Houston Community College System
PSYC 2301: Introduction to Psychology
Spring, 2011
Instructor: Dr. Genevieve D. Stevens
How to contact the instructor: Please use the e-mail tool on the Blackboard course homepage to contact
the instructor. (Click "Mail" on the Course Tools list.)
HCCS MISSION STATEMENT
The Houston Community College System is an open-admission, public institution of higher education
offering associate degrees, certificates, academic preparation, workforce training, and lifelong learning
opportunities that prepare individuals in our diverse communities for life and work in an increasingly
international and technological society.
CORE CURRICULUM COMPETENCIES
This course addresses core competencies as follows:
Reading: Students are required to read a college-level textbook.
Writing: Students are required to write essays.
Speaking: Students are required to participate in class discussions.
Listening: Students are required to listen critically to discussion entries/responses.
Critical Thinking: Students are required to respond to critical thinking questions.
Computer Literacy: Students are required to use the Internet to complete course requirements.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Course Goals
Psychology 2301 is a survey of the basic principles underlying human behavior. The course emphasizes
major areas of study in the field of psychology.
Contacting the Instructor
The primary means of communication between the instructor and students in this course will be by
Blackboard Vista e-mail. (Click "Mail" on the Course Tools list.)
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Textbook
Wood, S., Wood, E., & Boyd, D. (2010). The World of Psychology (7th Ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
The textbook is required. You cannot succeed without it. The book is available in the HCC-Central, as well
as other HCC System-wide bookstores.
If you prefer an e-book, you can buy one at coursesmart.com (no practice tests) or at mypsychlab.com
(includes practice tests).
If you shop online for your book, any version of the 6th edition is acceptable. If you're buying a new book,
you can buy it directly from the publisher at pearsonhighered.com for less than you will pay at amazon.com
or barnesandnoble.com. If you are buying a used book online, please buy it from an online used bookstore
rather than from an individual seller on ebay or some other auction site. Why? Every semester I have
several students who get behind in the course because they are waiting for a book they bought on ebay or
from an individual seller on another auction site. If you choose to buy your book from an individual seller,
then be advised that there will be no adjustments in due dates to accommodate your lack of a textbook.
Supplement
Student Supplementary Handbook for The World of Psychology (6th or 7th Ed.). The supplement is
available in the HCC bookstore or on Blackboard free of charge. It lists all of the objectives and key terms
that are covered on the final exam. It is required, but, as noted, it is posted on the course homepage. It is a
Word file that you can download to your own computer or print out. You don't have to buy it from the
bookstore unless you don't want to be bothered with printing it out yourself.
Final Exam Workbook
This is posted on Blackboard. It is a Word file that you can download to your own computer, type in, and
save your work. It is required, and completing it is one of your assignments, as you will see below.
Chapter Notes
Notes for each chapter are posted on Blackboard. These are available for your convenience. If you find
them helpful, use them.
Videos
Recommended videos for each chapter are listed in the assignment schedule below. To view them, you
must go to learner.org and set up an account. They are taken from two series, The Mind and Discovering
Psychology. To find the series, click on the "view programs" tab at the top of the learner.org page. Then
type "The Mind" or "Discovering Psychology" in the search box. The videos are optional. If you find them
helpful for understanding the chapters, use them. You may also find some of them to be helpful in
reviewing for the final exam.
POLICIES
Technical Requirements, Instructor Policies & Student Responsibilities
1. Blackboard e-mail is the primary means of communication between the instructor and students. Students
should use the e-mail tool on the Blackboard course homepage to contact the instructor.
2. This is both an in class and a Web-based course in which instruction will be delivered via the World
Wide Web utilizing Blackboard software. Students are strongly advised not to depend on a blackberry
phone device or similar device to attempt to take this course.
In order to access Blackboard, you must use a PC or Mac that conforms to the technical requirements that
are described on this page: https://d2.parature.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=244890
The page includes instructions for ensuring that your PC or Mac is compatible with Blackboard. Note that
other devices that can be used to access the Internet (e.g., cell phones) are not compatible with Blackboard.
