PSYCHOLOGY 231
Instructor: Mary Beth Scott
Phone: 754-6285 - Home
E-mail: marybethscott@tds.net
Required Texts: Child Development
By: Laura E. Berk
6th Edition
PREREQUISITE: PSY. 101
Note: Student must have taken and completed psychology 101 before taking Child Psychology.
This course is designed to provide the student who has already taken and completed an introduction to Psychology course with an in-depth study specifically addressing the psychological growth and development of the human organism, beginning with conception and continuing to adolescence. This course also provides an in-depth study of the major historical and modern theories of child development.
General Educational Goals: The general educational goal of this course is to provide information which enables students to identify, analyze
and understand the social, mental, psychological and physical aspects of the child=s culture and development.
The primary education goal is to scientifically study the quantitative and qualitative changes in children over time. It is an in-depth look at ways of describing, predicting, explaining and modifying the child=s behavior in the four stages of growth from conception to adolescence.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
You are responsible to read the material and be able to discuss the material during class. Class participation is very important and makes the class more interesting for all.
Attendance: Missing over (4) times for classes that meet two times weekly or over (6) times for classes that meets three times weekly not an excused absence will adversely affect the student grade and could result in a failing grade for the course. In short, come to class. For a class to be excused, bring a note from a physician or explain to me.
Inclement Weather: If Volunteer State Community College is officially open, then all classes will meet as scheduled, all assignments are due, and all schedules tests will be given.
Classroom Deportment: All policies and procedures for classroom misconduct are discussed in the Student Handbook. As a point of emphasis, the Instructor will not tolerate any activity which is disruptive to the classroom setting, which adversely affects others, and which is considered by the instructor to be unethical, immoral, or illegal. Students will be dismissed from the class and the issue of misconduct brought before the Dean of Students.
Note: The Instructor will not allow smoking, drinking or eating in the classroom. Parents are asked not to bring children to class.
Cheating: Cheating is defined as plagiarism, talking to another student during a test or exam, looking at another students= work during a test or exam, unauthorized use of notes or textbooks during a test or exam, or turning in a paper that is not the students own work. Any student engaging or giving the appearance of engaging in these behaviors will automatically fail the class regardless of the grade point average. All policies and procedures for classroom misconduct are discussed in the Student Handbook.
A critique of a Research Paper is required for this class. The information on this will be given to you at a later date.
GRADING:
NOTE: It is not my policy to give make up exams. However, if you miss a scheduled exam, you must provide appropriate documentation for an excused absence (doctors; note, court appearance receipt, etc.) in order to make up the exam. You are only permitted to make up ONE test during the semester (this cannot be the final). It will be your responsibility to make arrangements with me to schedule the make-up tests. A make-up test will not be the same test as the one taken by the class.
NOTE: All quizzes and tests will start promptly at the scheduled class time. If you arrive late, you will NOT be given additional time to finish.
Quizzes and exams may include material from class handouts and/or videos. Tests will be a combination of/or multiple choice, short answer, true/false or essay.
The following testing schedule is subject to change as we modify the class to our needs. We will use the text but select sections of each chapter. This will be given to you as we start each chapter. We will also study childhood disorders extensively which are not in our text.
There will probably be close to a total of 900 points possible for this course. Points will be distributed as follows:
__________TEST 1 Chapters 1 & 2 100 points
__________TEST 2 Chapters 3, 4, & 5 100 points
__________TEST 3 Chapters 6 & 7 100 points
__________TEST 4 MIDTERM EXAM 100 points
__________ TEST 4 Chapters 8 & 9 100 points
__________ TEST 5 Chapters 10 & 11 (12) 100 points
__________ TEST 7 Chapters 13, 14 & 15 100 points
__________ TEST 8 FINAL EXAM 200 points
Chapters 1 -15
__________Research reviews 2 @ 50 points each 100 points
Grading Scale: Total Points
90 – 100 A 1000 - 900 = A
80 – 89 B 899 - 800 = B
70 – 79 C 799 - 700 = C
60 – 69 D 699 - 600 = D
59 – Below F Below 599 = F
Grading: There are a total of 900 points possible for this course. Each of the chapter test(s) will be worth 100 points and the final will be counted twice. We will cover Chapters 1 through 12 (maybe more). The mid-term exam will be the week of Feb. 23rd. Hopefully, we will have covered 1-6 by then for the test. Spring break will be the first week in March and finals will be the week of April 26th. All tests and the Mid-Term will count equal value. One test grade may be dropped (not the Mid-Term or the Final Exam). The Final exam for this class will be a comprehensive final. You may not drop the grade for your papers either.
During the semester, there will be ways to earn additional points for class work, participation, and tests. Frequently there are AQuick Quizzes@ for extra points. These will never hurt you; only help you.
If you must miss a scheduled test, you must provide appropriate documentation for an excused absence (doctor=s note, court appearance receipt, etc.) in order to make-up the test. This may done once only during the semester and not on the final exam. It will be your responsibility to make arrangements with me to schedule the make-up test. After one week you may not make the test up at all. A make-up test will not be the same test as the one taken by the class. Make-up tests are usually short essay.
You will have paper to do. You will be given further information at a later date. We will discuss these as a class.
Note: The research papers constitute the same equal portion of your grade as a test. It is important that the time-line for the research material be enforced: therefore, materials that are not turned in as specified will not be accepted after the due date. Failure to submit materials on the due date will result in the student receiving a A0" for that portion of the research. Failure to submit a research paper on the due date will result in the student receiving a A0" for the research project. Incomplete papers will not be accepted or graded.
NOTE: You can find research articles in any library. VSCC librarians will be happy to assist you with your search. (Journal of pediatrics; Child development; American Psychology, Sociology; Criminology, Nutrition; marriage and Family; Adolescent Development; Neonatology etc.)
You may use the internet
once. Make sure you get the complete article rather than just
the abstract. The abstract will not give you all of the information
necessary to complete the assignment.
SPECIAL NOTICE
In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, students are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Disability Services for assistance with accommodations. It is the student=s responsibility to voluntarily and confidentially disclose information regarding the nature and extent of a disability. The College does not assume responsibility for providing accommodations or services to students who have not identified themselves as having a qualifying disability.
Volunteer State Community College is an equal opportunity Affirmative Action Educational Institution. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the College because of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. The College also complies with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended and with the Vietnam Era Veterans= Readjustment Act of 1974. The commitment of equal opportunity applies to all aspects of recruitment, employment and education of individuals at all levels throughout the College.
LIBRARY HOURS
The Volunteer State Library/Learning Resource Center is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays. Saturday hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Any exceptions to normal service hours will be posted outside the Library doors. Videocassettes are available in the Library. An on-line catalog listing print and not-print materials, several computerized periodical indexes, reference, sources and databases, as well as Internet access, are available.