Psychology 407, Life Span Development 
University of La Verne

Arthur Gonchar, Ph.D.,

Department of Psychology
E-mail Address: gonchara@ulv.edu

Hoover Building 204
Office Phone: (909) 593-3511 ex. 4177


Course Guide

This course examines the developmental changes and sociocultural events that take place during an individual's life span from infancy to old age. We will explore the psychological characteristics, personal challenges and developmental opportunities for each of life's age periods. We will consider how the influences of genetic inheritance and environmental factors shape the individual's social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. It is hoped that students will gain a greater appreciation for the complexity of human development and gain a heightened awareness of their own developmental experiences. This Course meets the GESSa requirement.

Text: Berger, K.S. (2008) The Developing Person through the Life Span, 7th edition, New York: Worth.

Optional:    Study Guide: Straub/Berger, 7th Edition.

Course Requirements:

  1. Personal Experience Paper: You are to write a paper on your personal experiences that you recall from your middle childhood and adolescence (ages 6-17).
  2. Developmental Observations/Interviews: Two observation/interview assignments give you the opportunity to get to know two individuals of two different age levels as you either observe them in a group setting, interview them about "matters of personal importance" or challenge them with intellectual tasks. In addition, these assignments are intended to help you see the concepts you are studying and to learn useful techniques of observation and interviewing.
  3. Exams: There will be 4 on-line exams throughout the semester. The dates for the exams are listed in the Class Schedule. Each exam will be posted on the Course Blackboard Page for a period of 2 hours on each one of those days. You can take the exam on any one of those evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.
  4. Discussion Articles:  You are to read a set of articles and post your comments on the Discussion of Board of Blackboard  (http://bb.ulv.edu).

Optional Work:

  1. Audio and Video Tapes: The PBS series "Seasons of Life" will be distributed to you. While not essential for studying for the quizzes or exams, these materials are rather interesting and supplement your readings.  The series consists of:

                              1. 26 half-hour audio tape programs, and

      2. 5 one-hour videotape programs.

  1. Quizzes for Extra Credit: For each of the 8 sections of this course, a set of quizzes corresponding to that section's chapters will be posted on Blackboard for extra credit. Your performance on these quizzes will only counted toward extra credit and could enhance your final grade from 0 to as much as 20 points.

Course Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on their completion of the 3 paper assignments, 4 on-line exams, discussion group participation,  and optional quizzes. Grades will be given based on cumulative points acquired. Roughly 90% of the following points will be in the "A" range, 80% of these points will represent "B" level work and so on for the remaining grade options.

Personal Experience Paper

  20 points

Developmental Observation/Interviews

  60 points (30 points each)

Exams

200 points (50 points each)

Discussion Articles

  20 points

Total points

300 points    plus quiz extra credit

 

 

Class Schedule

The course is divided into 8 units consisting of 3 or 4 chapters of text readings over a 7-day period. In addition, for 3 days at the end of 2 units, there will be posted on-line an exam covering material presented in the 2 units of chapter readings. You can use these 3 days to review for the exam or get a jump on the next unit of readings. During the weeks when there is no unit exam posted, you may choice to work on written assignments.

 

Unit

Dates 

Topics

Read

1.

 June 9 - 16

Introduction to Human Development 

Chapter 1-4 

2.

 June 17 - 23

Infancy 

Chapter 5-7 

Exam #1 Chap. 1-7 June 24, 25, 26      6:30-8:30pm 

3. 

 June 2 – July 2

Preschool Years 

Chapter 8-10 

Personal Experience Paper due July 3

4.

 July 3 - 10

School Age 

Chapter 11-13 

Exam #2 Chap. 8-13 July 11, 13, 14    6:30-8:30pm 

5.

July 15 - 21

Adolescence 

Chapter 14-16 

Observation/Interview #1 due July 22

6.

 July 22 - 28

Early Adulthood 

Chapter 17-19 

Exam #3 Chap. 14-19 July 29, 30, 31      6:30-8:30pm 

7.

August 1 - 6

Middle Adulthood 

Chapter 20-22 

8.

August 7 - 12

Late Adulthood 

Chapter 23-25, Epilogue 

Exam #4   Chap. 20-25, Epilogue August 13, 14, 15   6:30-8:30pm

Observation/Interview #2 due August 17

Last modified on May 9, 2008 by Arthur Gonchar