Time and Location: 11:30 - 12:20 p.m. M-W-F in Room 533 of Monroe Hall

Instructor: Dr. Kim Ernst
    Office: 430 Monroe Hall
    Phone: 865.3560 (Office); 865.3125 (Department Office)
    E-mail: kernst@loyno.edu
    Office Hours: Monday 11:30 - 12:30 p.m.; Wednesday 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. and by
                       appointment
     Home Page:  http://www.loyno.edu/~kernst

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course covers the development of behavior and psychological activity through the prenatal period, infancy, childhood, adolescence, maturity, and old age with emphasis on normative processes. 

COURSE CREDIT:  3.0 credit hours

COURSE PREREQUISITES:  The prerequisite for this course is Introduction to Psychology (PSYC A100). Satisfactory completion of this course DOES NOT fulfill any Common Curriculum requirements.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  The primary objective of this course is to provide a broad overview of the study of life-span developmental psychology.  We will consider psychological theories and research relating to biological, cognitive, and socioemotional development across the life-span.  Emphasis will be given to the normative processes of the prenatal period, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Other objectives are as follows: facilitate your understanding of thought and behavior; increase your awareness of applications of psychological principles to everyday situations; facilitate your appreciation for human diversity; and prepare you for further study in psychology.

COURSE WEB SITE:  The course web site contains a copy of this syllabus, assignments, list of resources, and other materials.

CLASS FORMAT:  In the classroom, students will be exposed to some material from many chapters in the textbook. Some of this material will be covered in a standard lecture format and some topics will be presented as either videotaped material, or classroom demonstrations and discussions.

TEXTBOOK:  Only one textbook is required for this course. The paperback study guide that accompanies the textbook is optional. Each is available in the campus bookstore.

Berger, K. S. (2000). The developing person through the life span (5th ed.). New York: Worth.

Straub, R. O. (2000). The developing person through the life span: Study guide. New York: Worth.

Chapter readings are assigned from the textbook. Students are expected to read the assigned material before class. Although specific assignments from the study guide will not be made, I strongly recommended that you complete the study guide activities and exercises to facilitate your learning of the textbook material.

Assignments, additional readings, and learning material will be distributed in class, available from the course listserv or home page, or from the Internet.

ADDITIONAL READINGS:  In addition to the assigned textbook readings, some additional readings and video showings will be scheduled during the semester.  These materials will be distributed in class, available from the course listserv or Web site, placed on "Reserve" in the Monroe library, or available from the Internet.

CLASS ATTENDANCE:  Punctual and regular class attendance is expected.  Class attendance will be taken in some form (i.e., roll call or attendance rosters) each time the class is scheduled to meet (this excludes exam days).  Whatever the method used to take attendance, it is your responsibility to sign the attendance roster or be present for roll call. Students not present for roll call or who fail to sign the attendance roster will be marked "absent."  Each student is allowed six absences without a penalty.  For each absence beyond six you will lose one letter grade.  Please note, absences from class are not recognized as either "excused" or "not excused" absences.  If you miss a class period, you are still responsible for ALL information presented in class.

If, at end of the semester, you had perfect attendance, a bonus of six (6) points will added to your total points earned; if you miss one (1) class, a bonus of three (3) points will be added to your total points earned.  If, however, you miss two (2) or more classes, you forfeit all the bonus credit for class attendance.  Bonus points for class attendance will not factor into your midterm grade.

ETHICS:  Academic dishonesty, in any form (e.g., cheating, plagiarism) will result in the consequences outlined on pages 45-47 in the Loyola University Undergraduate Bulletin (2001-2003).  Please refer to this publication for full explanation of the University’s policy on academic dishonesty, integrity of scholarship and grades, the procedures for dealing with students who are suspected and/or found guilty of violating this code, and the consequences thereof.

EXAMS:  A total of five exams will be given throughout the semester.  Four of the five exams will be administered during regular class meeting times and the fifth exam (Final Exam) will be administered during the Final Exam week. The Final Exam is a comprehensive (i.e., cumulative) exam.  The dates for these exams are provided in the "Class Schedule" (see the last page of this document).

Each exam will cover the assigned reading material (textbook chapters) and any information presented in class. Questions on all exams will consist primarily of multiple choice questions, although other types of questions may be used (e.g., short answers & fill-in-the-blank). Each exam will be worth 100 points.  The Final Exam will be worth 200 points.  You will need to bring a no. 2 pencil to take all exams.  Exam grades will be posted outside my office.  You may review your most recent exam and answers in my office during my office hours.

