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2025-26

Essential Objectives

Course Syllabus


Revision Date: 29-Dec-25
 

Human Growth & Development



Location: Winooski
Credits:
Semester Dates: Last day to add this section:
Last day to drop without a grade: 02-08-2026 - Refund Policy
Last day to withdraw (W grade): 03-29-2026 - Refund Policy
This course has started, please contact the offering academic center about registration

Faculty

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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.

Spring 2026 textbook details will be available on 2025-12-01. 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.

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.


Methods

  • In class lecture, discussion, group work and hands-on activities
  • Videos/Technology
  • Self-exploration activities
  • Mini papers (3 throughout the semester)
  • Weekly Textbook reading
  • Midterm
  • Final Timeline Project

Evaluation Criteria

  • Participation in class - activities and discussion
  • Attendance
  • Mini-papers
  • Midterm
  • Readings which will connect with in class lecture and discussion
  • Final Timeline Project

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

1/30- The Beginnings: Science of Human Development & Theories

  

Introduction to class
Nature vs. Nurture and the Power of Culture
Looking at theories in regards to human development
What theories contribute

  

Read Chapters 1-4 - Berger & Thomas

 

2

2/6- The Beginnings: The New Genetics, Prenatal Development & Birth

  

Genetics & Heredity
Development of the Embryo to Birth

  

Read Chapter 5, 6 & 7 - Berger & Thomas

 

3

2/13- The First Two Years:

  

Biosocial, cognitive & psychosocial development of the first two years of life

  

*Mini Paper 1 DUE - Self Reflection Paper on Development
Read Chapter 8 & 9 - Berger & Thomas

 

4

2/20- Early Childhood

  

Biosocial & cognitive development in early childhood

  

Read Chapter 10 - Berger & Thomas

 

5

2/27- Early Childhood

  

Psychosocial development in early childhood

  

Read Chapter 11 & 12 - Berger & Thomas

 

6

3/6- Middle Childhood

  

Biosocial & cognitive development in middle childhood

  

*Mini Paper 2 DUE - Childcare Observation
Read Chapter 13 - Berger & Thomas

 

7

3/13- Middle Childhood

  

Psychosocial development in middle childhood

  

Read Chapter 14 & 15 - Berger & Thomas

 

8

3/20- Adolescence

  

Biosocial & cognitive development in adolescence

  

*Midterm DUE
Read Chapter 16 - Berger & Thomas

 

9

3/27- Adolescence

  

Psychosocial development in adolescence

  

Read Chapter 17 & 18 - Berger & Thomas

 

10

4/3 - Emerging Adulthood

  

Biosocial & cognitive development in emerging adulthood

  

Read Chapter 19 - Berger & Thomas

 

11

4/10- Emerging Adulthood

  

Psychosocial development in emerging adulthood

  

Read Chapter 20 & 21 - Berger & Thomas

 

12

4/17- Adulthood

  

Biosocial & cognitive development in adulthood

  

*Mini Paper 3 DUE - Movie Character Analysis
Read Chapters 22 - Berger & Thomas

 

13

4/24- Adulthood

  

Psychosocial development in adulthood

  

Read Chapter 23 - 25 - Berger & Thomas

 

14

5/1 - Late Adulthood/Death & Dying

  

Biosocial, cognitive, psychosocial development in late adulthood, experience of death & dying

  

Work on Timeline Project

 

15

5/8- Class Wrap - up

  

Discuss/Share Timeline Projects

  

*Final Timeline Project DUE

 

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

At the end of the semester, you will have the opportunity to earn up to 25 participation points. In order to earn the full 25 points, the expectation is that you:

  • Attend class regularly, on-time and for the full session (as to the best of your ability)
  • Complete all of the week's reading before the start of class
  • Listen to others attentively and with an open mind
  • Positively contribute to class discussions and activities
  • Ask questions when you need it
  • Challenge yourself to do your best work


Missing & Late Work Policy

All assignments are expected to be turned in on time and complete. If they are not - I will deduct an appropriate amount of points per incomplete assignment. I do accept late work with points deducted each day/week it is late.

Missing work will be counted as 0.


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: November 3, 2025 - January 16, 2026