PSY414 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Psychology
Lejla Mustoo Başer
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Acquire knowledge on the main characteristics of an adult’s physical, cognitive, social, and personality development from the early adulthood period to dying. Apply life span development principles in explanation of adulthood and aging developmental processes. Develop students’ ability to observe and to think critically about what “normal”/ typical adulthood and aging development is. Develop a holistic approach in understanding typical development as well as pathological development in the adulthood period.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Feldman, R. (2018). Development Across the Life-span. Pearson, USA, Chapters from 13 to 19.
Additional Literature
Hill, P.L. (2020). Personality and Healthy Aging in Adulthood: New Directions and Techniques. Springer Nature. Aiken, L.R. (2002). Human Development in Adulthood. The Plenum Series in Adult Development and Aging. Springer US.Teaching Methods
Lectures with PP presentations and tutorial classes
Active tutorial sessions for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress
Team projects and individual tasks that involve their presentation regarding relevant topics
Debates in class regarding appropriate subjects
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the class, content and ways of working | |
| 2 | Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood | Chapter 13 |
| 3 | Social and Personality Development in Early Adulthood | Chapter 14 |
| 4 | Workshop 1 & Projects | all relevant chapters |
| 5 | Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood | Chapter 15 |
| 6 | Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood | Chapter 16 |
| 7 | Preparation for midterm exam | all relevant chapters |
| 8 | Midterm exam | all relevant chapters |
| 9 | From research to practice | all relevant chapters |
| 10 | Workshop 2 & Projects | all relevant chapters |
| 11 | Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood | Chapter 17 |
| 12 | Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood | Chapter 18 |
| 13 | Death and Dying | Chapter 19 |
| 14 | Workshop 3 & Projects | all relevant chapters |
| 15 | Preparation for final exam | all relevant chapters |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY414.1 | Course | Monday 15:00 - 17:50 | A F1.25 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 15:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4 5
Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Workshops
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
24 hours ⏳ (12 week × 2 h)
Home Study
11 hours ⏳ (11 week × 1 h)
Mid-term exam study
35 hours ⏳ (7 week × 5 h)
Final Exam Study
35 hours ⏳ (7 week × 5 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY414] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY414 | Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | PSY103 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Lejla Mustoo Başer | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-15:00 Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| lmustoo@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Acquire knowledge on the main characteristics of an adult’s physical, cognitive, social, and personality development from the early adulthood period to dying. Apply life span development principles in explanation of adulthood and aging developmental processes. Develop students’ ability to observe and to think critically about what “normal”/ typical adulthood and aging development is. Develop a holistic approach in understanding typical development as well as pathological development in the adulthood period. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Feldman, R. (2018). Development Across the Life-span. Pearson, USA, Chapters from 13 to 19. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures with PP presentations and tutorial classes. Active tutorial sessions for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress. Team projects and individual tasks that involve their presentation regarding relevant topics. Debates in class regarding appropriate subjects. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the class, content and ways of working | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood | Chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Social and Personality Development in Early Adulthood | Chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Workshop 1 & Projects | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood | Chapter 15 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood | Chapter 16 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Preparation for midterm exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 9 | From research to practice | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Workshop 2 & Projects | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood | Chapter 17 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood | Chapter 18 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Death and Dying | Chapter 19 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Workshop 3 & Projects | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Preparation for final exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignment | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Workshops | 3 | 15 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 2 | 12 | 24 | |||
| Home Study | 1 | 11 | 11 | Mid-term exam study | 5 | 7 | 35 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 5 | 7 | 35 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 24/02/2026 | |||||||||