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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Wellbeing through the life-span
Module Code PSYC526 (ITS) / PSY1077 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Psychology
Module Co-ordinatorEmma Nicholson
Module TeachersSinead Smyth
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

Module Aims: • To increase the students’ knowledge and critical awareness of the theoretical and research approaches relevant to Wellbeing across the lifespan • To encourage students’ critical evaluation of the current approaches and evidence base in Wellbeing • To equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle complexity in the area in a developmental and integrative manner • To prepare students to act as knowledgeable contributors to the field

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the key concepts and controversies at the forefront wellbeing across the lifespan
2. Demonstrate a systematic understanding contexts and domains of development
3. Show a critical awareness of the current challenges in wellbeing and development
4. Handle the complexity of the current state of research and scholarship in the field
5. Formulate judgements on current issues in the area through critical reviews of the literature
6. Integrate knowledge on broad themes to produce written work of publication standard



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture20Lectures based on indicative content and learning outcomes
Assignment Completion70Independent work on assignments
Tutorial10Mentor and student led tutorials
Independent Study150Independent learning
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to well-being: theory and development

Research methods in lifespan development

Age and well-being: Life course perspectives

Inequality and social justice across the lifespan

Disability and well-being

Health and well-being

Risk and Resilience across the lifespan

Contexts of development and well-being

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentDrawing from longitudinal research in an Irish context (e.g., Growing up in Ireland or TILDA) that outlines a challenge to well-being, the student must prepare a policy brief which makes recommendations for how this challenge can be addressed.40%n/a
EssayCritical essay on a specific theme on wellbeing across the lifespan, of publication standard60%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Larkin, M. (2013).: 0, Health and Well-Being Across the Life Course., Sage,
  • Kuther (2018): 0, Lifespan Development in Context: A Topical Approach., sage,
  • Seligman, M. E. (2012).: 0, Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being., Simon and Schuster.,
  • Haworth, J., & Hart, G. (2007).: 0, Well-being-individual, community and social perspectives., Springer,
  • Moody, H. & Sasser, J. (2014).: 0, Aging: Concepts and Controversies, 8th Ed.,, Sage,
  • Cavanaugh, J & Blanchard-Fields, S. (2011): 0, Adult Development and Aging, 6th Ed., Cengage Learning,
  • Bjorklund, B. (2011): 0, The Journey of Adulthood, 7th Ed., Pearson,
  • Erikson, E.H. (1994): 0, Identity and the Life Cycle, Norton & Co.,
Other Resources

65733, 0, Students will be directed to specific journal articles on a lecture-by-lecture basis.,

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