PSYC 2103 Introduction to Human Development

PSYC 2103 Introduction to Human Development

PSYC 2103 Introduction to Human Development

CRN 88929, Section 95– Fall 2013

W3:35-4:50 pm

James Baker University Center, UC-322

Instructor: Dr.Pinar Gurkas

Office:NBS 109

Office Hours: T 12:30:-2:00 pm, W 2:35-3:35 pm, and by appointment

Phone: 678-466-4849

Email:

In this coursewe will focus on the explanation of how we become who we are from a developmental perspective. You will become familiar with the theories and methods used by researchers to study psychological development of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. We will study how researchers explain cognitive, social-emotional, and biological development across the lifespan. I hope that after taking this course you will appreciate the complexity of human development and be able to think critically about research methods and conclusions.

Course Description: An introductory, non-laboratory based examination of human development across the lifespan with an emphasis on normal patterns of physical, cognitive, and social development. It is recommended that PSYC 1101 be taken prior to PSYC 2103. This course is taught as a hybrid course.

Credit Hours: 3

Program Learning Outcomes

Psychology Outcome 1: Apply the major concepts, findings, and theoretical perspectives of psychology.

Psychology Outcome 2: Evaluate research critically and apply research methodologies used in psychology.

Psychology Outcome 3: Demonstrate effective, professional oral and written communication skills both individually and with groups.

Psychology Outcome 6: Demonstrate knowledge of individual and cultural differences and their influences on beliefs, values, and interactions with others.

Psychology Outcome 7: Interact effectively with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives.

Course Objectives: By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with major concepts, theoretical perspectives regarding human development by describing biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial features of development.
  2. Identify major theoretical perspective on human development and understand the various strengths and weaknesses of these different theoretical perspectives
  3. Explain how research contributes to our understanding of development and understand the major methodological approaches associated with studying development.
  4. Identify important developmental strengths and challenges associated with the different periods of the lifespan.

Required Text

Berger, K.S. (2012). The Developing Person: Through the Life Span, 8th Edition. New York: Worth.

Companion Website:

GeorgiaView: I will use GeorgiaView to post lecture outlines, online quizzes, grades, and announcements in the course. Students are expected to contact me immediately if there are any problems.

Lecture Guidelines and Course Attendance Policy: Attendance is expected for all class periods.You will benefit from the course more if you attend class regularly. Due to the hybrid nature of our class, class meetings will be used for discussions, activities, and demonstrations that will complement the material in the text. Before each class meeting a set of discussion questions will be posted on GAView. You are required to go over these questions and prepare answers before coming to class. During class, please be courteous to your fellow classmates and me: Do not talk while someone else is talking. Please turn off all cell phones and pagers (or set to silent mode). If something is not clear, please do not hesitate to ask for clarification. If a particular topic is of interest to you, but we don’t have time to cover it fully in class, please feel free to discuss the matter with me outside of class.

Grading: There are 3 exams, each worth 20% of the course grade. Each exam will cover one third of the information that we will cover this term. The final exam is your third exam and it is notcomprehensive. Exams will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. Exams will be given during regular class times in our usual classroom. A review session and practice test will be given prior to each exam.

Make-up exams will only be allowed at the discretion of the instructor. Students must provide a legitimate, acceptable, and documented excuse for missing a scheduled exam.

There are 6 online quizzes, each online quiz will consist of 10 multiple choice questions. You will have 15 minutes to complete each quiz. Quizzes will be available for you to take starting from 5:00 pm the day before the due date till 5:00 pm on the due date. Please make sure to submit your quiz by 5pm on the due date. Late quizzes are not acceptable. Online quizzes areopen book exams. You may use your textbook, and notes while taking the quizzes.

There are 2 writing assignments, prenatal interview and current news summary that are worth 10% and 15% of the course grade respectively. There is a 5% penalty for everyday that an assignment is submitted late.

Mid-term Progress Report & Course Withdrawals:

The mid-term grade in this course will be issued by October 1. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of “W.” Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, or withdraw on-line using the Swan by mid-term, which occurs on October 4. Instructions for withdrawing are provided at this link.

