PSYCH/600 - Developmental Psychology

Course Description

This course examines biological and environmental influences on human development across the lifespan. The biological foundations of human growth and development are presented along with major theories of cognitive, social and emotional development. Current research in developmental psychology is presented as students explore both opportunities and challenges that people face as they age. Social, cultural, systemic and ethical issues related to research and practice are also addressed.

This graduate course is 6 weeks.

This course provides a foundation of knowledge in the field of psychology. This course does not prepare students for any type of professional certification or licensure.

This course has a prerequisite. Please see details in the Prerequisite section below.

PLEASE NOTE:
Attendance and participation are mandatory in all university courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

Course Objectives

Foundations of Lifespan Development

• Explain the contributions and limitations of leading theoretical perspectives that influenced human development research.
• Evaluate the research methods commonly used to study human development.
• Summarize the ethical issues related to lifespan research.
• Describe how heredity and environment interact to influence development.
• Describe the role and influence of socioeconomic and multicultural factors throughout the lifespan.

Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development: Conception Through Toddlerhood

• Describe factors that influence physical development from the prenatal phase through toddlerhood.
• Evaluate genetic and environmental influences on early cognitive development.
• Describe the importance of the caretaker-child relationship on social and emotional development from birth through toddlerhood.

Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development: Early Childhood through Middle Childhood

• Describe factors that influence physical development from early to middle childhood.
• Apply the principles of cognitive development to learning in various settings.
• Describe major influences on social and emotional development in early and middle childhood.
• Describe the importance of the caretaker-child relationship on social and emotional development during early and middle childhood.

Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development: Adolescence through Early Adulthood

• Describe how adolescents respond to pubertal changes.
• Summarize the cognitive changes that occur in adolescence and early adulthood, including changes in the structure of thought.
• Describe how changes in self-concept and self-esteem influence important relationships in adolescence and early adulthood.
• Explain the social and emotional challenges of adolescence and early adulthood.

Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development: Middle Adult through Late Adulthood

• Describe the physical changes that occur in middle and late adulthood.
• Explain the cognitive changes that occur in middle and late adulthood, including changes in information processing abilities.
• Explain the factors that promote wellbeing in middle and late adulthood.
• Describe the effects of major life transitions that occur in middle and late adulthood.

Death, Dying, and Bereavement

• Describe factors that influence the process of dying.
• Explain age-related changes in conceptions of and attitudes toward death.
• Describe developmentally appropriate strategies for helping children and adolescents understand death.
• Analyze how age and gender relate to death anxiety.
• Explain how death education can help people cope with death more effectively.
• Evaluate the extent to which homes, hospitals, and hospice services meet the needs of dying people and their families.

Notes

Disclaimers

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.

While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.