The student will investigate the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial factors from early adulthood through old age. Topics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture; career choice and development; mate selection and marriage; conventional and nonconventional families; theories of adult personality development; mid- and late-life transitions; aging; and dying, death and bereavement are included. IAI: S6 905.
Course Alignment
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Critical Thinking
Faculty Contact Information
I am here to support you on your educational journey in the classroom and beyond. I generally come to class early and stay a little later to address any questions or concerns students might want to ask outside of class. I am also available to respond to questions or concerns by email, phone, Zoom, or in person appointment.
My Planned Office Hours
Tues/Thurs 9:00 – 9:30am and 1:00 – 2:00pm
If you’d like to schedule an appointment for a call, Zoom, or in my office (L325), the best way to reach me is by email (cstevenson@kcc.edu).
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain major biological and psychological changes that occur in early, middle, and late adulthood.
- Explain different research methods used to study adults, as well as the limitations of testing methods in late adulthood.
- Identify physical and mental health concerns, as well as clinical disorders, that are of special concern for young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults.
- Explain the nature and trajectory of cognitive changes across adulthood in the areas of intelligence, memory, attention, and social cognition.
- Explain the nature and trajectory of social changes across adulthood in the areas of personality, interpersonal relationships, and workplace/retirement concerns.
- Defining aging and gerontology
- Studying gerontology and research methods
- Theories of aging and development
- Physical changes and physical health
- Emotional health and mental health
- Cognitive changes and development: Intelligence and memory
- Social theories of aging
- Personality development
- Social Supports, personal relationships, marriage and family
- Informal and family caregiving
- Elder mistreatment
- Leisure, spirituality, civic engagement
- Employment and retirement
- Policies to promote well-being: Social Security, medicare and medicaid
- Living Arrangements and housing options
- Cultural views of dying, funerals and rituals
- Kubler-Ross stages of dying
Whitbourne, S.K., Whitbourne, S.B., K. (2020). Adult Development & Aging, 7th ed. Wiley.
Books may be purchased in the KCC bookstore or purchased or rented directly through Wiley:
Grading Scale
A 90% 400 points
B 80% 360 points
C 70% 320 points
D 60% 280 points
F <60%
Graded criteria
Discussions- DQs (10 points each) 140 points
Assignments 100 points
Exams (50 points each) 200 points
_________________
440 points
Description of each criterion.
a. Assignments (100 points): Assignments will be given to enhance learning and apply concepts outside the classroom. Assignments must be completed and turned in by the due date to receive full credit. I expect assignments to by typed (unless otherwise instructed) and free of errors.
Assignment 1: At the beginning of the course, you will write 2-3 page paper exploring your own preconceptions of the aging process as well as your perceptions of older adults. (20 points)
Assignment 2: You will have the option to develop a retirement plan, evaluate living arrangements and long-term care, or construct an end-of-life plan for yourself including considerations for a living will and medical directives as well as funeral and bereavement plans. (30 points)
Assignment 3: Near the end of the term, you will complete a 5-7 page paper reflecting upon at least one major theory we’ve studied and evaluating how your perceptions regarding aging may have changed. (50 points)
.
Note: As we progress through the course, detailed instructions and grading criteria will be
given prior to each assignment.
Discussions (140 points)
Although we will not be meeting face-to-face, class discussion is still a very important part of this class. Each week’s discussion will be conducted via discussion board in Canvas. Each unit has at least 2 discussion question based on the assigned readings and course content. You are responsible for posting your own answer or ideas to one discussion question. It is important that all postings show an understanding of the assigned readings and the psychological theories, as well as your personal opinion. You can earn up to 10 points for each response based on the depth of your answer. Late discussion questions will not be accepted.
c. Unit exams (200 points): Four exams which may include multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions will be given through the course of the semester. Though most of the exam will focus on the chapters covered during that unit, due to the cumulative nature of course, some questions may draw upon information learned earlier in the course. These will be taken online using Canvas. Each exam must be taken within a specified time period and will have a time limit once you begin.
Exams must be taken using Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor. This will require you to download the app (which I recommend doing during the first week in case you have any issues) as well as have a working camera. If you do not have a camera, you may be able to check one out at the KCC library. Alternatively, you can schedule an exam in the KCC Testing Center. Please be sure to provide a few days notice so that I can send the exam to the TC.
*If you require additional time due to an accommodation through the Office of Disability Services, please contact me at the beginning of the semester so that I can make alternative testing arrangements.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, is defined in section 16.2 of the Code of Conduct: “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.” All instances of intentional plagiarism on any major assignment for this course will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The instance of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the Dean of Student Development, the student may be suspended from the institution.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to submit honest, original work. Examples of cheating include copying another’s work (including an AI bot), using another’s work without appropriate references, having another person take an exam or provide answers for an exam, or submitting your own work that has already been used in another class. The college regards cheating as a very serious offense and may result in failure of the class and dismissal from the college.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI programs can serve as helpful tools in the learning process. However, they cannot be used as a substitute for writing. Acceptable uses of AI for this course include assistance with grammar, spelling, and writing mechanics. However, using AI to generate content for a paper, assignment, or discussion post is considered plagiarism and is not appropriate use. Such use will result in, at minimum, a zero for the assignment without opportunity for resubmission, and may result in failure of the course.
