Syllabus

Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Health

PSYO 1020: Developmental Psychology – Accelerated – 8 week (Fall 2 2022)

Credits - 3

Description

This course will explore basic concepts and theories of human development with a focus on the nine major periods of life from prenatal development to death and dying. The nature of interactions between an individual’s biology and their environment will be examined by integrating information from a wide array of research studies. These studies consist of, but are not limited to, ground-breaking historic studies to recent studies of physical, neurological, and cognitive development.

Materials

Textbooks

Lally, M. & Valentine-French, S. (2019). Lifespan development: A psychological perspective (2nd edition). Creative Commons. 

Hardware

An external webcam is required for proctored exams. If you do not have one, you may order one here: External Webcam.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes

In lecture courses, students should be able to:

  • Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
    Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
  • Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the scientific methodology and research designs typically employed in research in human development
  • Identify the nature of interaction between biology and environment and its influence on development throughout the lifespan
  • Discuss human genetics and issues related to prenatal development, birth, and infancy
  • Discuss the major developmental milestones in physical, cognitive, and socioemotional domains throughout the human lifespan
  • Analyze significant theories of cognitive development, including those of Piaget, Vygotsky, and the information-processing approach
  • Examine key issues of development in adulthood, including marriage and divorce, parenting, midlife, and careers choices
  • Analyze the key issues of development in late adulthood, including retirement, living arrangements, cognitive changes, death and grieving
  • Judge the alignment of expected milestones of development with observed/reported milestones reached by an individual in childhood or adolescence
  • Judge the alignment of expected milestones of development with observed/reported milestones reached by an individual in early, middle, or late adulthood 

Assignments

Discussions

Discussions will provide the student with a choice of topics from which they can choose to provide a discussion response. Students will post their initial replies to the discussion board prompts and will also respond to the posts of a minimum of 2 peers.

Reflection Papers

These written assignments ask students to reflect on different phenomena that occur across the life span in a manner that is informed by their own reading and research.

Problem-Based Learning Scenarios

These written assignments provide the student with a real-world example of a developmental issue and ask them to apply research from life span psychology to suggest a strategy for producing the best outcome.

Final Cumulative Exam (Proctored)

This is a 50-item, multiple-choice exam that is proctored. Students will have 1 hour and 1 attempt to complete the exam. This exam will allow 1 page of notes, front, and back. See UNE’s ProctorU page for information about signing up and scheduling your exam.

Proctored exams are closed for review. You will not be able to review them at any time. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

CategoryPoints Available
Introduction2
Discussions3 points each (x8)
Reflection Papers4 points each (x 7)
Problem Based Scenarios4 points each (x 7)
Lifespan Interview4 points
Creative Assignment4 points
Cumulative Exam10 points
Total100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Week 1: Nov 2 – Nov 8
Week 2: Nov 9 – Nov 15
Week 3: Nov 16 – Nov 22
Week 4: Nov 23 – Nov 29
Week 5: Nov 30 – Dec 6
Week 6: Dec 7 – Dec 13
Week 7: Dec 14– Dec 20
Week 8: Dec 21– Dec 27

All weekly assignments are due by 11:59 PM ET at the end of the appropriate week. 

Week  Topic Assignments Due Dates
1

Prenatal Development

  • Introductions
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario
  • Plan ahead for Lifespan Interview

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

2 Infancy & Toddlerhood
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

3 Early Childhood
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

4 Middle Childhood
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

5 Adolescence
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

6 Early Adulthood
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

7 Middle Adulthood
  • Discussion
  • Reflection Assignment
  • Problem-Based Scenario

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

8 Older Adulthood
  • Discussion
  • Lifespan Interview Video Activity
  • Creative Assignment Activity
  • Exam

Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday

Response Posts, Assignments, & Exam Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday

 

 

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. Questions? Email: prehealth@une.edu.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

Policies

Attendance Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.

Assignments

Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted. Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Proctored Examinations

The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded the ProctorU Chrome or Firefox extension and are using the most current version of Chrome or Firefox. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited.

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 8 weeks

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact PreHealth@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. Contact support with any questions.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.