Student Syllabus Cover Sheet
Revised 4/8/14
Semester and Year – Spring 2015
CRN (Course Reference Number), Course Prefix, Number and Title –
CRN: 20440, PSYC 2314, Life Span Growth and Development Section: 905
Course Meeting Days, Times and Location (Campus, Building, and Room number) –
TR 10:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m., Sugar Land, George Building room 101
Instructor’ Name - Lesley Snow Blanks, M.A.
Instructor’s Telephone number(s) – 281-243-8571
Instructor’s email address – blanksl@wcjc.edu
Instructor’s webpage – http://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/lblanks/
Instructor’s Office Hours and Office Location –
Sugar Land, Faculty Suite 224
MWF – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
TTh – 8:20 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. and 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Course Catalog Description – Life-Span Growth and Development is a study of social,
emotional, cognitive and physical factors and influences of a developing human from
conception to death. Recommended for Nursing and Allied Health students.
Instructor’s Grading System –
Course Grade:
Tests
Final Exam
Observation Assignment
Total Points
Points each
100
Total
400
100
100
600
Final Grade:
A = 600 – 540, B = 539 – 480, C = 479 – 420, D = 419 – 360, F = 359 – below
Instructor’s Attendance Policy – Attendance is taken daily. If a student misses more
than 10% of the class lecture days, points will be deducted from the student’s total score for
each subsequent absence.
Last day to “Drop” course with grade of “W” – April 24th, 2015
* The college will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students wishing to receive
accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services at (979) 532-6384; located in the Pioneer Student Center, Room 313,
at the Wharton campus Students must request accommodations from the Office of Disability Services prior to each semester. Please
note that accommodations provided are not retroactive.
** Misconduct for which discipline may be administered at WCJC includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly
furnishing false information to the college (plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise
securing help in a test, copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers).
Syllabus for Psychology 2314 – Life Span Growth and Development – Spring 2015
Schedule:
TR 10:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
Section number: 905
CRN#: 20440
Room: Sugar Land, George Building room 101
Required Materials: Rathus, S. (2014). HDEV. 3rd edition. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
Instructor: Lesley Snow Blanks, M.A.
Website: http://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/ lblanks/
Email address: blanksl@wcjc.edu
Office: SL, Faculty Suite 224
Phone: 281-243-8571
Office Hours:
MWF – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
TTh – 8:20 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. and 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Catalogue Description: Life-Span Growth and Development is a study of social, emotional, cognitive and physical factors
and influences of a developing human from conception to death. Recommended for Nursing and Allied Health students.
Credit: Three credit hours.
Prerequisites: TSI satisfied in Reading and Writing.
Course Outcomes:







Describe the stages of the developing person at different periods of the lifespan from birth to death.
Discuss the social, political, economic, and cultural forces that affect the development process of the individual.
Identify factors of responsible personal behavior with regard to issues such as sexual activity, substance abuse,
marriage, and parenting.
Explain the biosocial, cognitive, and psychological influences throughout the lifespan as an ongoing set of
processes involving both continuity and change.
Describe the different developmental perspectives of the major theories of development (i.e., cognitive, learning,
humanistic, and psychodynamic.
Identify examples of some of the cultural and ethnic differences that influence development throughout the
lifespan.
Discuss the various causes or reasons for disturbances in the developmental processes.
Services for Students with Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities seeking accommodations should contact
the ADA Coordinator in the Office of Student Services. The student should provide current medical and/or psychological
documentation verifying their disability. (WCJC Student Handbook 2014-2015)
Evaluation:
Tests: All tests may include multiple-choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, or short-answer. Tests will include relevant
lecture material that may not be in your textbook. Tests will be worth 100 points. All make-up exams will be given the
day of the final exam. Students are only allowed one make-up, and must inform the instructor one week prior to the final
exam.
