PSYC 423 - Research in Aging
Spring 2020
Course Syllabus (v 0.9)
(Last revised: January 6, 2020)

Time: 9:30-10:45 AM Tues/Thurs
Meeting Room: 119 Patterson
Professor: Frank Schieber, schieber@usd.edu
Home Page: http:/usd-apps.usd.edu/coglab/schieber/psyc423/

Course Description    Note: All readings will be available on-line   Lookup Grade

Research in Aging is organized just like an Introductory Psychology course. We briefly examine the phenomena (and underlying mechanisms) of the major content areas of psychology: biological foundations of behavior; sensation and perception; learning; memory; intelligence; and psychopathology. However, rather than focusing on data obtained from children and young adults, our survey of the major areas of psychological science focuses upon findings obtained from individuals aged 65 and older. Behavioral interventions that appear to increase the likelihood of "successful aging" are presented throughout the course. Drawing heavily upon the professor's own academic specialty areas, the course often gives pause to consider how modern aging research is being applied to design environments better suited to the changing functional capacities of older adults.

Office Hours
Tuesday and Thursday, 2-4 PM and by appointment. Office Phone: 658-3722

Reading Assignments

There is no textbook for this course.
Reading assignments are listed in the "Readings" column of the Course Schedule (see above)
Readings are (will be) available "on-line" via the provided web links ("blue" entries in the "Readings" column).

Grades

There will be three multiple-choice examinations during the semester. These exams will draw from the materials presented in lecture; hence, regular attendance is expected.  Each exam will be given the numerical equivalent of a letter grade (using a scale ranging from 0.0 ("F") to 5.0 ("A") ). The final PSYC 423 class grade will be based upon the average of the three grades earned on the semester examinations.  Make-up exams will be administered at the discretion of the professor and only upon evidence of "serious" cause.

Exam Grading Scale

Mandatory USD Disability Policy Statements

Freedom in Learning
Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the dean of the college or school that offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Disability Accommodation
Any student who feels s/he may need academic accommodations or access accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability should contact and register with Disability Services during the first week of class or as soon as possible after the diagnosis of a disability.  Disability Services is the official office to assist students through the process of disability verification and coordination of appropriate and reasonable accommodations.  Students currently registered with Disability Services must obtain a new accommodation memo each semester.  
Please note: if your home institution is not the University of South Dakota but one of the other South Dakota Board of Regents institutions (e.g., SDSU, SDSMT, BHSU, NSU, DSU), you should work with the disability services coordinator at your home institution.

Disability Services, Room 116 North Commons
(605)658-3745   Web Site: www.usd.edu/ds   E-mail: disabilityservices@usd.edu

Academic Integrity
The College of Arts and Sciences considers plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty inimical to the objectives of higher education.  The College supports the imposition of penalties on students who engage in academic dishonesty, as defined in the “Conduct” section of the University of South Dakota Student Handbook.
No credit can be given for a dishonest assignment.  At the discretion of the instructor, a student caught engaging in any form of academic dishonesty may be:

a. Given a zero for that assignment
b. Allowed to rewrite and resubmit the assignment for credit
c. Assigned a reduced grade for the course
d. Dropped from the course
e. Failed in the course

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