Summer I 2026
General Psychology
Approved: Initials/date PSYC 2301 (2A3) CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 Lab hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: TSI Complete for Reading COURSE DESCRIPTION An introductory survey of the major areas of psychology such as learning, personality, social, testing, developmental, and physiological. Emphasis is on psychology as the scientific study of behavior and includes both human and animal behavior. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to • Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology. • Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology. • Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology. • Use terminology unique to the study of psychology. • Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation. • Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior CORE OBJECTIVES MEASURED • Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. • Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. • Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS) - manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. • Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Chelsea Lee Email: clee3@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-259-0075 Office Location: TC 206 Office Hours: REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS Psychology 2e Open Stax. Rose M. Spielman, William J. Jenkins, and Marilyn D. Lovett. Printed by XanEdu in Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Original Publication Year, 2020 978-1-975076-45-0 Hardcover Book ISBN-13 9 978-1-975076-44-3 B & W Paperback Book ISBN-13 978-1-951-693-23-7 Digital Version ISBN-13 ATTENDANCE POLICY Because this course is fully online, there are no scheduled in-person class meetings. However, regular participation and consistent engagement are still expected throughout the semester. Students are responsible for actively keeping up with the course by regularly logging into Blackboard, reviewing announcements, checking messages, completing assignments, and staying aware of upcoming deadlines. Simply being enrolled in the course does not constitute participation. This course is designed with weekly assignments, quizzes, journals, exams, and learning materials that build on one another throughout the semester. Students who fall behind or fail to engage consistently may struggle to successfully complete the course. Students should expect to: • Check Blackboard and LIT email regularly for announcements and course communication • Stay current with assignments and deadlines • Read and follow assignment instructions carefully • Engage honestly and thoughtfully with course material • Communicate with the instructor when questions or issues arise Online courses require the same level of academic effort and time commitment as traditional face-to-face classes. As a general guideline, students should expect to spend approximately two to three hours each week studying, reviewing material, and completing coursework for every credit hour enrolled. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified date as listed in the College Calendar on the Student Success web page. 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) Module 1 (Weeks 1 & 2) Ch. 1 Introduction to Psychology Ch. 2 Psychological Research Methods Ch. 3 Biopsychology Chapters 1, 2, 3 Syllabus Quiz Module 1 Journal Module 1 Quiz Module 1 Exam All due 6/15/2026 Module 2 (Week 3 & 4) Ch. 14 Stress, Lifestyle and Health Ch. 15 Psychological Disorders Ch. 16 Therapy and Treatment Chapters 14, 15, 16 Module 2 Journal Module 2 Quiz Module 2 Exam All due 6/29/2026 Module 3 (Weeks 5 & 6) Ch. 7 Thinking and Intelligence Ch. 8 Memory Ch. 9 Lifespan Development Chapters 7, 8, 9 Module 3 Journal Module 3 Quiz Module 3 Exam All due 7/13/2026 Module 4 (Weeks 7, 8 & 9) Ch. 10 Motivation and Emotion Ch. 11 Personality Ch. 12 Social Psychology Chapters 10, 11, 12 Module 4 Journal Module 4 Quiz Module 4 Exam Core Assessment All due 8/3/2026 Module 5 (Weeks 10 & 11) Ch. 4 States of Consciousness Ch. 5 Sensation & Perception Ch. 6 Learning Chapters 4, 5, 6 Module 5 Journal Module 5 Quiz Module 5 Exam All due 8/14/2026 COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: Exams 50% Assignments/Quizzes 30% Core Assessment 20% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS For the latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc., review the Minimum Computer and Equipment Requirements on the LIT Online Experience page. 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. 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 1. Respectful Participation and Online Learning Expectations Although this course is fully online, students are still expected to actively participate in a respectful and professional learning environment. Students may encounter viewpoints that differ from their own. Respectful disagreement supports critical thinking, scholarly discussion, and learning; however, disrespectful, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated in course communications, discussion spaces, messages, or assignments. Because online courses require strong time management and self-discipline, students are expected to check Blackboard and their LIT email regularly for announcements, assignment updates, feedback, and course communication. Students should not wait until deadlines approach to review course materials or ask questions. Online courses are not easier or less time-consuming than traditional face-to-face classes. Students should expect to spend approximately the same amount of time reading course materials, watching lectures, studying, completing assignments, and preparing for quizzes and exams. As a general guideline, students should expect to spend 2–3 hours per week on coursework for each credit hour enrolled. Because PSYC 