Wednesdays 2:00 - 3:15pm D212
This course consists of a survey of the major topics in psychology; analysis of psychological research; intelligence, memory, and thinking; the biological basis of behavior; emotions, perception and sensation, motivation; wellness and stress; personality; heredity and learning; developmental psychology; social psychology, abnormal psychology (including therapy and treatment); and states of consciousness. Some sections of this course are taught in the computer lab; computer literacy skills are recommended.
Course Alignment
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Critical Thinking
Faculty Contact Information
I am here to support you on your educational journey in the classroom and beyond. I generally come to class early and stay a little later to address any questions or concerns students might want to ask outside of class. I am also available to respond to questions or concerns by email, phone, Zoom, or in person appointment.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment for a call, Zoom, or in my office (L325), the best way to reach me is by email (cstevenson@kcc.edu).
Dr. Cari Stevenson
Location: L325
Office Phone: 815-802-8724
cstevenson@kcc.edu
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of psychological research and evidence.
- Demonstrate an understanding of states of consciousness such as attention, sleep and dreaming, hypnosis and drug use.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the leading social factors that influence behavior, esp. how we relate to, influence, and think about people.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of learning and memory, and the major kinds of learning.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how psychological factors influence physical health.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the functions and operations of cognitive processes.
- Demonstrate an understanding of major principles of sensation and perception.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the kinds, causes, prevention, and treatments of psychological disorders and ways of coping with them.
- Demonstrate an understanding of major developmental changes that occur during the main stages of the lifespan.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the contributions of both heredity and learning to human behavior.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the functions and operations of the major parts of the brain and nervous system.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the causes, nature and effects of emotions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major principles of motivation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the main theories of personality.
- Topical Outline
- Research Methods
- Biological Processes and Neuroscience
- Sensation and Perception
- Consciousness
- Learning and Behaviorism
- Memory and Cognition
- Human Development
- Personality Theory
- Social Psychology
- Stress and Health
- Psychological Disorders and Treatments
Grison, S., Chew, S. L., & Glover, E. (2026). Psychology in Your Life (5th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
Evaluation
Grading Scale
A 90% 630 points
B 80% 560 points
C 70% 490 points
D 60% 420 points
F <60%
Graded criteria
Assignments (50 points each) 200 points
InQuizitive (5 points each) 60 points
ZAPS (10 points each) 120 points
Exams (100 points each) 300 points
Professionalism 20 points
_________________
700 points
Description of each criterion.
Assignments (200 points): Assignments will be given to enhance learning and apply concepts outside the classroom. Assignments must be completed and turned in by the due date to receive full credit. I expect assignments to be typed in a MS doc (unless otherwise instructed) and free of errors. Assignments will be submitted in Canvas. I will supply specific instructions prior to the due date.
You will complete four assignments (a Memory assignment and 3 additional assignments of your choice) so that you can focus on your interests and work around other time commitments. Additional instruction will be provided during the applicable unit.
1) Research Studies Response – develop a response to a social media post that makes
a claim regarding a psychological concept.
2) Personality Analysis – using theories described in the text, analyze your own
personality and development.
3) Brain Video – create a video explaining neural communication and functions of the
brain
4) Sensation and Perception – record and reflect upon your observations of a “dining in
the dark” experience
5) Memory Assignment – apply a strategy covered in the unit to a concept covered in the
course to better recall information
6) Consciousness – summarize and analyze the meaning of a dream you’ve had, keep a
diary of meditation exercises, or compare and contrast consequences of drug classes
7) Cognition Paper – find information contrary to a common misconception and
summarize the article or reflect upon results from your Multiple Intelligence
Assessment.
8) Conditioning Experiment – apply principles of classical or operant conditioning and
report your results
9) Social Behavior Assignment – select one option from a variety of choices prompting
you to explore concepts within social psychology (i.e., deviate a social norm, observe
group behavior, try to get someone to conform their behavior, etc.)
10) Mental Health Paper – consider how mental health conditions are portrayed in
popular film
InQuizitive (60 points): These are interactive “quizzes” that allow you to engage in material, demonstrate understanding, and enhance metacognition by indicating your confidence in your knowledge. It is built like a game in which you can wager points and answer questions to earn points. Once you reach 1500 points, you earn the full credit for the assignment.
ZAPS Activities (120 points): These are online lab activities that allow you to actively engage in the scientific process through experimental trials and data analyzation.
Exams (300 points): Three exams including multiple choice and matching will be given through the course of the semester. Though most of the exam will focus on the chapters covered during that point of the term, due to the cumulative nature of course, some questions may draw upon information learned earlier in the course. These will be taken online using Canvas. Each exam must be taken within a specified time period and will have a time limit once you begin. Late exams will receive half credit unless arrangements have been made prior to the due date or you have a documented emergency. Exams require LockDown Browser with Webcam. Instructions and the link for download is provided in the WeIcome Module. If you are unable to install Lockdown Browser with Webcam, you may also take the exam in the Testing Center. Please give me at least a week’s notice so that I can make those arrangements for you. If you do not have a webcam, you may be able to borrow one from the KCC Library.
*If you require additional time due to an accommodation through the Office of Disability Services, please contact me at the beginning of the semester so that I can make alternative testing arrangements.
