The University of Chicago Summer
Developmental Psychology: Theories and Techniques | Summer
Developmental Psychology: Theories and Techniques

Developmental Psychology: Theories and Techniques


Course is Full

Course Description

This course is nearing capacity and will likely close soon. We recommend you select another course for your application.

In just a few short years, infants go from helpless beings who cannot even hold their heads up to walking, talking, thinking people who are able to understand complex games, infer intentions in others, and even engage in reflexive thought (i.e., thinking about thinking).

In this class, we will explore this transition by studying major theories of developmental psychology, examining how the mind (and correspondingly, the brain) changes from infancy through adolescence. We will focus on primary empirical sources investigating the development and integration of perceptual, cognitive, and social skills.

Lecture and discussion will emphasize the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and sociocultural elements throughout the life span in domains such as language, emotions, morality, and intelligence. You will develop and execute your own experimental research project in small groups.

Academic Interest

Human Body, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social Sciences (e.g., history, sociology, business)

Application Materials

A complete application includes a transcript, two short essays, a letter of recommendation, writing sample, application fee, and a submitted parent confirmation. If you are seeking need-based financial aid, you must indicate that in your application before it is submitted. Please refer to the Application Instructions for complete details.

Instructor(s)

Kate O'Doherty

Cost

$8,900

Need-based financial aid is available. Students should refer the Costs & Aid page and apply for aid when they submit their application to Summer Session.

This course is completely full. Please choose another course instead. We recommend that you apply for more than one course on your application.

Course Duration

3 Week Immersion

Session

Session 1

Course Dates

June 14th - July 4th

Class Days

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

Eligibility

9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade

Modality

Residential

Other Courses to Consider

These courses might also be of interest.

  • Career Insight: Healthcare and Biological Sciences
    Career Insight: Healthcare and Biological Sciences

    Enrollment for this course is closed. We will only admit students from the waitlist if places become available. Please make other selections for your application.

    Delve into medicine, public health, or research! Whether your interests will take you into the OR and examining room or behind the bench, your journey begins here at UChicago.

    In the morning, UChicago professors, lecturers, and researchers will introduce you to key concepts and practices in the biological sciences through lectures, discussions, readings, and hands-on activities designed to reveal a range of possible pursuits. In the afternoon, connect with practitioners through presentations, informational interviews, and career treks around the city, and with Career Advancement staff who will help you consider what various career paths you might follow within the world of healthcare and the biological sciences and cultivate the skills you need to begin to pursue those opportunities. You will keep a response journal and complete other assignments that will become a part of a final portfolio that you will submit at the end of the program.

    Residential
  • Explorations in Neuroscience: Neurons, Behavior, and Beyond
    Explorations in Neuroscience: Neurons, Behavior, and Beyond

    How does the brain work, and how do changes in brain structure and function give rise to neurological conditions and deficits? Developing a deeper understanding of the brain has been deemed one of the 21st century’s Grand Challenges, and this course will draw on different research methodologies to begin unraveling one of life’s greatest mysteries.

    Through inquiry-driven investigations that include close examination of primary data, we will explore the mechanisms by which electrochemical and circuit activity in nervous systems give rise to sensation, perception, and behaviors, including, but not limited to, movement, language production, spatial navigation, emotional responses, sleep, and learning and memory.

    Students will also be introduced to experimental and other methods used in neuroscience research (e.g. molecular (DNA and protein) sequence analysis, fluorescence microscopy of nervous tissue, and behavioral assays).

    Finally, through our tour through nervous systems across phyla, we will develop and discuss insights into the evolution history and inner workings of our own brain.

    Residential
  • Foundations of Psychological Research
    Foundations of Psychological Research

    Enrollment for this course is closed. We will only admit students from the waitlist if places become available. Please make other selections for your application.

    This course introduces students to the basic concepts and methods used in conducting psychological research in order to gain understanding of how science can be used to answer questions about thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Throughout the class, students will explore various research designs and how to create a research plan, reflect upon published psychological research in context, and interact with experimental psychologists. In their final projects, students will pose a research question of personal interest and design a psychological study to answer this question using elements of methods they’ve learned in the class.

    Remote