Summer I 2026
Lifespan Growth & Development
Approved: Initials/date LIFESPAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (PSYC 2314) CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: TSI Complete in Reading COURSE DESCRIPTION Life-Span Growth and Development is a study of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical factors and influences of a developing human from conception to death. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to • Describe the stages of the developing person at different periods of the life span from birth to death. • Discuss the social, political, economic, and cultural forces that affect the development process of the individual. • Identify factors of responsible personal behavior with regard to issues such as sexual activity, substance abuse, marriage and parenting. • Explain the biosocial, cognitive and psychological influences throughout the lifespan as an ongoing set of processes, involving both continuity and change. • Describe the different developmental perspectives of the major theories of development (i.e. cognitive, learning, humanistic and psychodynamic). • Identify examples of some of the cultural and ethnic differences that influence development throughout the lifespan. • Discuss the various causes or reasons for disturbances in the developmental process. CORE OBJECTIVES MEASURED • Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. • Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. • Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS) - manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. • Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Brittney Strother Email: bstrother@lit.edu Office Phone: N/A Office Location: Virtual Office Hours: By Appointment REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS The class will utilize the OER e-text which can be found at: https://dept.clcillinois.edu/psy/LifespanDevelopment.pdf https://oercommons.org/courses/lifespan-development-a-psychological-perspective LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT- Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine - French ATTENDANCE POLICY For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16- week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face-to-face class. Please note that while this is an online class, ‘attendance’ still matters. Students will meet the attendance requirement by following the course schedule in order to submit assignments by specific due dates each week. Students are also expected to participate in a discussion board each week that also counts towards attendance and participation. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. COURSE CALENDAR Week Content Due Dates Week 1 June 1st – 7th Course Introduction Please read over the syllabus provided by the instructor. Take the time to familiarize yourself with blackboard, as in learn where things like assignments and the syllabus are located. Please watch the introductory video posted by the professor. This will help you understand the course layout, expectations, and functionality of the course. 06/05/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11: 59 PM 06/07/2026 – Syllabus Quiz @ 11:59 PM 06/07/2026 – Discussion Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 2 June 8th – 14th Chapter 1 - Introduction to Lifespan Development 06/12/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM 06/14/2026 –Chapter 1 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 06/14/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 3 June 15th – 21st Chapter 2 – Heredity, Prenatal Development, and Birth 06/19/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM 06/21/2026 –Chapter 2 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 06/21/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 4 June 22nd – 28th Chapter 3 – Infancy and Childhood Module Assignment (Optional) Grow A Baby! Set-up (Core Assessment) Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 2 & 3) 06/28/2026 – Chapter 3 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 06/28/2026 – Module Assignment (Optional) @ 11:59 PM 06/28/2026 – Exam 1 @ 11:59 PM Week 5 June 29th – July 5th Chapter 4 – Early Childhood 07/03/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM 07/05/2026 – Chapter 4 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 07/05/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 6 July 6th – 12th Chapter 5 – Middle and Late Childhood 07/10/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM 07/12/2026 – Chapter 5 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 07/12/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 7 July 13th – 19th Chapter 6 – Adolescence 07/17/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM 07/19/2026 – Chapter 6 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 07/19/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 8 July 20th – 26th Chapter 7 - Emerging Adulthood Exam 2 (Chapters 4, 5 & 6) Module Assignment (Optional) 07/26/2026 – Exam 2 07/26/2026 – Chapter 7 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 07/26/2026 – Module Assignment (Optional) @ 11:59 PM Week 9 Chapter 8 – Middle Adulthood 07/31/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM July 27th – August 2nd 08/02/2026– Chapter 8 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 08/02/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 10 August 3rd – 9th Chapter 9 – Late Adulthood Chapter 10 – Death and Dying 08/07/2026 – Discussion Board Response to Prompt @ 11:59 PM 08/09/2026 – Chapter 9 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 08/09/2026 – Chapter 10 Quiz @ 11:59 PM 08/09/2026 – Discussion Board Replies @ 11:59 PM Week 11 August 10th – 14th Exam 3 (Chapters 7, 8, 9 & 10) Module Assignment Grow A Baby! Project (Core Assessment) 08/14/2026 – Module Assignment @ 11:59 PM 08/14/2026 – Exam 3 @ 11:59 PM 08/14/2026 – Core Assessment COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Module Exams (3 in total): 50% • Grow A Baby! Project (Core Assessment) (1 in total): 20% • Module Assignment (3 in total): Optional Assignments (+5 to exams if completed) • Quizzes (10 in total): 15% • Discussion Boards (10 in total): 15% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. Late work Policy Students are expected to turn in assignments, quizzes, and exams on time. However, the instructor does acknowledge that things can happen in life that can prevent students from submitting work on time. • Students may submit assignments and quizzes late, with five points being deducted each day after until the assignment has lost 25 points. After five days, an assignment/quiz that is late will not be accepted unless the instructor has given prior approval. • Discussion boards and Exams will not be accepted after the due date unless there is an excused absence. This can be achieved by emailing the instructor before the due date with an appropriate excuse, such as a doctor’s note. Please note that the instructor will not accept any late work after the last day of the course. Please refer to the course calendar for that specific date.**