Development of the individual in the context of relationships with the formal and informal institutions of society. An examination of various aspects of development from the broad perspective of the social sciences.

Mechanisms of the creative mind. Psychological, social, sociological, developmental, cultural, educational, genetic and neural based roots of creativity.

Addresses the scientific concepts and principles central to the study of human behavior and development. Students will learn about basic research methods in studying human behavior in developmental context and will participate in experiential activities, such as conducting observations and collecting self-report data. Major themes: goals of developmental research, fundamental research designs, types of measurement, elements of good scientific writing, and ethical issues in the study of human development.

Investigation linking research in the brain science of learning and development, including the neural basis of academic skills, to achievement, disability, and broader applications to classroom learning. This course will focus on areas of education including language (spoken and written), conceptual change, numerical/quantitative processing, and social cognition as well as burgeoning areas of neuroscientific research in general cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and executive processing. These topics will be discussed with respect to typical and atypical development with some focus on developmental disabilities including autism, specific language impairment, reading and math impairment, and attention deficit disorders among others. This course will focus on both the theoretical perspectives and pragmatic issues of how evidence regarding brain development can or may be translated into useful or misleading information for educators, professionals, and parents/guardians of our children.

Central concepts related to parameters of human development, individual and social, which arise throughout the life span. Continuity and change within the developing individual.

Prepares degree candidates in Human Development for career paths in the field including initial job seeking skills, knowledge necessary for entry into various professions and preparation for the program internship requirement

Multidisciplinary survey of the processes of aging. Physiological changes, cultural forces, and self-processes that bear on quality of life in later years. Field study of programs, institutions for elderly, individual elders, their families and care providers.

Theoretical approaches to and empirical studies of physical, psychological and social development from conception to puberty. Implications for home, school and community.

Research methods associated with studying the development, achievement, and school adjustment of children and adolescents in educational settings, with an emphasis on quantitative methodologies.

This course covers social development and socialization processes across the life-span. The course typically covers the following topics: parent-child relationships, peer relationships, moral development, social cognition, social competence, social motivation, self-regulation, and cultural influences on development. This is core doctoral course.