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EDUC40950

Academic Year 2025/2026

Child and Adolescent Development (EDUC40950)

Subject:
Education
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Education
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Seaneen Sloan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a compulsory module for students on the Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology course.The aim of this module is to familiarise students with child and adolescent development theories, as applied at individual, family, school and community levels and of key therapeutic interventions as a well as developing their understanding of the multi-faceted influence of the family, school, community and socio-economic factors on child development and of how education and health services can influence outcomes.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should:

Know the critical developmental milestones in infancy, childhood and adolescence.

Be able to competently demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of how development proceeds, or may be impeded, in the main areas of human functioning, including cognitive, physical, social, linguistic, literacy and numeracy development.

Understand the impact of infant mental health and attachment on child development, including cognitive, social, sensory, emotional and behavioural development.

Have an understanding of the impact of attachment on child development, including cognitive, social, sensory, emotional and behavioural development.

Have an understanding of the multi-faceted influence of the family, school, community and socio-economic factors on child development and of how education and allied health services can influence outcomes.

Be familiar with and competent in using relevant clinical tools for exploring, measuring and reporting child and adolescent development in various domains.

Be able to evaluate and recommend developmentally appropriate interventions for children and youth at different developmental stages and in various settings.

Be familiar with a set of clinical tools which will them to integrate elements of attachment research and clinical practice into assessment, formulation and intervention work.

Indicative Module Content:

Overview of topics:

Overview of Child and Adolescent Development Theories and Application to Practice
Common Developmental Differences
Overview of Attachment Theories
Infant Mental Health
Adolescent Development
Foundations in Developmental Assessment and Observation
Typical Motor Development
Typical Motor Development
Sensory Processing & Play
Atypical Motor Development: Developmental Coordination Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder
Linguistic Development: Language and Communication

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

30

Tutorial

15

Specified Learning Activities

25

Autonomous Student Learning

175

Total

245


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, enquiry & problem-based learning activities, reflective learning;
Administration, scoring and interpretation of relevant clinical tools

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Completion of Primary Degree in Psychology at Honours Level meeting the criteria for entry to the MAEP programme.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): An essay and developmental checklist critically reviewing theories of attachment and development demonstrating awareness of their strengths, limitations and application to psychology practice. Week 12 Graded Yes
100
Yes

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6, 9 Wed 09:00 - 11:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 Wed 09:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 10 Wed 09:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 7 Wed 09:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6, 9 Wed 13:00 - 16:50