Test Schedule:
Test
Test #1
Test #2
Test #3
Test #4
Final
Date of Test
February 5th – Thursday
February 24th – Tuesday
March 24th – Tuesday
April 16th – Thursday
May 12th – Tuesday
Chapters covered (+ lecture material)
1-2
3-6
7-10
11-14
15-19
Observation Assignment: The purpose of the written assignment is to enhance students’ research skills and provide
first-hand experiences in developmental studies. Observe an individual from an age group other than your own. Using a
developmental perspective such as that of (but not limited to) Freud, Vygotsky, Baumrind, Piaget, Kohlberg or Erikson,
interview or perform an experiment with the volunteer. Compare the observation of the volunteer to theories discussed
in class. Provide 2-3 pictures clearly showing you and your volunteer. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have their
parent’s permission. Write a three-page (minimum) summary of the observation with explanation of your pictures. The
observation assignment is worth 100 points and is due no later than April 28th at 10:50a.m. See website for detailed
instructions and guidelines.
NO late papers will be accepted without a documented excuse. Papers must be turned in before class starts (10:50
a.m.) to be considered on time. Any papers turned in after 10:50 a.m. will be considered late and will not be accepted.
Participation/ Attendance: Attendance is very important in this class in order to understand the theories and concepts
evaluated on exams. Students will be tested over material that is covered in class that is not in the textbook. Also, the
instructor does NOT drop students from the course – this is the student’s responsibility. Attendance is taken daily. If a
student misses more than 10% of the class lecture days, points will be deducted from the student’s total score for each
subsequent absence.
Course Grade:
Tests
Final Exam
Observation Assignment
Total Points
Points each
100
Total
400
100
100
600
Final Grade:
A = 600 – 540, B = 539 – 480, C = 479 – 420, D = 419 – 360, F = 359 – below
Viewing Class Information:
Students are able to view class notes, syllabi and other announcements using my faculty webpage:
http://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/lblanks/
Class Disruptions/Policies:
Class disruptions will not be tolerated and will result in the student being expelled from the class. This includes any
disrespectful behavior to the instructor and/or other students Examples of unacceptable classroom behaviors are listed
below:
 Being consistently late to class or leaving class early
 Talking while the instructor or classmates are speaking
 Talking, texting, playing games on cell phones, cell phones ringing during class, using laptops/tablets for activities
unrelated to class
 Monopolizing class discussions
Please refer to the Wharton County Junior College Student Handbook for general policies.
Academic Integrity:
Misconduct for which discipline may be administered at WCJC includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or
knowingly furnishing false information to the college (plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books,
notes, or otherwise securing help in a test, copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers). Students found cheating
on exams/assignments will receive a grade of “0” on the given exam/assignment. See WCJC 2014-2015 Student
Handbook for college regulations.
Tentative Course Schedule: Below is the tentative schedule of chapter reading assignments, exams, and other important
dates occurring during the semester.
Date
Reading & lecture material
Requirement
January
20th – Tuesday
Introduction, Syllabus, Chapter 1
22nd – Thursday
Chapter 1
27th – Tuesday
Chapter 1
th
29 – Thursday
Chapter 2
February
3rd – Tuesday
5th – Thursday
10th – Tuesday
12th – Thursday
17th – Tuesday
19th – Thursday
24th – Tuesday
26th – Thursday
March
3rd – Tuesday
5th – Thursday
10th – Tuesday
12th – Thursday
17th – Tuesday
19th – Thursday
24th – Tuesday
26nd – Thursday
31st – Tuesday
April
2nd – Thursday
7th – Tuesday
9th – Thursday
14th – Tuesday
16th – Thursday
21st – Tuesday
23rd – Thursday
28th – Tuesday
30th – Thursday
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Test # 1 – Chapters 1 and 2
Test #2 – Chapter 3 – 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
No class – Spring Break
No class – Spring Break
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Test #3 – Chapters 7 – 10
No class – Easter Holiday
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Test #4 – Chapters 11 – 14
Observation Assignment Due
May
5th – Tuesday
Chapter 18
7th – Thursday
Chapter 19
12th – Tuesday
Final Exam – 10:15 a.m. – Comprehensive
14th – Thursday
No class
* For exam purposes, focus on the topics discussed in class, as well as those covered in the textbook This is a tentative schedule and
may change at any time.