Adult Development & Aging: Advanced ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This course investigates a relatively new and growing discipline built upon theories and data from a number of major social sciences. Research shows that age is an important aspect of human diversity that is often overlooked when considering “adults” as a single category. Students will study how changing age-related experiences in personal and family relationships, career development, community involvement, work engagement, retirement, impending death, and a search for life’s meaning have cognitive, emotional, social, and biological consequences upon the individual. Besides exploring a variety of “smaller” theories students are also exposed to Bronfenbrenner’s larger view of development as the result of external (“ecological”) factors as contrasted with Erikson’s focus upon development as a progression of predictable psychosocial challenges. While not required, it might be helpful for students to have taken Introduction to Psychology, Human Development, or an equivalent course. Please note: Students should not enroll in this course and the introductory level of the same course title as there is significant redundancy in the content of the courses.