COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Psychology 201: Life Span Development
Semester: Spring 2007 Online
Instructor: Patricia J. Sawyer
Credit Hours: 3
Course No: 1261
Department: Social Science
Course Prerequisites: Psychology 111
Course Location: Distance Learning - None
Meeting Time
(days/hours):
Distance learning 24/7. Since this is a distance learning
course, you are expected to log on a minimum of three days weekly at your
convenience to complete assignments and participate in the discussion board.
Scope of Course: This course is concerned with the
study of patterns and sequences of human growth from conception to death.
The emotional, mental, social and physical characteristics found in human
development will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on life cycle
theories, the role of heredity and environment, and the role of individual
differences. Life stages will be viewed in terms of a variety of
theoretical frameworks.
Textbooks and other
required readings/computer software/materials/library reserve room:
Development Across The Life Span, Robert Feldman, Fourth Edition, 2006, Prentice-Hall
Publishers. ISBN# 0-13-192538-5
Office Hours:
Monday 5:00 – 6:00pm Old Saybrook
Extension Site
By Appointment
Office Telephone: (860) 343-5813
Email:psawyer@mxcc.commnet.edu
There is internal email built into
the course. Please use that email. Use the above
email in an emergency only.
Attendance Policy: You are required to log on a
minimum of three days weekly and perform tasks and assignments according to
the syllabus. Each late assignment
will lose one letter grade for each day the assignment is late beginning on the first day after the
deadline.
Credit will not be given for late
postings. All posting must be completed by Saturday 3:00pm.
Class Cancellation
Policy:
Non applicable
Evaluation (quizzes,term paper, projects, discussion board, etc., and
percentages towards final grade):
1. Two Examinations 
50%
Mid-Term Examination - Ch’s 1 – 10 Due: Friday, 3/9/07
6:00pm (25%)
Final Examination - Ch’s 11 – 19 Due: Friday,
5/11/07 6:00pm (25%)
Examinations will be essay questions which will be posted on
the discussion board one week prior to due dates.
2. Research Project
20%
You are to
write a 10 page double spaced research paper on a topic related to Life Span
Psychology.
You are to
use a minimum of four references. Only two can be the internet
unless they are online texts, journals or magazines.
Your sources cannot be older than 10 years.
Included in your research paper must be a bibliography and footnote page. Research papers
without documentation will not be accepted. Use correct grammar, punctuation
and full sentences.
Put your
best effort into it as this will count for a good part of your final grade.
Your
research project is Due: Friday, 3/30/07 6:00pm.
3. Weekly Discussion Board Participation 
30%
In order to receive full credit for
the discussion board, you must log on a minimum of three days weekly and
respond to the current question as well as interact with your classmates.
You must respond to at least three other postings in order to receive
full credit. You will be graded on how completely you answer the assigned
discussion question and by the quality of your responses to the other postings.
Your use of critical thinking skills, conducting research on the discussion
question and applying knowledge from your readings will be assessed. No
credit will be given should you log on after one week. The
discussion board closes at 3:00pm Saturday. No postings accepted after Saturday
3:00pm.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course,
the student should be able to:
1. Describe and
compare the several theoretical approaches to human development and indicate
how each theory explains the key factors involved in emotional, mental,
physical, intellectual, social, sex role and language development.
2. Demonstrate a general knowledge
of the basic concepts of human development from conception to death.
3. Utilize the course to gain
insight into his or her own developmental process.
4. Understand the
concept of diversity and how it applies at each developmental stage.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful
completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. An Introduction to Lifespan Development
Understand lifespan development, and what are some of the basic influences on
human development.
Understand the key issues in the field of development.
Understand which theoretical perspectives have guided lifespan development.
Understand what role theories and hypotheses play in the study of development.
Understand how culture, ethnicity and race influence development.
2. The Start of Life: Prenatal Development
Understand our basic genetic endowment.
Understand how environment (culture, race, ethnicity) and genetics work
together to determine human
characteristics.
