Life Span Development

Course Description

This course presents students with theoretical frameworks to foster an understanding of the various dimensions of human development across the life span. Emphasis is placed on biological, cognitive, and psychosocial development within the context of gender, family systems, social roles, and culture.

Topics and Objectives

Introduction to Human Development

• Analyze current issues in life-span development.
• Describe significant concepts, distinctive features, and critical periods in life-span development.

Biological and Physiological Development

• Assess the interaction and influences of genetics, heredity, and environmental factors on prenatal development.
• Describe the major biological, sensory, perceptual, motor, and physical development in the mind and body.
• Evaluate the impact of nutrition, eating behavior, and overall health on physical development and life expectancy.

Development of Cognitive Process: Language, Memory, and Intelligence

• Describe the major concepts and distinctive features of memory, attention, intelligence, language, cognition, and information processing.
• Analyze the complex interaction of environmental and biological contributions to memory, attention, intelligence, cognition, language, and information processing in human development.

Development of Social-Emotional Identity and Personality

• Describe the major concepts, distinctive features and developmental changes associated with gender identification, ethnic, cultural, and sexual differences throughout the lifespan.
• Describe the major concepts, distinctive features and developmental changes of emotional, moral, and personality development throughout the lifespan.

Developmental Competencies and Challenges for Late Adulthood

• Describe the major concepts and distinctive features of the various social roles (e.g., children, family, parenting, peer, school, work, and lifestyle).
• Evaluate the contribution and influence of social roles and how they influence human development.

End-of-Life Issues: Death, Grieving, and Finding Meaning

• Describe the critical issues associated with understanding, coping, and facing death.
• Analyze the role of socio-historical and cultural influences in determining the attitude, perspective, decisions, and personal context regarding death and loss.
• Describe the phases of grieving and factors that influence the individual variations of response to grief, bereavement, and mourning.