NVCC COLLEGE-WIDE COURSE CONTENT SUMMARY
PSY 235 - CHILD PSYCHOLOGY (3 CR.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Studies development of the child from conception to adolescence. Investigates physical, intellectual, social, and emotional factors involved in the child's growth. Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

The purpose of the course is to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, tenets, and processes that occur within child development. The course is designed to provide a basic understanding of child development for those persons whose professional development or personal interest directly relates to child contact. Awareness of and an appreciation for theories of development offering descriptions of and/or explanations of cognitive, motor, social, linguistic, emotional, personality and moral development, as well as, the conditions and environments within which development takes place.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCY

None

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

    1. explain and/or
    2. describe and/or
    3. interpret and/or
    4. apply and/or
    5. state, and/or list, and/or write, and/or
    6. critically analyze the material and theories which form the foundation of child development; the evaluation of and the application of the material and theories within child development to life situations, as well as, more definitive objectives deriving from the specific chapter topics. These specific objectives would reflect Bloom's Taxonomy categories for:
    1. knowledge
    2. comprehension
    3. application
    4. analysis
    5. synthesis
    6. evaluation
MAJOR TOPICS TO BE COVERED
    1. Physiological development - genetics, conception, prenatal, and maturation
    2. Theoretical approaches - age/stage vs. Topological, major theorists
    3. Periods - infancy, early childhood, middle childhood
    4. Topics within - cognitive, emotional, linguistic, moral, motor, personality, social
    5. Related concerns - nature/nurture interaction, socialization processes with family, peers, education, media, society, culture
OPTIONAL TOPICS
    1. Parting attitudes and skills
    2. Child rearing practices
    3. Child care in home, nursery, day care
    4. Exceptional and abnormal development
Revised 6/93
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