This course takes a critical approach to exploring the moral, sociopolitical, and bio-psychosocial dimensions of human development. It will introduce students to different theories and methods for studying human development across the lifespan. Many traditional approaches to developmental research treat development in Western Educated Industrialized Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) contexts as normative for all populations. This course will focus on approaches that reject the notion that processes of human development are universal, examining the ways that social, cultural and geographic environments and histories shape development and life trajectories. Recommended prerequisite: EDUC 6318 or EDUC 8210 or instructor consent.
