Student Syllabus Cover Sheet
Revised June, 2006
Semester and Year – Spring 2014
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 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 – 9:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
TTh – 8:20 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. – 1:05 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.
Last day to “Drop” course with grade of “W” – April 25th, 2014
* Any student with a disability or other special circumstance requiring academic accommodations or other consideration in order to
successfully complete the requirements of this course should identify himself or herself individually to the instructor to discuss the
matter in a private and confidential manner.
** 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 2014
Schedule:
TR 10:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
Section number: 905
CRN#: 20440
Room: George Building 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 – 9:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
TTh – 8:20 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. – 1:05 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: THEA reading and writing requirements met.
Course Outcomes:
 Identify and describe the stages of the developing person at different periods of the lifespan from birth to death.

Identify and evaluate the social, political, economic, and cultural forces that affect the developmental process of
the individual.
 Understand and describe the importance of responsible personal behavior with regard to issues such as sexual
activity, substance abuse, marriage and parenting.
 Understand and describe the biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial influences throughout the lifespan as an
ongoing set of processes, involving both continuity and change.
 Analyze and describe the different developmental perspectives of the major theories of development, i.e.,
cognitive, learning, humanistic, and psychodynamic.
 Develop and describe the major theoretical developmental concepts to demonstrate life transitions through
research, individual study, and developmental journals.
 Develop insight into and appreciation for cultural, ethnic differences that influence development throughout the
lifespan.
 Demonstrate critical thinking and cognitive-processing abilities by careful reading, clear written expression, and
clear oral communication through written assignments, class interaction, and oral presentations.
 Examine and describe the various causes or reasons for disturbances in the developmental process.
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 2013-2014)
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 6th – Thursday
February 25th – Tuesday
March 25th – Tuesday
April 15th – Tuesday
May 13th – 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 24th. 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 class starts 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.
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 Grades and Class Notes:
Students are able to view class notes, grades, syllabi and other announcements using my faculty webpage:
http://oldfacultyweb.wcjc.edu/users/lblanks/
Class Policies:
Please refer to the Wharton County Junior College Student Handbook for general policies.
Class Disruptions:
Class disruptions will not be tolerated. This includes any disrespectful behavior to the instructor and/or other students.
Examples of unacceptable classroom behaviors are listed below:

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


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Being consistently late to class or leaving class early
Talking while the instructor or classmates are speaking
Talking, texting, playing games on cell phones or cell phones ringing during class
Monopolizing class discussions
Students are not allowed to copy the instructor’s notes
Late work will not be accepted under any circumstance
Academic Integrity
See WCJC 2013-2014 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
21st – Tuesday
Introduction, Syllabus, Chapter 1
23rd – Thursday
Chapter 1
28th – Tuesday
Chapter 1
th
30 – Thursday
Chapter 2
February
4th – Tuesday
6th – Thursday
11th – Tuesday
13th – Thursday
18th – Tuesday
20th – Thursday
25th – Tuesday
27th – Thursday
March
4th – Tuesday
6th – Thursday
11th – Tuesday
13th – Thursday
18th – Tuesday
20th – Thursday
25th – Tuesday
27nd – Thursday
April
1st – Tuesday
3rd – Thursday
8th – Tuesday
10th – Thursday
15th – Tuesday
17th – Thursday
22nd – Tuesday
24th – Thursday
29th – Tuesday
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
Test #3 – Chapters 7 – 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
No Class
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
No class – Easter Holiday
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Test #4 – Chapters 11 – 14
Observation Paper Due
May
1st – Thursday
Chapter 17
th
6 – Tuesday
Chapter 18
8th – Thursday
Chapter 19
13th – Tuesday
Final Exam – Chapters 15 – 19 at 10:15 a.m.
15th – 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.