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PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

PSY 335 Section M003


(3 credits)

PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD

Monday/Wednesday
2:15 - 3:35 PM

Contact Information:
Instructor: Joshua Felver, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Telephone: 315.443.3615
E-mail: jcfelver@syr.edu
Office: Shemin Auditorium, Shaffer Building
Office hours: By appointment

Dr. Felver is most accessible by email during weekdays. Course changes will be
announced during class and posted to the online Blackboard website.

Prerequisite Courses: Introduction to Psychology (PSY 205)

Course Description:
Child psychology is the scientific study of how and why humans change over the course
of childhood. This course is designed to introduce students to the field of child
psychology by exploring normal and abnormal patterns of development. The class will
begin by introducing principles, themes, and seminal theories in child psychology. We
will then investigate the typical physical, cognitive, and social-emotional developmental
patterns that occur during childhood, covering all stages from the prenatal period to
early adolescence. The course will conclude by exploring atypical patterns of child
development and special topics in the field. The study of psychology during childhood
provides insight into why children behave as they do, and this knowledge is useful for
those interested in working with children as educators, clinicians, policy makers, or
social scientists.

Course Goals:
You will obtain a both a broad understanding of child development and an in-depth
understanding of several special aspects of child psychological science and practice.
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

Following successful completion of this course, students will be expected to


demonstrate proficiency in the following objectives and general learning outcomes:
a) comprehension of the basic principles and theories in the field of child
psychology and developmental science
b) knowledge of the stages of child development across physical, cognitive, and
social-emotional domains
c) understanding of how biological, psychological, and social processes interact
over time to produce typical and atypical patterns of child development
d) application of course content to direct observation of child behavior
e) application of course content to the portrayal of child behavior in media
The structure of the course is mostly lecture format, however there will be regular
opportunities for students to apply didactic course material through in-class activities
and course assignments.

Required Textbooks and Materials:


Children by John Santrock, published by McGraw-Hill Education. The SU bookstore
has the most recent 13th edition and used copies of the 12th edition available for
purchase. The SU library has two reserve copies available for 2-hour loan. Older
editions of the text can be found through online retailers, however this course will
reference content contained within the 13th edition.

From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development


published by the National Academies Press. This book can be downloaded for free at
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/9824/from-neurons-to-neighborhoods-the-science-of-early-
childhood-development

Other articles and readings will be posted on the courses Blackboard site at least two
weeks before class.

Course Requirement and Grading:

Midterm exams (60% of grade).


Exam dates: 02.22.16 , 03.30.16 , & 05.02.16

There will be three non-cumulative exams over the course of the term, each of which
will account for 20% of your total grade, for a total of 60% of your final grade in the
course. The exam format will be multiple choice questions that draw from assigned
readings and lecture materials. The first two exams will occur during scheduled class
times (see Calendar below). The third exam will date will be during the final class of
the term (05.02.16).

Make-up exam policy


There are very few acceptable reasons for missing an examination. However, if you do
miss an exam, you may be allowed to take a make-up examination provided you are
able to present a documentable excuse (e.g., a written note from a physician with
contact information, birth or death certificate). If you miss an exam, you must notify the
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

instructor in person within 1 week of the exam date if you intend to make-up the
missed exam. If you know you are going to miss an exam date for any reason, please
meet with the instructor ahead of time. Make-up exams will not be arranged via
email; you must schedule a meeting with the instructor in person to arrange this.
Providing students with the opportunity to complete a make-up exam is at the discretion
of the instructor.

Direct observation paper (15% of grade).


Due date: 03.23.16
To demonstrate students application of course material to a real-world observations of
child behavior, you will conduct a direct observations of child behavior in the community
(e.g., playground, shopping mall, apple farm) and write up objective details of this
observation. You will then relate the results of your observations to course content (i.e.,
the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional aspects of children), and provide
conclusions and personal reflections on the relation between your observations and the
material from class. Further details about this assignment will be provided during class.

Childhood in media paper (15% of grade).