Therefore, the instructor will not extend deadlines or make any other accommodations for students who
choose to use such devices. If you do not have a Blackboard-compatible computer, open-access
computer labs are available on every HCC campus. You may also be able to access HCC Blackboard
courses using computers on other college campuses or in public libraries.
For technical problems or questions, contact Technical Support by clicking "Student Help" at the bottom of
the Blackboard log-in page. The only technical problems that will result in deadline extensions or other
changes in the course schedule are those that affect all students' ability to access the course, such as an
interruption of Blackboard server accessibility. Thus, if you have technical problems, you should resolve
them as quickly as possible.
3. Students with disabilities who require modifications must notify the instructor of the specific need as
soon as possible after enrollment. To be eligible for modifications, students must clients of the HCCS
office serving students with disabilities or of a comparable department at their home institution.
4. Instructions for submission of all assignments must be followed. If an assignment specifies electronic
submission of materials, no other format is acceptable.
5. Students are expected to read the syllabus, read the textbook as assigned, adhere to specified deadlines
and policies, and to keep up with assignments.
6. Assignments, quizzes, and other materials that have specific due dates must be submitted by 11:30 PM
(Central time) on the date indicated in the course schedule.
7. Questions for the instructor are to be submitted via Blackboard e-mail.
8. Students who are dropped from the class for administrative reasons (e.g. TASP/THEA compliance,
failure to pay) may not submit assignments or take exams until documentation of correction of the problem
is provided to the instructor.
9. A grade of "I" (incomplete) will be considered only for those students who have completed at least 80%
of quizzes, exams, and assignments. Only students who are unable to complete the class because of illness
or other extraordinary circumstance may receive an I. In addition, only students who discuss their situation
with the instructor prior to the end of the semester may receive an I. In all cases, regardless of
circumstances, the instructor reserves the right to refuse to award an I.
10. The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus at any time during the course.
11. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED!
NOTICES: CERTAINLY, DISTANCE EDUCATION POLICIES MAY BE UPDATED FROM
TIME TO TIME. THE MOST EFECTIVE WAY TO ACCESS ALL INFORMATION ABOUT
DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES AND POLICIES ARE BY VISITING
http://de.hccs.edu/de/de-student-handbook
Blackboard Student User ID
Your Blackboard 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 www.hccs.edu, under the column “CONNECT”, click on the “Student System Sign In” link
Then click on “Retrieve User ID” and follow the instructions.
Or use the direct link to access the Student Sign In page:
https://hccsaweb.hccs.edu:8080/psp/csprd/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG
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 your log
in.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
The State of Texas imposes penalties on students who drop courses excessively. Students are limited to no
more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career at a Texas public college or
university. You must make sure that you withdraw yourself from this course, should you find yourself in
any situation in which you do not think you will complete the course, or if you are not satisfied with your
course progress. Please remember that the Professor cannot withdraw you from the course if you miss the
deadline for withdrawing from the course.
Final Withdrawal deadlines:
·REGULAR SPRING COURSES: April 21, 2011, 4:30pm
·SPRING SECOND START COURSES: April 21, 2011 4:30pm
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 713.718.8500 to determine mini-term class
withdrawal deadlines.
Prerequisite Courses and Skills
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 1301. The minimum requirements for enrollment
in PSYC 2301 includes placement in college-level reading (or take GUST 0342 as a co-requisite) 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.
Repeater Notice
Students who repeat a course three or more times are subject to additional course fees at HCC and
other Texas public colleges and universities. 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.
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 appropriate HCC Disability Support Service
(DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. Students who are requesting special
testing accommodations must first contact the appropriate DSS counselor for assistance.
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 for the purpose of maintaining an international student’s visa. Please contact
the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about your visa status and other
transfer issues.
EVALUATION
Chapter Exams
Students will complete multiple-choice online chapter exams (25 questions each). The exams are available
at the beginning of the course, so students can complete them at their own pace. However, each exam must
be submitted by 11:30 PM on the due date shown in the schedule below. Each exam will count 100 points,
for a total of 1100 points.
