Developmental Science: Child Emphasis

PSY 232 Child Development

In this course the student will explore human development from preconception through the end of childhood. Course material will include historical and modern concepts of attitudes towards children, theories and models of child development, research methods in the study of children, genetics, prenatal development and influence, pregnancy, and birth. Within each age range the emphasis will be on factors influencing the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of the child. Developmental disorders, both physical and psychological, will also be explored. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 233 Adolescent Development

This course focuses on adolescent behavior. The emphasis is on growth and change-physiological, psychological/interpersonal and socio-cultural. Issues of particular concern to adolescents will be presented and discussed. Some selected topics are: peer pressure, the sexual issue, the availability of drugs, establishing a separate identity, dating and relationships and finally the transition to adulthood. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 251 Developmental Disabilities: History and Service Provision

In this course, students will learn about the needs and challenges faced by people with developmental disabilities. The course will cover developmental disorders including, but not limited to, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities. Students will explore the social, cognitive and behavioral limitations associated with each disorder. This course will focus on understanding the complex needs of people with developmental disorders and the value of providing them with functional, supportive, and individualized services. The course will also explore the history of service provision to people with developmental disorders, the changes that have occurred in those services over the last four decades, and current standards of care. The course will outline the ethical and legal issues involved in service provision. Heavy emphasis will be placed on viewing developmental disabilities through functional and behavioral perspectives. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101

PSY 316 Atypical Development

In this course students will explore developmental deviations that result in disorders of childhood focusing on neurodevelopmental disorders (intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and specific learning disorder) and psychopathology (anxiety, mood, and conduct disorders). Developmental theories will be utilized to analyze disorders at the genetic, brain, behavioral, and cognitive levels. Emphasis will be placed on examining neurobiological and environmental factors contributing to disorders of childhood. The final portion of the course will focus on how atypical development may contribute to our understanding of typical development. Prerequisite(s): PSY 232

PSY 321 Child Cognitive Development

This course will examine how children's thinking develops from infancy through early childhood. Biological, social-cultural, and information processing perspectives will be reviewed in light of how cognition develops and changes over the early stages of life. This course will cover various domains of cognition including executive functioning, memory, language, intelligence, and social cognition. Finally, different populations will be considered to better understand the unique role of not only nature and nurture, but also how the two interact to influence development. Prerequisite(s): PSY 232 with a grade of C or higher

PSY 324 Psychological Measurement and Assessment

An analysis of the theory and practice of psychological measurement and assessment including the implications of psychological measurement in society and institutions such as schools, the workplace, clinical populations and other groups with special needs. Topics will include overview and history of the field, foundations of psychological testing and psychometrics, the assessment of ability, the assessment of personality, the assessment of interest and vocational choice, and ethical /social/cultural issues of psychological assessment. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 375 Mentoring Youth

This course will introduce students to mentoring theories via a developmental lens. Students will examine the role of the family and peers in child and adolescent development. Students will learn various mentoring techniques which they will apply to mentoring a child or adolescent throughout the semester. Prerequisite(s): PSY 232

PSY 430 Introduction to School Counseling

In this course students will be introduced to the role of the school counselor and the relationship of school counseling to the educational mission of school. The following school counseling topics are addressed in this course: perspectives and practices for school counseling in the 21st century, multicultural and diversity issues impacting school counseling, and an overview of counseling theory as applied to the child and adolescent in a school setting. Candidates will explore the school counselor’s work in the context of leadership, advocacy, collaboration, consultation, coordination of services, multiculturalism and working with diverse student populations, technology and the use of data to inform decisions. Prerequisite(s): PSY 315 with a grade of B- or higher.