Growth and development of science NUTR 2211

Course description:

This course provides an introduction to the study of the continuous process of development and change throughout the span of human life. Changes are examined during the following stages of life: prenatal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and early, middle, and late adulthood. For each stage following birth, development will be examined from biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial perspectives. Students will gain understanding of each of these three domains of human development, different theories related to each domain, and be able to analyze the different theoretical approaches.

Course Aims:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of theories, methods and research findings of life-span. 
  • Describe how people change in terms of their cognitive, physical, social & emotional development. 
  • Compare and contrast the major developmental theorists and discuss what each brings to or adds to the study of human development. 
  • Summarize and evaluate the research on the relative contributions of heredity (nature) versus environment (nurture) to various aspects of development. 
  • Identify some of the factors that put people at increased risk for developing psychological problems at each stage of the lifespan.


Course outcomes:

This course is designed to enable students to do the following:
  • Discuss the developmental stages of human development in terms of the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains and understand the key theories.
  • Examine and explain the contributions of heredity, environment, and child-rearing practices to the total development of the child.
  • Understand the development and/or the application of theories as they apply to the instruction of children and adults.
  • Explain how people learn through active exploration and multiple interactions with materials, other people, and the adults or leaders in their environment.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary theories of human development and their relevance to educational practices in early childhood, middle, and adolescent education.