Course Description
This course will focus on human growth and change from birth to death. Students will explore patterns of age-related change in the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional domains. The course will cover theories, research findings, and methods. Other topics include historical and contemporary perspectives on various themes relevant to developmental psychology, such as stability versus change, continuous versus stage-like growth, and nature versus nurture. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- PSY 101: Psychology
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Apply, evaluate, and analyze different domains of psychology. This includes, but is not limited to, such domains as cognitive, behavioral, physiological, humanistic, socio-cultural, and psychodynamic;
- Solve problems by applying previous knowledge to a new problem, and distinguish between pseudoscience and scientific findings;
- Write about psychological topics with clarity and logical organization;
- Synthesize information from primary and secondary sources;
- Understand psychological phenomena both systematically and empirically;
- Use qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including statistical reasoning, research design, and evaluation of data;
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussion Boards (Weeks 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 & 14) | 10% |
Milestone Inventory Assignments (Weeks 4, 8, 10 & 15) | 20% |
Parenting Advice Column Paper (Week 3) | 10% |
Quiz (Week 5) | 10% |
Exam 1 (Week 10) | 15% |
Mandatory Retirement Paper (Week 13) | 20% |
Exam 2 (Week 15) | 15% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore
- Santrock, J.W. (2022). Essentials of Life-Span Development. 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-1264058891 [Looseleaf Version]
Additional Resources
- Supplemental readings may be distributed by the instructor.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,2,3 | Topics: Introduction and Biological Beginnings
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2 | 1,2,3,4 | Topics: Physical and Cognitive Development in Infancy
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3 | 2,5,6 | Topic: Socioemotional Development in Infancy
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4 | 2,3,4 | Topics: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
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5 | 1,2,5 | Topic: Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood
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6 | 1,2,5 | Topics: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle and Late Childhood
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7 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Socioemotional Development in Middle to and Late Childhood
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8 | 1,2,4,5 | Topic: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
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9 | 1-5 | Topic: Socioemotional Development in Adolescence
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10 | 1,2,5 | Topics: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood
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Exam 1 | |||
11 | 1,2,3,5 | Topic: Socio-Emotional Development in Early Adulthood
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12 | 1,2,5 | Topics: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood/Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood
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13 | 1,2,5,6 | Topics: Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood
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14 | 1,2,5 | Topic: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
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15 | 1,2,3 | Topics: Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood and Death, Dying, and Grieving
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Exam 2 | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.