Any use of AI should be properly referenced in the References. This source can provide guidance: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt
Additionally, the chat input and output must be included in an Appendix.
Attendance: Regular attendance is expected in accordance with college policy. Attendance in an online course is measured by completing the assignments.
Makeup Exams: Students are given a three day period to take each exam, and they must be completed within this timeframe. Late exams that were not pre-arranged will receive half credit unless you have a documented emergency that prevented appropriate arrangements.
Late Assignments: All assignments are expected on the due date assigned. Should unusual circumstances arise that delay your work, you may turn in your assignment up to one week late with a deduction of a full letter grade for that assignment. After one week, the assignment may not be accepted unless unusual and unavoidable circumstances warrant an additional exemption. Only two assignments may be submitted late. Late discussion questions and exams are not accepted. All late assignments must be submitted prior to the week of finals; no late work will be accepted during finals week.
Writing style: All coursework must be typed and completed in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: Seventh Edition (APA style). Abbreviations such as those used when texting (i.e., “u” instead of “you”) is NOT appropriate and work containing such abbreviations will not be graded. Instead, it would be returned to you for corrections and you will immediately lose one letter grade for that assignment. Once you have made corrections, you may turn in the assignment for grading. You will lose an additional letter grade for each week the assignment is late.
Contacting the instructor: E-mail is the best way to contact me. I usually check my e-mail several times a day and strive to get back to messages within 24 hours. However the response time is lengthened to 48-72 hours over the weekend. Please use your KCC email account to email me as any other account might be flagged as spam and not delivered.
If you have read to this point of the syllabus and would like extra credit, use your KCC student email to send me a picture of your favorite animal to cstevenson@kcc.edu no later than 11:59pm Sunday of Week 1. Please be sure to include which class the class number (PSYC 2573 010) in the subject line.
Week Topic Assignments
| 1 | 01/12– 01/18 | Introduction to the class What is adulthood all about? | Introduce Yourself
Assignment 1 due 1/18 |
| 2 | 01/19 – 01/25 | Ch 1: Themes and Issues Defining aging Understanding the biopsychosocial approach Cohort differences | Read Ch 1 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 2 |
| 3 | 01/26 – 02/01 | Ch 2: Nature and Nurture Sociocultural models Biological approaches | Read Ch 2 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 3 |
| 4 | 02/02 – 02/08 | Ch 3: Research Methods Research designs Cohort models Ethical issues in research Exam 1 (Ch 1-3) opens at 8am Thu, 2/05 and closes at 11:59pm Sunday, 2/08 | Read Ch 3 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 4 Take exam by 11:59pm Sunday |
| 5 | 02/09 – 02/15 | Ch 4: Physical Changes Mobility Vital functions Nervous system | Read Ch 4 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 5 |
| 6 | 02/16 – 02/22 | Ch 5: Health and Prevention Cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and respiratory disease Cancer Diabetes Neurocognitive disorders | Read Ch 5 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 6 |
| 7 | 02/23 – 03/01 | Ch 6: Basic Cognitive Functions Processing speed and attention Memory | Read Ch 6 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 7 |
| 8 | 03/02– 03/08 | Ch 7: Higher-Order Cognitive Functions Executive functioning Language Intelligence Exam 2 (Ch 4-7) opens at 8am Thu, 03/05 And closes at 11:59 pm Sun, 03/08 | Read Ch 7 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 8 Take Exam by 11:59pm Sunday |
| 9 | 03/09 – 03/15 | SPRING BREAK | Enjoy your break! |
| 10 | 03/16 – 03/22 | Ch 8: Personality Understanding differing approaches to personality | Read Ch 8 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 10 |
| 11 | 03/23 – 03/29 | Ch 9: Relationships Intimate relationships Families | Read Ch 9 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 11 |
| 12 | 03/30 – 04/05 | Ch 10: Work, Retirement, and Leisure Employment and job satisfaction Leisure Exam 3 (Ch 8-10) opens at 8am Thu, 04/03 And closes at 11:59 pm Sun, 04/06 | Read Ch 10 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 12 Take Exam by 11:59pm Sunday |
| 13 | 04/06 – 04/12 | Ch 11: Mental Health Mental health conditions Elder abuse Treatment | Read Ch 11 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 13 |
| 14 | 04/13 – 04/19 | Ch 12: Long-Term Care Living arrangements and health care Policies | Read Ch 12 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 14 |
| 15 | 04/20 – 04/26 | Ch 13: Death and Dying Cultural views of dying Funerals and rituals Grief, bereavement, and mourning | Read Ch 13 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 15
|
| 16 | 04/27 – 05/03 | Ch 14: Successful Aging Factors that promote satisfaction in aging Exam 4 (Ch 11-14) opens at 8am Thu, 04/30 and closes at 11:59 pm Sun, 05/03 | Read Ch 14 and review Canvas folder DQ due by 11:59 Sunday Week 16 Take Exam by 11:59pm Sunday |
| 17 | 05/04 – 05/10 | Work on Assignment 2 | Assignment 2 due 05/10 |
| Finals | 05/11 – 05/13 | Work on Final paper No Final Exam | Assignment 3 due 05/13 |
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.