PSY 206: Child Growth and Development

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2021
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: D2. Behavioral Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course examines major physical, cognitive, social and emotional developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence. Emphasis on interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors. Students will observe children, evaluate individual differences, and analyze characteristics of development at various stages according to developmental theories. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Discuss major theories of child development
  • Summarize developmental stages and milestones.
  • Evaluate the influence of multiple contexts on children's development.
  • Apply objective techniques and skills when observing, interviewing, describing and evaluating behavior in children.
  • Differentiate characteristics of typical and atypical development.

Major Course Content

  1. Current and historical theoretical frameworks of child development
  2. The developmental process
  3. Development
    1. Conception and prenatal development
    2. Birth
    3. Development in infancy and toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence
      1. Physical
      2. Cognitive
      3. Social
      4. Emotional
      5. Language
  4. Additional developmental topics
    1. Heredity and genetics
    2. Special needs
    3. Gender Roles and identity
    4. Sexuality
    5. Bilingual development
    6. Risk factors and warning signs

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Child and adolescent journals

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Students will provide a three page written analysis of the unique aspects (both typical and/or atypical) of a child's physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Example: Students will analyze and write a 2 -3 page paper about the influence of parenting style on a child's development. Example: Students will extend their own learning to provide written examples of Piaget's stages of Cognitive development, Erikson's stages of Psychosocial development (to stage five).

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4I. Psychology