Gain an understanding of what happens during the prenatal stages of
development.
Understand what the threats are to the fetal environment.
3. Birth and the Newborn Infant
Understand the normal process of labor.
Understand what complications can occur at birth, and what are their causes,
effects and
treatments.
Understand developmental diversity in overcoming racial and cultural
differences in infant mortality.
4. Physical Development in Infancy
Understand how the human body and nervous system develops.
How the environment affects the pattern of development.
Understand what developmental tasks the infant must undertake.
Understand the role of nutrition in physical development.
Understand the cultural dimensions of motor development.
5. Cognitive Development in Infancy
Understand Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development
Understand how infants process information and if infant-directed speech is
similar across all cultures.
Understand how infant’s intelligence is measured and how race, ethnicity and
one’s culture influence IQ’s.
Understand what processes do children learn to use language.
6. Social and Personality Development in Infancy
Understand what sort of emotional lives infants have.
Understand what sort of mental lives infants have.
Gain an understanding of the attachment theory and if it differs across
cultures.
Understand what roles other people play in infant's social development.
Understand if child care if beneficial or harmful for infants.
7. Physical and Cognitive Development in the Preschool Years
Understand the state of children's bodies and overall health during the
preschool years.
Understand how preschool children's brains and physical skills develop.
Understand how Piaget interprets cognitive development during the preschool years.
Understand how children's language develops.
Gain a knowledge of what kinds of preschool
educational programs are available around the world.
8. Social and Personality Development in the Preschool Years
Understand how preschool-age children develop a sense
of themselves.
Understand how children develop their sense of racial and ethnic awareness as
well as gender.
Understand what sorts of social relationships pre-school children engage in.
Understand what sorts of disciplinary styles parents employ, and what effect
they have.
Understand what factors contribute to child abuse and neglect.
Understand how children develop a moral sense.
Understand how aggression develops in preschool-age children.
9. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
Understand how children grow during the school years,
and what influences their growth.
Understand what are the main health concerns of school-age
children.
Understand how children develop cognitively and the importance of multicultural
education.
Understand how language develops.
Understand what some of the trends in schooling today are.
Understand how intelligence can be measured, and how exceptional children are
educated.
10. Social and Personality Development in Middle Childhood
Understand how children's views of themselves change during middle childhood.
Understand the importance of self-esteem during these years.
Understand what stages of moral development proceed as children age.
Understand what sorts of relationships and friendships are typical of middle
childhood.
Understand how gender and ethnicity affect friendships.
Understand how social and emotional factors contribute to school outcomes. Understand Asian academic success.
11. Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Understand what physical changes adolescent's experience.
Understand the consequences of early and late maturation.
Understand the nutritional needs and concerns adolescents have.
Understand how cognitive development proceeds in adolescence.
Understand how school performance affects adolescence.
Understand the dangerous substances adolescents use and why. Understand the relationship between
culture and smoking to the less advantaged.
Understand adolescent sexual practices.
12. Social and Personality Development in Adolescence
Understand how the development of self-concept, self-esteem, and identity
develop.
Understand what dangers adolescents face.
Understand family relationships and peers during adolescence. Understand racial segregation: the
great divide of adolescence
Understand how sexuality develops in adolescent years.
Understand teenage pregnancy and its implications in the Unites States.
13. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood
Understand how the body develops during early adulthood.
Understand the effects of stress, and what can be done about it. Understand how cultural beliefs
influence health and health care.
Understand how cognitive development in Early Adulthood.
Understand who attends college today, and how the college population is
changing.
Understand how students learn in college, and what difficulties they face.
14. Social and Personality Development in Early Adulthood
Understand how young adults form loving relationships, and how love changes
over time.
Understand how people choose spouses, and what makes relationships work and
cease working.
Understand how the arrival of children affects a relationship. Understand gay and lesbian
relationships.
Understand why choosing a career is an important issue and what factors
influence the choice
of a career.
Understand why people work, and what elements of a job bring satisfaction.
15. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
Understand what sort of physical changes affect people in middle adulthood.