The last day to withdraw without academic accountability is Friday, October 4, 2013.

Grading Scale: Course grade will be determined as follows

  • Exams-60% (each exam-20%)
  • Quizzes- 18% (each quiz- 3%)
  • Assignment 1- Prenatal Interview- 7%
  • Assignment 2- Current News Summary- 15%

Your course grade will be based on your final average.

A = final average ≥ 90

B = 80≤ final average ≤ 89

C = 70≤ final average ≤79

D = 60≤ final average ≤69

F = final average ≤ 59

For example: if a student has the following:

Exam 1 = 80, Exam 2 = 80, Final = 75, Total Quiz Score (i.e., sum of all 6 quizzes) = 45 out of 60, Assignment 1: 90 Assignment 2 = 90

Grade = (.20 x 80 + .20 x 80 + .20 x 75) + (.18x1.67x 45) + (.07 x 90) + (.15 x 90) = 80.33 (course grade = B)

Official Disability Policy:

If you have a disability, and would like to request academic and/or physical accommodations please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, (678) 466-5445, during the first week of class or as soon after as possible.

Course Policies:

General Policy
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Academic Dishonesty:

The commitment of acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms such as the use of substitutes for taking examinations, plagiarism, and copying during examinations is dishonest and will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will receive a grade of zero for that assignment/exam and will be reported to the Office of Student Life/ Judicial Affairs for appropriate action. Clayton State University's expectations and regulations regarding academic misconduct are outlined in the Student Handbook, beginning p.14. Don’t do it.

Student Handbook

Disruption of the Learning Environment

While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

Operation Study:
At Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement. Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the University Bookstore) and other items

Computer Requirement:
Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to

Required Technology Skills:

  • Using websites
  • Communicating with instructor and classmates via your campus E-mail account
  • Word processing using Microsoft Word

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

You may use your notebook computers to access lecture outlines and weekly discussion questions in class.

Campus E-Mail Account:

Each student must obtain a campus e-mail account and use it during this class. Much information will be shared via a class listserv, and you will not have access to the listserv without using your campus account.

Tentative Course Outline

Date / Reading / Topic
August 14
August 19-23
August 26-30 / Chapter 1 Chapter 2 / Introduction
Introduction
Theories
September 3-6
September 5 / Chapter 3
Chapter 4 / Heredity and Environment
Prenatal Development
Online Quiz 1 (ch.1&2)
September 9-13
September 12
September 11 / Chapter 4
Chapter 5 / Prenatal Development
First 2 Years: Biosocial Dev.
Online Quiz 2 (ch. 3&4)
Assignment 1 Due
September 18 / Exam 1 (ch. 1-5)
September 23-27
October 3 / Chapter 8
Chapter 9 / Play Years: Biosocial Dev
Play Years: Cognitive Dev.
Online Quiz 3 (ch. 8&9)
September 30- October 4 / Chapter 10 Chapter 11 / Play Years: Psychosocial Dev.
School Years: Biosocial Dev.
October 7-11
October 14-15- Fall Break
October 17
October 16 / Chapter 12 / School Years: Cognitive Dev.
Online Quiz 4 (ch. 10&11) Assignment 2 Article Due
October 16-18 / Chapter 13 / School Years: Psychosocial Dev.
October 23 / Exam 2 ( ch. 8-13)
October 28-November 1 / Chapter 14
Chapter 15 / Adolescence: Biosocial Dev.
Adolescence: Cognitive Dev.
November 4-8
November 7 / Chapter 16
Chapter 17 / Adolescence: Psychosocial Dev.
Emerging Adulthood: Biosocial Dev.
Online Quiz 5 (ch. 14&15)
November 11-15
November 14 / Chapter 18
Chapter 19 / Emerging Adulthood: Cognitive Dev.
Emerging Adulthood: Psychosocial
Online Quiz 6 (ch. 16&17)
November 20 / Assignment 2 Due
December 4 @ 2:45pm / Exam 3

Note: This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

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