28-6355 Applied Youth Development

This class focuses on the stages of development and developmental tasks in the life cycle spanning infancy to adolescence. We will examine growth and development from various perspectives, including cultural differences, neurobiological, cognitive, emotional and social. The focus will also include mental health risk factors specific to adolescence and recommended treatment approaches. Students will present current research on psychosocial topics impacting youth. Discussion will also focus upon how we construct/determine ideas of normal and pathological development. Throughout the course attention is paid to how genetic, relational and environmental factors influence development with an emphasis on the impact of early attunement experiences. Students will also present final projects incorporating a psychosocial understanding through the use of an artistic medium with youth at their placement sites.

3 Credits