Dr. Ling-Yi Zhou Professor Office Hours: MWRF 1:00-2:00 PM S433, Tower Hall Tele:(815) 740-3594 lzhou@stfrancis.edu	PSYC 240 Life-Span Development Course Syllabus Prerequisite: PSYC111 General Psychology or by Consent (offered every semester and, possibly, in summer terms too) textbook  description  goals requirements  grades deadlines integrity disabilities schedule

Required Textbook

Sigel

man, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2009). Life-span human development (6th ed.). Wadsworth , Cengage Learning.

Course Description and Goals

This course is to help students understand human development as a lifelong dynamic process that takes place in the social, societal, and cultural contexts. Developmental continuities, changes, and mechanisms to account for the development in multiple domains across the human life-span will be discussed. The course also introduces students to the applications of the life-span developmental approach in the helping professions.

Specific Goals

• Learn the basic facts and research findings, terminology, principles, and theories important in the various areas of life-span developmental psychology.
• Develop an understanding of the scientific method and the basic developmental designs for studying human behavior across the life-span.
• Obtain an understanding of the developmental continuities and changes in the biological, cognitive, emotional, and social domains across the human life-span.
• Obtain an understanding of the basic developmental tasks, strengths, and needs at different time points across the human life-span.
• Obtain an appreciation of the diversity and individual differences in human development under the interactive influences of multiple factors from within the individuals (e.g., the genetic factors) as well as those from outside (e.g., the social and cultural factors, the family and the societal systems).
• Learn critical thinking skills through comparing and evaluating developmental theories, appreciating various influencing factors on human development, and finding real life opportunities to apply developmental principles.
• Learn the skills to locate valid research information and to understand the information in primary and secondary sources.
• Learn to do proper citations and prepare references in APA style.
• Develop skills to present information and express opinions in a clear and interactive way.
  

Course Requirements

1. Read the textbook chapters and other required materials in a timely fashion (according to the schedule).
2. There will be 4 tests (200 points), including the final (not cumulative ).
3. You will complete a package of assignments (200 points), including papers, essay questions, small group projects, and discussions.
   

Grades

Content	Points	Points	Grade
Discussions	75	360-400	A
Individual Written Work	115	320-359	B
Course Reflection	10	278-319	C
Tests (4)	200	238-276	D
--	--	237 and lower	F

Respect for the Deadlines of Assignments

Respect for the due dates is encouraged. If you accomplish all the assignments and turn them in by the specified deadlines, you will be rewarded 5 extra points to recognize your sense of responsibility.

Academic Integrity

All students are expected to strictly follow the guidelines of academic integrity, which are outlined in the current University Catalog. All assignments turned in by an individual are assumed to be the original work of that individual and proper citations and references must be included where necessary. Any violation of academic integrity will be dealt with according to the procedures outlined in the current University Catalog.

Students with Disabilities

The University strives to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements are encouraged to register with the Office of Disability Services to discuss access issues. Please call 815-740-5060 or visit L214 in the Library to coordinate accommodations.

Academic Resource Center

Tutoring and other academic assistance can be found in the Academic Resource Center (ARC) in the Library (L214). Please contact Ms. Christine Zielinski, Director of the Academic Resource Center (L214) at (815) 740-5067 or czielinski@stfrancis.edu.

There are always individual differences in a classroom, so it is difficult to meet all of your needs simultaneously. Sometimes the material may be new to some of you but familiar to others. You can help by giving feedback as we go along. If you have questions or problems, please do not hesitate to post them in the discussion room or call me during my office hours. You can also contact me via e-mail. Discussing with your peers is beneficial. Success of a course depends on the joint efforts of the instructor and the students. Let's learn from each other and work together to make this course a success.

Course Schedule

Week	Contents
1	Chapter 1: Understanding Life-Span Human Development
2	Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
3	Chapter 3: Genes, Environment, and Development
4	Chapter 4: Prenatal Development and Birth
5	Chapter 5: The Physical Self; Test 1 (Chapters 1-4)
6	Chapter 6: Perception
7	Chapter 7: Cognition
8	Chapter 8:Memory and Information Processing; Chapter 9: Intelligence and Creativity; Test 2 (Chapters 5-9)
9	FALL BREAK
10	Chapter 10: Language and Education
11	Chapter 11:Self and Personality
12	Chapter 12: Gender Roles and Sexuality; Chapter 13: Social Cognition and Moral Development
13	Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships; Test 3 (Chapters 10-13)
14	Chapter 15: The Family
15	Chapter 16: Developmental Psychopathology
16	Chapter 17: The Final Challenge: Death and Dying
17	Test 4 (Chapters 14-17)