Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Course Prefix and number: PSY 101-13
Course Title: Introduction to Psychology
Monday and Wednesday 3:30PM-4:45PM
Room: ICB 2702
CREDIT HOURS: 3
CONTACT HOURS: 3
LECTURE HOURS: 3
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an introduction to psychology as a science and the determinants of human
personality and functioning. This course also focuses on how we may use the principles of
physical and emotional/cognitive growth, learning, personality functioning and coping, and
social interactions in our everyday lives.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor name: Peter Fauver
Phone number to contact instructor: Dept. phone (309) 268-8595
Instructor e-mail address: pfauver@heartland.edu
Location of instructor's office: ICB 2102 (SBS Adjunct Office)
Instructor's office hours:
By appointment, please feel free to email me any questions you have
TEXTBOOK(S):
Required: Myers, D. G. (2009). Psychology in everyday life. New York, NY: Worth.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TRANSFERABILITY:
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S. degree. This
course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation
Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an
academic advisor for transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at
www.itransfer.org for more information.
General Education:
Do students have the required skills to live and learn in contemporary society? Typically, the first two
years of a four-year degree are devoted to the general education curriculum. At Heartland Community
College the general education program is designed to ensure that students have experiences which help
develop the abilities to communicate, problem solve, think critically and value the diversity which
abounds in the world. The general education program is designed to help students make connections
between academic courses & real life, between prior knowledge & new knowledge, and between prior
experiences and different ways of knowing. To help students make these connections in Psychology
101, we have embedded the general education curriculum into the learning outcomes of this course.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will develop an increased proficiency in the following areas:
Communication:
1. Be able to apply the many theories of psychology to real life.
Diversity:
1. Understand, apply and communicate the major theoretical perspectives of psychology including
biological, psychodynamic, social, behavioral, and cognitive views.
Problem Solving:
1. Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the history of science and research methods that
have developed in psychology.
Critical Thinking:
1. Understand, apply and communicate the major theoretical perspectives of psychology including
biological, psychodynamic, social, behavioral, and cognitive views.
2. Be able to apply the many theories of psychology to real life.
Other:
1. Understand the importance of neurobiology and physiology and its impact on human behavior and
development.
2. Be able to identify and appraise various abilities, functions, failures, and pathology of human
behavior and mental processes.
3. Have acquired an awareness and appreciation of various theories and factors related to
developmental processes throughout the lifespan, and the role of testing to assess those
processes.
4. Be able to identify and appraise how psychology research and theory can improve human
functioning at all stages of life.
COURSE OUTLINE:
This outline is a brief representation of what each instructor will include while teaching this class. There
may be additional material that is included; each instructor may vary the presentation of the topics as
well as how much time is spent on each topic.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Psychology's Roots
Research Methods
Neuroscience
Consciousness
Human Development Through The Lifespan
Gender and Sexuality
Sensation and Perception
Learning
Memory
Thinking, Language, and Intelligence
Motivation and Emotion
Stress and Coping
13.
14.
15.
16.
Personality
Psychological Disorders
Therapy
Social Psychology
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Final grades will be determined according to the following scale:
Exams
3 exams x 100pts each
=300pts
Quizzes
10 Quizzes x 10pts each
=100pts
Journals
10 Journals x 10 pts each
=100pts
=500 total points
A >= 450pts
B >= 400pts
C >= 350pts
D >= 300pts
F<
300pts
Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and two essay questions. On the essay portion
there will be three to four essay prompts from which you may choose two to answer.
Quizzes will be posted on blackboard. These quizzes are a review of the reading and serve to
inform your instructor of the class’s comprehension of the text. Quizzes are to be complete prior
to the start of class.
Journals are accessed on blackboard. Journal entries should be 290 – 310 words (one page).
What to do when blackboard doesn’t work: Email your instructor (pfauver@heartland.edu).
For journal assignments, simply include your journal in the text of the message.
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
Every instructor will require a minimum of 10 pages (equivalent to 10 typed, double spaced, pages) of
writing from each student. This may be accomplished through a combination of various writing
requirements such as: term papers, essay questions on exams, journaling assignments, writing within
projects, reflective papers, or other written assignments.
SYLLABI DISCLAIMER:
The instructor reserves the right to change any and all assignments, rules or requirements in this
class without prior notice. Students will be notified of any changes in assignments, rules or
requirements at the earliest possible moment.
Academic Support Center Services:
Library
The Library, located in the Student Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides Heartland
students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases, videos, newspapers,
periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist in locating information. For
more information, please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
Tutoring Services
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students at the
Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are available at
convenient times throughout the week. Study groups are also available by request. For more information
about services available at each location, please call the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal (309) at
268-8231, the Pontiac Center at (815) 842-6777, or the Lincoln Center at (217) 735-1731.
