Psychology & Brain Sciences 391CA - S-Challenges/Child&AdolscntDev

What are the most pressing issues facing children and adolescents today, and how do we, as psychological scientists, apply problem solving to address those issues and generate potential solutions? In this seminar, we will work together as a whole class and in smaller teams to address these questions, within six broad domains in childhood: abuse/maltreatment, poverty, chronic health conditions, school readiness and failure, learning disabilities, and psychopathology. Within each domain, we will examine mechanisms of development across many levels of analysis - from molecules, to cells, to somatic systems, to cognition/emotion, to behavior, to environment, to broader cultural and contextual factors. We also will meet and learn from researchers and practitioners in each of these domains.

Open to Senior and Junior Psychology majors only. Pre Req: PSYCH 241 Psych 350 (Developmental Psych) or a similar course is a recommended prerequisite.