Syllabus

Developmental Psychology (PSYC 305)
LECTURE: T, TH (12:30-1:45)
Faculty: Jamie C. Nekich, Ph.D.

Office: Forney Hall, Room 013 (down 1 floor from building entrance)
Psychology Office: Student Health Building #206, 885-6324
Office Hours: T 2-3:00pm and by appointment
Phone: 885-5057
E-mail: jamiederrick@uidaho.edu
Web Site: www.class.uidaho.edu/derrick

Required text:	Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 7th Edition By Laura Berk (2012)
Optional:	Study Guide for the Text

Course Purpose: The course provides an overview of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development in children from birth through adolescence. We will cover theory and research in the field of child development with a focus on understanding which factors promote and impede healthy development. The course highlights how adults involved in the care/ education of children can use this knowledge to enhance their interactions and support optimal development in children and adolescents. The course is upper division so presumes basic understanding of psychological concepts and research methods.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course you will: know the major theories in the field of child development be able to apply theoretical knowledge to address practical issues related to children and families be critical thinkers about social policy that affects children and families understand aspects of your own development and how this shaped your outcomes be prepared for advanced study in disciplines related to child development have a foundation of solid knowledge to support parenting and other relationships with children
Attendance: Attendance is not required but strongly encouraged. Surprise quizzes encourage classroom attendance. Electronics Policy: Electronics, including computers are NOT ALLOWED in the classroom. If you have special circumstances that require a computer you may request an exception to the standard policy.
Exams: Four midterm exams and a final exam will be given during the semester. Brief in-class reviews will be done when the exam is returned, more in depth review is available during office hours. MAKE-UP EXAMS ARE ALLOWED ONLY with permission
Homework: Sixteen short homework assignments are required each semester. These are submitted for grading on the BBlearn interface (click to link to the BBlearn site) and cannot be made up if missed. You can miss one without harming your grade. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS ACCEPTED.
Quizzes: Ten short in-class quizzes will be given randomly throughout the semester. If you attend class the quizzes will be easy and are used primarily as a means for encouraging attendance and regular reading.
Extra-credit: Extra credit can be earned by participating in Psychology Department Research Projects and/ or with short writing assignments. You can earn a MAXIMUM of 40 points extra credit. no assignments are accepted via e-mail. They must be turned in by the date due in class. Sona-Systems/Experiment Participation -- extra credit only As a student enrolled in this course you will be provided a login and password to Sona-systems. (http://www.uidaho.sona-systems.com) Your login information will arrive by the 10^th day of the term. After the 10^th day of the term you will be able to login to the database and see a listing of experiments in which you may participate. You have also been provided with the opportunity to complete non-experiment participation based assignments. If you would prefer not to participate in any experiments, you may opt to do the alternative assignments. (see the extra credit link on BBlearn for more information) Grading
Points: You can earn a total of 850 points during the semester.
	4 midterms (100 points each)	400
	final exam (150 points)	150
	15 Homework Assignments	150
	10 pop quizzes	100

Grading: Grading Scale:
	90-100% A	720-800
	80-89% B	640-719
	70-79% C	560-639
	60-69% D	480-559
	0-59% F	below 480

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http://www.class.uidaho.edu/nekich