Psychology Department __________________________________________________________

                                                                                             Tele: (386) –481-2594

Office: Cookman Hall 117                                                      Email: Moultrie@cookman.edu

Web Site: http://www.cookman.edu/faculty/moultrie          Office hours: 11-12noon,4:30-5:30pm

                                                                                                                       by appointment

Instructor: Dr. E.W. Moultrie  

 FALL 2005

PS 236 Developmental Psychology

Tuesday & Thursday

Required Text: Bees & Boyd (2006) Life-span Development (4th Ed). New York: Allyn & Bacon.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course provides an examination of human development across the lifespan from conception to death including the integration of the biological, cognitive and social processes which influence human behavior. The course is designed so that you will receive the information through assigned readings, lectures and video presentations. You are responsible for knowing this information. If there any changes in the topics to be covered, an announcement will be made in class.

Prerequisite: PS 230 or a General  Psychology course

Course goals and objectives :

Students are expected meet the following in this course:

• Learn and gain mastery over the basic facts and research findings,          terminology, principles, and theories important in the various areas of lifespan developmental psychology.
• Demonstrate knowledge of  the primary scientific methods used in developmental psychology and  the skills needed and used in observing, analyzing and interpreting human behavior (critical thinking,  information use)
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the interaction between genetic and  environmental influences on human development. (critical thinking)
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of cognitive and social development across he lifespan.
• Gain a basic understanding of family, play, work, and death and dying  as they apply to lifespan development. (social and personal responsibility, information use)
• Analyze current issues and controversies in the field of developmental psychology. (critical thinking)
• Practice and develop critical thinking skills, and written and oral communications skills. (critical thinking, information use)
• Find ways to apply psychological findings to everyday life. (critical thinking, social and personal responsibility)       

TEACHING STRATEGIES:

This course will be taught with an emphasis on using mini-lecture, class discussions, audiovisual presentations and experiential exercises in an effort to address different learning styles (auditory, visual and kinesthic) .

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance:----- All students are required to maintain regular classroom attendance per the college regulations. In addition, students missing, 4 consecutive classes before midterm or more than 10% of the total number of classes will be dropped from the course. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class and is taking into consideration for bonus points.

Participation:----- You are expected to participate in class discussions. You are to keep up with the readings, take notes from the lectures and audiovisual presentations so that you can participate in class discussions. Class participation is taken into consideration in grading for bonus points.  Our discussions will touch upon various sensitive and personal topic so please be considerate and respectful to each other’s perspectives, experiences and feelings.

Textbook/Readings: You are expected to have a copy of the textbook and are required to read ALL assigned readings specified on the course outline. You are responsible for ALL assigned readings, INCLUDING THOSE NOT DISCUSSED IN CLASS. It is your responsibility to keep up and to read the chapters as indicated on the syllabus.

Written Assignments: assignments are due at the beginning of the class period for which they have been assigned. They are to be APA format,  typed, 12 point font, double spaced, using paragraph format. Each assignment should include your name; date; title of assignment; course name, number and section. Please remember that you are required to adhere to the Academic Honesty policy in the college catalog  (2004-2006)  and your student handbook.

• Life Summary – You will prepare at minimum a 2 page typewritten summary of your life. There is no right or wrong way to write the summary. However, you will be graded on your thoroughness and ability to describe your life process and development. The SUMMARY is due Sept 6, 2005
• Article Reviews: You will choose two research journal studies on topics of your choice that relate directly to specific issues in developmental psychology only. You will write a minimum 2-page review that consists of a summary (minimum 1 pg) and a critique (minimum 1 pg) from an academic/professional periodical.  Both reviews must be APA format and typed as stated above. You may choose from any of the periodicals listed below or other recognized peer reviewed journals. This does not include newspaper articles, magazine articles or book reviews. If you are not sure about the study you selected, please contact the instructor. I will provide you with a Review Guideline. These reviews will be graded on 100% scale. Due dates are as follows: Review One on or before  – Oct 6, 2005, Review Two on or before –Nov 29, 2005.
• Video Reviews: you will view various videos covering the stages of life - infancy & early childhood, middle childhood & adolescence, early & middle adulthood, late adulthood. A form to evaluate these videos are available to download from my website. Please bring them to class when the video is presented. I will announce the viewing dates in class. 
• Movie Reviews: we will be viewing in class  2 movies that deal with various issues human development - " Losing Isaiah" and "David's Mother". You will write a 4 page review addressing  the major developmental issues, theories and/or concepts depicted in the movie. These are not to be storyline reviews. You must provide support for your statements using and citing information primarily from the text and additionally from other sources. Please download the movie review form.                

Tests: ------------Tests are designed to be learning exercises and are based upon assigned readings, video presentations, class assignments and lectures. Five (5) TESTS, and a FINAL EXAM are administered during the semester. Each test will be worth 100 pts. The tests may be a combination of multiple choice, true and false, fill-in-the-blank, essay and/or take-home.  Again, remember that you are required to adhere to the Academic Honesty policy in the college catalog  (2004-2006) and your student handbook.