Follow these steps to do well on the exams:
1. Read the assigned chapter and listen to lecture materials.
2. Read the chapter notes that are posted on Blackboard.
3. Watch the recommended video.
4. Review the assigned chapter and notes. Ask the instructor questions about anything you don't
understand.
5. Take the exam. You can use the book, but there is a two hour time limit on each exam. So, if you don't
know the chapter very well before you start, you are unlikely to have time to use the book to your best
advantage.
Note: Exam keys are not provided. If you miss an item, try to find the correct answer in your textbook. If
you can't find it, send me an e-mail and I will direct you to the correct answer.
Final Exam Workbook
Students will be required to complete all of the exercises in the Final Exam Workbook and submit their
answers by the date shown in the schedule below. To complete the workbook, click on "Final Exam
Workbook" on the course homepage. Highlight the entire document and copy and paste it into a file on
your own computer, flash drive, CD, or wherever you want to save it. Open the file with your own word
processing software (Word, WordPerfect, Works, or whatever) and type in your answers. Don't worry
about the formatting. Save the document with your last name as the file name. Submit it by the date in the
schedule below as an attachment to an e-mail using Blackboard e-mail; click "Mail" on the Course Tools
list. The workbook will be graded on completion, and it will count 300 points.
Psychology in the News Discussions
There will be ten weekly discussions. Students will discuss reports of psychological research that appear in
the media. Students will choose which reports to comment on using the links to media reports that are
posted on the page that you will see when you click on "Psychology in the News Discussions" on the
course homepage. Each student must post at least twice to each discussion. Postings must be at least 5
sentences in length and include comments on the substance of the chosen report. One posting should be an
original statement, and the other one should be a reply to another student's posting. Discussions will be
graded on a pass/fail basis. Both must be posted by 11:30 PM on the due dates shown on the course
schedule below. For each posting that meets the criteria, students will receive 5 points. If a student posts a
message that does not meet the criteria, the student will receive 0 points. Discussions will count a total of
100 points.
Practice Final Exam
A practice final exam will be available on the course homepage beginning May 7, 2010, and will be due by
the date shown in the course schedule below. When you finish the practice final, you will receive a
percentage grade to help you determine how ready you are for the final. However, for the purposes of your
grade in the course, the practice final will be graded on completion. If you do it, you will get 100 points.
Note: Correct answers will be provided for the Practice Final Exam as soon as you complete it.
Departmental final exam
All students will be required to take a comprehensive departmental final exam consisting of one hundred
multiple choice questions. All the information you need to prepare for this exam is in the Student
Supplementary Handbook. The exam will be administered on campus. Students who are absent from the
final exam without discussing their absence with the instructor in advance or within 24 hours afterward will
receive a zero. The final exam may not be taken early under any circumstances. The department final will
comprise 400 points.
Course grades
Grade
Points Required
A
1800-2000 (90%+)
B
1600-1799 points (80-89%)
C
1400-1599 points (70-79%)
D
1200-1399 points (60-69%)
F
<1200 points (<60%)
Grades will be available on the course homepage and at hccs.edu. College policy prohibits posting of
grades.
Extra Credit
There is no extra credit in this course. You have the opportunity to gain 500 points simply by completing
the discussions, the final exam workbook, and the practice final exam. Therefore, you have ample
opportunity to compensate for any low grades you might get on the chapter exams. In addition, everything
you need to know to succeed on the final exam is available to you from the first day of the term. There will
be no surprises on the final. How well you do on the final exam will depend on the degree to which you
take advantage of all of the information that is available to you.
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
Date
1/17-1/23
1/24-1/30
1/31-2/6
Assignments
1/17-MLK Holiday; Read Chapter 1
Read Chapter 1 Notes
Watch Discovering Psychology Episode #2
Complete Chapter 1 Exam by 11:30 PM on 1/23
Read Chapter 2
Read Chapter 2 Notes
Watch The Mind Episode #7
Complete Chapter 2 Exam by 11:30 PM on 1/30
Read Chapter 5
Read Chapter 5 Notes
Watch Discovering Psychology Episode #8
Complete Chapter 5 Exam by 11:30 PM on 2/6
Read Chapter 6
Read Chapter 6 Notes
Watch The Mind Episode #10 and Episode #11
Complete Chapter 6 Exam by 11:30 PM on 2/13; Participate in Discussion 1, due by
11:30 p.m. on 2/13.
