Developmental Psychology
Selectable PhD course within the subject of psychology, 7.5 credits (course code: FHS0120)
The course syllabus below in PDF Pdf, 151 kB.
Course plan
Goals
After completing the course students should:
- Be able to describe central concepts in the field
- Be able to discuss these concepts in relation to current societal challenges.
Content
Developmental psychology will, in this course, focus on theories of development and a discussion about how knowledge and practices from the field can be applied to overcome societal challenges. Brief lectures will also inform students about the work that is done in the division of developmental psychology.
Teaching
Students will be divided in pairs and select an area that they will review and write a rapport on. Each group will also critically evaluate another groups report. Each rapport will focus on a big question for the field. The topics are selected by the students together with the course leader. One topic has to relate to theories of development, for example “the foundations of human life” or “what do we have with us from birth and how are we shaped by our experiences”. Remaining topics are more free and could for example ask “how developmental psychology can help levitate the negative effects of poverty” or “how the field can inform preschool the curriculum and educational practices in school”, to provide some examples. Each group meets weekly with the course leader during the duration of the course in order to discuss the literature and the progress with each rapport.
Teaching may be given in English.
Examination
The course will be examined through:
- Active participation in discussions at seminars.
- A 10-page rapport defining the problem, summarizing existing research, and answering the question posed.
- Active participation in reviewing another groups rapport.
- To present the report to researchers.
The grades pass or fail will be used.
Literature
500 pages of articles, to be defined during the course.