2301 is a 3-credit-hour course, students should plan to spend approximately 6–9 hours per week actively engaged in course-related work. Students are expected to: • Stay current with weekly assignments and deadlines • Read announcements and course instructions carefully • Communicate professionally and respectfully • Participate honestly in all coursework and academic activities • Take responsibility for managing their own schedule and progress throughout the semester To protect the learning environment and the privacy of all participants, students may not record, distribute, repost, or share course materials, videos, instructor lectures, announcements, discussion posts, or class communications without prior instructor approval. This policy does not apply to students with approved accommodations through the college’s accessibility services, Special Populations. Students with approved accommodations should provide appropriate documentation and coordinate with the instructor as early as possible. 2. Late Work Policy Students are expected to submit assignments by the posted due dates. Staying on schedule is important in a college course, especially because many assignments and activities build on course concepts discussed in class. Journals Journal reflections may be submitted late through Blackboard without prior instructor approval; however, late submissions will receive a 15% deduction from the earned grade unless otherwise approved by the instructor due to documented extenuating circumstances. Example: • A journal earning a 100% would become an 85% after the late penalty Late journals are not guaranteed immediate feedback or grading and may not be graded until later in the semester. Quizzes Quizzes must be completed by the posted deadline and cannot be submitted late. Quizzes already allow multiple attempts and extended availability windows to support student success, so late quiz submissions will not be accepted. Major Assignments / Core Assessments For major assignments, Core Assessments, or other locked Blackboard assignments, students must contact the instructor to discuss the situation before the assignment can be reopened. Late major assignments that are accepted will receive a 15% deduction from the earned grade unless otherwise approved by the instructor due to documented extenuating circumstances. Example: • An assignment earning an 80% would become a 65% after the late penalty. Final Deadline for Late Work Late work will not be accepted after the last official class day of the semester unless arrangements have been discussed and approved by the instructor in advance. Students should not wait until the end of the semester to submit multiple overdue assignments. This deadline allows sufficient time for grading and final grade submission. Additional Information • Late work is not guaranteed immediate grading and may not be graded until the end of the semester. • Assignments submitted after final grades are submitted will not be accepted. • Students are strongly encouraged to communicate early rather than waiting until the end of the semester. 3. Exams All exams for this course are completed online through Blackboard. The course and exams will be available from the beginning of the semester, allowing students the flexibility to work ahead if they choose. However, students are still responsible for meeting all posted deadlines. Each module exam: • Consists of 34 multiple-choice questions • Is timed for 50 minutes • Allows only one attempt • Must be completed before the posted deadline • Does not allow backtracking once an answer has been submitted Exams are not proctored, and students may use notes or course materials while testing. However, students should understand that the time limit is designed to reward preparation and familiarity with the material. Students who rely too heavily on searching notes, textbooks, or online resources during the exam may struggle to finish within the allotted time. Running out of time, poor time management, forgetting to study, or misunderstanding the exam settings (including the no backtracking feature) do not qualify for a second attempt or exam reset. Because exams are available for an extended period of time, students are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last minute to complete them. Technical issues, internet problems, or personal emergencies occurring near the deadline may not be grounds for reopening an exam. If a significant unexpected situation occurs that affects a student’s ability to complete an exam, the student must communicate with the instructor as soon as possible to discuss the situation. Decisions regarding exam resets, extensions, or exceptions are left to instructor discretion based on the circumstances and communication provided by the student. 4. Extra Credit Limited extra credit opportunities may be offered at the instructor’s discretion. Extra credit is optional, announced in advance, and available to all students. 5. Course Drops Students are responsible for managing their enrollment. Failure to log into Blackboard, submit assignments, or not attending class does not result in automatic withdrawal. • Last day to drop without academic penalty: June 22, 2026 • Last day to drop with academic penalty: July 17, 2026 6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Academic Integrity Policy All submitted work must reflect the student’s own understanding, thoughts, experiences, and original writing. While this course includes psychology concepts and terminology, many assignments are intentionally reflection-based and designed to help students connect course material to real life, personal experiences, observations, and critical thinking. The goal of this course is not simply to memorize psychological theories or definitions, but to recognize psychology in everyday life and apply concepts in meaningful