SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
South Portland, Maine 04106
Title: Developmental Psychology
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Katelyn Campbell, M.A.
Office Hours: By appointment
Catalog Number: PSYC 220
Total Credit Hours: 45
Email: kcampbell@smccme.edu
Office: Harborview 104
Course Syllabus
Course Description
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.
Prerequisites: ENGL-050, ENGL-075, PSYC 100
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Define Developmental Psychology as a discipline, explain its history, and how it is distinct from and related to other
disciplines.
2. Explain how Developmental Psychology is a science and become familiar with the research methods used by
developmental psychologists, including different research designs, limitations of research findings, and APA ethical
principles.
3. Learn the major developmental theories and use them as a framework to study human development. Understand the
philosophical and historical bases of these theories.
4. Develop an understanding of major developmental phases across the lifespan, and become familiar with changes which
occur physically, cognitively, and psychosocially across the lifespan.
5. Recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of human behavior.
6. Understand that development is contextual, and involves growth, maintenance, and regulation.
7. Describe the characteristics of the life-span perspective which views development as lifelong, multidimensional,
multi-directional, plastic, and multidisciplinary.
8. 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.
Text, Tools and / or Supplies
Berk, L. E., Exploring lifespan Development, 3rdnd ed. Allyn & Bacon
Calendar of Topics and Assignments
Date
Section/Reading
January 12 (Monday)
Chapter 1: Theories and Research
January 14 (Wednesday)
Chapter 1: Theories and Research
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 1
Assignment/Quiz
NO CLASS
January 19 (Monday)
January 21 (Wednesday)
Chapter 1: Research Methods
January 26 (Monday)
Chapter 2 Prenatal Development
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 2
January 28 (Wednesday)
Chapter 3: Prenatal Development,
Birth, and the Newborn
February 2 (Monday)
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 3
Critical Thinking Question 1
Due
Quiz: Chapters 1-3
Critical Thinking Question 2
Due
February 4 (Wednesday)
Chapter 4: Physical Development
in Infancy
February 9 (Monday)
Chapter 5: Cognitive
Development in Infancy and
Childhood
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 4
February 11 (Wednesday)
Chapter 5: Cognitive
Development in Infancy and
Childhood
NO CLASS
February 16 (Monday)
February 18 (Wednesday)
February 23 (Monday)
February 25 (Wednesday)
Chapter 6: Emotional and Social
Development in Infancy and
Toddlerhood
Critical Thinking Question 3
Due
Critical Thinking Question 4
Due
Chapter 6: Emotional and Social
Development in Infancy and
Toddlerhood
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 5
Quiz: Chapters 4-6
March 2 (Monday)
Chapter 7: Physical and
Cognitive Development in Early
Childhood
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 6
March 4 (Wednesday)
Chapter: 7 Physical and
Cognitive Development in Early
Childhood
SPRING BREAK March 9 &11
March 16 (Monday)
Chapter 8: Emotional and Social
Development in Early Childhood
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 7
March 18 (Wednesday)
Chapter 9: Physical and
Cognitive Development in
Middle Childhood
March 23 (Monday)
Chapter 10: Emotional and Social
Development in Middle
Childhood
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 8
March 25 (Wednesday)
Chapter 10: Emotional and Social
Development in Middle
Childhood
March 30 (Monday)
Review/Prep for Quiz
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 9
April 1 (Wednesday)
Critical Thinking Question 6
Due
Critical Thinking Question 7
Due
Critical Thinking Question 8
Due
Quiz: Chapters 7-10
April 6 (Monday)
Chapter 11: Physical and
Cognitive Development in
Adolescence
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 10
April 8 (Wednesday)
Chapter 12: Emotional and Social
Development in Adolescence
April 13 (Monday)
Chapter 12: Emotional and Social
Development in Adolescence
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 11
April 15 (Wednesday)
Chapter 13: Physical and
Cognitive Development in Early
Adulthood
Critical Thinking Question 9
Due
Critical Thinking Question 10
Due
NO CLASS
April 20 (Monday)
April 22 (Wednesday)
Chapter 14: Emotional and Social
Development in Early Adulthood
Critical Thinking Question 11
Due
April 27 (Monday)
Chapters 15-16: Middle
Adulthood
Handout: Critical Thinking
Question 12
April 29 (Wednesday)
Chapters 17-18: Late Adulthood
May 4 (Monday)
Chapter 19: Death, Dying, and
Bereavement
Review for Final Quiz
May 6 (Wednesday)
Critical Thinking Question 12
Due
Final Quiz: Chapters 11-19
Course Requirements:
Critical Thinking Questions: 30 points (3 points per assignment x 10 assignments)
There will be a total of 12 critical thinking questions offered throughout the semester. You are responsible to responding
to 10 of the 12 questions offered (meaning you can skip 2 questions that you choose). These will be typed (double spaced,
1-2 pages maximum) responses to questions that will be relevant to class topics. The purpose of these questions is to show
that you can apply the material being discussed to a real-life situation. I will pass out a rubric that will be used to grade
these assignments. You may choose to pass in all 12 critical assignment questions and I will drop your two lowest
scores at the end of the semester. Please see the late assignment policy below.
