Life Span Development I is the foundational course intended to provide a theoretical framework for working with children and adolescents. The course will build upon undergraduate courses highlighting human development. It will examine the major human developmental issues from birth through adolescence related to the physical, biological, cognitive, social, and emotional functioning for both normal and abnormal development. Topics will include theories of child development, prenatal considerations, early skill acquisition, family-related social/emotional/behavioral development, peer-related social/emotional/behavioral development, influences of maltreatment, gender development, and personality development. Assessment, interventions, and prevention models related to abnormal development will also be addressed, and the course will provide an overview of more severe pathology that originates in childhood.