Module: Child Development

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Child Development
Module Code	PSY1010 (ITS: PSYC106)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module will provide the student with an understanding of child development, highlighting the nature of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development during the childhood years. The module will explore and evaluate the various theoretical approaches to child development. The module will present to the student, in a comprehensive and meaningful way, key influential studies alongside contemporary and cross-disciplinary developments that have emerged in the field and will consider the practical applications of theoretical knowledge about child development.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify key figures, theoretical approaches, and research in the field of developmental psychology
2. Critically evaluate major and contemporary theory and research in the area of child development
3. Examine child development from a multidisciplinary perspective through the adoption of knowledge from social, emotional, biological, cognitive and language developmental theory
4. Recognise the role of social and cultural contexts on child development
5. Discuss challenges and controversies in the field of developmental psychology

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	20	Synchronous lectures based on indicative content and learning outcomes
Directed learning	30	Assignment Completion
Independent Study	75	Lecture review and independent learning
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11466	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Emma Nicholson	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Written report on observation of free play	30%	n/a
Formal Examination	n/a	70%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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 Development Psychology: themes, theory and research

Research in developmental psychology

Prenatal development and birth

Cognitive development

Language Development

Emotional, Social and Moral Development

Atypical Development

Adolescence

Contexts of Child Development

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Santrock, J. W.: 2023, Child development, 16h edition, New York: McGraw-Hill., 9781266146701
Berk. L.: 2017, Child development, International, London: Allyn & Bacon.,
Bee, H.: 2007, The developing child., 11th Edition, London: Allyn & Bacon.,
Mercer, Jean: 2010, Child development: myths and misunderstandings, Sage, Los Angeles,
Levine, Laura & Munsch, Joyce: 2011, Child development: an active learning approach, Sage, Thousand Oaks,
Greene, S., & Hogan, D.: 2005, Researching children's experiences: Methods and approaches., London: Sage.,
Clarke-Stewart, A., & Dunn, J.: 2006, Families count: Effects on child and adolescent development., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.,
Freeman, Mellissa & Mathison, Sandra: 2009, Researching children's experiences, Guilford Press, New York,
Meadows, Sara: 2010, The child as social person, Routledge, New York,
Prinstein, Mitchell & Dodge, Kenneth: 2008, Understanding peer influence in children and adolescents, Guilford, London,
Strasburger, Victor, Wilson, Barbara, & Jordan, Amy: 2013, Children, adolescents, and the media, 3rd, Sage, Thousand Oaks,
Fromberg, D. P., Bergen, D: 2015, Play from birth to twelve, 3rd Edition, Routledge, 9781138804135

Articles:

0: Child Development, 517899, 1
Child Development Perspectives: 517900, 1,
517901: 1, 0, Children & Society,
1: 0, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,
0: Developmental Psychology,

Other Resources

None