Introduction to Human Development and Education

Introduces students to the study of human development and education from infancy through young adulthood. This course provides a broad overview of scientific and theoretical understanding of how children develop and how research is generated in the field. Major topics include biological foundations, cognition, language, emotion, social skills, and moral understanding based on developmental theories and empirical research. We will attend to variations in cultural, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and other forms of human diversity in social contexts (e.g., family and schools) and how the person-context fit may influence children’s developmental trajectories. The course also covers educational contexts, processes, and outcomes.