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Essential Objectives

Course Syllabus


Revision Date: 05-Sep-25
 

Fall 2025 | PSY-1050-VO01 - Human Growth & Development


Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Location: Online
Credits: 3 (45 hours)
Day/Times: Meets online
Semester Dates: 09-02-2025 to 12-15-2025
Last day to drop without a grade: 09-15-2025 - Refund Policy
Last day to withdraw (W grade): 11-04-2025 - Refund Policy
This course has started, please contact the offering academic center about registration

Faculty

Glen Hueckel
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Kate Hughes

General Education Requirements


This section meets the following CCV General Education Requirement(s) for the current catalog year:
Social Science
    Note
  1. Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.
  2. Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of human growth and development throughout the life cycle including physical, cognitive, linguistic, ethical, and psychosocial dimensions.


Essential Objectives

1. Compare and contrast two major theories of developmental psychology.
2. Identify and discuss issues in human growth and development arising from differences in gender, race, and socioeconomic status.
3. Select one theory and discuss the major aspects of each stage of growth according to physical, cognitive, language, and social dimensions.
4. Explain how both environmental and genetic factors influence growth and development.
5. Apply the main concepts and principles of one developmental theory to the development of an individual.
6. Describe the process of empirical and ethical research (both cross-sectional and longitudinal) as it is commonly practiced and applied in the field of developmental psychology, including how that research informs contemporary issues.
7. Distinguish between fact and opinion, recognize unstated assumptions, and evaluate arguments according to the quality of supporting evidence in the literature.


Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.


Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Fall 2025 textbook details will be available on 2025-05-19. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

PSY-1050-VO01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.


Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Prohibited: The use of generative AI is not allowed in this course, with the exception of spellcheck, grammar check and similar tools. This course rests in the value of students engaging in the learning process without relying on AI-generated content. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills independently, owning their learning journey from start to finish. If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.


Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

 HighLow
A+10098
A Less than 9893
A-Less than 9390
B+Less than 9088
B Less than 8883
B-Less than 8380
C+Less than 8078
C Less than 7873
C-Less than 7370
D+Less than 7068
D Less than 6863
D-Less than 6360
FLess than 60 
P10060
NPLess than 600


Weekly Schedule


Week/ModuleTopic  Readings  Assignments
 

1

Week 1: Domains, Dimensions, Prenatal Development and Birth

  

Reading and RR- Chapter 1: History, Theory, and Research Strategies

  


Discussions: "Introductions and Three Domains of Lifespan Development"

Short Essay: " CTQ: Qualitative Change in Human Development”

 

2

Week 2: Prenatal Development
Prenatal Learning, Neonatal Testing
Sensitive periods, organogenesis and teratogens

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 3: Prenatal Development, Birth and the Newborn Baby

  

Discussions: “Living With the Effects of Teratogens”

 

3

Week 3: Physical and Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
The Importance of Caregiver Interactions
Piaget: Assimilation and Accommodation

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 4: Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
Reading and RR: Chapter 5: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

  

Discussions: “Infant Learning and Language Development”

Short Essay (Critical thinking Response): "Baby Learning from TV and Video: The Video Deficit Effect"

 

4

Week 4: Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Attachment Theories and Styles

Basic and Self-Conscious Emotions

Emotional Regulation

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 6: Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

  

Discussions: "The Evolution of Basic Emotions"

 

5

Week 5: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhoo

Piaget: Preoperational to Concrete Operational Thought

The Information Processing Model

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 7: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

  

Discussions: "Make-Believe Play and Theory of Mind"

Short Essay: "Play As A Spectrum"

 

6

Week 6: Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood

Friendship Formation

Empathy and Sympathy

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 8: Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood

  

Discussions: “Parenting Styles and Their Outcomes”

 

7

Week 7: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood
Peer Group Formation
Erikson: Industry

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 10: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood

  

Discussions: “Children of Divorce”

Short Essay: "Childhood Aggression Today"

 

8

Week 8: Midterm Exam

Midterm Exam: This exam will consist of multiple-choice questions and will cover any material from weeks 1 through 7.

Midterm Discussion: “Human Growth and Development in Review: Early Beginnings through Childhood”

  

Reading: Review Chapters 1 through 10

  

Midterm Exam: Multiple choice questions

Midterm Discussion: “Human Growth and Development in Review: Early Beginnings through Childhood”

 

9

Week 9: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Cognitive Control, Impulsivity, and Risk-Taking
Piaget’s Formal Operational Stage
Discussions: “All Gas, No Brakes?”

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 11: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence

  

Short Essay: "Coming Out to Self and Others"

 

10

Week 10: Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence
Erikson: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Marcia: Identity Statuses

Moral Development: In-Out Group Biases

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 12: Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence

  

Discussions: “Adolescent Exploration, Behavioral Risk, and Identity Formation”

 

11

Week 11: Early Adulthood
The Grant Study
Bowen: Emotional Maturity

Emerging Adulthood

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood
Reading and RR: Chapter 14: Emotional and Social Development in Early Adulthood

  

Discussions: “Early Adulthood: ‘Becoming’ Adult?”

