M/W 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
8/17/2026 - 12/10/2026
***Please note that Syllabus is subject to change
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
Please send an email to amwicks@kcc.edu
I will respond back to you within 48-72 hours. I'm also available to meet with students in-person with an appointment.
Course Instructor:
Ashlan Wicks, LCSW
amwicks@kcc.edu
I am here to support you on your educational journey in the classroom and beyond. I generally come to class 10-15 mintues early and stay a little later after class to address any questions and/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 or Zoom. The best way to reach me is by email (amwicks@kcc.edu).
Associate Dean, Humanities/Social Sciences: Jennifer Huggins Location: L341 Office phone: 815-802-8484 | E-mail: jhuggins@kcc.edu
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
Glover, E., Grison, S., & Chew, S. (2026). Psychology in your life (5th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
Graded criteria:
- All DP should be at least 10-12 sentences. (Worth 10 points each) 9 X10= 90 points
- 90 points (30 X 3) Vocab
70 points Attendance/ participation (2.5pts X 28days) for Weeks 2-16)
*** Students will be required to sign a sign in sheet.
- 30 (3 X10) points cross word puzzle
- 90 points (30 points each for 3 group assignments)
- 60 (2 x 30) points each for 2 writing assignments using APA
- 30 (15 points each as it will be 2 parts to this assignment) points from film activity
- 30 points from group case study assignment (Done in class. Must be present)
- Midterms: 100 points
- Final exam: 100 points
- 2 Quizes (50 points each) -100 points
Total overall possible points = 490
Will have the oppounity to earn up to 32 extra credit points.
(4 points on (2) quizzes, 4 points on midterm, 10 points on final exam, 5 points if you go to the writing center for assistance on your writing assignments, 5 points if you attend an MLA workshop (one time).
Students have the oppounity to submit any late assignments with earning up to half the alloted points. After the assignment is more than 1 week late, you will receive a 0 for the assignment.
** All presentation/group assignments are due when they are due. Will not accept late. Students must be present for both (working on the assignment as well as presenting). If student is present for 1 and not the other. Students will only be able to receive up to half credit.
Please understand that the syuballs is subject to change
- During the first 10 minutes of class, you will talk with your neighbor/peer about this week’s readings and sign the attendance sheet. I will also be taking attendance.
- After the first 10 minutes, I may call on 1-2 people to share what they got of this week’s readings.
May do a Pre-test (no graded) at the start of a new chapter.
1st writing assignment: Write a 2–3-page paper on "How is psychology relevant to your intended career and what you hope to learn from taking this course".
2nd Writing assignment: Write a 3–4-page paper about an psychologist. Students also have the option to present a 10-15 presentation that will include a power point instead of writing the paper.
- Students will work on a Case study and all presentations during class time. This assignment will be worked on in 5-6 groups. This assignment is worth 30 points. Please plan to be present in class for this assignment. Students cannot complete this assignment outside of class as this is group work.
*** Students may earn 3-4 extra credit oppountities up to 32 points total.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Course Policies
● 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 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.
● Attendance: Regular attendance is expected in accordance with college policy. Students will be required to sign a sign in sheet.
● Late Assignments: All assignments and papers are expected on the due date assigned which is before the next class session. 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. Late dissussion posts or exams are not accepted.
● Writing style: All coursework must be typed. Abbreviations such as those used when texting (i.e., "u" instead of "you") is 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.
College Policies
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.
Withdrawals: When it is necessary to withdraw from a course or from the college, a student may do so on or before the withdrawal date stated on the syllabus without receiving a punitive final grade. Change of Schedule forms (used to add or drop a course) are available in Student Services and the student should obtain the required signatures prior to submitting the Change of Schedule form to an adviser in Student Services. Students may submit Change of Schedule forms through the mail, but they must be postmarked no later than the withdrawal date. No withdrawals are allowed by phone. To determine the last date to withdraw with a grade of “W” in this course, log into KCConnect and click on “my registration statement” under Academic Profile.
Code of Conduct: Students need to adhere to the Code of Conduct located in the college catalog.
Non-Attendance/Non-Participation: KCC complies with state law and federal financial aid policy. If you receive an attendance grade of F or are institutionally withdrawn from a course, it will affect your eligibility for financial aid. (1) You must attend at least one class, or participate at least once for an online course (logging in without participation is not attending), by the 10th day of 16 week courses or within the first 10% of shorter term classes. Non-attendance will result in an attendance grade of F. (2) If you have excessive absences and no reasonable chance of passing the course at midterm (or after), your instructor may give you a WX grade and have you institutionally withdrawn from the course.
