The focus of this course is on the development of the child from the prenatal through adolescence stage. It will explore physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and moral development that are topics of major interest to developmentalists. It will also investigate the impact of psychological influences on the developing child.   

At the end of this course students should be able to: 

• An understanding of the major theoretical perspectives that explain child development.
• Knowledge on how to do observation and apply scientific methods in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.
• The ability to think critically about major issues and controversies related to child development.
• Ability to apply the knowledge and understanding of child development to their own interaction with babies, parents and children.
• Competence in evaluating cases, writing reports, arguments, and proposals.
• Empathy with young children.
• Sensitivity and a positive attitude towards group and individual differences in children.
• Identifying childhood disorders and the factors that contribute to those.
• Applying theory and formulating basic treatment plans for abnormal behaviors identified in children