Human Growth and Development - “Womb to Tomb”
Family Studies 525 - Fall 2013
Molly B. Connelly, M.Ed.
Email: [email protected]
Office: 302 Pettee Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 12:30 - 1:30pm or by appointment
Office Phone: (603)862-1300
Home Phone: (603)293-4990
Teaching Assistants:
Joe Tarr: [email protected]
Andrew Minigan: [email protected]
Justin Chambers: [email protected]
Course Text
HDEV 3 – 2012 Edition - Spencer A. Rathus
Supplemental readings will be available on blackboard
Course Overview
The human life cycle is universally marked by the biological events of birth, puberty, and
death and has been lived out at least 45 billion times since the beginning of human history. The
development of the individual across the life span is an exciting process of growth and change; a
mass of cells at conception becomes the insight and wisdom of the octogenarian. What changes?
And how do these changes take place over time? This course will address these questions by
introducing the major scientific discoveries, concepts, and theories contributing to a growing
body of knowledge about the physical, intellectual, and social development of the individual.
Beginning with the family as the foundation for development, special attention will be paid to the
human relationships and social contexts, which influence development.
The study of human development from a life span perspective is also intriguing because
each of us, and everyone we care about, is constantly developing. Therefore, this course will also
include personal insights to expand our understanding of our own life history, and to reflect on a
possible future. Thus, thoughtful and active participation by students is a central part of this
course.
It is important to remember that each of us analyzing the developing individual is only
human. What we see and how we think about it is influenced by our human tendency (and
necessity) to focus on certain pieces of information and ignore others. Our interpretations of
behavior and change are filtered through these "biases”. Therefore, as we spend time becoming
familiar with the major theories of human development and the language theorists use, we will
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