Title IX: Students sometimes choose to share private information with their professors. We appreciate your trust! Nonetheless, students need to be aware that KCC faculty and certain staff are required to report any incidents of sexual harassment and/or violence that we may hear about. Specifically, we will contact KCC’s Title IX Coordinator, the Dean of Student Development and Services. Please don’t feel like you can’t reach out but be aware of our requirement to report. If you want to speak with someone who is not required to report, please know that you are very welcome to call the county’s confidential sexual assault hotline (no referral is necessary and your anonymity is guaranteed unless you choose to share your name): 815-932-3322 (Kankakee) or 815-432-0420 (Iroquois).
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
CLASS ACHIEVEMENT DEPENDS UPON:
1. Regular attendance is essential to learning the material in this class and getting a good grade. You must stay for the durration of the class time period. If you are not here, you cannot pass. Students will be required to sign a sign in sheet.
2. If you are tardy, your grade will go down.
3. Class starts promptly on time
4. There is no such thing as an excused absence. Leaving a message with the secretary that you will not be in class does not constitute an excused absence. I will consider extraordinary circumstances such as serious illness and we will try to make satisfactory arrangements.
5. Missed quizzes will be made up before the next class meeting.
6. Be prepared by bring a pencil, notebook, text, notes, and handouts to every class.
7. Eat a meal before beginning a class session. You cannot concentrate on your work when you are hungry.
8. No smoking or vaping in the classroom or inside of the building.
9. Cell phones must not be utilized in the classroom setting, and ringer sent to off.
10. No headphones and/or ear buds in class.
11. Smart watches - equipment is viewed as a cell phone.
12. Students are to be respectful of each other opinions.
13. Students are to be respectful of themselves and others.
14. Students are expected to turn in class assisgnments on time.
15. Students are expected to provide honest work.
16. Students are expected to ask questions if they need assistance and/or clarity.
| Week 1: Psychology In Your Life | Monday 8/17 Introductions navigate CANVAS and review of the syllabus and textbook. Ice breaker activity | Wednesday 8/19 First chapter and introduce APA style writing Take time to make sure everyone can access their e-book |
| Week 2: The Role of Biology in Psychology | Monday 8/24 | Wednesday 8/26- 1st D.P. due |
| Week 3: Consciousness | Monday 8/31 | Wednesday 9/2- 2nd D.P. due |
| Week 4: Development Across the Life Span | Monday 9/7 (No School) | Wednesday 9/9- 3rd D.P. due (1st Group presentation) |
| Week 5: Sensation and Perception | Monday 9/14 (Quiz) worth 50pts | Wednesday 9/16 1st Vocab due (Chapters1-4) Guest from writing center |
| Week 6: Learning | Monday 9/21 | Wednesday 9/23-4thD.P. due & 1st writing assignment due |
| Week 7: Memory | Monday 9/28 | Wednesday 9/30-5th D.P. due |
| Week 8: Thinking and Intelligence | Monday 10/5 | Wednesday 10/7 2nd Vocab due (Chapters 5-8) |
Week 9: Midterms week & Motivation and Emotion | Monday 10/12 Mid-term review | Wednesday 10/14- 6th D.P. due Mid-terms (worth 100 pts) |
| Week 10: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality | Monday 10/19 | Wednesday 10/21- 7th D.P. due & 2nd Group Presentation |
| Week 11: Health and Well-Being | Monday 10/26 (Watch film) | Wednesday 10/28- 8th D.P. due & (Watch film) |
| Week 12: Social Psychology | Monday 11/2 (Quiz) worth 50 points | Wednesday 11/3 3rd Vocab (Chapters 9-12) 2nd writing assignment due |
| Week 13: Self and Personality | Monday 11/9 | Wednesday 11/11 (no school) |
| Week 14: Psychological Disorders | Monday 11/16 | Wednesday 11/18 Introducing case studies |
| Week 15: Psychological Treatments | Monday 11/23 Work in groups on case studies | Wednesday 11/25- 9th D.P. due & 3rd presentation on Case study |
Week 16: Finals Week | Monday 11/30 Monday December 7th : Final exam review | Wednesday 12/2 Review for final exams and turn in 3 cross word puzzles from (chapters 13, 14,15) Wednesday December 9th Final Exam Day |
December is final exam worth 100 points
Is Midterms also 100 points
Attendance is 5 points per week which is 2.5 points per session.
Total days of school 30. However, I will not give attendance/participation points for the first week of school or finals week.
Therefore, total possible points for attendance and participation is for 28 days. So that will be a total of 70 (14 weeks times 5 is 70) (28 time 2.5 is 70)
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.