ways. Because of this, students are expected to write in their own voice and demonstrate authentic engagement with the material. Students are not required to disclose deeply personal experiences, trauma, medical information, illegal activity, or other sensitive personal details in order to complete reflection-based assignments successfully. Students may instead use observations, hypothetical examples, fictional characters, public situations, or general life experiences when applying psychology concepts. Use of AI tools (such as ChatGPT or similar programs) to generate journal responses, written assignments, discussion responses, or reflections is not permitted unless explicitly authorized in the assignment instructions. Assignments may be reviewed using plagiarism and AI-detection tools. In addition, indicators such as: • generic or repetitive responses, • formatting inconsistent with assignment instructions, • pasted AI formatting, • AI-generated source tags or hyperlinks, • inaccurate or fabricated information, • or writing that does not reflect the student’s typical work may result in the assignment being flagged for academic integrity concerns. If AI-generated or plagiarized work is suspected, the student may receive a temporary grade of zero and be required to meet with the instructor to discuss the assignment before a final decision is made. Depending on the situation, the zero may remain in place or the student may be allowed to revise and resubmit the assignment for partial credit at the instructor’s discretion. Reasons why unauthorized AI-generated work is not permitted: • Submitting AI-generated work as one’s own constitutes academic dishonesty • AI-generated responses are often repetitive, generic, and lack meaningful personal reflection • Reliance on AI limits critical thinking, writing development, and genuine engagement with course concepts • Reflection assignments are designed to assess the student’s understanding and application of psychology, not AI’s ability to generate responses 7. Submission Responsibility Students are responsible for verifying that the correct assignment or file has been successfully submitted to Blackboard before the deadline. Submitting the wrong file, a blank document, a corrupted file, or an unreadable submission may result in the assignment being considered late. If an incorrect file is submitted, students should contact the instructor as soon as possible with the correct attachment and an explanation of the issue. Acceptance of corrected submissions and any applicable late penalties will be handled in accordance with the course late work policy and at the instructor’s discretion. If a technical issue occurs during submission, students must notify the instructor as soon as possible and provide appropriate documentation when available. Technical issues do not automatically excuse late work, especially when assignments have been available for an extended period of time. 8. Submission Method All assignments must be submitted through Blackboard. Assignments emailed to the instructor will not be accepted and will receive a zero unless prior instructor approval has been granted. 9. Blackboard Technical Issues Claims of Blackboard-related issues must be supported by a Help Desk ticket submitted at the time the issue occurred. Screenshots alone do not constitute sufficient documentation. 10. Collaboration Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all assignments are individual work. Collaboration on individual assignments, including sharing answers or discussion responses, is not permitted. 11. Grading and Feedback Expectations The instructor will make every effort to grade assignments and provide feedback in a timely manner. As a general guideline, most assignments are typically graded within approximately one week of the submission deadline. However, grading timelines may vary depending on factors such as assignment volume, late submissions, holidays, course demands, or the complexity of the assignment. Some assignments may require additional time in order to provide meaningful feedback and evaluation. Students are encouraged to regularly monitor Blackboard for updated grades, feedback, and course announcements. 12. Grade Review Requests Students may request a review of a graded assignment within five (5) business days of the grade being posted. Please note that grades may be adjusted up or down after review. 13. Communication & Email Students must communicate with the instructor through Blackboard messaging or their official LIT email account in compliance with FERPA guidelines. Emails sent from personal or non-LIT accounts will not receive a response. To help ensure timely communication, all messages should include: • A clear subject line • The course and section number • A brief explanation of the question or concern Students should allow approximately 12–24 hours for responses on weekdays and up to 48 hours on weekends or holidays. Messages sent outside instructor office hours may not receive an immediate response. Emails sent late in the evening, on Friday afternoons, over the weekend, or during holidays should not be expected to receive a response until the next business day or Monday. Students are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid waiting until right before an assignment or exam deadline to ask questions. Please note that emails sent directly to the instructor’s personal LIT email account may experience delayed responses. Course-related communication and questions should be submitted through Blackboard messaging whenever possible to help ensure faster response times and accurate course documentation. 14. Syllabus Changes The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus or course schedule as necessary to address unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be communicated through Blackboard.