spring 2026
PSY-1204 Developmental Psychology - 10 ECTS
Course content
The course provides an overview of key areas in developmental psychology, focusing on infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The main emphasis is on typical development, but factors that promote or hinder adequate development will also be discussed. Humans develop continuously throughout life, but the early years are particularly marked by rapid changes. Knowledge about the development of infants and children is relevant for better understanding of I) psychological phenomena in adults, II) the competencies and needs of children at different ages, and III) general questions about what influences human development.Objectives of the course
Having attended the course and completed the exam the students will obtain the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding:
- Have in-depth knowledge of important theories and findings in key areas of developmental psychology.
- Have in-depth knowledge of common methods used in developmental psychology research on infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
- Understand how the individual changes during the early years of life and further through childhood and adolescence.
Skills:
- Be able to describe and discuss theories in developmental psychology and findings across the key areas.
- Be able to select methods appropriate for typical age groups and types of research questions.
- Be able to describe the main features of typical development.
- Interpret visualizations of results common in developmental studies.
- Reflect on relevance of specific theories and findings in developmental research to broader topics in psychology.
General competence:
- Demonstrate an understanding of how the individual changes during the early years of life and further through childhood and adolescence.
- Develop an understanding of connections between theory, research, and the practical applications of knowledge in psychology.
- Be able to discuss the limitations of psychological theories and research methods.
- Be able to start using developmental psychology as a frame of reference to better understand other areas of psychology.
Schedule
Examination
| Examination: | Duration: | Grade scale: |
|---|---|---|
| School exam | 4 Hours | A–E, fail F |
Coursework requirements:To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements: |
||
| Sufficient amount of asynchronous online activities approved | Approved – not approved | |
- About the course
- Campus: Tromsø |
- ECTS: 10
- Course code: PSY-1204
- Responsible unit
- Department of Psychology
- Earlier years and semesters for this topic