Due date: 04.13.16
To demonstrate students application of course material to the medias portrayal of
childhood, you will watch a movie depicting children (i.e., human age 0 to 12). Movies
can be obtained via the SU library or students private access (e.g., student Netflix
account, RedBox). If you cannot gain access to a movie, please speak with the
instructor in person at least 1 week ahead of the due date to problem solve. After
watching the movie, you will pick a character and describe your observations of her/his
behavior as portrayed in movie. You will then relate your observations of the character
to course content (i.e., the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional aspects of children),
and provide conclusions and personal reflections on the relation between your
observation and the material from class. Further details about this assignment will be
provided during class.

Both the Direct observation paper and the Childhood in media paper are expected
to be succinct, that is no more than 2 pages (double-spaced) in length, and will be
expected to be very well-written and constructed. Thorough details on this
assignment including a grading rubric will be provided during class. Papers will be
graded using the provided rubric and an emphasis will be placed on the quality of
writing. The paper will be due at the beginning of class on the date listed on the
Calendar (see below).

Class participation (10% of grade)


Most classes will include a small individual or group activity, which may result in a
written product. Ten of these written products will be collected over the course of the
term, and will be used for non-graded credit towards class participation (10% of total
grade). The dates that assignments are collected will not be announced ahead of time.
Students have the opportunity to submit a make-up for one of these class participation
assignments provided that it is turned in within one-week of the class that the
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

assignment was originally given. Otherwise, the only way students can receive class
participation points is by attending class and completing the assignment for that day.

Extra credit option (10% of grade).


Due date: 05.02.16
Students have the option of submitting a second direct observation paper for extra
credit. This paper must be on a different observation and topic (i.e., completely different
information than the first paper) and it must be attached to the graded copy of the first
paper. This paper will be graded more strictly than the first direct observation paper so
please take note of the feedback you receive. You will not receive feedback on this
assignment and it is due at the beginning of lecture during the final class of the term.
There will be no other extra credit available during the semester, no exceptions.

Grading Calculation:

Midterm Exams 60 pts (20pts per exam)


Direct observation paper 15 pts
Childhood in media paper 15 pts
Class participation 10 pts

Total 100 pts

Grading Scale:
A 93.0 100 C+ 77.0 79.9
A- 90.0 92.9 C 74.0 76.9
B+ 87.0 89.9 C- 70.0 73.9
B 84.0 86.9 D 60.0 69.9
B- 80.0 83.9 F 59.9

Statement of Academic Integrity:


Syracuse Universitys academic integrity policy reflects the high value that we, as a
university community, place on honesty in academic work. The policy defines our
expectations for academic honesty and holds students accountable for the integrity of
all work they submit. Students should understand that it is their responsibility to learn
about course-specific expectations, as well as about university-wide academic integrity
expectations. The university policy governs appropriate citation and use of sources, the
integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments, and the veracity of signatures on
attendance sheets and other verification of participation in class activities. The policy
also prohibits students from submitting the same written work in more than one class
without receiving written authorization in advance from both instructors. The
presumptive penalty for a first instance of academic dishonesty by an undergraduate
student is course failure, accompanied by a transcript notation indicating that the failure
resulted from a violation of academic integrity policy. SU students are required to read
an online summary of the universitys academic integrity expectations and provide an
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

electronic signature agreeing to abide by them twice a year during pre-term check-in on
MySlice. For more information and the complete policy,
see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu.

Students in this course who cheat on exams or submit written work that is not
their own will receive a failing grade and will be immediately reported to the
Academic Integrity Office without exception.

Accommodations:
If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office
of Disability Services (ODS), located in Room 309 of 804 University Avenue, or call
(315) 443-4498 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for
requesting accommodations. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related
accommodations and will issue students with documented Disabilities Accommodation
Authorization Letters, as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early
planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as
possible. You are welcome to contact the instructor privately to discuss your academic
needs, although he cannot arrange for disability accommodations.

Religious Observances:
SUs religious observances policy is available at
http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm

Syracuse University recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus
community and protects the right of students, faculty, and staff to observe the holy days
according to their tradition. Students can make up any examination, study, or work
requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance, provided they notify
their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. An online
notification form to notify instructors is available in students MySlice
https://myslice.syr.edu
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

Course Calendar:
Note: (1) Assigned readings should be completed before class, (2) if changes are made
to this calendar, this will be announced during class and an updated syllabi will be
posted to the courses Blackboard site, (3) readings labeled Children are in reference
to the core required reading textbook, Children, 13th edition by John Santrock, (4)
readings labeled N2N are in reference to the supplemental textbook From Neurons
to Neighborhoods, with the exception of the first and last chapters of N2N book:
Executive Summary and Conclusions and Recommendations.

