This course is designed to provide an intensive overview of the science of child development. Students will come away with an understanding of the key factors in healthy child development, with an emphasis on infancy and early childhood. In addition, we will apply the scientific knowledge of child development to several major policy and programmatic issues and questions, such as marriage and childcare policy. This course also highlights the role of context: family, peers, child care, school, and policy environments. Theoretical perspectives will be stressed.