SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Social Sciences
Developmental Psychology
Spring 2015
Course Title: Developmental Psychology
Course Instructor: Kelly Purinton, MA
Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: Kpurinton@smccme.edu
Course Code: PSYC 220
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Course Overview: This course utilizes 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 which influence development. Students will be
encouraged to think critically and apply their knowledge of development to their
own lives.
Course Prerequisite: Introduction to Psychology or instructor permission.
Course Objectives: After successfully completing this course, the student will be
able to:
1. Learn the major developmental theories and use them as a framework to study
human development, and understand the philosophical and historical bases of these
theories.
2. Develop an understanding of major developmental phases across the lifespan.
3. Become familiar with changes that occur physically, cognitively, and
psychosocially across the lifespan
4. Recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of
human behavior.
5. Understand that development is contextual, and involves growth, maintenance,
and regulation.
6. Describe the characteristics of the life-span perspective which views development
as lifelong, multidimensional, multi-directional, plastic, and multidisciplinary.
7. Acquire and use critical thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach to
solve problems related to life-span development.
Learning Outcomes:
Critical Thinking: Upon Completion of this course, students will have:
1. Read and 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. Have analyzed & evaluated research data to produce a 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 and social interaction.
Required Text and Tools: Exploring Lifespan Development, Berk, 2nd edition
(Pearson), access to the Internet, specifically the school portal and Blackboard, and
access to email.
Course Requirements:
Attendance and Participation: Class attendance and participation are important. If
you aren’t in class participating, you miss the best aspects of the class. Notify your
buddy and make up any work you have missed. It is up to the student to keep pace
with the coursework. If you miss the first two classes you will be reported as a NO
SHOW to the administration and dropped from the class. Missing three consecutive
weeks without notifying me will result in you being dropped from the class and
receiving an AF for the course grade. Missing four scattered without contacting me
will also result in an AF.
(20%) Weekly Homework consists of several types of projects that will be assigned
throughout the semester. The bulk of the homework consists of weekly reflections.
These are two page, double spaced papers that reflect some aspect of the assigned
reading or class lecture to your own experience. Specific topics will be assigned in
class. One is due each week. If you miss a class, bring the reflection you missed as
well as the one due. I take off 10% for each week last the due date.
(30%) Weekly Quizzes: Each week we’ll have a quiz over the previous week’s
material, both assigned reading and lecture. The tests are built upon the quizzes so
it’s important to keep them for studying. If you miss a class, you cannot take a late
quiz, so when you return to class, bring with you a two/three page written synopsis
of the chapter of the lecture you missed. I take off 10% for each week past the due
date.
(10%) Assigned Reading: Please answer the study questions as you read the text,
and bring them into class before we discuss the material that day. Surprise checks
will be conducted in class periodically throughout the semester.
(25%) Exams: We will have three exams. These are taken from the weekly quizzes.
If you miss an exam, be prepared to take that exam next time you come into class.
(15%) Final Recap: You may choose one of three ways to recap your learning for the
course: 1) a project that covers relevant material, 2) a paper that covers relevant
material, or 3) a final exam.
Grade Breakdown
A
93-100
A90-92
B+
97-89
B
83-86
B80-82
C+
77-79
C
73-76
C70-72
D+
67-69
D
63-66
F
Below 63
4.00
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.67
1.33
1.00
0.00
End-of-Course Evaluation
In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations
for all courses. Students can now evaluate their SMCC courses online and
anonymously by going to Academics on the SMCC homepage and choosing Course
Evaluations. This feature is typically available the last two weeks of every class (in
most cases, this will be the last two weeks of the semester).
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 741-5629. 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 this number.
SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy
In an effort to control the escalating cost of supplies and to encourage students to
conserve resources, SMCC charges for printing. Students receive a $20 credit every
semester. This credit resets for each semester and extra credit is not rolled over to
the next semester. Per page costs are as follows:
8.5"x11" black and white: $0.10 per page
8.5"x11" color: $0.50 per page
8.5"x14" and 11"x17" black and white: $0.20 per page
8.5"x14" and 11"x17" color: $1.00 per page
Duplex (two-sided) pages are discounted 50% from the listed page costs.
Students can monitor their remaining credit and number of pages printed by
visiting the IT Help tab on MySMCC or by checking the Printing Information icon in
the lower right corner of the screen while logged in to an SMCC computer.
More information about the Pay-for-Print Policy is available on the IT Help tab on
MySMCC.
Add-Drop Policy
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and
spring semesters and the first three days of summer sessions 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 in which s/he is
registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the second through twelfth
week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week of twelveweek summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To
withdraw from a course, a student 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 a student has
officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may
adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class
does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with
a withdrawal.
Plagiarism Statement
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense,
whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work
for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings
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 in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed
such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s
Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of
Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and 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.
See student handbook for other academic policies.