Psychology (PSYC) 323

Developmental Psychology (Revision 5)

PSYC 323

Revision 5 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version

View previous syllabus

Delivery Mode: Individualized study online or grouped study

Credits: 3

Area of Study: Social Science

Prerequisite: PSYC 290 is strongly recommended but not required. Students taking the classroom version at Grande Prairie Regional College should previously have taken PY 1040 and PY 1050.

Precluded Course: PSYC 228 (PSYC 323 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PSYC 228.)

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Psychology home page

Course website

PSYC 323 has a Challenge for Credit option.

check availability

Overview

PSYC 323 studies the basic concepts and mechanisms inherent in the process of human development from conception to emerging adulthood. This course describes the nature and context of development as well as the research methods used to study human development. The course examines the biological, cognitive, social, emotional, and moral aspects of development through various theoretical models. The major emphasis is on normal growth and development.

Outline

Unit 1: Theory and Foundations

Chapter 1: History, Theory, and Research Strategies
Chapter 2: Genetic and Environmental Foundations
Chapter 3: Prenatal Development

Unit 2: Birth and Early Physical Development

Chapter 4: Birth and the Newborn Baby
Chapter 5: Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Unit 3: Infancy and Toddlerhood

Chapter 6: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
Chapter 7: Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Unit 4: Early and Middle Childhood

Chapter 9: Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
Chapter 10: Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood
Chapter 12: Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
Chapter 13: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood

Unit 5: Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

Chapter 15: Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Chapter 16: Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence
Chapter 17: Emerging Adulthood

Evaluation

To receive credit for PSYC 323, you must complete the course quizzes, two assignments, and a final examination. You must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Five Quizzes (4% each) Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Final Exam Total
20% 5% 35% 40% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Berk, L. E. (2012). Infants, children, and adolescents (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Other materials

All of the course materials for PSYC 323 can be found online. They include study materials, links to psychology websites, and instructions on how to use the online textbook materials, assignments, and quizzes (which may be taken at any time).

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the PSYC 323 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least 50 per cent on the exam and obtain a composite mark of at least “D” (50 percent) to pass.

Research Paper Exam Total
40% 60% 100%

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 5, May 3, 2012.

View previous syllabus