Syllabus
Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Health
PSYO 1020: Developmental Psychology – 8 week, Spring A, 2025
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
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
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 to complete the exam. A maximum of two attempts will be allowed for proctored exams. This exam will allow 1 page of notes, front, and back.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Category | Points Available |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 2 |
| Discussions | 3 points each (x8) |
| Reflection Papers | 4 points each (x 7) |
| Problem Based Scenarios | 4 points each (x 7) |
| Lifespan Interview | 4 points |
| Creative Assignment | 4 points |
| Cumulative Exam | 10 points |
| Total | 100 |
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: Jan 15 – Jan 21
Week 2: Jan 22 – Jan 28
Week 3: Jan 29 – Feb 4
Week 4: Feb 5 – Feb 11
Week 5: Feb 12 – Feb 18
Week 6: Feb 19 – Feb 25
Week 7: Feb 26 – Mar 4
Week 8: Mar 5 – Mar 11
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 |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 2 | Infancy & Toddlerhood |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 3 | Early Childhood |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 4 | Middle Childhood |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 5 | Adolescence |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 6 | Early Adulthood |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 7 | Middle Adulthood |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 8 | Older Adulthood |
|
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
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
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
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see your course for full details, access, testing requirements, and guidelines.
Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Exam Attempts Policy
Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade.
All students are encouraged to use a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.
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.
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
- 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:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- 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.