Professor: Grant Willis, Ph.D.
Semester: Fall
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: PSY 113

Catalog Description: Comprehensive understanding of human development and growth from birth to senescence.

PSY 232 provides an overview of human development throughout the lifespan (from conception through late adulthood). By the end of the semester students will be able to:

1. Establish a basis for understanding the processes of change through which humans progress.
2. Differentiate and explain significances of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of human development.
3. Recognize the methods and philosophies that guide the associated research.
4. Examine human differences
5. Write effectively
6. Use qualitative data

This course requires the student to be an active participant in learning. Pedagogical methods include lecture, discussion, audiovisuals, group exercises and activities. Students must demonstrate both their theoretical knowledge of the content via the course exams and a research project which requires a student to select a developmental level, design a data-collection procedure, collect qualitative and/or quantitative data, and report results.

• Perspectives on developmental
• Theories of development
• Genetics
• Prenatral development
• Infants and toddlers: Physical and cognitive development
• Childhood: Physical, cognitive, language, and psychosocial development
• Young adulthood: Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development
• Middle adulthood: Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development
• Late adulthood and the end of life

Dr. Grant Willis is a Professor in the School Psychology program in the Department of Psychology who teaches PSY 232 every fall. His research interests are in the areas of developmental neuropsychology and psychoeducational decision-making.

Dr. Susan Loftus is a Professor in the School Psychology program in the Department of Psychology who teaches PSY 232 every fall. Her research interests are in the areas of language development, students at-risk for academic problems, academic assessment and intervention, early intervention/prevention of reading difficulties, exceptional children.

Other faculty members are involved in teaching both Fall and Spring sections of this course.

PSY 232 meets the Psychology major requirement to take two of the following three courses: PSY 232, PSY 235, and PSY 254. It also serves as a perquisite for several HDF courses. This is an important course for anyone interested in a career working with children or seniors.

• Society of Pediatric Psychology
• American Psychological Association Children Webpage
• Developmental Psychology Wikipedia