Professionalism/Discussion and in-class activities (20 points): This grade will be determined by participation in class discussion, prompt attendance in class as well as participation in in-class activities. Please note that if you are texting in class you will be counted as absent for part or all of that day.
- Discussion: Due to the nature of this course, discussion will be an integral part of this class. Students will be expected to actively contribute to small group discussion as well as whole class dialog. Each student will also be responsible for leading a class discussion session.
- Attendance in class: As stated in the attendance policy, you are expected to attend class regularly. Additionally, just as you will be expected to report to work at your scheduled starting time, you are expected to be on time to class.
- Participation in group activities: There will be many in-class activities. Each activity is meant to apply or expand upon the information from your text and the class in some way. The vast majority of each activity will be done inside class and thus these are NOT activities that can made up outside of class.
- Attendance in class: As stated in the attendance policy, you are expected to attend class regularly. Additionally, just as you will be expected to report to work at your scheduled starting time, you are expected to be on time to class.
If you have read to this point of the syllabus and would like extra credit, use your KCC student email to send me a picture of your favorite animal to cstevenson@kcc.edu no later than 11:59pm Sunday of Week 1. Please be sure to include which class the class number (PSYC 1813 H02) in the subject line.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, is defined in section 16.2 of the Code of Conduct: “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.” All instances of intentional plagiarism on any major assignment for this course will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The instance of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the Dean of Student Development, the student may be suspended from the institution.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to submit honest, original work. Examples of cheating include copying another students’ work, using another’s work (including artificial intelligence) without appropriate references, or submitting your own work that has already been used in another class. The college regards cheating as a very serious offense and may result in failure of the class and dismissal from the college.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI programs can serve as helpful tools in the learning process. However, they cannot be used as a substitute for writing. Acceptable uses of AI for this course include assistance with grammar, spelling, and writing mechanics. However, using AI to generate content for a paper, assignment, or discussion post is considered plagiarism and is not appropriate use. Such use will result in, at minimum, a zero for the assignment without opportunity for resubmission, and may result in failure of the course. Academic dishonesty on a major assignment such as papers and exams will result in failure of the course.
Any use of AI should be properly referenced in the References. This source can provide guidance: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgptAdditionally, the chat record must be included at the end of the paper as an Appendix.
Attendance: Regular attendance is expected in accordance with college policy. Attendance in an online course is measured by completion of assignments.
Late Assignments: All assignments and papers are expected on the due date assigned. Should unusual circumstances arise that delay your work, you may turn in your assignment up to one week late with a deduction of a full letter grade for that assignment. After one week, the assignment may not be accepted unless unusual and unavoidable circumstances warrant an additional exemption. Only two assignments may be submitted late. Late DQs are not accepted.
Writing style: The official writing style for the course is APA Style. See Purdue Owl for a helpful resource.
All coursework must be typed. Abbreviations such as those used when texting (i.e., “u” instead of “you”) are NOT appropriate and work containing such abbreviations will not be graded. Instead, it would be returned to you for corrections, and you will immediately lose one letter grade for that assignment. Once you have made corrections, you may turn in the assignment for grading. You will lose an additional letter grade for each week the assignment is late.
| Week 1 (08/17 – 08/23) Unit 1: Studying Psychology |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, August 19th @ 2:00 – 3:15pm in D212 To do after class:
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| Week 2 (08/24 - 08/30) Unit 1 cont’d |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, August 26th To do after class:
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| Week 3 (08/31 – 09/06) Unit 2: Who Are You? (Personality) |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Sept 2nd To do after class:
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| Week 4 (09/07 – 09/13) Unit 2: Who Are You? (Personality) cont’d |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Sept 9th To do after class:
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| Week 5 (09/14 – 09/20) Unit 3: Mind/Body Connection |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Sept 16th To do after class:
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| Week 6 (09/21 – 09/27) Unit 3 cont’d |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Sept 23th To do after class:
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| Week 7 (09/28 – 10/04) Unit 4: Memory |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Sept 30th To do after class:
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| Week 8 (10/05 – 10/11) Unit 5: Sensation and Perception |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Oct 7th To do after class:
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| Week 9 (10/12 – 10/18) Unit 6: Consciousness |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Oct 14th To do after class:
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| Week 10 (10/19 – 10/25) Unit 7: Something to Think About (Cognition) |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Oct 21st To do after class:
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| Week 11 (10/26 – 11/01) Unit 8: Motivated to Learn (Behavioral) |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Oct 28th To do after class:
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| Week 12 (11/02 – 11/08) Unit 8 cont’d |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Nov 4th To do after class:
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| Week 13 (11/09 – 11/15) Unit 9: Our Social World |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Nov 11th To do after class:
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| Week 14 (11/16 – 11/22) Unit 10: Mental Health |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Nov 18th To do after class:
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| Week 15 (11/23 – 11/29) Unit 10 cont’d |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Nov 25th To do after class:
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| Week 16 (11/30 – 12/06) Unit 11: Stress and Health |
To do before class:
Attend Class on Wednesday, Dec 2nd To do after class:
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*Students will select a total of FOUR assignments to complete
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.