Heartland Community College, Course Syllabus: Fall 2013
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences / PSY 209-01
Human Growth & Development
Credit Hours: 3 (Contact Hours: Lecture Hours: 3 / Lab Hours: 0)
Class Meetings: MW 9:30AM – 10:45 AM / ICB 2707
Catalog Description
Prerequisite: PSY 101.
This course studies human development from conception to death. It includes research methods and
developmental theories. It also addresses all the major areas of development (physical, social, emotional
and cognitive) and the interaction among these areas.
Required Textbook
Berk, L.E. (2010). Exploring Lifespan Development (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Instructor Information
Angela Carey, M.S.
Social & Business Sciences Division (Office 2100)
(309) 268-8590
angela.carey@heartland.edu (best method of communication)
Reminder: You are responsible for any communication sent to you through your HCC e-mail account.
Office Hours: immediately following class or by appointment
Relationship of this Course to Academic Programs & Transferability
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S.
degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the
Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However,
you should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to
the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for more information.
General Education and Learning Outcomes:
This course contains expected learning outcomes to help you develop proficiency across the four areas of
our General Education Program: Communication, Diversity, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking.
Throughout the semester, you should achieve the following general education outcomes:
1. Effectively deliver a message via various channels/modalities
2. Identify the type of problem and use a framework to solve the problem
3. Consider the views of others in light of those persons’ experiences and particular understandings
4. Reflect upon the formation of your own perspectives, beliefs, opinions, attitudes, ideals, and
values
5. Determine the value of multiple sources or strategies, and select those most appropriate in a given
context
Course Objectives:
Throughout the semester we will:
1. Apply and communicate the major theoretical perspectives of developmental psychology.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of research in psychology, and an appreciation of the
major research methods.
3. Identify and appraise the factors involved in the many different aspects of psychological
development across the life span.
4. Have acquired an awareness and appreciation of how the family system influences the individual
across the lifespan.
5. Understand the importance of culture, and other broad environmental influences, on the
development of the individual.
6. Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the many developmental and life challenges faced by
people at every stage of life.
7. Apply the theories and concepts of developmental psychology to real life.
Course Outline:
Over the course of our 16-week semester, we will cover topics included in all 19 chapters of our text. We
will not, however, spend the same amount of time on each chapter. The following topics will be included:
Research Methods, Genetics, Prenatal Development, The Newborn, Cognitive Development, Language
Development, Emotional Development, Sex and Gender, Education, Parenting and Family, Peers and
Social Development, Puberty, Identity and Self Esteem, Sexuality and Teen Pregnancy, Love and
Attraction, Marriage and Divorce, Career Development, Parenthood and Family Issues at Midlife, Aging
and Care for the Elderly, Cognitive Development and Dementia, and Death and Dying.
Required Reading:
You are responsible to read the chapters in our textbook as we are covering them in class. If you have
not purchased or rented a copy of the book, a copy of the book is on reserve in the library for you to
borrow. As a student, you are allowed to use the book in 2-hour increments, but it must remain in the
library. An additional copy is available to borrow from tutoring services if someone else is using the
library’s copy when you plan to read it. Reading the assigned material is crucial for performing well on
quizzes and exams. Furthermore, it is time-sensitive for the quizzes, since you will not know when you
will be quizzed on the required reading.
Required Writing:
Every psychology course is required to include a minimum of 10 pages of writing from each student to
account for no less than 20% of his/her final grade. Although this is not an English, Writing, or Grammar
class, you will be expected to write at college level. Additionally, you will be expected to use APA
formatting for papers requiring the citations of sources.
Methods of Evaluation:
Exams:
You will be given 3 chapter exams that will account for 45% of your final grade for this course. Chapters
will be covered together as follows: Parts 1-3, Parts 4–6, & Parts 7-10. The cumulative final exam is
only required for those who miss an exam (without making it up), 2 or more quizzes, or a paper
assignment during the semester. It will also be mandatory for anyone who misses more than 3 class
periods. It will be optional for everyone else. Final exam grades will be factored in with the chapter
exams to account for the 45%.
Quizzes:
You will be given 6 unannounced quizzes. These will account for 15% of your final grade. Quizzes will
be given at the beginning of the chosen class periods. If you arrive to class after a quiz is handed out, you
will only be given until the rest of the class finishes it to take it. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
Writing Assignments:
You will be expected to write 4 papers throughout the semester. These will account for 20% of your final
grade. You will be given specific topics and directions for them as they are assigned. Some papers are
expected to be corrected and turned in a second time. Failure to make corrections will result in a zero
for the assignment.
Your paper may be returned to you with an attached paper indicating your need for a “Research
Appointment” or a trip to the Writing Lab. If you are expected to meet with a librarian for a research
appointment (to discuss how to properly cite the sources within or at the end of your paper), you should
ALSO have someone in the writing lab review your paper (especially if I have marked a significant
number of errors on your paper). You will then need to turn in to me the signed form, your original
paper, and a corrected version of your paper.
