PSY3300

This course focuses on prenatal, infant and early childhood development, when children are both vulnerable to psychological harm but also especially responsive to positive intervention. Students will explore developmentally relevant risk factors and examine how early life stress and trauma impact biopsychosocial development. Topics include the effects of parental psychopathology, structural barriers, and risk factors on caregiver-child relationships and child development. Students will gain an understanding of how early adversity "gets under the skin" to influence behavioral and mental health outcomes. The course also explores resilience, protective factors, and the role of positive parent-child interactions in promoting mental health. The course emphasizes real-world applications through the study of early intervention and prevention strategies. Students will also engage with current policy issues and consider systemic solutions to promote infant and early childhood mental health.

Prerequisites: 'C' or better in PSY 1010 OR PSY 1011 OR FCS 2610 OR AP Psychology score of 3+ OR IB Psychology score of 4+ OR PSY CLEP score of 50+.

Fall and Spring