Syllabus

Psychology 2960: Human Growth and Development
Summer Semester 2009
May 19 – July 9, 2009
Syllabus

Instructor: Dennis Montgomery, M.A.
Email: dennismontgomery@hotmail.com
Office hours: available by appt. & by e-mail
Room: 314, Northwest Technical College
Meeting Time: Tues. & Thurs., 9 - 6 PM

Course Description
This course will examine contemporary research and theory, as well as everyday applications, in the study of human development over the life-span. We will discuss major topics, issues and controversies in the field. The course will focus on the continuity and change within the individual over the course of the lifespan in areas of cognition, affect, attachment, learning, and development of personality, social interaction, and language. Students will be encouraged to develop an informed, critical view of the process and influences that determine who we are as individual human beings at a particular point of development.

Course Objectives
At the completion of the course students will be expected to:
Describe, compare, contrast and critique various models and theories of human development.
Carry on an informed discussion of major factors influencing child and adolescent development.
Discuss theories of continuing adult development and issues associated with aging.
Discuss how personality, behavior, cognition, and emotion may change or remain consistent over an individual’s lifetime.

Required Text
Craig, Grace J. & Dunn, Wendy L. (2006). Understanding Human Development (First Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Course Requirements
Students are expected to be fully engaged in the learning process. This includes attendance and participation in classroom lectures, activities and discussions, as well as reading the assigned text and preparing for examinations.
Students will work in small groups to deliver an in-class presentation on a specific, related topic of interest.
There will be periodic un-announced “pop” quizzes and in-class assignments during the semester. These quizzes and assignments cannot generally be made-up.
Students will take five (5) exams scheduled throughout the semester, including a final exam.

Missed tests, re-testing , & late assignments
Missed tests must be made up before the next class period or as soon as possible with approval of the instructor. Make-up exams taken after the next class period may be penalized 5 points. Students who do poorly on a test may re-take the test before the next class period or by arrangement with the instructor. The final score on a re-taken test will be reduced by 10 points. Students will not be allowed to re-take more than 2 tests during the semester. There will be no make-up or re-take opportunity for the final exam without special arrangements. Late assignments may also incur a 10% penalty.

In-class Presentations
Working with at least one other student, students are expected to deliver an in-class presentation on a human developmental topic of particular interest to them. Presentations with discussion should be approximately 30 minutes and may include audio-visual aids, in-class exercises or other creative approaches. If you use power point or other electronic technology in making your presentation, be sure you know how to “make it work”.

Presentations will be evaluated by the following criteria:
1. Accuracy, completeness & logical organization of information
2. Presenters demonstrate a clear understanding of material
3. Information is presented clearly & holds the audience’s interest
4. At least three appropriate references are used and documented
5. Presenters are ready when scheduled & use technology effectively
6. Presenters demonstrate teamwork & shared responsibility.

Each presentation team must submit a written outline and reference list to the instructor at the time of the presentation. Be sure to include the date of the presentation and the full names of all presenters.

Grades & Exams
Exam & quiz scores, written assignments, quality of in-class presentation, attendance and engagement in the learning process, will determine grades for the course. There is a total of 500 points possible during the semester:
50 – 100 points for each exam (including the final) X 5 =500 (70%)
50 points for in-class presentation = 75 (10%)
50 points for engagement/participation = 75 (10%)
In-class assignments & quizzes = 75 (10%)
TOTAL 725 (100%)

Letter grades will be earned according to following scale.
725 Possible Points (entire course):
A = 675 to 725 points
B = 600 to 674 points
C = 525 to 599 points
D = 450 to 524 points