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  • Berkeley Global

Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan

PSYCH X140

42041
Delivery Options Online
Study the life-span developmental approach to developmental psychology, which includes ecological/systems and person-in-context theory approaches. You’ll gain perspective on biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, linguistic, sociocultural and spiritual changes across the lifespan—from prenatal and birth through the major stages of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In this survey course, you also study fundamental theories, perspectives, and critical thinking about historical and current arguments in the field.

Course Outline

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Course Objectives

  • Compare and contrast five major theoretical approaches to lifespan development
  • Apply at least two theories to current societal trends to articulate their impact on human development and well-being
  • List at least three of the classic texts that are foundational to developmental psychology

What You Learn

  • How to think developmentally
  • The role of personality in development
  • The role of culture in human development
  • Biological factors in human development
  • Attachment in the developing mind
  • Psychodynamic theories
  • Constructivist theories
  • Self and personality development
  • Intelligence and cognitive development
  • Developmental psychopathology
  • Aging: physiological and psychological development in older adulthood

How You Learn

  • Reading assignments
  • Instructor’s notes and presentations
  • Written assignments
  • Discussion forums and assignments
  • Self-check quizzes
  • Final reflection paper

Is This Course Right for Me?

An introductory course in psychology or sociology will enhance the experience, but there are no specific prerequisites for taking this course.

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Sections

Section 068

Start Anytime

Type: Online, Start Anytime

Instructor:

  • Richard Sprott

Cost: $910.00

See section 068 Details

Type Online, Start Anytime

Dates
Start Now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled.

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

3 semester units

Section Notes

Online, enroll anytime. This continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course. 

Students must score a 70% or higher on the final exam to pass the course.

Section Materials

  • (Mandatory)

    The Bronfenbrenner Primer: A Guide to Develocology by Shelton, L.G.

    Routledge ISBN 978-1138037168
  • (Mandatory)

    Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis by Karen Horney

    W.W. Norton & Company ISBN 978-0393309409

Section 075

Start Anytime

Type: Online, Start Anytime

Instructor:

  • Christopher Gade

Cost: $910.00

See section 075 Details

Type Online, Start Anytime

Dates
Start Now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled.

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

3 semester units

Section Notes

Online, enroll anytime. This continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course. No exceptions will be made to this rule.

Students must score a 70% or higher on the final exam to pass the course.

You can add, drop or withdraw by logging into your student portal. To drop or withdraw, go to the “My Enrollment History” page.

Start Anytime online courses: You may drop within 6 days of registering.

Refunds are issued to the original account of payment only when a course is dropped in accordance with the deadline above. A $35 processing fee will be applied to all course drops.

After the drop deadline, students can withdraw prior to the course completion date. Course fees are non-refundable for withdrawals, and a “W” will be applied to your student record for all withdrawal requests.

If you are unable to complete your coursework and do not officially withdraw from the course before the completion date, you may receive a failing grade (F).

Some courses may have different drop/add deadlines. Please consult the course description for more information.

 

Section Materials

  • (Mandatory)

    The Bronfenbrenner Primer: A Guide to Develocology by Shelton, L.G.

    Routledge ISBN 978-1138037168
  • (Mandatory)

    Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis by Karen Horney

    W.W. Norton & Company ISBN 978-0393309409

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

This course applies to the following programs:

Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program

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Required Courses

  • Health Careers Seminar I
  • Health Careers Seminar II: The Application Process
  • Health Careers Seminar II: Developing Your Personal Statement
  • Health Careers Seminar II: Interviewing Successfully

Basic Biology Electives

  • General Biology I
  • General Biology Laboratory I
  • General Biology II
  • General Biology Laboratory II
  • Introduction to Human Physiology

