PY130 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY Course Syllabus - Victoria DeSensi

Term
Fall 2025
Section
M2
Course Delivery
ln person­[FTF]
Class Program

PY130:

Credits 4
Description
This course will focus on key conceptual areas for understanding human behavior that include biological, cognitive, development, social and personality, and mental and physical health. Cross-cutting common themes in the field – cultural and social diversity, ethics, variations in human functioning, and applications – will be addressed for each topic included in the course. Students will also get to experience the integrative nature of contemporary psychology.

Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details

Meeting Days:
MWF
Meeting Times:
10:20-11:20
Location:
Boyd 210

Contact Information

Instructor:
Victoria DeSensi
Instructor Email:
vicky_desensi@wilmington.edu
Office Location:
Bailey 308
Phone Number
937-481-2375
Office Hours:
Wednesdays: 3:30-5:00pm; Thursdays: 1:00-2:30pm; Fridays: 12:45-1:45
Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course…
1. The student will be able to evaluate key theories, and use them to explain and predict behaviors
2. The student will be able to explain what psychological research is, how it is conducted, and what it can
tell us about ourselves.
3. The student will be able to analyze interest in the human mind and human behavior and ask and answer
questions about topics.
4. The student will be able to apply psychological concepts to their own life.
5. The student will be able to apply critical thinking skills, and encourage you to act as both a learner and a
teacher.
6. The student will be able to integrate information across multiple areas of research and outline how
psychological topics and effects are interconnected.
7. The student will be able to understand psychological misperceptions and how those misperceptions
conflict with accurate scientific findings.

Course Materials

Textbook:
Name: Psychology: Perspectives and Connections
Edition: 5th edition
ISBN: 978-1264108060
Author: Feist & Rosenberg
Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Course Schedule

Tentative Schedule

Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.

Evaluation of Work

The grading scale will be as follows:

Instructor Course Policies

Institutional and Program-Level Policies

Final Exam Schedule

All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.

Undergraduate:  SP25 Final Exam Schedule    Graduate:  

 

Out-of-class Work Expectation

A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.

Instructional Course Delivery                                                                                                            

Definition of Courses

Academic Integrity Policy

The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.

Academic Integrity Policy

Class Attendance Policy                              

Institutional Class Attendance Policy

Accessibility and Disability Services