This major will focus on human development from the early adult years through the final stages of life. Relatively more emphasis, however, will be placed on the period from midlife through old age. Topics to be covered include: life-span development theories; life-span research methods; theories of aging; age-related changes in cognitive processes, intellectual functioning, and personality; social relationships, physiological changes; psychopathology associated with aging, and implications of all these areas for delivery of educational and mental health services to adults, particularly older adults.
By the end of your studies, you should be able to describe what is known about the bio-behavioral, cognitive, and psycho-social processes throughout the adult life-span. You should also be familiar with theories and research methods of adult development and aging.
