Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: PSY 101-18
Course Title: Introduction to Psychology
Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours - Lecture Hours: 3; Laboratory Hours: 0
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.
Class Schedule: Wed 6:00-8:50pm
Room:
ICB 2702
Textbook:
Required: Myers, David G. (2012) Psychology in everyday life (2nd ed). New York, NY: Worth.
Instructor Information:
Name:
Department Phone Number:
E-mail address:
Office:
Office Hours:
Kim Wilson
(309) 268-8590
kim.wilson@heartland.edu
ICB 2102 (SBS adjunct office)
By appointment. Please email me with questions or concerns &
I’ll be happy to schedule a mutually convenient time to meet.
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this course is to provide the opportunity to acquire comprehensive knowledge of human
behavior. It is equally important to me that you begin to formulate your own theories on the causes and effects
of behavior as a result of studying the research and theories of leading psychologists in the field. As a
behavioral science, psychology uses both empirical research and statistics to support the merits of each theory.
On the surface much of psychology may appear to be common sense; however, psychology is a complex and
difficult field made up of a wide range of theories to explain human nature.
The study of human behavior is essential to understanding not only ourselves, but also the social context in
which we exist. As students examine topics such as interpersonal relations, mental illness, parenting, and
sexuality, they should challenge themselves to widen their perspectives and apply their growing understanding
of human behavior to their own lives.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND TRANSFER:
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 Program and Course Learning Outcomes:
PSY 101 is a course within the General Education Program at Heartland, and as such, contains learning
outcomes that help students develop proficiency in Communication, Diversity, Problem Solving, and Critical
Thinking. Specifically, upon completion of this course, students will develop an increased proficiency in the
following areas:
Communication:
1. Apply the many theories and concepts 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. Apply the many theories and concepts of psychology to real life.
Other:
1. Understand the importance of neurobiology and physiology and its impact on human behavior and
development.
2. Identify and appraise various abilities, functions, failures, and pathology of human behavior and mental
processes.
3. Demonstrate 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. 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.
Psychology’s Roots
Research Methods
Neuroscience
Consciousness
Human Development Through The
Lifespan
Gender and Sexuality
Sensation and Perception
Learning
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Memory
Thinking, Language, and
Intelligence
Motivation and Emotion
Stress and Coping
Personality
Psychological Disorders
Therapy
Social Psychology
COURSE POLICIES:
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
EXAMS:
You will be given four unit exams throughout the semester, followed by a cumulative final at the end.
Exam questions may be comprised of multiple-choice, short answer, true/false, matching and essay
questions. Material covered will be available through your textbook, lectures, videos, or additional
assigned readings.
If you complete ALL course requirements (projects, papers, exams) and your class average at the end of
the semester prior to the final exam is 90% or above, you will not be required to take the final exam.
All exams will be worth 100 points. A missed exam will result in a score of zero. I will drop the lowest
of your first four unit exam scores, but I will NOT drop your final exam score. If you miss a unit exam,
you will receive a zero and I will drop that as your lowest exam score at the end of the semester. Your
final exam score will count toward your final course grade no matter what, even if it is your lowest exam
score. Missing a unit exam (and receiving a zero) will make it impossible for you to have a 90%
average after the 4th exam, thereby making it impossible for you to skip the comprehensive final exam.
QUIZZES:
Quizzes will be given periodically throughout the semester. Typically, I will announce them ahead of
time, but I reserve the right to give pop quizzes. A missed quiz can only be made up at the start of the
next class period. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed due to an absence, and to let
me know if you need to make up a quiz.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:
1. You will complete 3 journal article reviews using articles from peer reviewed journals. These will
be worth 20 points each.
2. Over the course of the semester, you will be given 5 assignments worth 10 points each (50 points
possible for the semester) in which you will reflect on lecture material, in-class videos, etc. The
majority of these assignments will be completed in class. You MUST be in class to get credit unless
prior arrangements have been made.
ATTENDANCE:
I will take roll at the beginning of every class in order to award attendance points and to learn students’
names. I will keep an accurate record of your attendance but award your attendance point only if you
are in your seat prior to the start of class. You will begin the semester with a reserve of 25 points toward
attendance, preparation, and participation. You can lose points in this area by missing class, coming
unprepared, not participating actively or disrupting your classmates.
You are responsible for all material and activities that occur as part of class. If you are absent, it is your
responsibility to find out what you missed in class. Please make every effort to obtain this information
from one of your classmates. Contact me ONLY if you can’t get class information from another
student or if your absence will cause you to miss a deadline.
Please make every attempt to arrive to class on time so that you are not a distraction to your fellow
students. In addition, most class related announcements are made at the beginning of class, and all
students are responsible for this information. Please take into consideration that it is extremely difficult
for students to pass this course without attending class. This course requires considerable effort; we
cover a great deal of material in class, some of which is not in the textbook. I will not provide notes to
students who miss class.
EXTRA CREDIT
Any extra credit available in this section will be offered to the class as a whole. I may, without notice,
provide extra credit opportunities on any given class day. In an effort to be fair to those students who work
hard, attend class, and participate in the learning process, no individual extra credit will be offered.
GRADING SYSTEM (subject to change):
4 Unit Exams – 100 pts each (minus lowest exam score)
Final Exam - 100 pts
5 In-class assignments – 5 at 10 points each
3 Journal Article Reviews – 20 pts each
5 Quizzes – 10 pts each
Attendance/Participation:
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS:
300
100
50
60
50
25
585
LETTER GRADES AND PERCENTAGES:
A = 100% - 90%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = Less than 60%
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.
DROPPING: Regular attendance is expected, and I reserve the right to withdraw students who fail to come to
class. Students who miss 15% of classes may be dropped. However, if you choose to withdraw, you are
responsible for dropping. Never assume I will drop you from this course.
