NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Life-Span Development 2314-0201
Instructor Joe Rivas
Course title: Life- Span Development.
Course prefix, number, and section number: PSYC2314-0201
Semester/Year of course: May-mester/2022.
Semester start and end dates: See Academic Calendar
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Online
Semester credit hours: 48.
Course description:
Course prerequisites: none.
Required course materials: Santrock, John. A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development. 10th Edition. McGraw Hill. Connect Access ISBN: 9781264562541.
“Please make to subscribe to the full version of McGraw Hill Connect’s website to complete all quizzes and exams!”
Name of instructor: Joe Rivas
Office location:
Telephone number:
E-mail address: jrivas@nctc.edu. Respond to Messages within 24 to 48 hours.
Office hours for students: Online daily, except on Sundays.
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.
Responding to E-mails or Canvas Messages: Within 24 to 48 hours (I usually check my emails and Canvas messages every day unless I am unable to access my computer). All generic questions must be written the “Ask Mr. Rivas Questions” discussion board. All personal inquiries can be submitted by email or by Canvas message.
E-mail Policy: Due to limitations in my speech communication, students may submit any questions or inquiries to me vial email whenever face-to-face communication is not possible.
REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED COURSE MATERIALS
Santrock, John, W. (2018). A Typical Approach to Life- Span Development 9th ed. ISBN:976-1-259-707878-7.
“Please make to subscribe to the full version of McGraw Hill Connect’s website to complete all quizzes and exams!”
“All students must purchase and read the required text book.”
Course Assignments: All students are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to each class meeting. Students must also complete assigned activities by their due dates. Students that do not complete assignments by their due dates will be subjected to points subtracted to their grade for that activity. Only students with well-documented information may be granted an extension on missed quizzes or exams. This excludes all discussion boards and homework assignments.
Discussion Forum Questions: Students are required to participate on all discussion forum activities. Students may correspond with their fellow classmates, but only to discuss discussion forum questions, answers, and/or activities. Students may not use the online discussion forums to express vulgar or obscene language, personal interactions with other students, and/or personal views not related to discussion forum activities. Students that do fail to follow the rules may be expelled from the course. All generic questions must be written the “Ask Mr. Rivas Questions” discussion forum. All personal inquiries can be submitted by email or Canvas message.
Exams and/or Quizzes: There will be two exams and six quizzes over the course of the semester. All exams and/or quizzes will be graded within a week after students have completed the assessment tool by the date listed on this syllabus.
All Papers or Written Assignments Must be Submitted on a Word Document of 2010 or greater.
(Required Assignment) Final Assessment Research Paper:
For this assignment, please write about the death, dying and grieving process. Using academic articles, at least one primary reference and your text, carefully address the following topics:
Describe stages of the developing person at different periods of the life span from birth to death in relationship to the death, dying and grieving process (a grieving child, teenager, adult, etc).
Discuss the social, political, economic, and cultural forces that affect the death, dying and grieving process.
Identify factors of responsible personal behavior with regard to issues of sexual activity, substance abuse, marriage / parenting, in relationship to the death, dying and grieving process.
Explain the biosocial, cognitive and psychological influences relating to the death, dying and grieving process, including both continuity and changes.
Describe different developmental perspectives of the major theories of development (i.e. cognitive, learning, humanistic and psychodynamic) in relationship to the death, dying and grieving process.
Identify examples of some cultural and ethnic differences relating to the death, dying and grieving process.
Discuss the various causes or reasons for disturbances in the death, dying and grieving process.
Evaluate empirical / quantitative research findings from at least one of your primary references (such as statistics, data, charts, etc) relating to the death, dying and grieving process
This assignment is a formal research paper. You should also be sure to use academic terminology from our course materials.
Your paper should be a minimum of 3 to 5 pages in length, typed and double-spaced, using a 12-point font and APA formatting. In addition to these pages, include a cover page and reference page (which are not counted as the 3 to 5 pages).
Also, please be sure each source on your reference page is cited in the body of your text and vice versa. At least three reliable, academic sources should be used to support your writing (one must be from a primary source).
See your syllabus for the rubric that will be used to determine your grade. As always, let me know if you have any questions and I'll be glad to help!
