Southern Maine Community College
South Portland, Maine 04106
COURSE SYLLABUS: PSYCH 220
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Developmental Psychology
Katherine Kittredge
kkittredge@smccme.edu
207-590-0022
Preble 204
Tuesday, Thursday / 8:00 – 9:15
Course Description
This course uses a life-span approach to human development, focusing on factors
associated with physical, cognitive, social and personality development from birth
through adulthood. Using major developmental theories as a framework, both
psychological and environmental factors and their interplay will be discussed. Topics
will also include philosophical and historical bases of theories, as well as cultural factors
that influence development. Students will be encouraged to think critically and apply
their knowledge of development to their own lives.
Prerequisites
ENGL 050; ENLG 075; PSYCH 10
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will:
1. Understand Developmental Psychology as a discipline, explain its history, and
explain how it is distinct from but related to other disciplines.
2. Be familiar with the research methods and research designs used by
developmental psychologists, and be familiar with the both the APA ethics of
research and with the limitations of research findings.
3. Be able to define the major developmental theories and use them as a framework
to study human development.
4. Understand the philosophical and historical bases of developmental theories.
5. Be able to define the major developmental phases across the lifespan and the
physical, cognitive and psychosocial changes that occur across the lifespan.
6. Understand that development is contextual, and recognize the cultural and
individual differences that underlie developmental changes.
7. Be able to describe the characteristics of the life-span perspective.
8. Acquire and use critical thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach to
question related to developmental psychology
Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking: Upon completion of this course students will have
1. demonstrated an understanding of complex ideas by identifying key concepts in
the field of psychology.
2. applied theory to practice using problem solving techniques and data analysis.
3. analyzed and evaluated research data to produce well-reasoned argument or
position on an issue
Global Citizenship: Upon completion of this course students will be able to
1. explain how social interactions are influenced by local, regional, national and/or
global cultures
2. recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of
human behavior
Text
Berk, L.E., Exploring Lifespan Development, 2nd ed., Allyn & Bacon
Course Requirements and Grading
Please think of all of the following as opportunities to share your knowledge and interests
with me as well as show me what you have learned.
1. There will be weekly quizzes. Taken together, these will account for 25% of your
final grade.
2. There will be three short (1-2 page) papers. Taken together, these will account for
30% of your final grade.
3. There will be four exams that together will account for 40% of your final grade.
4. There will be a presentation that will account for 5% of your grade.
Missed Classes
You are responsible for all material covered in class and in the reading,
whether or not you were in class that day.
Attendance is required. However, from time to time life interferes. If you are
unable to make it to class, you must let me know by e-mail or phone call before the start
of class. Students who miss 3 or more consecutive classes without informing me in
advance will receive an automatic grade of AF (Administrative Failure). Students who
miss 6 or more nonconsecutive classes, regardless of giving prior notification, will
receive an automatic grade of AF.
Plagiarism
Taking and using the writing or ideas of another person without clearly and fully
crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student
Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student has knowingly committed such a
violation in any course in which he or she is enrolled, the College Disciplinary Officer
will be informed and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct.
Sanctions may include suspension from the course and/or a failing grade in the course.
Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the
terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
In this course, in general, using two or more phrases or sentences from another
person’s work without giving credit to the appropriate source will be considered
plagiarism. However, I reserve the right to judge each piece of writing on a case by case
basis.
Add/Drop Policy
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and
spring semesters receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course.
Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length (i.e. 15
weeks) has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for non-attendance.
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester within which he
or she is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the 2nd through 12th weeks
of the fall and spring semesters and the 2nd through 9th week of 12 week summer courses.
This period is pro-rated for shorter length courses. To withdraw from a course, students
must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the
Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation ‘W’ will appear on
the transcript after the student has officially withdrawn. Failing to attend or ceasing to
attend classes does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund
associated with a withdrawal after the add/drop period.
ADA Syllabus Statement
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
institution and employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798.
If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to
have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register
with the disability services coordinator, Mark Krogman, who can be reached at 207-7415629. There will be some documentation for your teachers that must be supplied before
accommodations can be given. Further information about services for students with
disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at the above
number.
Topical Outline
Dates
Topic
Homework
Week of 1/12-1/16
Introduction, History, Theoretical overview, Research methods
Chapter 1
Week of 1/19 – 1/23
Biological and environmental foundations
Chapter 2
Week of 1/26 – 1/30
Prenatal development, birth and neonatal development
Infant and toddler physical development
Infant and toddler physical development,
Infant and toddler cognitive development
Infant and toddler social and emotional development
First exam
Early childhood physical and cognitive development
Chapters 3 & 4
Early childhood social and emotional development
Middle childhood physical and cognitive development
Middle childhood physical and cognitive development,
Middle childhood social and emotional development
Chapters 8 & 9
1st paper due
Chapters 9 & 10
Week of 2/2 – 2/6
Week of 2/9 – 2/13
Week of 2/16- 2/20
Week of 2/23 – 2/27
Week of 3/2 – 3/6
Chapters 4 & 5
Chapters 5 & 6
Chapter 7
Week of 3/9 – 3/13
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
Week of 3/16 – 3/20
Week of 3/23 – 3/27
Week of 3/30 – 4/3
Week of 4/6 – 4/10
Week of 4/13 – 4/17
Week of 4/20– 4/24
Week of 4/27 – 5/1
Week of 5/4 – 5/8
Second Exam
Adolescent physical and cognitive development
Adolescent social and emotional development,
Early adulthood physical and cognitive development
Early adulthood physical and cognitive development,
Early adulthood social and emotional development
Third Exam
Middle adulthood physical and cognitive development
Middle adulthood physical and cognitive development,
Middle adulthood social and emotional development
Late adulthood physical and cognitive development,
Late adulthood social and emotional development
Late adulthood social and emotional development
Death and dying
Final Exam
Presentations
Chapter 11
Chapters 12 & 13
2nd paper due
Chapters 13 & 14
Chapter 15
Chapters 15 & 16
Chapters 17 & 18
3rd paper due
Chapters 18 & 19