This course has an assignment that is due by 11:55 pm Central Standard Time on Wednesday night of the first week of class.  Failure to complete this assignment will result in your removal from the course for non-participation.

This course explores the biological, psychological, and sociological factors that impact the individual throughout the human life span—from birth to death. Meets MEd Standard 1. 3 credit hours.

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. define the concept of human development as it appears within the entire life-span.
2. describe the nature-nurture controversy in the history of psychology and biology.
3. explain the different research methods used in developmental psychology:  laboratory experiments, field experiment, survey, naturalistic observation, cross-sectional, longitudinal and correlative research.
4. describe the impact of genetics on human development and be able to define such concepts as DNA, chromosome, gene, androgens, and estrogens.
5. describe how a neuron works and be able to define the function of dendrites, soma, axon, synapse, and myelination.
6. explain language development from early childhood to old age; from the earliest sounds to language disorders among the elderly.
7. explain cognitive and intellectual development; how intelligence is measured and the impact of genetic and environmental influences on intellectual development.
8. examine family development, the stages of family development, the disrupted family and general systems theory.
9. describe social interaction from childhood through adulthood, the effects of gender on development and the development of gender roles.
10. explain specific theories used in developmental psychology that will include but not necessarily be limited to the theories of Pavlov, Skinner, Freud, Piaget Erikson, social learning, Bruner, and Behaviorist and General Systems Theories