Understand the changes in sexuality in middle-aged men and women.
Understand health issues in middle adulthood and how ethnic and gender differences
influence individual variation in health.
Understand what happens to a person's intelligence in middle adulthood.
Understand how aging affects memory and how memory can be improved.
16. Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood
Understand how personality develops during middle adulthood.
Understand the typical patterns of marriage and divorce in middle adulthood.
Understand immigrants and job
opportunities in
Understand the changing family structure.
Understand the characteristics of work and career.
17. Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
Understand what it is like to grow old in the
Understand the physical changes that occur in old age.
Understand how the senses are affected by the aging process.
Understand the general state of health of older people. Understand how gender, race, and
ethnic differences in average life expectancy.
Understand wellness and sexuality in late adulthood.
Understand how older people function intellectually.
18. Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood
Understand how personality develops during late adulthood. Understand how culture shapes the way we
treat people in late adulthood.
Understand how people deal with aging.
Understand what it is like to retire.
Understand how marriage fares in late adulthood.
Understand what relationships re important in late adulthood.
19. Death and Dying
Understand what is death, and what it means at
different stages in the life span.
Understand the ways people face the prospect of their own death and how one’s culture and religion influence their
views on death.
Understand how survivors react to and cope with death.
Helpful
Hints: 
1. Don't fall behind- the most important factor for achieving
success in this course is to follow the schedule closely, and complete your assignments correctly
and on time.
2. Share your opinions - the Discussion Board is largely based on
your application to the
psychological principals you will
learn. While the actual principles and theories are based on
research, your answers to the
questions are based on your personal application to these principles and theories.
3. Ask questions - if you are having trouble understanding
any parts of this course, let me know as soon as possible. I will gladly answer any questions you
have about the course materials, lessons, resources and the assignments. So if you have
a question, please ask!
4. Please put your name on all assignments
(on the assignment as
well as in the subject line of the email).
"Students with physical or
learning disabilities who may require accommodations are encouraged to contact
the counseling office. After disclosing the nature of the disability,
students are urged to discuss their needs with individual instructors.
This should be done at the beginning of each semester. Instructors, in
conjunction with appropriate college officials, will provide assistance and/or
accommodations to those students who have completed this process."
Academic Ethics and
Classroom Behavior:
"At
Life Span Development 201 
Class Schedule
Spring 2007
Week
1 1/22/07 An Introduction to Life-Span
Development Chapter 1
Week 2 1/28/07 The Start of Life:
Prenatal
Development Chapter 2
Week 3 2/4/07
Birth and the Newborn
Infant Chapter 3
Infancy
– Physical Development Chapter 4
Week 4
2/11/07 Infancy -
Cognitive
Development Chapter 5
Infancy - Social and Personality
Development Chapter 6
Week
5
2/18/07
Preschool Years - Physical and Cognitive Development Chapter
7
Preschool
Years - Social and Personality Chapter
8
Week
6 2/25/07
Middle Childhood Years - Physical and Cognitive Development
Chapter 9
Middle
Childhood Years - Social and Personality
Chapter 10
Week
7 3/4/07 Adolescence - Physical and Cognitive
Development
Chapter 11
Week 8 3/11/07
Adolescence – Social and Personality
Chapter 12
3/18 – 3/24/07 Spring Break – No Class
Week 9 3/25/07
Early Adulthood - Physical and Cognitive
Development
Chapter 13
Week 10 4/1/07
Early Adulthood - Social and Personality
Development
Chapter 14
Week 11 4/8/07
Middle Adulthood - Physical and Cognitive
Development
Chapter 15
Week 12 4/15/07
Middle Adulthood – Social and Personality Development Chapter
16
Week 13 4/22/07
Late Adulthood - Physical
and Cognitive Development Chapter 17
Late
Adulthood – Social and Personality Development Chapter 18
Week 14 4/29/07
Endings – Death and
Dying Chapter 19
Week 15 5/6/07
Wrap up and Final Examination
