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Psychology 431: Developmental Psychology

Monday & Wednesday, 9:00-1:15

Summer 2006

 

Professor: Moin Syed, MA                                         Email: msyed@ucsc.edu         

Office: EP 504                                                            Web: http://psych.ucsc.edu/grads/msyed/         

Office hours: Mon & Wed 1-2pm

                                                                                             

Required Text

Santrock, J. (2007). A topical approach to lifespan development, 3rd Ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill. (A copy is available in the Reserve Room in the library.)

 

Other Requirements

Some information will be available through the class website only (see URL above). It is the student’s responsibility to check the website frequently for updates and announcements. Additionally, all handouts given in class will be posted on the site.

 

Course Description

This class is intended to be an introduction to the field of developmental psychology. Using a topical approach, the class will explore cognitive, social, and physical aspects of development, as well as the major theories and methods used in the field. Class sessions will include a mix of lecture, activities, and videos.

 

Quizzes

There will be four quizzes this semester in lieu of full exams. The quizzes will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and will cover material from lecture and the text, as well as any supplemental readings assigned. Your lowest quiz grade will not be counted towards your final grade in the class. Accordingly, there will be absolutely no make-up quizzes. If you miss a quiz, for whatever reason, it will count as your dropped quiz.

 

Interview/Paper

To supplement classroom learning you will be required to conduct an interview with somebody in a different developmental period than your own (as defined in class). You will tape record and transcribe the interview and write a short paper (3-5 pages) integrating material from the class. The paper will be due Monday, July 3rd. More details will be given during the second class meeting (06/07).

 

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory and will be counted toward your final grade. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class, at the end, or both; so come to class and please stay! Please notify the instructor in advance if you know you will be missing class. If you do miss class, you are responsible for getting the notes from another student.

 

Extra Credit

Students may receive extra credit for participating in a research study that was approved by the instructor. If there is a lack of opportunities, or if a student does not wish to participate in research, an alternate opportunity will be provided. The maximum extra credit available is 5 points. No exceptions.

 

Grading                             Points            Percent                   95-100%   A                    77-79%    C+

Quizzes (3 best of 4)           180              (50%)                    90-94%     A-                  73-76%    C

Paper                                 160              (45%)                    87-89%     B+                  70-72%    C-

Attendance                           20                (5%)                    83-86%     B                    60-69%    D

Total                                  360            (100%)                    80-82         B-                   00-59%    F

 

Students with Disabilities

If you have any type of learning or physical disabilities please notify the instructor before the second class so that we can accommodate you.

 

General Education (Segment III)

This course is part of the Segment III cluster (Human Development) of the GE program. Students must have completed 60 units by the end of the semester in which they take this course in order for it to count in the Segment III cluster.

 

Computers

If you don't have a computer, there are computers available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except for holiday periods at the Computer Lab on the main floor of the J. Paul Leonard Library.  Other computer labs and hours are listed in the Student Bulletin.

 

Course Schedule:

 

Date                                          Topic                                                              Chapters

 

Mon June 5                                Introduction                                                     1 (pp. 1-20), Appendix

 

Wed June 7                                Methods/Theories                                            1 (pp. 20-43)

 

Mon June 12          Quiz              Prenatal Development                                      2

 

Wed June 14                              Sensory & Motor Development                        3, 5

 

Mon June 19          Quiz              Intelligence & Cognitive Development               6, 8

 

Wed June 21                              Language Development & Learning                  9

 

Mon June 26          Quiz              Emotional & Personality Development              10, 11

 

Wed June 28                              Social & Moral Development                            13, 15

 

Mon July 3            Paper Due    Contexts of Development                                 14

 

Wed July 5            Quiz              Enjoy the rest of summer!                               

 

Please note that the schedule will be followed as closely as possible, but may vary depending on the pace of the class. All changes will be announced in class and it is your responsibility to keep up with those changes.