Short Essay (Critical Thinking Response): "Childhood Attachment Patterns and Adult Romantic Relationships"

 

12

Week 12: Middle Adulthood
Levinson: The Midlife Transition
Ryff: Dimensions of Social Well-Being

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
Reading and RR: Chapter 16: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Adulthood

  

Discussions: “Being Adult: Midlife Crisis or The Good Life?”

Short Essay- Personal Application: "Possible Selves" (due Saturday of Week 13)

 

13

Week 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
Cognitive Maintenance and Decline in Late Adulthood

Intellect, Aging, and Longevity

Selective Optimization with Compensation

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

  

Discussions: “Late Adulthood: Perceived Control, Resilience, and Long Life”

 

14

Week 14: Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood
Aging and Emotion
Carstensen- Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

  

Reading and RR: Chapter 18: Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood

  

Discussions: “Late Adulthood: Living the Good Life”

 

15

Week 15: Final Exam

  

Reading: Review Chapters 11 through 18

  

Final Exam: This exam will consist of multiple-choice questions and will cover any material from weeks 9 through 14.

Final Discussion: “Human Growth and Development in Review: Early, Middle and Late Adulthood”

 

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

  • In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
  • Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
  • Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.


Participation Expectations

Student Responsibilities in the Asynchronous Classroom

Discussions:

This is where our asynchronous "classroom" time takes place. Our work in Discussions requires that students submit one academic and several topic-related conversational posts per week to Discussions, found in Canvas. There are due dates for the Discussion posts, each being assigned for a few days. The Discussion is designed to be interactive, creating opportunities for students to engage with each other and me. Through this method, students will have the opportunity for continuous engagement and interaction each week, leading to thorough and substantive learning.

Reading and online reading quizzes, or Reading Reviews (RR’s): Each week, students are assigned to read one or two chapters of the text, and the RR's (open book, online quizzes) that address the information found in those chapters.

Short Essays: Throughout the semester short essays will be assigned approximately every other week. These are one or two page (400-800 words) responses, written in an essay style, that focus on a particular topic. Students will need to address the topic at hand and submit their response in Canvas.

Midterm and Final Exams: The exams are assigned in Canvas during Weeks 7 and 15.

Meeting with me: If you choose to, you can set up an additional zoom meeting with me to clarify materials, class procedures, assignments, and any questions, concerns, or comments that arise.

Human Growth and Development Course Site:

During our classes, we will be revisiting the Canvas course site. In this way, you will become familiar in its use and accessing personal information, assignments, documents, etc.

Please do the following every week at our course site:

* Check for weekly assignments in our Canvas course site.

* Check your grades through our course site; if any discrepancies are found, contact me immediately.

Technology needed:

Computer, laptop, tablet or phone with web access capabilities

Audio capabilities (built-in, USB or wireless Bluetooth)

High-speed internet and data connection

Attendance Policy/Requirements:

Since much of our work is interactive through Discussions, some posts cannot be made up once we are past the assigned posting period. If no posts are submitted during any given week, it will constitute an absence from class for that week. Missing more than three (3) classes will result in a non-satisfactory grade. More than one late arrival or early departure will constitute an absence at my discretion.

Exceptions:

All coursework is due on time. Make-up work is allowed in the case of family emergencies, illness, and/or injury, and must be completed on a timeline agreed to with me. At times personal or family illness may become an issue. If you have any difficulties regarding attendance or work completion due to the circumstances stated above, please contact me as soon as possible; this will allow you to stay “on track” with the class. It is my primary goal in teaching this course to help students to succeed!



Missing & Late Work Policy

  • Make-up work: If you know that you will be absent from class, please contact me before any absences, whether excused or unexcused, to make plans for completing make-up work.
  • Absences: A student who misses in excess of three weeks of classes prior to the eleventh week of the semester (for any reason whatsoever) is expected to withdraw from the course.
  • Excused absences: Absences are excused only for times of illness, family emergency, schedule conflicts, or other difficult or extraordinary circumstances. Absences are excused only with a verified note from a person such as a doctor, coach, professor, dean, etc. Make-up work under these conditions must be completed within one week for full credit.
  • Unexcused absences: Late work can be submitted for partial credit; however, it will be scored, then graded down 10% per day late.
  • Reading reviews (online open-book quizzes) cannot be made up, since the answers to the questions are posted immediately after the RR is due. When students are absent from class, text reading and reading reviews can still be completed via Canvas and submitted on time, unless difficult/unusual circumstances persist.
  • Make-up Exams: If you miss an exam for any reason, you will need to make arrangements and to take the make-up exam within one week. Please note: There will not be a make-up period for the final exam.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:


CCV strives to mitigate barriers to course access for students with documented disabilities. To request accommodations, please
  1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
  2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
  3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.


Academic Integrity


CCV has a commitment to honesty and excellence in academic work and expects the same from all students. Academic dishonesty, or cheating, can occur whenever you present -as your own work- something that you did not do. You can also be guilty of cheating if you help someone else cheat. Being unaware of what constitutes academic dishonesty (such as knowing what plagiarism is) does not absolve a student of the responsibility to be honest in his/her academic work. Academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and may lead to dismissal from the College.

Apply Now for this semester.

Register for this semester: March 31 - August 29, 2024