Psychology 125: Human Development
Fall 2010
Instructor: Christopher Gade, PhD
Office Hours: Tuesday 12:00-1:30 & by apt
Office Location: 1031-G
Class Time: Tuesday 1:30-4:20
Class Location: Room 2210
Email: gadecj@gmail.com
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Required Textbook: A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development (2010), John W. Santrock, 5th Ed
Class Website: http://www.napavalley.edu/people/cgade/
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Course Description
Psychology 125, Human Development, will discuss how the human mind and body develop throughout the lifespan.
Topics that we will cover include development in physical, emotional, social, and cognitive performance. This course is
designed to address these areas of development from birth to the end of life.
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Course Requirements
Exams: There will be a total of 3 exams in this course. Each exam will cover material located in both the text and
in the lectures. The exams will not be accumulative in nature, but an understanding of information in previous
sections will be expected in each of the exams.
Written Assignments: There will be 3 written assignments and 1 final project for this course. Due dates for these
assignments are posted on the course schedule provided on the bottom of this syllabus. The instructions for each
assignment will be announced and distributed in lecture. Late work will not be accepted under any circumstances.
However, work done in advance can always be turned in early.
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Grading Policy
Final grades will be calculated on the basis of 300 points distributed as follows:
Requirement
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3
Final Project
Points
60
60
60
25
25
25
45
% of grade
20% of your grade
20% of your grade
20% of your grade
8.3% of your grade
8.3% of your grade
8.3% of your grade
15% of your grade
Final grades will be based on a standard 100% scale: A=90%-100%, B=80%-90%, C=70%-80%, D=60%-70%,
F<60%.
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Student Responsibilities
You will not be required to put in long nights of studying, or have the intellectual capacity of Einstein in order to be
successful in this course. However, effort, vigilance, and a positive mindset will be essential for both success and an
appreciation of the material that will be presented to you this semester. Listed below are some additional necessary
and helpful tips about how to be successful and get the most out of this course.
1) Attend lectures. The lectures will almost always contain pieces of information about topics that are not
located in the text. Therefore, it is imperative that you come to them and pay attention while you are there.
These lectures are also intended to be fun… hopefully.
2) Arrive on time. If you’re late, it will be more difficult to comprehend the flow of information, you may
miss an activity, and it’s just in bad taste to be late.
3) Read the chapter that pertains to each lecture in advance. You will learn more and be more prepared to
respond to or ask questions if you do this. You will also benefit more from the in-class activities. Do not
fall behind in the reading.
4) Be aware of exam dates and assignment due dates. Write them into your date book or calendar today.
5) *NOTE: I understand that a number of forces outside of your control might occasionally prevent you from
attending a lecture, or coming to class on time… it happens. The important thing is that you find a way to
obtain the information that you missed, and that you put your best effort in during the times that you are in
class.
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Course Schedule
Date
Topic
Aug 17th
Readings/Requirements
Introduction/Syllabus
Chapter 1
th
Biological Beginnings
Chapter 2
Aug 31st
Physical Development
Chapter 3
Sept 7th
Health
Chapter 4
Motor and Sensory Development
Chapter 5
Exam 1
(Chapters 1-5)
Cognitive Developmental Approaches
Chapter 6
Information Processing
Chapter 7
Intelligence
Chapter 8
Language Development
Chapter 9
Aug 24
Sept 14
th
Sept 21st
Sept 28
Oct 5
th
th
Oct 12th
Oct 19
th
Oct 26th
Exam 2
(Chapters 6-9)
Nov 2
nd
Emotional Development
Chapter 10
Nov 9
th
Self and Personality
Chapter 11
Gender and Sexuality
Chapter 12
Moral Development and Religion
Chapter 13
Nov 30th
Exam 3
(Chapters 10-13)
Dec 7th
Final Projects Due
Nov 16th
Nov 23
rd
Project 1Due
Project 2 Due
Project 3 Due