I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Human Development

2. Course Prefix & Number:
PSYC 2431

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course is a lifespan approach to understanding human behavior.  This course will cover theories and research findings in the field of psychology relevant to the psychological development of individuals across the lifespan.  Areas to be covered include physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. The course will examine similarities and differences between individuals in the various stages of the lifespan.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University, PSYC 2237 Lifespan Development, 4 credits
Minneapolis Community & Technical College, PSYC 2240 Lifespan Development, 4 credits

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
CLEP

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Nursing, AS Degree

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 5 – History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Reading assignments
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Discussion of current issues in parenting, aging, death/dying

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify & apply alternative explanatory systems or theories. MnTC Goal 5
• Identify & communicate alternative explanations for contemporary social issues. MnTC Goal 5
• Identify the methods & data that historians & social & behavioral scientists use. MnTC Goal 5
• Identify & describe the major contemporary perspectives in psychology. MnTC Goal 5
• Describe the interaction between heredity and environment. MnTC Goal 5
• Describe various general research methods, including advantages and disadvantages of use. MnTC Goal 5
• Distinguish the nature of designs that permit causal inferences from those that do not. MnTC Goal 5
• Discern the difference between personal views and scientific evidence in understanding behavior. MnTC Goal 5
• State connections between diverse facts and theories. MnTC Goal 5
• Describe the elements of a healthy lifestyle. MnTC Goal 5
• Recognize and respect human diversity. MnTC Goal 5

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Description of theory and research
• Theoretical perspectives
• Research methods
2. Prenatal development
• Genetics
• Environment
• Prenatal growth
3. Birth and the newborn
• Labor and birth
• Birth complications
• Capabilities of the newborn
4. Infancy
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
5. Preschool years
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
6. Middle childhood
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
7. Adolescence
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
8. Early adulthood
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
9. Middle adulthood
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
10. Late adulthood
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Social and personality development
11. Death & Dying
• Death & dying across the lifespan
• Confronting death
• Grief & bereavement

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions