FCS 1500: Human Development In Context Across the Lifespan

COURSE SYLLABUS - SPRING 2003

Instructor: Russell Isabella, Ph.D.

Office: 212 Alfred Emery Building

Phone: 581-5459

Email: russ.isabella@fcs.utah.edu

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is directed toward the examination and understanding of the processes of human development from conception through old age, death and dying. The primary objectives of this course are to help each student develop:

1. An appreciation for, and an understanding of human beings at different levels of development and the nature of influences on development from various ecological systems;

2. A sensitivity to developmental tasks at various points throughout the lifespan, and a motivation to be responsive to the needs of individuals at different ages;

3. An understanding of different philosophies through studying the contributions of selected leaders in the field;

4. An understanding of him/herself as a person, and the processes of development as they have functioned, and continue to function in your own individual life situations.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Text: Bee, H. & Boyd, D. (2002). Lifespan Development. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. All students should purchase this textbook as you are not likely to complete this course successfully without it. All chapters of this text will be covered in this course, and you are responsible for most of the materials presented in the textbook. I will do my best to make you aware of exceptions to this general rule.

Lessons: The format of this online version of FCS 1500 is such that the course is divided into four sections which each contain numerous lessons. Each lesson corresponds to a chapter or specific major section of a chapter in your textbook. You may think of these lessons as containing the information I would provide you in a lecture if the course were classroom based. It is the student’s responsibility to read and extract information from the lessons in the same way he or she would listen to and extract information from a lecture. In some cases you will find that the lesson corresponds very closely with the relevant textbook material. Other times, you will see that the information presented in the lesson is quite different from that provided by the textbook. In either case, it is expected that you will learn the material presented in the lessons.

Note that I will 'release' each lesson at a pace I believe to be appropriate. Each exam (see below) is scheduled for a specific date and covers a specific amount of material. There is no benefit to moving through the lessons more quickly than is necessary for being prepared for each scheduled exam. Also, it is not possible to take the exams earlier than the scheduled date. It is for these reasons that I am controlling the pacing of the content for the course.

Exams: Four examinations will be given throughout the semester; each of these will cover materials presented in readings and lessons. PLEASE NOTE that you will be responsible for all reading assignments regardless of whether they have been directly addressed in the lessons. (You will be informed of any exceptions to this general rule.)

Exams will consist of multiple choice questions only. The first three exams will contain approximately 55 questions; the final exam will contain 80 questions. The first three exams will cover only the materials from the corresponding section of the course. The final exam will cover the materials corresponding to the fourth section of the course, along with a small number of questions that will be cumulative (more on this at a later time). Each exam will be worth 100 points.

Reviews for each exam will be provided approximately 1 week before the scheduled exam time.

As arranged by U-online, each of the first three exams will be offered on two dates (a Thursday evening and a Saturday morning); the final exam will be offered on only one day. You’ll receive more information about testing from U-online

Assignments: You will be required to complete two written assignments during the semester. You will have four assignment options to choose from. Each assignment will be limited to about 3 typewritten pages. You will be required to email me your assignment by the specified due dates. Each assignment will be worth 100 points.

Grading: Grades will be based on the average of your points accumulated across the four exams and two assignments completed throughout the semester. Generally speaking, point accumulations averaging between 93 and 100% will be awarded an A, 90-92 an A-, 87-89 a B+, 83-86% a B, 80-82 a B-, 77-79 a C+, 73-76 a C, 70-72% a C-, 67-69% a D+, 63-33 a D, 60-62 a D-, and point accumulations below 60% awarded an E. Please be aware that there will not be opportunities for extra credit work. Your course grade will be based on your exam and assignment performance. Additionally, incompletes will not be given.

*********THE VERY LATEST DATE FOR WITHDRAWING FROM THIS COURSE WILL BE FEBRUARY 28, AS PER UNIVERSITY POLICY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY STUDENT BE GIVEN PERMISSION TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS COURSE BEYOND THIS DATE!

Also: All graded exam/assignments for this course will be discarded by the middle of the Summer ‘03 semester. If you have any questions regarding your exams, you thus are encouraged to deal with these questions in a timely manner.

Anticipated Course Progression (and recommended pacing of materials)

Note that some chapters/lessons contain a good deal more material than others. Recommended times for completion will vary accordingly. Also, there are more lessons than chapters because the lessons aim to organize the material in manageable ‘chunks.’

Section I: Introduction, Background, Prenatal Development, Infant Development

(Jan 6 - Feb 12) Readings: Chapters 1-5

Chapter 1/Lesson 1 -complete by January 10

Chapter 2/Lessons 2 and 3 - complete by January 21

Chapter 3/Lessons 4, 5 and 6 - complete by January 24

Chapter 4/Lessons 7 and 8 - complete by February 4

Chapter 5/Lesson 9 - complete by February 12

☛FEB 13/15 EXAM 1

Section II: Early Childhood, Middle Childhood (School Years)

(Feb 13 - Mar 13) Readings: Chapters 6-9

Chapter 6/Lessons 10 and 11 - complete by February 19

Chapter 7/Lesson 12 - complete by February 26

Chapter 8/Lessons 13 and 14 - complete by March 5

Chapter 9/Lesson 15 - complete by March 12

☛MAR 13/15 EXAM 2

Section III: Adolescence, Early Adulthood

(Mar 13 - Apr 3) Readings: Chapters 10-13

Chapter 10/Lessons 16 and 17 - complete by March 18

Chapter 11/Lesson 18 - complete by March 24

Chapter 12/Lessons 19 and 20 - complete by March 28

Chapter 13/Lesson 21 - complete by April 3

☛APR 3/5 EXAM 3

Section IV: Middle and Late Adulthood, Death, Dying and Bereavement

(Apr 4 - Apr 28) Readings: Chapters 14-18

Chapter 14/Lessons 22 and 23 - complete by April 9

Chapter 15/Lesson 24 - complete by April 13

Chapter 16/Lesson 25 and 26 - complete by April 18

Chapter 17/Lesson 27 - complete by April 21

Chapter 18/Lesson 28 - complete by April 24

☛APR 28 EXAM 4 (1/4 of final will be comprehensive)