Routine makeup exams will not be administered.  Exceptions will be made only in cases of emergencies or compelling circumstances. To be eligible for a makeup exam, you must both: (1) notify me before the exam you miss, and (2) provide sufficient documentation concerning your absence.  You can take ONLY one makeup exam.  If you miss more than one exam, you will makeup one exam and receive zero points for any of the other exams you may have missed.  The period for taking a makeup exam will be December 2-4, 2002.  Meanwhile, you will receive zero points for the missed exam until you take the makeup exam.  These provisions also apply to the Final Exam except the makeup date.

If you are observing a religious holiday or if you must be away on official university business (e.g., an athletic event, professional conference, student government, etc.) I will attempt to make some arrangement so you can take the exam early.  You must, however, inform me at least 2 (two) weeks before the exam, to make appropriate arrangements. 

EVALUATION AND GRADING:  Your final course grade will be based on your test performance on the four in-class exams and the Final Exam.  Each exam will count equally toward your final course grade.  Midterm and final course grades are based on the percentage of total points earned. Midterm grades are determined by your performance on Exam 1 and 2.

The following grading scale will be used when a letter grade must be assigned (i.e., midterm and final course grades):
                   Percentage of Total Points - Grade
                               90 - 100%                      A
                               88 - 89%                        B+
                               80 - 87%                        B
                              78 - 79%                         C+
                               70 - 77%                        C
                               68 - 69%                        D+
                               60 - 67%                        D
                               < 60%                           F

One exception to the scale above is that "+" (plus) grades will not be assigned to midterm grades.  An "I" (incomplete) grade will be assigned only when compelling circumstances exists and the student provides sufficient documentation.

COURSE LISTSERV:  Students enrolled in this course will be expected to participate in the course listserv.  A listserv is an electronically based (i.e., e-mail) discussion group.  The primary purpose of the course listserv is to provide communication between subscribers.  For example, I can send one e-mail message to the listserv and everyone subscribed will receive my message.  Similarly, when a subscriber posts a question to the listserv any subscriber can send a reply.  This way, everyone subscribed can participate. I will use the listserv to make relevant announcements; check your email regularly.  Students subscribed to the listserv will also participate by posting relevant questions to other student subscribers.  Questions might concern class lectures, textbook material, assignments, and the like.  In previous semesters, students have also used to the listserv to form study groups and arrange group study times before each exam.

To subscribe to the course listserv,
1. Send an e-mail message to: majordomo@loyno.edu
2. On the first line of your message body type: subscribe psyca230002
3. Then send the e-mail

Soon after sending the e-mail, you will receive an e-mail message from the system administrator.  If you were successful, this e-mail will contain detailed instructions concerning the listserv mechanics.  Please know that when you send an e-mail to the listserv, every subscriber will receive a copy of your message.  Thus, if you want to send something "private" to me, use my individual e-mail address (i.e., kernst@loyno.edu).

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• You should keep up with all the reading assignments. When you do not understand the material, it is your responsibility to communicate this to me.
• Students with disabilities who wish to receive accommodations in this class should contact Disability Services at x2990 as soon as possible so that warranted accommodations can be implemented soon.  Disability Services are located in the Academic & Career Excellence Center, Monroe Hall, Room 405.
• You should obtain a student  e-mail account from the Office of Information Technology, on the fifth floor of Monroe Hall, during the first week of the semester.
• The staff of the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library provide workshops on a variety of subjects dealing with electronic information resources and the technologies needed to access and present them.  Visit the library to speak with a librarian or go to the library's Web site, http://www.lib.loyno.edu/li/instruction.htm for more information.
• If my office hours conflict with your schedule, please talk with me so that we can schedule an appointment that will be more convenient for you.

DATES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS and UNIVERSITY HOLIDAYS:

Record your exam scores below.

   Exam 1 Points Earned                __________/100
    Exam 2 Points Earned                __________/100
    Exam 3 Points Earned                __________/100
    Exam 4 Points Earned                __________/100
    
        Subtotal                              __________/400

        Additional Credit                   __________

    Exam 5 Points Earned                __________/200
               Final Exam

    Total Points Earned       __________/600

CLASS SCHEDULE

DISCLAIMER: The schedule and procedures in this course may be modified or altered at the discretion of the course instructor if circumstances warrant changes. Any changes will be announced in class. 08/26/2002

courses page
Ernst's home page
Psychology Department
Loyola University