PSY204 Biological Psychology
PSY204 Biological Psychology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Psychology
Faruk Obuća
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Biological Psychology surveys the anatomical and physiological correlates of perception, motivation, and behavior. Topics covered include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and the physiology of complex integrative systems (e.g., learning and memory).
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Biological Psychology, Kalat J.W., 13th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2019
Additional Literature
Psychology as a Biological Science, Robert Biswas-Diener, Ed Diener, Noba Publishers (2020)Teaching Methods
Class will entail lectures
Discussions
And practice exercises for guided concept learning and for feedback on progress toward the mastery of class objectives.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction, syllabus presentation, course presentation | |
| 2 | Nerve Cells and Nerve Impulses | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Nerve Cells and Nerve Impulses | Chapter 1 |
| 4 | Synapses | Chapter 2 |
| 5 | Synapses | Chapter 2 |
| 6 | Vision & Quiz 1 | Chapter 5 |
| 7 | Vision | Chapter 5 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Wakefulness and Sleep | Chapter 8 |
| 10 | Wakefulness and Sleep | Chapter 8 |
| 11 | Emotional Behaviours | Chapter 11 |
| 12 | Emotional Behaviours | Chapter 11 |
| 13 | Learning, Memory, and Intelligence & QUIZ-2 | Chapter 12 |
| 14 | Learning, Memory, and Intelligence | Chapter 12 |
| 15 | Wrap up |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY204.1 | Course | Wednesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.17 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 16:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 15:00 | B F2.3B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quiz 1
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Quiz 2
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
10 hours ⏳ (5 week × 2 h)
Midterm Exam
35 hours ⏳ (7 week × 5 h)
Final Exam
63 hours ⏳ (9 week × 7 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY204] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY204 | Biological Psychology | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | PSY103 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Faruk Obuća | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 13:00-16:00 Tuesday: 13:00-15:00 |
|||||||
| fobuca@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Biological Psychology surveys the anatomical and physiological correlates of perception, motivation, and behavior. Topics covered include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and the physiology of complex integrative systems (e.g., learning and memory). |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Biological Psychology, Kalat J.W., 13th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2019 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class will entail lectures, discussions, and practice exercises for guided concept learning and for feedback on progress toward the mastery of class objectives. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction, syllabus presentation, course presentation | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Nerve Cells and Nerve Impulses | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Nerve Cells and Nerve Impulses | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Synapses | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Synapses | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Vision & Quiz 1 | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Vision | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Wakefulness and Sleep | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Wakefulness and Sleep | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Emotional Behaviours | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Emotional Behaviours | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Learning, Memory, and Intelligence & QUIZ-2 | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Learning, Memory, and Intelligence | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Wrap up | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 1 | 1 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 2 | 1 | 20 | 4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 2 | 5 | 10 | |||
| Midterm Exam | 5 | 7 | 35 | Final Exam | 7 | 9 | 63 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 07/10/2025 | |||||||||