Testing Services
The Tutoring and Testing Center provides a secure testing environment for students who are enrolled in
online, hybrid, and other distance learning courses; have a documented disability; or need to take a
make-up exam. Testing accommodations for students having documented disabilities must be arranged
by the student through the Office of Disability Services, and Testing Services will only administer makeup exams at the request of the instructor. Contact Testing Services at (309) 268-8231 for more
information.
Open Computing Lab
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times throughout the
week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the use of approximately 70
computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
Disability Support Services
Heartland Community College offers Disability Support Services (DSS) with offices located in the
Academic Support Center. DSS ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to the
college’s programs, services and activities through the provision of reasonable accommodations as
outlined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. DSS offers a
wide range of services to support students with disabilities, including: assistive technology, document
conversion services, personnel, classroom and testing accommodations. Students with a documented
disability who wish to discuss academic accommodations can contact disability support services at
(309)268-8259.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College and is
essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because grading may be
competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of their fellow students. The
College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious offense requiring disciplinary
measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion from the College. In addition, an act
of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning cheating or
other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification of academic
records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or
systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper, create a
project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work, except for that
which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is considered a serious
academic offense and may take the following forms:
• Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
• Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
• Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
• Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
• Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your
own.
• Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were your
own.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New
York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for plagiarism may be
severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in the course or expulsion from school
in extreme cases.
On-Line Course Evaluations
On-line course evaluations are completed during the last three weeks of class by selecting the link in
your myHeartland account.
Philosophy of Grades
The Heartland Community College grading philosophy grows out of our vision of educational excellence.
This common philosophy provides a framework for each academic division and instructor as they
establish their own individual course grading system, evaluation methods, and course policies using the
shared general rubrics for letter grades given below.
Letter grades serve as a vehicle to promote meaningful evaluation of student achievement, to inform
students of academic progress, and, as necessary, to improve student performance, habits, and
practices. Using a letter grade as a prerequisite for subsequent courses means we believe that the
grade was assigned through a conscious judgment about a student’s readiness to proceed to more
advanced study.
At Heartland, students’ academic achievement is measured by their mastery of course objectives and
content. We challenge students to meet these recognized standards of achievement and we assign
grades based on their success in doing so. Simply stated, we believe that the responsibility for academic
achievement rests with the student and that holding students responsible for their learning promotes
their academic growth.
Letter Grade Rubrics
“A” This grade represents consistently outstanding performance that demonstrates superior
understanding and skillful use of important course concepts. Performance at this level signifies that the
student is extremely well prepared to continue with more advanced study of the subject.
“B” This grade represents performance significantly beyond the level necessary to achieve the course
objectives. Work is of high quality but not consistently at an outstanding level. Performance at this level
signifies that the student is well prepared to continue with more advanced study of the subject.
“C” This grade represents an acceptable achievement of the course objectives. Performance at this level
signifies that the student is reasonably well prepared to continue with more advanced study of the
subject.
“D” This grade represents less than adequate performance. It signifies questionable readiness to
proceed with more advanced study of the subject.
“F” This grade reflects unacceptable performance. The student is not yet ready to proceed with more
advanced study of the subject, and must repeat the course successfully to receive credit.
Course Calendar
Monday
Wednesday
Jan 10
Chapter 1
Journal
MLK Day
Jan 12
Chapter 2
Journal
Chapter 3
Jan 26
Chapter 4
Journal
Chapter 5
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 6
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 7
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Spring Break
Feb 9
Mar 17
Mar 21
Lab
Journal
Chapter 8
Mar 24
Chapter 8
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 9
Mar 28
Chapter 9
Mar 31
Exam 2: Chapters 5-9
Apr 4
Apr 6
Apr 11
Chapter 10
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 11
Apr 18
Chapter 12
Apr 20
Apr 25
Chapter 13
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 14
Journal
Apr 27
Chapter 10
Journal
Chapter 11
Journal
Chapter 12
Journal
Chapter 13
May 4
Chapter 14
Jan 17
Jan 24
Jan 31
Feb 7
Feb 14
Feb 21
Feb 28
Mar 7
Mar 14
May 2
May 11 2:00 PM FINAL EXAM
Jan 19
Feb 2
Feb 16
Feb 23
Mar 3
Mar 10
Apr 13
Chapter 1
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 2
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 3
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Chapter 4
Complete Quiz BEFORE class
Exam One: Chapters 1-4
Chapter 5
Journal
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Journal
Spring Break