PSYC 2450 - Lifespan Development

Credit Hours: 3.00

Prerequisites: PSYC 1010

(Effective Fall 2009: course description changed)

This course traces biological, cognitive, socioemotional, and social development across the life span, culminating in a synthesis of a multifaceted view of the individual as infant, child, adolescent, and adult.

Contact Hours: 3
Billable Contact Hours: 3

OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES
Outcome 1: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to discuss developmental themes central to a lifespan perspective on development.

Objectives: The student will

Describe the lifespan perspective, using examples.
Define the processes, periods, and issues of development, using examples.
Describe the contrasting developmental issues of nature‐nurture, stability‐change, and continuity‐discontinuity.

Outcome 2: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to compare and contrast the major theories of development through examples of research methodology used.

Objectives: The student will

Describe the focus, strengths, and weaknesses of psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioral, and ethological theories of development.
Using examples, compare and contrast the theories listed above
Using examples, compare and contrast the cross‐sectional approach, the longitudinal approach, and the sequential approach to research.

Outcome 3: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to describe the age‐related tasks and basic milestones of biological, cognitive, socioemotional, and social development.

Objectives: The student will

Describe the processes and milestones of biological development.
Describe the processes and milestones of cognitive development, including information processing, language, and intelligence.
Describe the processes and milestones of socioemotional development, including emotions, personality, identity, and morality.
Describe the processes and milestones of social development, including relationships with family, peers, school, and coworkers.

Outcome 4: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to synthesize topical developmental information into a complete picture of the individual at each stage of development.

Objectives: The student will

Describe the infant in biological, cognitive, socioemotional, and social terms.
Describe the child in biological, cognitive, socioemotional, and social terms.
Describe the adolescent in biological, cognitive, socioemotional, and social terms.
Describe the adult in biological, cognitive, socioemotional, and social terms.

COMMON DEGREE OUTCOMES
(Bulleted outcomes apply to the course)

1. The graduate can integrate the knowledge and technological skills necessary to be a successful learner.

2. The graduate can demonstrate how to think competently.

The graduate can demonstrate how to employ mathematical knowledge.

4. The graduate can demonstrate how to communicate competently.

5. The graduate is sensitive to issues relating to a diverse, global society.

COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
Session and Topic:

The lifespan perspective
Research in lifespan development
Theories of development
Physical processes and development
Cognitive processes and development
Socioemotional processes and development
Social contexts of development
Synthesis of the strands of development into a picture of the whole person
Major issues and controversies in lifespan developmental psychology
Major issues related to death and dying

Primary Faculty
Mikitch, Lisa
Secondary Faculty
Willard-Yakushev, Autumn
Associate Dean
Williams-Chehmani, Angie
Dean
Pritchett, Marie

Official Course Syllabus - Macomb Community College, 14500 E 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088