PSYC 1041 - Developmental Psychology: Lifespan

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 4 Lab 0
Internship hours per week 0
Course Description: This course explores human development from conception to death. Topics include research methods, theoretical perspectives, and the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes in human development. This course also examines the role of social and cultural contexts and developmental challenges. Emphasis is placed on applying research and theory to contemporary issues and understanding human development across diverse cultural groups in the United States.
MnTC Goals
Goal 5 Goal 7A

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. Introduction to Developmental Psychology
   1. Developmental science defined
   2. Tenets of developmental science
2. Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
   1. The scientific method
   2. Experimental and non-experimental research
   3. Cross-sectional, longitudinal and cross-sequential designs
   4. Research ethics
3. Theoretical Perspectives
   1. Major theories of development
   2. Newer theories of development
   3. Theories focused on cultural and contextual development
4. Genetics and Prenatal Development
   1. Mechanisms of heredity
   2. Genetic and chromosomal disorders
   3. Interplay of heredity and environment
   4. The role of culture in human development
5. Prenatal Development
   1. Major developmental changes
   2. Hazards to prenatal development
   3. Birth and the newborn
   4. Cultural variability in pre- and post-natal care
6. Biological, Cognitive, Psychosocial, and Cultural Development in
   1. Infancy
   2. Early Childhood
   3. Middle Childhood
   4. Adolescence
   5. Emerging Adulthood
   6. Early Adulthood
   7. Middle Adulthood, and
   8. Late Adulthood
   9. Psychopathology over the Lifespan
7. Death and Dying
   1. Developmental perspectives on death
   2. Cultural perspectives on death and mourning
   3. Facing death
   4. Care for the dying
   5. Grief and mourning

 
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. differentiate among research methodologies used by developmental psychologists.

2. evaluate the quality of developmental psychology information from various sources.

3. compare and contrast the main theories and issues of human lifespan.

4. identify biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and cultural processes associated with developmental periods across the lifespan.

5. explain how biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and cultural factors interact with each other in a developmental context.

6. identify the developmental challenges and psychopathologies that may occur throughout the lifespan.

7. explain how context and individual differences play a role in development.  

8. identify ethical perspectives related to legal, social, and scientific issues in human development.

9. apply developmental psychology principles to daily life.

 
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies Goal 5
Goal 7A
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)

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