(Required Assignment) Virtual Tour of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Students may choose to participate in an hour tour of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas. The tour will include a complete overview of the history of the hospital; an explanation of the hospital’s funding resources, a walk-through of the clinic for prosthetics, child Life area, occupational and physical therapy, the learning center, the patient care area, and other medical departments. Students must also participate in the discussion forum with questions about the tour by the assigned due date. This activity is worth 45 points to all students that participate in the tour. Note, other instructors may not allow their students to use the tour as an excused absence if they participate in the tour. Students may not participate in the tour and the alternative assignment for added bonus points.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS, EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING CRITERIA
(Required Assignment) Exam One-Midterm Exam, 120 Points.
(Required Assignment) Exam Two-Final Exam, 120 Points.
(Required Assignment) 6 Discussion Forums, 30 Points.
(Required Assignment) 6 Quizzes, 60 Points.
(Required Assignment) Final Assessment Research Paper (All Papers or Written Assignments Must be Submitted on a Word Document of 2010 or greater), 120 Points.
(Required Assignment) Student Online Participation (All points will be granted if student participates with nearly all activities), 10 Points.
(Required Assignment) Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Virtual Tour Discussion Forum, 45 Points.
Total Amounts of Possible Points, 505 Points.
Grade Point Scale with Letter Grade:
450 to 505 = A
400 to 449 = B
350 to 399 = C
300 to 349 = D
299 and Below = F
Course Schedule with Posting dates and Due Dates
Introduction to Course.
An introduction to the course with assignment listings and dates.
Introduce Yourself Discussion Forum.
Introducing Yourself on the Discussion Forum.
Learning Module 1: Understanding Life-Span & Biological Processes.
Chapter 1: What is Life-Span Development?
A discussion about the history of Life-Span Development and the different approaches implemented by alternative views of the careers and science.
Chapter 2: Biological Process.
A discussion about the biological beginnings.
Discussion Forum 2.
Quiz 1.
Learning Module 2: Physical Development & Health.
Chapter 3: Physical Development & Biological Aging.
A discussion about how development through the aging process.
Chapter 4: Health.
A discussion about the importance of health related to biological development.
Chapter 5: Motor, Sensory, and Perceptual Development.
A discussion about how motor development, sensory, and perception progresses through life-span.
Discussion Forum 3.
Quiz 2.
Learning Module 3: Cognitive Development & Intelligence.
Chapter 6: Cognitive Developmental Approaches.
A discussion about how we think and how that affects behaviors.
Chapter 7: Information Processing.
A discussion about how we process information.
Chapter 8: Intelligence.
A discussion about how we acquire intelligence over our life-span.
Chapter 9: Language Development.
A discussion about the importance of language and why we need it to communicate with one another.
Discussion Forum 3.
Quiz 3.
Midterm Exam.
Learning Module 4: Identity and Sexuality.
Chapter 11: Self, Identity, and Personality.
A discussion about who we are and how our personality makes us unique.
Chapter 12: Gender and Sexuality.
A discussion about how gender, sex, and sexuality can influence human decisions.
Discussion Forum 4.
Quiz 4.
Learning Module 5: Socioemotional Processes & Development.
Chapter 14: Families, Lifestyles, & Parenting.
A discussion about the different parenting lifestyles may affect development.
Chapter 15: Peers and the Sociocultural World.
A discussion about how peers can influence our choices within a sociocultural world.
Chapter 16: Schools, Achievements, & Work.
A discussion about how educational and career may affect social development.
Discussion Forum 5.
Quiz 5.
Learning Module 6: Endings.
Chapter 17: Death, Dying, & Grieving.
A discussion about how illness and death can affect the grieving process at the end of life.
Discussion Forum 6.
Quiz 6.
Final Assessment Paper Due.
Texas Scottish Rite for Children Hospital Virtual Tour Discussion Forum Due.
Final Exam.
Late work policy: I do NOT accept work unless there is a medical emergency or a death in a family member. I may grant an extension on an assignment based individual quality of work in completing assignments on time. Students may request an extension immediate after a missed assignment, but the request may or may not be granted based on the instructor’s review on the student’s situation. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain assignments and contact with the instructor.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Integrity Policy: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
[Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:
Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is:
Student Learning Outcomes: (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)
At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology.
- Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.
- Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.
- Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.
- Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.
- Identify factors in physiological and psychological process involved in human behavior.
Core Objectives: Critical Thinking, Communication, Empirical and Quantitative, Social Responsibility
COLLEGE POLICIES
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Donna Smith
Office location: Corinth Campus, Room 208
Telephone number: 940-498-6266
E-mail address: dhooper@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Crystal Wright
Office location: FSB Exchange/Denton Campus, Room 204
Telephone number: 940-380-2504
E-mail address: cwright@nctc.edu