Human Lifespan Development

Understand the transformative period of adolescence by examining how teenagers form their identities amidst rapid physical and cognitive changes. This course explores the impact of puberty, hormones, and brain development on everything from health to decision-making, while showing how the influence of friends, family, and society shapes their choices and experiences. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of what makes adolescence such a unique and pivotal time in life.

Explore the universal experiences of death and grief by examining the psychological and social factors that shape how we cope with the end of life. This course analyzes how our perceptions of mortality change from childhood through adulthood and explores different theories that explain the grieving process. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze how individuals navigate the complex realities of dying, death, and bereavement.

Learn how to analyze the critical choices and challenges that define early adulthood, the pivotal period from the late teens through the thirties. This course explores how physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development shapes major life decisions about careers, relationships, and family, and examines why this time is so key for building a future. By the end of this course, you will have a clearer picture of the factors that help people succeed and thrive during these foundational years.

Learn how to analyze the critical physical, cognitive, and social-emotional factors that shape a child's growth from ages two to six. This course explores how children develop a sense of self, begin to understand gender, and form crucial relationships, while examining the powerful influence of different parenting styles and peer interactions. By the end of this course, you will be able to explain how these key influences at home and with friends guide a child's development through early childhood.

Learn to analyze how people grow and change by applying major psychological theories—from Freud’s psychodynamic ideas to modern cognitive and evolutionary perspectives—to the entire human lifespan. This course provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the stages of development and the research methods used to study them, offering deep insights into what makes us who we are. By the end of this course, you will be able to use these foundational theories to explain the key forces that shape our lives from birth to old age.

Learn about the key physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur during middle childhood, a period of growing independence between ages six and twelve. This course explores how advancements in thinking and problem-solving are influenced by school, family, and peer relationships, while also considering how children's sense of self and personalities evolve. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze the key aspects of development during these years and identify the factors that help children succeed.

Learn what helps people stay healthy and connected as they age by exploring the key physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes that define middle and late adulthood. This course examines how individuals navigate career transitions in middle age, manage health changes, and later find new purpose in relationships and retirement. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze the challenges and opportunities that people encounter as they move through the second half of life.