PSYH 332

Lifespan Development

Summer II, 2008

Course Description:

The course is designed to introduce major themes that characterize current research regarding human development and growth, from conception through old age, including the physical, cognitive, behavioral, linguistic, emotional, and sociocultural aspects.

Course Objectives:

• Develop a general knowledge and understanding of the major theoretical perspectives, issues, and concepts in the field of human development.
• Identify the major stages of human development through the life span.
• Explore the process of scientific inquiry and basic research methods and the integration of theory and practice in the area of human development.
• Illustrate knowledge and understanding of research in human development through examination of both classic and more recent studies in the field.
• Develop critical thinking skills that include the ability to discriminate between the appropriate use of empirical and intuitive approaches in the area of human development.
• Develop critical thinking skills that involve the understanding that there are contextual variations in human development that involve culture, ethnicity, and gender.

Required Textbooks:

 No textbook required; all readings online