Similarly, if you are expected to take a paper to the Writing Lab (most likely for help with overall themes
of grammatical errors, such as paraphrasing or run-on sentences), you will need the person who assists
you to sign the form. Then you will be expected to turn in to me the signed form, your original paper, and
a corrected version of your paper.
The additional work you do in making corrections to your paper will not only improve the grade on your
paper, but it will also help you earn higher grades on future paper assignments (in this class and others).
Failure to complete an assignment to meet with a librarian or a tutor in the writing lab will result in
a zero for the paper. Any attempts to forge the signature of a librarian or tutor will result in a zero
for the class.
Homework:
You will occasionally be given homework assignments. These will account for 10% of your final grade.
In-Class Assignments, Class Participation & Attendance:
Your attendance and participation in this class are necessary for you to do well in this course. Your
decision to attend class regularly and actively participate in the learning process will account for
10% of your final grade.
Grading System:
A = 100% - 90%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = 59% and below
PSY 209-01 Course Calendar:
The following schedule is an estimation to give you an idea of what to expect and how to plan your
semester. This schedule may change, as our class discussion will determine the amount of time needed to
adequately cover the chosen material for each chapter.
Attend each class, and you will never be surprised by schedule changes.
Week 1 (Aug. 19/21):
Paper #1 assigned/ Ch. 1 (Research Methods)
Week 2 (Aug. 26/28):
Ch. 2 (Genetics) & Paper #1 due/ Ch. 3 (Prenatal Development)
Week 3 (Sept. 2/4):
LABOR DAY/ Ch. 4 (The Newborn)
Week 4 (Sept. 9/11):
Ch.5 (Cognitive & Language Development)/ Ch. 6 (Emotional
Development)
Week 5 (Sept. 16/18):
Exam 1/ Ch.7 (Education), Paper #2 assigned
Week 6 (Sept. 23/25):
Ch.8 (Sex and Gender & Parenting and Family)/ Paper #2 due
Week 7 (Sept. 30/Oct.2):
Ch. 9 (Peers and Social Development)/ Ch. 10
Week 8 (Oct. 7/9):
Ch.11 (Puberty)
Week 9 (Oct. 14/16):
Ch. 12 (Identity and Self Esteem & Sexuality and Teen Pregnancy)
Week 10 (Oct. 21/23):
Exam 2/ Ch. 13, Paper #3 assigned
Week 11 (Oct. 28/30):
Ch. 14 (Love and Attraction, Marriage and Divorce, & Career
Development/ Paper #3 due
Week 12 (Nov. 4/6):
Ch. 15/ Ch. 16 (Parenthood and Family Issues at Midlife & Aging and Care
for the Elderly), Paper #4 assigned
Week 13 (Nov. 11/13):
Ch. 17 (Cognitive Development and Dementia)/ Paper #4 due
Week 14 (Nov. 18/20):
Ch. 18
Week 15 (Nov. 25/27):
Ch. 19 (Death and Dying)/ Thanksgiving Break
Week 16 (Dec. 2/4):
Exam 3/ Review for Final
Final Exam Date:
Wednesday, Dec. 11th at 8AM
**In the above schedule, items mentioned before a slash / refer to Monday, and items after a slash / refer
to Wednesday. This will help you determine when papers are due and when exams are to be held. If one
chapter is listed without a slash, that chapter is the only new material you will need to have read for that
week.
Instructor Policies
*Phone usage during class will not be tolerated (even for texting). If your phone catches
my attention, I may collect your phone and return it to you at the end of the class period.
Talk with me before class begins if you have a need to be available by phone for some
reason.
*Missed exams may be taken BEFORE the following class meeting ONLY if you contact
me regarding a last-minute illness or emergency within 24 hours of the exam period. It is
up to me to determine if your situation qualifies as an “emergency.” Telling me you had
a “family emergency” does NOT count. If you know in advance that you will be missing
an exam, you MUST make arrangements to take the exam PRIOR to your absence. You
will only be allowed to make up one exam.
*Missed quizzes may not be made up. I will drop your lowest quiz score at the end of the
semester.
*Late papers will NOT be accepted. To avoid this issue, e-mail assignments to me by
class time if you miss class on the date a paper is due. Illness on the day a paper is due
will NOT be accepted as a reason for a late paper.
*Your conduct within the classroom is expected to be polite and mature. I reserve the
right to determine conduct that does not meet expectations. You will be asked to leave
the classroom for the remainder of the class without the option to make up any missed
assignments, quizzes, or exams.
*You are responsible for missed announcements and assignments made in class (whether
you attend or not). You are also responsible to obtain missed notes from a classmate. I
will not provide notes to students who miss class.
*Extra credit may be offered to the class, but it will not be offered on an individual basis.
If you miss class the day extra credit is offered, you will not be given the opportunity to
take advantage of it.
Syllabus Disclaimer:
Changes may be made to this syllabus at any point. You will be notified (in class) of any
changes, at the time at which they are made.