Pennsylvania State University 3 credits HDFS
This course provides a basic introduction to concepts, theoretical perspectives, and key empirical studies on adolescent development. Students will become familiar with key developmental trends and challenges that must be addressed to achieve healthy growth and development from the beginning of adolescence (puberty) up to the transition to adulthood. The course addresses biological changes (hormones, brain development), cognitive changes (abstract thinking, information processing) and social changes (families, peers, school, work); and the implications of these changes for issues such as identity development, autonomy, intimacy, sexuality and achievement. For each topic, students will become familiar with major theoretical frameworks, approaches to empirical research, and findings from empirical studies. Key features of this course are its attention to: how biological, cognitive and social changes combine to influence adolescents' overall adaptation; the ways in which adolescent development occurs in the context of families, peer groups, neighborhoods and communities, and the larger cultural context; and how theories and empirical findings can be applied to promote healthy adolescent development. Students pursuing the HDFS major must complete HDFS 129N plus two of the three 200-level developmental courses (HDFS 229, HDFS 239, HDFS 249N). This course may count toward the minor in HDFS. Students who are not pursuing a major in Human Development and Family Studies can apply credits from this course towards the General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) knowledge domain.
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