance, the instructor has the authority to drop you for excessive absences or failure to participate regularly. Students who do not attend class and log in to their Eagle Online class before the Official Day of Record may be dropped for non-attendance. Meningitis Immunization Required for Spring Registration Texas Senate Bill 1107 passed in May 2011, requires that new HCC students and former HCC students returning after an absence of at least one fall or spring semester who are under the age of 30 are required to present a physician-signed certificate showing they have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. Students will have to satisfy this requirement prior to enrollment. For more information and a list of exemptions please go to admissions-steps/submit-meningitis-documentation HCC Course Withdrawal Policy If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course prior to the final date of withdrawal. Before you withdraw from your course; please take the time to meet with the instructor to discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. The instructor may be able to provide you with suggestions that would enable you to complete the course. Your success is very important. Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree. To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC Distance Education has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may alert you and DE counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. to stay in class and improve your academic performance. If you plan on withdrawing from your class, it is your responsibility to initiate the

11 process either online on your own, or with the instructor. This must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal Deadline to receive a W on your transcript. It is advisable to discuss your decision to drop the class with your instructor before you finalize the withdrawal process (See "Withdrawal from a Course (W)" below). **Final withdrawal Deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal Deadlines. Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via and/or telephone with a professor and/or counselor. Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the Deadline. If you do not withdraw before the Deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade. Policy Regarding W, F, I, FX, Student Course Reinstatement Policy, and Course Repeat Fee Withdrawal from a Course (W) It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from a class and prevent an F from appearing on your transcript. When considering withdrawal from a course, remember the following information: If you withdraw before the Official Date of Record, no grade is given and your transcript reflects no record of the course. A W (indicating withdrawal) appears on your transcript if you withdraw from a course after the Official Date of Record and before the withdrawal Deadline. College policy requires instructors to write the words never attended on the official roll sheet next to the names of those students who do not attend class by the Official Date of Record. If you do not attend class before the Official Date of Record, the college may automatically drop you from the course. It is ultimately the student s responsibility to withdraw from the course. A W (withdrawal) may negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid or your visa status if you are an international student. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa. Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F because of the visa consideration. Since January 1, 2003, International Students are restricted in the number of distance education courses that they may take during each semester. ONLY ONE online/distance education class may be counted towards the enrollment requirement for International Students per semester. Please contact the International Student Office at if you have any questions about your visa status and other transfer issues. How to Withdraw If a student decides to drop or withdraw from a class upon careful review of other options, the student can drop online prior to the Deadline through their HCC Student Center.

12 HCC and/or instructors may drop students for excessive absences without notification. (see Class Attendance above). Students should check HCC s Academic Calendar by Term for drop/withdrawal dates and Deadlines. Classes of other duration (mini-term, flex-entry, 8-weeks, etc.) may have different final withdrawal Deadlines. Please contact the HCC Registrar s Office at to determine mini-term class withdrawal Deadlines. Failure of a Course (F) You will receive an F in this class if your grade is less than 60%. Receiving an F (failure) may negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid. It is YOUR responsibility to submit college level quality work in a timely fashion or to withdraw yourself from the course by the Deadline if you cannot complete your work satisfactorily. Incomplete (I) You may receive an I grade (Incomplete) only in the event of a documented emergency situation that directly involves you and that prevents you from completing the final exam. You must speak with your instructor as soon as possible in the event of such an emergency to arrange a course completion schedule. If you receive an I, you must arrange with the instructor to complete the course work before the end of the next long semester. After that Deadline, the I becomes an I/F. All I designations must be changed to grades prior to graduation. The changed grade will appear on your record as I/Grade (ex: I/B ). Final Grade of FX Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior to the withdrawal deadline may either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or be assigned the final grade of FX at the end of the semester. Students who stop attending classes will receive a grade of FX, compared to an earned grade of F which is due to poor performance. Logging into a DE course without active participation is seen as non-attending. Please note that HCC will not disperse financial aid funding for students who have never attended class. Students who receive financial aid but fail to attend class will be reported to the Department of Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of FX is treated exactly the same as a grade of F in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory academic progress. Student Course Reinstatement Policy Students have a responsibility to arrange payment for their classes when they register, either through cash, credit card, financial aid, or the installment plan. Faculty members have a responsibility to check their class rolls regularly, especially during the early weeks of a term, and reconcile the official class roll to ensure that no one is attending class whose name does not appear on it. Students who are dropped from their courses for nonpayment of tuition and fees who request reinstatement after the official date of record payment of tuition and fees who request reinstatement after the official date of record (OE Date) may be reinstated by making payment in full and paying an additional $75 per course

