Faculty of Business: Leisure, Sport and Tourism
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject investigates human growth and development across the lifespan. It examines the effects of age, gender and development stages on physical capacity and the effects of physical activity and health behaviours on growth and development.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Describe and discuss the processes of human growth and development over the life span with particular reference to physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development.
2. Critically analyse how age, gender, cultural background and developmental stages influence individual exercise capacity and motivation to adopt an active lifestyle.
3. Evaluate the impact of physical activity on human growth and development across the lifespan.

Contribution to graduate profile

This core subject in the BA Human Movement Studies and BA Sport and Exercise Management programs provides students with an understanding of human growth and development processes, the effects of an active lifestyle on personal development, and the factors influencing lifespan health and physical activity. The focus of this subject is to critically analyse the interaction between physical activity and human growth and development. This subject forms the basis for the study of exercise physiology, sport and exercise psychology, exercise prescription, personal development and health.

Teaching and learning strategies

The lectures and tutorials include a range of teaching and learning strategies. Key concepts are taught using individual and group exercises, discussion of scenarios, problem solving, case studies and video analysis. Content for this subject will be supported by UTSOnline.

Content

• Introduction to lifespan development
• Physical growth and development
• Health and activity
• Adolescence
• Cognitive and social development

Assessment

Mid Semester Exam (Individual)	40%
This addresses objectives 1-3.
Reflective Journal (Individual)	20%
This addresses objectives 1-3.
Final Exam (Individual)	40%
This addresses objectives 1-3.

Examinations will be conducted under University examination conditions, and hence thoroughly address concerns regarding secure assessment. Exam questions will be selected from a large bank of questions; selection of questions will change each year. The reflective journal is based on applying subject concepts to personal experiences which will vary per student.

Recommended text(s)

Santrock, J.W. (2004). Life Span Development. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Indicative references

Australian Sports Commission (2002). Participation in exercise, recreation and sport. Canberra: Australian Sports Commission.

Booth, M.L., Macaskill, P., McLellan, L., Phongsavan, P., Okely, T., Patterson, J., Wright, J., Bauman, A. & Baur, L. (1997). NSW Schools Fitness and Physical Activity Survey 1997. Sydney: NSW Department of School Education.

Peterson, C. (2004). Looking forward through the lifespan. Sydney: Pearson Education.

Sattler, D.N., Kramer, G.P., Shabatay, V. & Bernstein, D.A. (2000). Lifespan Development in Context: Voices and Perspectives. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Weiss, M.R. (2004). Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology: A Lifespan Perspective. Morgantown, WV, USA: Fitness Information Technology.