This course lays the foundation for understanding how children grow and learn across all developmental domains, physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and identity development, from conception through early adolescence. Students examine developmental theory alongside contemporary research in brain development to understand how relationships, environment, and experience shape learning and behavior over time.

The course explores major theoretical perspectives, including sociocultural theory, constructivism, ecological systems theory, attachment theory, and culturally grounded developmental frameworks. Emphasis is placed on understanding development as both biologically influenced and culturally situated. Students analyze how learning occurs through interaction, play, language, imitation, and guided participation within families and communities.

Participants study brain development from prenatal neural formation through adolescent neuroplasticity, including executive functioning, emotional regulation, memory formation, and the role of stress hormones on learning. The course examines the effects of toxic stress, trauma, and resilience, and how safe relationships and responsive environments support healthy neural development and self-regulation.

Culturally responsive and equity-centered approaches are integrated throughout the course. Students investigate how development is shaped by culture, race, gender identity, language, socioeconomic status, access to health care, and family structures. The course challenges universal developmental assumptions and prepares educators to recognize diverse developmental pathways, multilingual language development, and community-defined milestones.

Students learn methods for observing and documenting development using ethical, strengths-based assessment practices. Through case studies, reflection, and applied observation, participants connect developmental theory to real classroom practice and family engagement. By the end of the course, students will be able to interpret behavior developmentally, design supportive learning environments, and respond to children in ways that promote belonging, identity formation, and holistic growth.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

3 - Human Growth and Development

2 - Social Emotional Development

This course satisfies both Human Growth and Development (3 credits) and Social-Emotional Development (2 credits) outcomes by examining children’s development from prenatal stages through early adolescence across physical, cognitive, language, and behavioral domains, while also emphasizing relational and emotional well-being. Students study major developmental theories and brain research to understand how biology, experience, and environment shape learning and behavior, meeting core Human Growth and Development competencies. In addition, the course provides a focused study of attachment, co-regulation, resilience, identity formation, and the effects of stress and trauma on emotional functioning. Through observation, documentation, and application to classroom and family contexts, participants design supportive environments that foster belonging, self-regulation, and positive relationships. Because the course integrates comprehensive developmental theory with explicit relational and emotional practice, it fulfills outcomes typically addressed across both Human Growth and Development and Social Emotional Development coursework.