13 reinstatement fee. A student requesting reinstatement should present the registrar with a completed Enrollment Authorization Form with the signature of the instructor, department chair, or dean who should verify that the student has been regularly attending class. Students who are reinstated are responsible for all course policies and procedures, including attendance requirements. A dean may waive the reinstatement fee upon determination that the student was dropped because of a college error. The dean should note the nature of the error in a memo to the registrar with appropriate documentation. Course Repeat Fee The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes. To increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to graduate. Effective fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available. HCCS Student Course Grade Appeal Procedure Any student who takes issue with the course or how it is taught should first express his or her specific concerns to the instructor. Any challenges to the final course grade are governed by the HCC Student Course Grade Appeal Procedure. The following statements are excerpts from the Procedure: ( A student has a right to appeal a grade that the student believes was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was based on bias, caprice, or computational or clerical error. Faculty members have a right to have the grades they assign upheld unless it is clearly demonstrated that a grade was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was based on bias, caprice, or computational or clerical error. The student has the burden of proof. The student must present clear evidence that a grade was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was based on bias, caprice, or computational or clerical error. STUDENT SERVICES HCC Policy Statement Students Responsibility to read the HCC DE Student Handbook/Student Services The Distance Education Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique to the DE student. Students should have reviewed the handbook as part of the mandatory orientation. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the handbook's contents. The handbook contains valuable information, answers, and resources, such as DE contacts, policies and procedures (how to drop, attendance requirements, etc.), student services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning, etc.), course information, testing procedures, technical support, and academic calendars. Refer to the DE Student Handbook by visiting this link:

14 Distance Education Advising and Counseling Services Much DE student information can be found on the DE Student Services website: de.hccs.edu. Advising or counseling can be accomplished through our online request form AskDEcounseling. Counselors and Student Services Associates (SSA) can assist students with admissions, registration, entrance testing requirements, degree planning, transfer issues, and career counseling. In person, confidential sessions, can also be scheduled to provide brief counseling and community referrals to address personal concerns impacting academic success. EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term. Early Alert HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may alert you and counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. Online Tutoring HCC provides free online tutoring in writing, math, science, and other subjects. How to access AskOnline: Click on the Ask Online button in the upper right corner of the Eagle Online course listings page. This directs students to the HCC AskOnline Tutoring site: Use your student ID or HCC address to create an account. Instructions, including a 5-minute video, are provided to make you familiar with the capabilities of this service. Social Networking DE students are encouraged to become a fan of DE on Facebookhttp:// and to follow DE on Twitter: These social networking sites help DE foster student engagement and provide a sense of community for the online learner. Students will also stay informed about important information and announcements. Library Resources As a DE student you have the same access to first-rate information resources that the HCC Libraries make available to all HCC students. A special website pulls together all the tools DE students will need to get their research rolling. Visit Library Resources specifically for Distance Education students. CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR As with on-campus classes, all students in HCC Distance Education courses are required to follow all HCC Policies & Procedures, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and relevant sections of the Texas Education Code when interacting and communicating in a virtual classroom with faculty and fellow students. Students who violate these policies and

15 guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action that could include denial of access to course-related , discussion groups, and chat rooms or being removed from the class. As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. Your instructor takes this responsibility very seriously and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for him/her to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and assist your instructor achieve this critical goal. Students are expected to conduct themselves professionally in their communication with the instructor, their classmates, and college staff and administration. Behavior inappropriate to the collegiate setting (including but not limited to abusive/derogatory/threatening/harassing language directed at the instructor or towards other students, staff, or administrators) will not be tolerated, and may result in removal from the course if severe and/or repeated. INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to: -Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be derived -Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities, discussions, and lectures -Give an adequate description of any special projects or assignments -Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness and make up. -Provide the course outline and class calendar which will include a description of any special projects or assignments -Arrange to meet with individual students before and after class as required To be successful in this class, it is the student s responsibility to: -Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities -Read and comprehend the textbook -Complete the required assignments and exams: Bloom s Taxonomy Analysis, Educational Philosophy Paper, Midterm Exam, Final Exam, and Field Study -Ask for help when there is a question or problem -Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, handouts and all assignments -Complete the field study with a 70% passing score Read the HCC student Handbook. It provides more information about student rights and responsibilities. ( Additional note: As with any three-hour course, in a regular sixteen week semester, you should expect to spend at least six hours per week outside of class reading and studying the material (you need to adjust that accordingly if the session is shorter than 16 weeks). I will provide assignments to help you use those hours wisely.

16 Additional time may be required for written assignments. Successful completion of this course requires a combination of reading the textbook and completing assignments and exams. There is no short cut for success in this course; it requires reading (and probably re- reading) and studying the material using the Learning Objective Questions as your guide. PROGRAM/DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS The psychology discipline committee has approved the following requirements for all sections of PSYC 2301: All students must take the department final exam. All instructors must require at least one written assignment. All instructors must include assignments, exams, or activities in their syllabi that address all of the HCCS core curriculum standards (see above). GRADING Your final course grade will be calculated by totaling the following grades: 10 Chapter Quizzes - 1 point each 10 points or10% of grade 4 Chapter Exams 15 points each 45 points or 45% of grade (*drop the lowest of 4) 3 Reaction Papers - 10 points each 20 points or 20% of grade (*drop the lowest of 3) 1 Mandatory Comprehensive Departmental Final 25 points or 25% of grade *Note: when figuring final grade, make sure to drop lowest unit exam and reaction paper or you will get an inaccurate total. The final point value resulting from the total sum of the above components will be converted into a letter grade according to the following scale: A = B = C = D = F = Below 60 NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus and will notify the class.