Makeup tests, assignments, etc will be given only for written medical, legal and official college excused absences. If it is an emergency please provide proof otherwise you will not be permitted to makeup tests or assignments.  Please review the college catalog under the heading Academic Regulations.  The makeup test must be taken no later than the next class period from the original test date. It is the student's responsibility to notify instructor in writing or email as early as possible that he/she knows that he/she will miss an exam or assignment. This too is in the college catalog.

The final examination is cumulative (covers all semester material) and worth a total of 100 pts.

Grades: Course grades are calculated as an average of your scores on the tests and written assignments and the final exam. Grading will be per university regulations: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = 0-59.  Your midterm grade will be the average of the tests you have taken up to that point. If you miss a test due to an unexcused absence, you will receive a “0”. If you have an excused absence and miss the makeup, you will receive a “0”. In either case the “0” will be averaged in will all your test grades.  If your average is an “A” grade for all tests excluding bonus points, you do not have to take the Final Exam.

Bonus Points: ------ They may be earned by presenting oral reviews of your written reviews that you are required to submitted.  Volunteering to present these reviews must be done within the 1^st month of class by listing your name on the sign up sheet when it is circulated in class. Each oral presentation is worth 10 points.  Other opportunities to earn bonus points will include observation of children, the elderly, and adolescents in various local agencies. These and other possibilities will be announced in class and are at the discretion of the instructor. If bonus points are earned, they will be averaged in with your overall grade.

THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS, OUTLINE, TOPICS AND TESTS DATES ARE SUBJECT CHANGE DURING THE SEMSTER.--- THESE CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN CLASS AND POSTED ON MY WEB SITE. ---IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK FOR CHANGES IN THE CLASS SCHEDULE IF YOU MISS CLASS!! 

COURSE OUTLINE

Unit 1 Foundations

Course overview

Chapter 1 – Basic Concepts & Methods.

Chapter 2 -  Theories of Development

Chapter 3 – Prenatal Development and Birth

Test 1- Oct 11, 2005

************************************************************************

Unit 2  Infancy & Early Childhood - Video Review Form 1

Chapter 4 & 5–Physical & Cognitive Development in Infancy

Chapter 6 –Social & Personality Development in Infancy

Chapter 7 – Physical & Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

Chapter 8 – Social & Personality Development in Early Childhood.

Test 2 --- Oct 25, 2005                Movie Review Form              **********************************************************************

Unit 3  Middle Childhood & Adolescence - Video Review Form 2

Chapter 9 – Physical & Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Chapter 10 – Social & Personality Development in Middle Childhood

Chapter 11– Physical & Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Chapter 12- Social & Personality Development in Adolescence

Test 3 --- Nov 10, 2005  ***********************************************************************

Unit 4 Early & Middle Adulthood - Video Review Form 3

Chapter 13 – Physical & Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood

Chapter 14 - Social & Personality Development in Early Adulthood

Chapter 15 – Physical & Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Chapter 16 – Social & Personality Development in Middle Adulthood

Test 4 --- Nov 22, 2005 ************************************************************************* Part 4 Late Adulthood & the End of Life - Video Review Form 4

Chapter 17 – Physical & Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Chapter 18 – Social & Personality Development in Late Adulthood

Chapter 19 – Death, Dying & Bereavement

Test 5 --- Dec 1, 2005 ***********************************************************************

Final Exam  ---Dec 6-8, 2005

If you have access to the Internet you can view this syllabus online at my web site listed above or just go the Bethune-Cookman College web site look for faculty pages locate my name and click it on. 

If you have any questions about your grades or performance in class please let me know. If you are not doing well in class I will speak to you about it. If you need assistance in understanding the subject matter I will be glad to help you. True I am a Psychologist but I can not read your mind so please let me know if you are having problems with class or how much you enjoy the class.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO STUDY IN GROUPS OR WITH A PARTNER!!!

A Brief List of Psychology Journals

Some Useful Psychology Web Sites

http://www.apa.org    (American Psychological Association)

http://www.psychologicalscience.org   (American Psychological Society)

http://www.abpsi.org   (The Association of Black Psychologists)

http://www.psych-central.com             (Psychology Online Resource Central)

http://www.socialpsychology.org/cultural.htm  (Cultural Psychology Links)

http://neuroguide.com/index.html         (Neuropsychology research)

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/GovPubs/PSYCVIOL.HTM       (Psychoactive Substances & Violence)

http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/index.shtml    (Human Intelligence)

http://www.thebody.com   (the Body – An Aids and HIV Information Resource)

SUGGESTED READING

Adler, T. (1993). Bad mix: Combat stress, decisions, APA Monitor, March, p.1

Anderson, J.A. (1992). Problem solving and learning. American Psychologist, 48, 35-44.

Archer, J. (1991). The influence of testerone on human aggression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 82, 1-28.

Babcock, R. & Salthouse, T. (1990) Effects of increased processing demands on age differences in working memory. Psychology and Aging, 5, 421-428.

Baron, R.A. & Richardson, D.R. (1992). Human aggression (2nd ed.). New York: Plenum.