PSY103 Introduction to Psychology
PSY103 Introduction to Psychology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Psychology
Mersiha Jusić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Introduction to Psychology provides students with basic knowledge and understanding of psychology as science, encompassing concepts, theories and methods, as well as application of psychological insights in various areas. The aim is to enable students to develop an understanding of the most important topics in psychology, and to recognize the importance of critical thinking when evaluating scientific material. After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Define psychology and its theoretical and applied disciplines 2. Identify and explain basic theoretical approaches in psychology 3. Identify and explain psychological research methods 4. Have a basic understanding of cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes 5. Critically evaluate and apply research findings in the field of psychology to everyday problems
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing (2015). Introduction to Psychology, Creative Commons Licence. available at> https://open.lib.umn.edu/intropsyc/
Additional Literature
Feldman, R.S. (2018). Essentials of Understanding Psychology, McGraw-Hill Education Douglas, S. K. (2014). Introduction to Psychology, Kona Publishing and Media GroupTeaching Methods
Lectures, videos, documentaries, combined with class discussions with examples
Demonstrations and group work on relevant tasks
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Overview. | |
| 2 | Introducing Psychology | Ch 1. |
| 3 | Psychological Science | Ch 2. |
| 4 | Brains, Bodies, and Behavior | Ch 3. |
| 5 | States of Consciousness / Quiz 1 | Ch 5. |
| 6 | Growing and Developing | Ch 6. |
| 7 | Preparation for the Midterm Exam | all relevant chapters |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | From Research to Practice | |
| 10 | Learning | Ch 7. |
| 11 | Intelligence | Ch 9. |
| 12 | Emotions and Motivation | Ch 10. |
| 13 | Defining Psychological Disorders / Quiz 2 | Ch 12. |
| 14 | Psychology in Our Social Lives | Ch 14. |
| 15 | Preparation for the Final Exam | all relevant chapters |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY103.1 | Course | Monday 15:00 - 17:50 | A F1.26 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F1.15 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F1.15 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Video assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : LO1 LO5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : LO3 LO4 LO5
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
5 hours ⏳ (5 week × 1 h)
Assignments
5 hours ⏳ (5 week × 1 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 [PSY103] 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 Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY103 | Introduction to Psychology | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | PSY202, PSY204, PSY210, PSY212, PSY301, PSY305, PSY308, PSY311, PSY315, PSY329, PSY336, PSY407, PSY409, PSY412, PSY414, PSY417, PSY421, PSY422, PSY458 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mersiha Jusić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 10:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| mjusic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Introduction to Psychology provides students with basic knowledge and understanding of psychology as science, encompassing concepts, theories and methods, as well as application of psychological insights in various areas. The aim is to enable students to develop an understanding of the most important topics in psychology, and to recognize the importance of critical thinking when evaluating scientific material. After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Define psychology and its theoretical and applied disciplines 2. Identify and explain basic theoretical approaches in psychology 3. Identify and explain psychological research methods 4. Have a basic understanding of cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes 5. Critically evaluate and apply research findings in the field of psychology to everyday problems |
|||||||||
| Textbook | University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing (2015). Introduction to Psychology, Creative Commons Licence. available at> https://open.lib.umn.edu/intropsyc/ | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Lectures, videos, documentaries, combined with class discussions with examples. Demonstrations and group work on relevant tasks. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Overview. | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Introducing Psychology | Ch 1. | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Psychological Science | Ch 2. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Brains, Bodies, and Behavior | Ch 3. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | States of Consciousness / Quiz 1 | Ch 5. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Growing and Developing | Ch 6. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Preparation for the Midterm Exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | From Research to Practice | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Learning | Ch 7. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Intelligence | Ch 9. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Emotions and Motivation | Ch 10. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Defining Psychological Disorders / Quiz 2 | Ch 12. | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Psychology in Our Social Lives | Ch 14. | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Preparation for the Final Exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | All of the LOs | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | All of the LOs | Not Allowed | |
| Video assignment | 1 | 10 | LO1, LO5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 20 | LO3,LO4,LO5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home Study | 1 | 5 | 5 | |||
| Assignments | 1 | 5 | 5 | 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: 17/02/2026 | |||||||||