Upper-Division Biology Courses

  • Biochemistry
  • Human Physiology Laboratory
  • Mammalian Systemic Physiology
  • General Human Anatomy
  • Human Anatomy Laboratory
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Microbiology Laboratory
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
  • Biology of Aging
  • The Biology of Human Cancer
  • Cell Biology
  • Current Topics in the Biosciences
  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Genetics
  • Genomic Medicine
  • Hematology
  • Virtual Hematology Laboratory
  • Human Nutrition
  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology of the Cardiac and Respiratory Systems
  • Principles of Molecular Biology
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Introduction to Parasitology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Principles of Infectious Diseases and Emerging Infectious Diseases
  • Stem Cell Biology, Research and Discovery
  • Principles of Toxicology
  • Virology
  • Medical Terminology

Chemistry Electives

  • Biochemistry
  • General Chemistry I
  • General Chemistry Laboratory I
  • General Chemistry II
  • General Chemistry Laboratory II
  • Organic Chemistry I
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
  • Organic Chemistry II
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
  • Quantitative Analysis: Applications in Clinical Chemistry

Physics Electives

  • Physics I
  • Physics Laboratory I
  • Physics II
  • Physics Laboratory II

Math Electives

  • Analytic Geometry and Calculus
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
  • Introduction to Statistics

Other Electives

  • Spanish for Medical Professionals
  • Principles of Epidemiology
  • Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care
  • Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan
  • Abnormal Psychology

Test Preparation Courses

  • Post-Bacc MCAT Prep
  • Post-Bacc GRE Prep
  • Post-Bacc DAT Prep
  • Post-Bacc OAT Prep
  • Post-Bacc PCAT Prep
  • TPR DAT Prep
  • TPR MCAT Prep

Learn More About This Program

Post-Baccalaureate Program for Counseling and Psychology Professions

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Required Courses

  • Counseling and Psychotherapy as a Career Option
  • Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan
  • Psychology of Personality
  • Research Methods in Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Seminar on the Graduate Application Process

Courses of Related Interest

  • Adolescent Psychology
  • Biological Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Emerging Adulthood
  • Health Psychology
  • Positive Psychology
  • Psychology of Communication
  • Social Psychology

Learn More About This Program

Pre-Nursing Preparatory Program

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Required Courses

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Microbiology Laboratory
  • Introduction to Human Physiology
  • Human Physiology Laboratory
  • General Human Anatomy
  • Human Anatomy Laboratory

Electives

  • Human Nutrition
  • Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine
  • Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan
  • Health Care Advocacy and the Role of Cultural Diversity
  • Bioethics

Science Courses of Related Interest

  • General Biology I
  • General Biology Laboratory I
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
  • General Chemistry I
  • General Chemistry Laboratory I

General Education Courses of Related Interest

  • American Fiction
  • Contemporary Art: History and Theory
  • Spanish for Medical Professionals

Psychology and Sociology Courses of Related Interest

  • General Psychology
  • Psychology of Communication

Learn More About This Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-counspsych@berkeley.edu

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 125

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

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Course Fee

Richard Sprott

Richard Sprott received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC Berkeley in 1994. He served as President of the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity for 2021-2022 (APA Division 44). He is co-editor on a book from APA Books entitled Supporting Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Diversity in K-12 Schools. He is also the co-author of Sexual Outsiders: Understanding BDSM Sexualities and Communities (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013). He is co-editor on a book from Rowman & Littlefield, entitled Mental Health Practice with LGBTQ+ Children, Adolescents, and Emerging Adults in Multiple Systems of Care, which was awarded the Distinguished Book Award 2023 from APA Division 44.  He is currently directing research projects focused on identity development and health/well-being in people who express alternative sexualities and non-traditional relationships, with an emphasis on kink/BDSM sexuality, and polyamory or consensual non-monogamy.

Online

Course Fee

Christopher Gade

After earning his PhD in psychology at UC Berkeley, Dr Gade began teaching as a lecturer at a wide range of schools in the Bay Area. His primary teaching duties beyond Berkeley Extension are at UC Berkeley’s main campus, Saint Mary’s College of California, and Cal State East Bay. His focus as a student and researcher was in social, cognitive, and educational psychology. At this point, Dr Gade’s teaching focus is in general psychology, personality psychology, lifespan development, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.

Email: gadecj@berkeley.edu

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