PSYC 235 is Liberty's undergraduate course in adult development. Its written work is a five-page research paper synthesizing five recent journal articles on an area of adult development, a life line project built from interviews with two family members, three forums (a 300-word thread and two 150-word replies with recent citations and a biblical concept), and three short blogs.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as PSYC 235 Psychology of Adulthood, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as PSYC235.
What PSYC 235 covers
The catalog description: This course focuses on viewing adult development as an integrative, dynamic, and continuous process terminated only at death. Theory and research will be applied to retirement and early to late adulthood.
The course studies development from early adulthood through late life: physical and cognitive change, health, social roles and relationships, work and retirement, personality, meaning and spirituality, stress and resilience, and death and bereavement. The text is Bjorklund, Journey of Adulthood.
Four exams (440 points) have no guide here. Each week after Week 1 runs Tuesday to Monday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Bjorklund, The Journey of Adulthood (2015). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
PSYC 235 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 60 | Thread at least 300 words; replies at least 150 words |
| 2 | Blog 1 | 20 | Not set in the guide; a reflective entry and one substantial response |
| 3 | Life Line | 120 | 3 life lines and a 2-page summary |
| 4 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 60 | Thread at least 300 words; replies at least 150 words |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 60 | Thread at least 300 words; replies at least 150 words |
| 6 | Blog 2 | 20 | Not set in the guide; a reflective entry and one substantial response |
| 7 | Research Paper | 200 | 5 pages |
| 8 | Blog 3 | 20 | Not set in the guide; a reflective entry and one substantial response |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 300-word thread and two 150-word replies, each with a recent citation and an integrated biblical concept. How to write PSYC 235 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Blog 1
A blog entry on the week's adult development topic and a substantial response to one classmate's blog. How to write PSYC 235 Week 2 Blog 1.
Week 3: Life Line
Interview 2 family members, construct 3 life lines including your own, compare the timing of key life events and roles, and write a 2-page summary. How to write PSYC 235 Week 3 Life Line.
Week 4: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 300-word thread and two 150-word replies, each with a recent citation and an integrated biblical concept. How to write PSYC 235 Week 4 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 300-word thread and two 150-word replies, each with a recent citation and an integrated biblical concept. How to write PSYC 235 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 6: Blog 2
A blog entry on the week's adult development topic and a substantial response to one classmate's blog. How to write PSYC 235 Week 6 Blog 2.
Week 7: Research Paper
A 5-page paper synthesizing 5 peer-reviewed articles, no more than 5 years old, on a specific area of adult development. How to write PSYC 235 Week 7 Research Paper.
Week 8: Blog 3
A blog entry on the week's adult development topic and a substantial response to one classmate's blog. How to write PSYC 235 Week 8 Blog 3.
How PSYC 235 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The three forums are 60 each (180), the three blogs 20 each (60), the life line 120, the research paper 200, exams 440 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 180 |
| Blogs (3) | 60 |
| Life Line | 120 |
| Research Paper | 200 |
| Exams (4) | 440 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 900 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach PSYC 235
Schedule interviews with two family members, ideally from different generations, before Week 3, when the life line project is due.
Choose a research area in adult development by Week 5 and find five peer-reviewed articles no more than five years old for the Week 7 paper.
Questions students ask
What is the PSYC 235 life line project?
Based on interviews with 2 family members, you construct 3 life lines (theirs and yours), compare and contrast the timing of important life events and social roles, and write a brief 2-page summary.
What is the PSYC 235 research paper?
A 5-page paper synthesizing 5 peer-reviewed journal articles, no more than 5 years old, on a specific area of adult development, summarizing the current state of knowledge.
Working through PSYC 235 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.