CHRISLAND UNIVERSITY ABEOKUTA
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION (FIRST SEMESTER)
Course Outline
Course Title: Developmental Psychology I: Childhood and Adolescents
Course Code: PSY 215
Units: 2 Credits
Lecturers: Dr Ogochukwu W. Odeigah
Lecture Hours: Tuesdays 2:00 – 4:00
Venue: Auditorium
Welcome to Psychology 215, Developmental Psychology I: Childhood and Adolescent
Course Description: This course is an introductory module to lifespan development. Topics
to be covered include: physical, cognitive, social and emotional development across
conception, infancy and toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence. An
expanded version of topics is found overleaf.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. Understand lifespan development
2. Describe physical, psychological, and social changes from conception to adolescence
3. Explain the impact of context and culture on human development
Lecture Delivery: Lectures will be delivered primary through powerpoint presentations,
videos, and case-based studies.
Attendance and participation: Attendance and participation in class is very important and
required. The university rule specifies 80% attendance to qualify to do the final exam. If you
are going to be absent, please inform the lecturer at least a day before the class. Class
participation is worth 5 marks.
Continuous Assessment: This will comprise class quizzes completed during lectures and
graded intermittently. It is important to read and review your notes to optimize your
performance in all the assessments.
Mid-term and Final Exams: Date for the mid-term test, revision test and exams will be in
accordance with the university academic calendar. It will involve applied essays, multiple
choice and fill in the blank questions. Continuous assessments will be worth 30 marks, while
exams will be worth 70 marks.
Recommended Textbook:
Laura E. Berk (2018). Development through the Lifespan (7th Edition).
E-Copy available from Dr Odeigah
Course Outline
Reading lists
Week Topic
Introduction to Developmental Psychology I
- Issues in development
Week 1 Chapter 1
- The life span perspective
- Theories of human development
Week 2 Common Research Methods and Ethics in Lifespan Research Chapter 1
Prenatal development
- Stages of prenatal development
Week 3 - Prenatal environmental influences and childbirth Chapter 2
- Assessing the new-born’s reflexes, arousal and sensory capacities.
Social Issues: Health the nurse– family partnership
Infancy and toddlerhood: Physical & Cognitive Development
- Body growth, motor and perceptual development
- Changes in the brain and influences on physical growth
Week 4 Chapter 4 and 5
- Piagets; cognitive developmental theory
- Language development and differences in mental devpt.
Social Issues: Learning from TV and video
Infancy and toddlerhood: Emotional & Social Development
- Erickson’s stage: Basic Trust/Mistrust, Autonomy/shame
Week 5 - Emotional development Chapter 6
- Temperament, attachment and self-awareness
Social issues: Child care, attachment and later life adjustment
Week 6 Mid-Term Test
Early childhood: Physical & Cognitive Development
- Changes in body and brain
- Motor development
Week 7 Chapter 7
- Influences on physical growth and health
- Piaget’s theory: The preoperational stage
- Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory
Early childhood: Emotional and social development
- Erickson’s stage: initiative vs guilt
Week 8 - Self understanding and emotional development Chapter 8
- Peer relations, gender typing, and morality
Social issues: child rearing practices and emotional development
Middle childhood: Physical & Cognitive Development
- Body growth
- Motor development and play
Week 9 - Common health problems Chapter 9
- Piaget’s theory: The concrete operational stage
- Intelligence and learning in school
Social issues: childhood obesity and education
Middle childhood: Emotional and Social development
- Erickson’s stage: industry vs inferiority
- Self-Understanding
Week 10 Chapter 10
- Emotional and moral development
- Peer Relations
Social issues: Divorce and child sexual abuse
Adolescent: The beginning of adulthood
Week 11 Chapter 11
- Physical and Cognitive development
Week 12 Revision test Chapter 12
