Summer I 2026
General Psychology
Approved: Initials/date PSYC 2301 (2A1) CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: TSI Complete for Reading COURSE DESCRIPTION General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to 1. Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology. 2. Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology. 3. Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology. 4. Use terminology unique to the study of psychology. 5. Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation. 6. Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Jarrod Rossi, MS, MBA, EdD Email: jrossi@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-880-7143 Office Location: Virtual Office Hours: TBD REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology-2e Color: ISBN-13: 978-1-975076-45-0 Black and White: ISBN-13: 978-1-975076-44-3 Digital PDF: ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-23-7 Assignable: ISBN-13: 978-1-961584-76-1 ATTENDANCE POLICY This course is online and students are expected to maintain an active online presence in class by logging in and participating in weekly discussions at least twice (2x) a week. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. COURSE CALENDAR DATE TOPIC READINGS (Due on this Date) ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) Week 1 Ch. 1 – Introduction to Psychology Ch. 2 – Psychological Research Chapter Readings, PPts, Posted Videos for the Week Weekly DB (initial posts by Wednesday, comments by Sunday) Chs 1 and 2 Quizzes Module 1 Exam by Sunday 11:59 PM Week 2 Ch. 4 – States of Consciousness Ch. 5 – Sensation and Perception Chapter Readings, PPts, Posted Videos for the Week Weekly DB (initial posts by Wednesday, comments by Sunday) Chs. 4 and 5 Quizzes Module 2 Exam by Sunday 11:59 PM Week 3 Ch 6 – Learning Ch 8 – Memory Chapter Readings, PPts, Posted Videos for the Week Weekly DB (initial posts by Wednesday, comments by Sunday) Chs. 6 and 8 Quizzes Module 3 Exam by Sunday 11:59 PM Week 4 Ch. 9 – Lifespan Development Ch 12 – Social Psychology Chapter Readings, PPts, Posted Videos for the Week Weekly DB (initial posts by Wednesday, comments by Sunday) Chs. 9 and 12 Quizzes Module 4 Exam by Sunday 11:59 PM Week 5 Ch. 11 – Personality Ch. 15 – Psychological Disorders Chapter Readings, PPts, Posted Videos for the Week Weekly DB (initial posts by Wednesday, comments by Sunday) Chs. 11 and 15 Quizzes Module 5 Exam by Sunday 11:59 PM Core Assessment Assignment COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Informal Assessments (30% of Total Grade) o 5 Weekly Discussion Boards – 100 points each (20%) o Chapter Quizzes – 10 points each (10%) • Core Assessment Assignment (Module 1 Assignment) (20% of Total Grade) o 100-point assignment • Exams (50% of Total Grade) o 5 Module Exams - 100 points each GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses AI Use Policy Students may use AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, or similar platforms) to support their learning, but not to replace their own critical thinking, understanding, and work. All submitted assignments, projects, and exams must primarily reflect the student’s original effort. • Permitted Use: AI tools may be used for brainstorming, organizing ideas, refining writing style, or checking grammar and mechanics. • Prohibited Use: Submitting AI-generated work as one’s own, relying on AI in place of required readings or original analysis, or completing assignments primarily through AI without significant personal input. • Academic Integrity: Misuse of AI that undermines the learning process or violates academic honesty will be treated as misconduct under institutional policy. • Citing AI Use: If AI tools are used, students must clearly acknowledge this. For example: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Aug 21 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/ STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION Weekly Discussions 20% of Total Grade (each 4%) This course includes 5 weekly discussions designed to promote critical thinking and meaningful interaction. Each student must post one initial response to the weekly prompt by Wednesday. Initial posts should be substantial, well-developed, and written in clear academic/professional language; posts full of slang, run-on sentences, or poor grammar will not receive full credit. In addition, each student must post two replies to classmates by Sunday of the same week. Replies should extend the conversation by raising thoughtful points of agreement or disagreement, providing evidence or examples, and demonstrating engagement with the topic. Simple acknowledgments such as “I agree” or “Great post” are not sufficient for credit. Chapter Quizzes 10% of Total Grade (each 1%) There are a total of 10 quizzes covering each chapter, 2 per week. These quizzes are comprised of 10 multiple choice questions each. Each quiz has a 15-minute time limit. All quizzes are due on Sunday each week by 11:59PM. These should be taken as soon as possible each week as they are practice for the upcoming weekly Module exams. Core Assessment Assignment 20% of Total Grade As part of the university’s core curriculum requirements, all students in PSYC 2301 must complete the Core Assessment Assignment. This project requires students to apply psychological research methods and concepts to a provided experimental scenario. Students will identify the independent and dependent variables, interpret research findings, and explain potential confounding variables using theories from multiple chapters of the textbook. The assignment must be completed in APA format with proper citations and references, and will include a cover page, in-text citations, and a reference list. This assessment is worth 20% of the overall course grade and is a required component of the course. Failure to complete the Core Assessment will result in an incomplete fulfillment of course requirements. Module Exams 50% of Total Grade (10% each) The course is divided into five modules, each ending with a proctored exam covering the assigned chapters. Exams will consist of a combination of multiple-choice and true/false questions. Question values may vary by format (e.g., multiple choice vs. true/false) but will total 100 points per exam. The exams are designed to assess your understanding of key concepts, theories, and applications from the textbook and lectures. Together, the five module exams make up a significant portion of your final grade, so steady preparation throughout each module is essential. Each exam has a 90 minute time limit. Late Work Policy Due to the short, 5-week nature of this summer course, no late work will be accepted. This course has an easy-to-follow structure, with each week having the same assignments (ie, 2 quizzes, a discussion board and an exam) except Week 5, in which the Core Assessment Assignment is due (this assignment should be started by the end of Week 1). Exams: Make-up exams will only be given with prior instructor approval and valid documentation.