Quizzes: 45 points (15 points per quiz x 3 quizzes)
There will be 4 in-class quizzes given during the semester. The quizzes will contain multiple choice and short-answer
questions. The class time before each quiz will provide the oppourtunity to review important concepts. Your lowest
scoring quiz will be dropped from your final quiz score. Please see the missed quiz policy below.
Participation/Classwork: 25 points
Participation is not just speaking in class but also being respectful of your classmates and the professor (for example: not
having side-conversations, not leaving the classroom repeatedly, not text messaging during class). There will also be
multiple in-class activities that your participation grade will count towards. The more you participate, the more everyone
gets out of the class (and the more interesting it becomes). Please see the cell phone/laptop policy below.
Total: 100 points possible
A
93-100
B- 80-82
D+ 67-69
A- 90-92
C+ 77-79
D 63-66
B+ 87-89
C 73-76
F Below 62
B
C- 70-72
83-86
Late Assignment Policy: Critical Thinking Questions are to be turned in as a hard copy (printed) at the beginning of the
class due date. Email submissions will not be accepted unless in the case of an excused absence (where you have notified
the instructor of before class time). If you are going to be absent, you are responsible for submitting your assignment via
email before class time begins. Assignments submitted late will be deducted 5 points each day (meaning after three days
late you will receive a zero).
Quiz Policy: Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if there is an emergency that would cause your absence on
one of the quiz days. It is your responsibility to contact me if you miss a quiz, which will need to be completed as soon as
possible.
Cell Phone/Laptop Policy: Out of respect for the instructor and your classmates, cell phone use is not permitted during
class time. This includes text messaging. If you have an important call to respond to, please let the instructor know before
class and leave the room to respond. Laptop computer use is allowed, however the instructor reserves the right to change
this rule if student laptop use creates too many distractions. Please be respectful to your classmates.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is a required component of this course. Failure to attend classes regularly will result in a
lower course grade. If you miss the first two classes you will be reported as a NO SHOW to the administration and
dropped from the class. Missing 3 consecutive classes without notifying the instructor will result in you being dropped
from the class and receiving an AF for the course grade. Missing more than 2 weeks worth of classes will result in an F
for the class. Please note that repeated tardiness without notifying the instructor will be counted as an absence (more than
four incidents of showing up after formal attendance is taken will count).
Grading: If you have concerns about your grade in the class throughout the semester, please see me. It will become much
easier for us to address any issues as early as possible (rather than waiting until receiving your final grade). We can work
together to find out how to achieve your goals for this course. I will make sure that the status of your grade will always be
available throughout the semester so you can track your progress. If you do not let me know of any concerns, I will
assume that you are content with your performance in the course. It is my goal to see everyone succeed and have a
positive experience in this class. Please always feel free to contact me before/after class or by email to talk about your
progress.
SEE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR OTHER ACADEMIC POLICIES.
End-of-Course Evaluation
In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC.
Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal site. Students can access the course
evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs 24
hours after the last day of classes each semester. Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation is available.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): 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, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at 741-5923. Further
information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this
number. Course policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual’s accommodations.
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 twelve-week 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.