Course Syllabus

FCS 1500:

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

SUMMER, 2003

9:00 am-12:05 pm, Monday-Friday (May 12-May 30)

130 JTB

Dr. Russell Isabella

Office: 212 Alfred Emery Building

Phone: 581-5459	WEBSITE: http://www.fcs.utah.edu/~isabella

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. As such, the students in this class will be introduced to notions of development that pertain to specific areas of the lifespan, such as infancy and late adulthood, as well as those which are pertinent to development throughout the lifecourse. The primary sources of information exchange will be the textbook, class lectures, and discussion.

Throughout the course, it will be important to keep in mind that each of us analyzing the developing individual is only human, and thus our interpretation of behavior and change is filtered through our own, primarily experience-based biases. Thus, we will spend time becoming familiar with the major theories of human development and the languages those theorists use, so that you may identify biases where they occur (either yours, mine, or the theorists'). We will also pay particular attention to the research that supports or rejects these theories so that you will have an opportunity for evaluating each view on the basis of a portion of the existing evidence. Of course you would also be wise to compare what you learn in class to what you observe in your everyday life.

On a more specific level, 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, Helen, & Boyd, Denise, Lifespan Development (3nd Edition). Allyn & Bacon, 2002.

Attendance:	Class attendance is expected, though your attendance will not be monitored. Nevertheless, students who miss class should do so knowing that they alone are responsible for making up anything they might have missed. Given the brevity and intensity of this course format, a student who makes a habit of missing class is not likely to do very well.

Exams:	Two examinations will be given throughout the course; each of these will cover readings and lectures. PLEASE NOTE that you will be responsible for all reading assignments regardless of whether they have been directly discussed in class. (You will be informed, in class, of any exceptions to this general rule.)

Makeup exams will be given only in special circumstances, and decisions regarding makeup exams will be made on a person-by-person basis by the instructor. PERMISSION TO TAKE A MAKEUP EXAM WILL ONLY BE GRANTED BEFORE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED EXAM IS GIVEN IN CLASS. Please talk with me as soon as possible about any conflicts you might have with scheduled exam dates/times.

GRADING

Grades will be based on points accumulated from the two exams taken throughout the session. Grades for each exam, and for the course, will be determined by the instructor and will be based, to some extent, upon the performance of the class as a whole. Generally speaking, however, point accumulations between 93-100% will be awarded an A, between 90 and 92 an A-, 87 and 89% a B+, 83-86 a B, 80-82 a B-, 77-79 a C+, 73-76 a C, 70-72 a C-, etc., with 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 performance. Additionally, incompletes will not be given.

Please Note: If you have a documented disability that will require special considerations for testing or any other aspects of this course, you must notify the instructor as soon as possible before the first exam.

COURSE OUTLINE

Following is an outline of the classes for this course. The reading assignments have been made to correspond with classroom lectures. It is expected that students will read the appropriate portions of the text before the class period during which that portion of the text will be discussed. Lectures will be directed toward clarifying text materials, highlighting information the instructor deems especially important, and supplementing but not replacing the reading assignments.

WEEK ONE - Will cover Chapters 1-7

Mon (May 12): Chapters 1and 2: Introduction, Theories (partial)

Tues (May 13): Chapters 2 and 3 (partial): Theories (cont'd.), Genetics, Prenatal Development (partial)

Wed (May 14):	Chapter 3: Prenatal Development (continued), Chapter 4 Physical and Cognitive Development during Infancy

Thur (May 15):	Chapter 4 Language Development, Chapter 5: Psychosocial Development during Infancy

Fri (May 16):	Chapters 6 & 7 Physical, Cognitive and Psychosocial Development (partial) during Early Childhood

WEEK TWO - Will cover Chapters 8-9; midterm exam on Wednesday; chapters 10, 13.

Mon (May 19):	Chapters 7 & 8: Psychosocial Development during Early Childhood (continued); Physical and

Cognitive Development during Middle Childhood.

Tues (May 20): Chapter 9: Psychosocial Development during Middle Childhood; Review for midterm exam.

Wed (May 21):	MIDTERM EXAM - chapters 1-9 -- Exam will begin at 9:00!! Do not be late....

Thur (May 22):	Chapters 10, 11: Adolescent Physical, Cognitive, and Psychosocial Development

Fri (May 23):	Chapters 12 & 13: Physical, Cognitive and Psychosocial Development during Early Adulthood

WEEK THREE -Will cover Chapters 14-18, final exam on Friday. [Holiday on Monday]

Mon (May 26):	HOLIDAY - MEMORIAL DAY - NO CLASS!

Tues (May 27): Chapters 14 & 15: Physical, Cognitive and Psychosocial Development during Middle Adulthood

Wed (May 28):	Chapters 16 and 17 Physical, Cognitive and Psychosocial Development during Late Adulthood

Thur (May 29):	Chapter 18: Death, Loss and Bereavement; review for Final Exam

Fri (May 30):	FINAL EXAM - chapters 10-18 – Exam will begin at 9:00!!