HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE- WEST LOOP CAMPUS
SPRING 2014
________________________________________________________________
Gracie A. Roberts, M.A.
Psychology 2314 Human Growth and Development Lifespan
CRN: 46146 8-WK MW 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: gracie.roberts@hccs.edu
TEXTBOOKS
The textbook for this course is:
Berger, K. (2014). The Developing Person Through the Life Span, (9th Edition). New York: Worth
Publishers.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A developmental psychology course designed to provide an understanding of human behavior and
characteristics from conception through death. This course includes information on physical,
cognitive, and psychosocial changes throughout the lifespan. Theory, research, and applications
are covered.
GRADES
There are 4 regular tests scheduled and the final exam. You are able to drop your lowest test
grade from the first four tests but not the final exam. Because the lowest test grade is dropped,
there will be no make-up exams. Try your best to not miss any tests and to do your best!
Best 3 out of 4 Tests @ 20% each
Paper
Final Exam
TOTAL
60%
20%
20%
100%
Final grade will be converted into letter grades as follows:
90-100% =A; 80-89% =B; 70-79% =C; 60-69% =D; 0-59% =F
MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON TIME FOR ALL TESTS.
***Make-up exams: There are no make-up exams. You will be allowed to drop the lowest
test grade in place of a make-up exam.
OBSERVATION ACTIVITY
You will be given 1 observation activity over adolescence during the semester. For the activity, you
will be required to take notes to write a paper on your observation. You are required to observe
adolescent concepts as stated in your class notes. In the paper, you must state the ageappropriate concepts for adolescence that you observed, including a description of what you
observed, and accurately stating the concept. The example, what you observed, must match and
pertain to the concept. You must identify 7 different concepts within your paper, so you are not able
to give 2 examples for the same concept. I will tell you which concepts are not allowed for the
paper. The paper must be 1-2 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, and with 1inch margins. You will also need a title page with your name, date, and class day and time.
Because you are using your lecture notes, you are not required to make citations within the paper.
NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!
ATTENDANCE AND DROP POLICY
It is very important that you attend and participate in class. If you have to miss a class, it is your
responsibility to get the material/notes that you missed. Please do not contact me for the notes. I
do not give out my notes to students. It is your responsibility to take good notes or obtain them
from another student in the class if you are absent. It is also important that you arrive to class on
time to avoid being marked absent or missing important information or announcements usually
given at the beginning of class. I do not drop students so it is your responsibility to drop the class
if you are unable to continue in the class.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1 -
March 23-25
Introduction
Theories of Development
Week 2 -
March 30-April 01
Heredity and Environment
TEST 1: APRIL 01
Prenatal Development and Birth
Week 3 -
April 06-08
Prenatal Development and Birth
Infancy and Toddlerhood: The First 2 years
Week 4 -
April 13-15
TEST 2: APRIL 13
Early Childhood: The Play Years (2-6 years)
Middle Childhood: School Years (7-11 years)
Week 5 -
April 20-22
Middle Childhood: School Years (7-11 years)
TEST 3: APRIL 22
Adolescence
Week 6 -
April 27-29
Last day to withdraw – April 27
Adolescence
Early Adulthood
Week 7 -
May 04-06
TEST 4: MAY 04
OBSERVATION PAPERS DUE MAY 04 AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS!!!
Middle Adulthood
Late Adulthood
Week 8 -
May 11-13
Late Adulthood
Death, Dying, and Bereavement
TEST 5 (FINAL EXAM): MAY 13
***This schedule is tentative and may be changed during the course of the semester. You are
responsible for getting the changes if you miss a class.***