Read Chapter 8
Read Chapter 8 Notes
Watch Discovering Psychology Episode #5
Complete Chapter 8 Exam by 11:30 PM on 2/21; Participate in Discussion 2, due by
11:30 p.m. on 2/20.
Read Chapter 9
Read Chapter 9 Notes
Watch The Mind Episode #19
Complete Chapter 9 Exam by 11:30 PM on 2/27: Participate in Discussion 3 by 2/27
Read Chapter 10
Read Chapter 10 Notes
Watch Discovering Psychology Episode #12
Complete Chapter 10 Exam by 11:30 PM on 3/6; Participate in Discussion 4 by 3/6
Read Chapter 11
Read Chapter 11 Notes
Watch Discovering Psychology Episode #17
Complete Chapter 11 Exam by 11:30 PM on 3/13; Participate in Discussion 5 by 3/13
Happy Spring Break!!!!! Nothing Due!!!!
2/7-2/13
2/14-2/20
2/21-2/27
2/28-3/6
3/7-3/13
3/14-3/20
3/21-3/27
3/28-4/3
4/4-4/10
4/11-4/17
4/18-4/24
4/25-5/2
Final Exams
Week: 5/6-5/8
Read Chapter 12
Read Chapter 12 Notes
Watch The Mind Episode #4
Complete Chapter 12 Exam by 11:30 PM on 3/27: Participate in Discussions 6 by 3/27
Read Chapter 13
Read Chapter 13 Notes
Watch The Mind Episode #9
Complete Chapter 13 Exam by 11:30 PM on 4/3; Participate in Discussions 7 by 4/3
Read Chapter 14 (and pp. 544-546, including Review & Reflect table on pp. 544-545)
Read Chapter 14 Notes
Watch Discovering Psychology Episode #21 and Episode #22
Complete Chapter 14 Exam by 11:30 PM on 4/10: Participate in Discussions 8 by 4/10
Practice Final Available 4/11 and due 4/17; Participate in Discussion 9 by 4/17
Participate in Discussion 10 by 4/17;
Use the Supplement, Workbook, Chapter Notes, Videos, textbook, etc., to study for the
Final Exam Complete Final Exam Workbook. Submit completed Workbook as an
attachment to an e-mail (Using Blackboard e-mail; your last name as file name) by
11:30 PM on 5/2; Study for Comprehensive Final to be given 5/6-5/8 weekend as
scheduled by DE office.
FINAL EXAM: Consult your DE Calendar and website for your class’s scheduled
Final Exam. Use your Wood Supplement, also called the Student Supplementary
Handbook, to study for your Final Exam! Also, DE posts locations and times via email
about midweek before final exam weekend, as well as on the website!
DUE DATES
DATE
1/22
1/30
WHAT'S DUE
Chapter 1 Exam
Chapter 2 Exam
2/6
2/13
2/20
2/27
3/6
3/13
3/27
4/3
4/10
4/17
4/23
5/2
Chapter 5 Exam
Chapter 6 Exam ; Discussion 1
Chapter 8 Exam; Discussion 2
Chapter 9 Exam; Discussion 3
Chapter 10 Exam; Discussion 4
Chapter 11 Exam; Discussion 5
Chapter 12 Exam; Discussions 6
Chapter 13 Exam; Discussions 7
Chapter 14 Exam; Discussion 8
Practice Final Due; Discussion 9
Discussion 10
Final Exam Workbook due, and to be submitted as an attachment on Blackboard Email. Please
send as a word doc, not docx. Please put your last name on your submission.
5/6-5/8
Study for your Final Exam, using the Wood Supplement posted on Blackboard. Bring two
sharpened No. 2 pencils, with good erasers, to the Final. It is a HCCS SYSTEMWIDE
DEPARTMENTAL FINAL EXAM
Consult the Academic Calendar for your Class’s scheduled final exam time and day.