Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Lifespan Development (Face-to-Face)

PSY 1100-01

Course: PSY 1100-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 33085

Course Description

Lifespan Development is concerned with the biosocial, cognitive/emotional, and psychosocial development of individuals across the lifespan. The course begins examination of human life with conception and continues to examine interactive influences until death. This course focuses on theory, research, and application. GENERAL EDUCATION: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Required Texts

Belsky, J. (2013). SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 Experiencing the Lifespan (4th edition). Psychology New York: Worth Publisher.

Learning Outcomes

The primary objective of this course is to provide an over-view of human development across the lifespan as well as developmental research methodology. By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Apply human development concepts to personal, social, and or community interests
  2. Know the major fields, people and concepts of developmental psychology
  3. Know developmental research methodology and be able to evaluate evidence
  4. Know major issues and empirical findings in developmental psychology
  5. Present developmental research in a professional way
Essential Learning Outcomes

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World-

  • Become familiar with general concepts in the field of psychology and various domains including biological, cognitive, emotional, and developmental.

Intercultural Knowledge

  • Explore how cultural context plays a role in the application of psychological principles and findings
  • Understand psychological processes through self-reflection and from others’ perspectives

Critical Thinking

Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

Course Requirements

Grading

Exams (50) x 5...... 250
Project (100) x 1 100
Assignments (20) x 4...... 80
Participation (10) x 9…. 90
TOTAL 520

Grade Equivalents
93%-100% = A73 - 76 = C
90 - 92 = A-70 - 72 = C-
87 - 89 = B+67 - 69 = D+
83 - 86 = B63 - 66 = D
80 - 82 = B-60 - 62 = D-
77 - 79 = C+59 and below = F

Exams: There will be five exams in this course, and a comprehensive final exam. You will exams will be a mix of multiple choice and short answer questions

I’m more interested in you learning than in penalizing you for testing poorly. So with each subsequent exam, following Exam 1, you will have the chance to take a different version of the previous exam(s) to improve your score. Taking a variant of past exam, although nice, can be more difficult

Student Project: For your student project you will pick from a list of topics and will become an “expert” in an area of development. You will develop and submit a PowerPoint highlighting research pertinent to your topic.

Assignments:

Your assignments will allow you to gain deeper knowledge of material covered in the course.

I do expect your project and assignments to be professional and show effort (try to impress), however, like your exams, I will give you chances to improve your project and or assignments, with minor deductions for having you redo a project. I reduce a few points if you are asked to revise your projects as a way to increase your effort. I understand learning requires errors, but permitting errors shouldn’t reduce effort.

ExamsIn-Class ActivitiesQuestions & HomeworkResearch Participation
KnowledgeXXXX
Intercultural KnowledgeXX
Critical ThinkingXXXX

Course Outline

DayDateLessonsAssignments
ThursdayAug 28Research Methods
TuesdaySep 2Life Stages & TheoristsDiscussion Assignment
ThursdaySep 4Behavioral theoryDiscussion assignment Start Behavior Contract
TuesdaySep 9Prenatal development Nutrition, Genetics & Epigenetics
ThursdaySep 11Research prenatalDiscussion assignment
TuesdaySep 16Infancy Neurodevelopment Sensorimotor & Attachment/Trust
ThursdaySep 18Research infancy Toddler Autonomy Personality and Goodness of FitBehavior Contract dues
TuesdaySep 23Discussion Assignment
ThursdaySep 25Resilience video
TuesdaySep 30Exam 1Exam1 due
ThursdayOct 2Childhood Concrete thinking Self-esteem/Industry Parenting style Thinking errorsDiscussion Assignment
TuesdayOct 7Early Childhood Preoperational Stage, Growth MindsetStart Growth Mindset Assignment
ThursdayOct 9Initiative, Play and Friends Self-Regulation
TuesdayOct 14Initiative, Play and Friends Self-Regulation
ThursdayOct 16Childhood/ School Research
TuesdayOct 21Exam 2
ThursdayOct 23Adolescents Puberty, Formal Thinking, Identity/Groups Morality, Restorative Justice
TuesdayOct 28Spring Break
ThursdayOct 30Spring Break
TuesdayNov 4Adolescent ResearchDiscussion assignment
ThursdayNov 6
TuesdayNov11Emerging Adulthood Identity (career and relationship)Discussion Assignment
ThursdayNov 13Emerging Adulthood research
TuesdayNov 18Adulthood Marriage/Intimacy, Divorce, Kids, DeclinesRelationship Interview Assignment
ThursdayNov 20Adulthood Marriage/Intimacy, Divorce, Kids, DeclinesExam 3
TuesdayNov 25Young Old Generativity and HappinessStart Happiness Assignment
ThursdayNov 27Young Old Retirement
TuesdayDec 2Old old Declines and FacilitiesHappiness Assignment Due Discussion assignment
ThursdayDec 4Death & Mourning ResearchDiscussion assignment due Exam 4
TuesdayDec 9Final Exam at 5 pmProjects due

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

PLEASE be courteous when communicating with your classmates and instructor. Refrain from using vulgar or derogatory language in this course. Be respectful of other’s opinions and beliefs. The instructor reserves the right to dismiss students from the class who do not adhere to these standards. Students who believe themselves wrongfully disciplined may appeal those disciplinary actions through the standard grievance procedure

Attendance Policy

Although attendance will not be part of your grade, participation will. There will be time in the course where we will be discussing topics and using research. Most of these will end with submitting a discussion post. Your participation and use of material, in these discussions will count towards your grade. If you are not able to attend class, you can participate remotely through zoom. When in the class, you will need to wear a mask.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.