Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:define the main principles of life span developmental psychology, the steps of the scientific method for human growth, and development research, methods, data collection, and ethical issues; explain significant psychologist's theories on development, classical and operant conditioning, social-cognitive learning theories, and theories of adult development; summarize the basic concepts of genetics, including chromosomes, sex-linked and limited traits, natural selection, inheritance, adaptation, and gene-environment interaction; describe the processes of conception, fertilization, ovulation, how an embryo develops, how certain factors affect prenatal growth, genetic assessment, perinatal and neonatal environments, potential hazards during the birth process, the process and methods of childbirth, and complications associated with birth; discuss principles of growth and motor, sensory, and brain development in the first two years; examine physical and cognitive development in early childhood, nutrition, health, safety, and different methods and cultural differences in parenting; analyze physical growth and motor skill development in middle childhood, the importance of health and fitness, how to identify children with a learning disability, peer relationships, and the role of school in development; appraise physical growth, cognitive and sexual development and maturation in adolescents, changes in sense of self from childhood to adolescence, gender differences, and the influence of family, school, and peers; review physical and sexual reproductive changes that occur in early adulthood, the influence of life events, occupation and higher education, social relationships, and gender roles and identity; formulate physical and sexual changes that occur during middle adulthood, limitations and growth in cognition among adults, the big five stable personality traits, marriage and divorce, mid-life crises, and gender roles; and relate factors of living a longer life, including theories of aging and death, physical changes, sleep patterns and health, cognitive development, social relationships, the stages of dying and grief, bereavement, and end-of-life issues and debates.