INCOMPLETES:
A grade of Incomplete will only be assigned in the case of an emergency (such as a death in the immediate
family or illness which requires hospitalization) which occurs after the deadline to withdraw from the class.
The student must currently have a passing grade and official documentation will be required to verify the
student’s need for an Incomplete. Incompletes are given to students who have an end of the semester
emergency and are not given early in the semester when the student may still withdraw from the course.
Incompletes will NOT be given in the case of vacation plans, job conflicts, apartment lease problems, social
engagements, or forgetting when the final is!
LAPTOP AND CELL PHONE POLICY:
Laptops are not permitted during class time unless a student has made prior arrangements with the instructor. In
addition, texting will not be permitted during class for any reason. Please turn cell phones off or keep them in
silent mode during class. If you are observed texting in class, you will be asked to leave. If you have an
emergency requiring use of your cell phone, please dismiss yourself from class. If you have any questions about
the laptop or cell phone policy, please bring your concerns to the instructor.
SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER:
This syllabus is considered an agreement between the student and instructor. Your continued enrollment in this
course is considered an indication of your knowledge and acceptance of the course policies as outlined. If the
contents of the syllabus must be changed at any time, the instructor will notify the students with an
announcement at the beginning of class. The changes will apply to all students, and each student is responsible
for being in class at the time of the announced change.
CLASS CALENDAR (subject to change)
PSY 101-18 Spring 2013
Date
Topics
Reading (to be completed before class!)
January 16
Introduction/How to Study/Psychology’s Roots/Research Methods
Chapter 1
January 23
Neuroscience & Consciousness
Chapter 2
January 30
Sensation & Perception
Chapter 5
February 6
EXAM 1
February 13
Learning
Chapter 6
February 20
Memory
Chapter 7
February 27
Thinking, Language & Intelligence
Chapter 8
March 6
EXAM 2
March 13
SPRING BREAK 
March 20
Human Development Through the Lifespan
Chapter 3
March 27
Motivation & Emotion
Chapter 9
April 3
Personality & Social Psychology
April 10
EXAM 3/Gender & Sexuality
April 17
Psychological Disorders
April 24
Stress & Coping/Therapy
May 1
EXAM 4
May 8
Receive current grade and review for final exam
May 15
Comprehensive Final Exam
Chapters 11 & 14
Chapter 4
Chapter 12
Chapters 10 & 13
General Information for Students
Testing Services (located in Student Commons Building 2001)
Testing Services 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 Disability
Support Services. Testing Services will only administer exams at the request of the instructor. For more
information, please call (309) 268-8050.
Counseling Services
Counseling Services provides confidential and professional counseling for both emergency and personal issues.
Services also include referrals to local community resources and support for students on academic probation.
For more information, please call (309) 268-8318.
Services in Academic Support Center (Raab Road campus)
Library
The Library provides fast and free access to credible information from a full range of resources including books,
online journals, videos, newspapers, online music, class reserves, and interlibrary loan. Individualize research
by appointment or come in anytime. See the Library tab in myHeartland, email library@heartland.edu or call
(309) 268-8292 for details.
Tutoring Services
Tutoring Services provides tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students in Normal, Pontiac, and
Lincoln. 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 (309) 268-8231 (Normal),
(815) 842-6777 (Pontiac), or (217) 735-1731 (Lincoln).
Disability Support Services
Disability Support Services (DSS) ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to the college’s
programs, services and activities through the provision of reasonable accommodations as mandated 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 should call (309) 268-8259 for details.
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.
Writing Lab
The Writing Lab provides guidance for writers on assignment comprehension, critical thinking and the stages of
the writing process. The Writing Lab is staffed by English faculty and Tutors with years of experience working
with students on writing. In every session, supportive staff work with writers to explore and develop their own
ideas as appropriate to the needs of their readers and to learn the rhetorical strategies necessary for effective
communication. For more information, please call (309) 268-8231.
Services in Community Commons Building, first floor (Raab Road campus)
Academic Advising
Academic advisors provide information to students about degree/program requirements, transferability of
courses, GPA, and enrollment. Academic Advising may also provide workshops on time management, IRIS
navigation, or specific career fields. For more information, please call (309) 268-8033. Academic Advising
services are also available at the Lincoln and Pontiac sites.
Career Services
Career Services assist students to determine career goals, develop employability and job search skills and
connect with potential employers in preparation for employment and career transitions. Through the Online
Career Center at www.collegecentral.com/heartland students can learn about area employment opportunities,
prepare and post resumes and find a host of free career-related resources. The job shadow and internship
programs offer access to relevant work-based learning opportunities that enhance academic experiences and
support students in their career pursuits. For more information, please call (309) 268-8034 or email
Career.Services@heartland.edu.
Financial Aid Office
The Financial Aid Office provides information on programs and types of financial aid available to students. For
more information, please call (309) 268-8020.
Transcripts (Located in Student Commons Building 1000)
Official and unofficial transcripts may be obtained in the Student Records Office. Transcripts may also be
obtained at Heartland’s Lincoln and Pontiac sites. Official transcripts must be requested in writing. The form is
available online (http://www.heartland.edu/transcripts/index.jsp) or in the Student Records Office. Unofficial
transcripts are available to print online through IRIS.
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.
Using another person’s project or another person’s work as if it were your own.
[Adapted from the Modem Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed.
New York: MLA, 2009:51-61]
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.
Many plagiarism problems can be remedied by citing the sources of the original work.
When in doubt, cite the source according to the style your instructor directs. Usually this is APA or MLA Style.
Don’t be daunted by citing sources which are not books. You can cite everything, including pamphlets, maps,
cereal boxes, telephone conversations, movies, television shows, Internet and world-wide web sites.
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.