Date Topics Assigned readings and due dates


Week 1 NONE Martin Luther King Jr. Day
01.18.16
Syllabus and introduction
01.20.16 to course

Intro to course content, Syllabus


structure, textbook and
required readings,
syllabus
Week 2 Introduction to Child
Psychology Children - Chapter 1 Introduction
01.25.16
Required: N2N Executive summary
01.26.16 SU Add course deadline!
Theories and models in
01.27.16 child psychology Children - Chapter 1 Introduction

Piaget and Ecological


model
Week 3 Theories and models in
02.01.16 child psychology Children - Chapter 2 Biological Beginnings

Supplementary: N2N Introduction

02.02.16 SU Grading option deadline!

Pre-natal and birth


02.03.16 Children - Chapter 3 Prenatal Development

Week 4 Pre-natal and birth


02.08.16 Children - Chapter 4 Birth and post-partum
period

Supplementary: Dunkel & Tanner, 2012

02.09.16 Financial drop class deadline!


PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

Infancy
02.10.16 Children - Chapter 5 Physical development
in infancy

Supplementary: N2N Chapter 8 The


developing brain

Week 5 Infancy
02.15.16 Children - Chapter 5 Physical development
in infancy

Discuss Direct observation paper


Infancy
02.17.16 Children - Chapter 6 Cognitive development
in infancy

Review for Midterm 1

Week 6 Midterm 1
02.22.16
MIDTERM 1 (Children Chapters 1-5)

Infancy
02.24.16 Children - Chapter 6 Cognitive development
in infancy

Supplementary: N2N Chapter 6


Communicating and Learning pages 124-
145

Week 7 Infancy
02.29.16 Children - Chapter 7 Socioemotional
development in infancy

03.02.16 Infancy
Children - Chapter 7 Socioemotional
development in infancy

Week 8 Early Childhood


03.07.16 Children - Chapter 8 Physical development
in early childhood
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

03.09.16 Early Childhood Children - Chapter 8 Physical development


in early childhood

Week 9
03.14.16 SPRING BREAK!!! HAVE FUN!!!
&
03.16.16
Week 10 Early Childhood
03.21.16 Children - Chapter 9 Cognitive development
in early childhood

Supplementary: N2N Chapter 6


Communicating and Learning pages 146-
162

03.22.16 SU Academic drop class


deadline!

Early Childhood
03.23.16 Children - Chapter 9 Cognitive development
in early childhood

DUE: Direct observation paper due

Discuss Childhood in Media Assignment

Week 11 Early Childhood


03.28.16 Children - Chapter 10 Socioemotional
development in early childhood

Review for Midterm 2

03.30.16
Midterm 2 MIDTERM 2 (Children Chapters 6-9)

Week 12
04.04.16 Early Childhood Children - Chapter 10 Socioemotional
development in early childhood

Supplementary: N2N Chapter 7 Making


friends and getting along with peers
PSY 335 SPRING 2016 Course Syllabus

04.06.16 Middle and Late Children - Chapter 11 Physical development


Childhood in middle and late childhood

Week 13 Middle and Late


04.11.16 Childhood Children - Chapter 11 Physical development
in middle and late childhood

Discuss Extra credit option

Middle and Late


04.13.16 Childhood Children - Chapter 12 Cognitive
development in middle and late childhood

DUE: Childhood in Media paper

Week 14 Middle and Late


04.18.16 Childhood Children - Chapter 12 Cognitive
development in middle and late childhood

SU Withdrawal deadline 04.19.15


Middle and Late
04.20.16 Childhood
Children - Chapter 13 Socioemotional
development in middle and late childhood

Supplementary: N2N Chapter 14


Conclusions and Recommendations

Week 15 Middle and Late


04.25.16 Childhood Children - Chapter 13 Socioemotional
development in middle and late childhood

Final Class Required: N2N - Conclusions and


04.27.16 Recommendations

Review for Midterm 3


Week 16
05.02.16 Midterm 3 MIDTERM 3 (Children Chapters 10-13)

Last day to turn in Extra Credit

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