Human Behavior and the Social Environment I is the first of a two-course sequence that looks at human growth and development across the lifespan within the context of a social systems perspective from infancy to adolescence. The course covers selected theories from the social, psychological, and physical sciences to provide the conceptual underpinnings for understanding the interaction between human behavior and social environments. This course focuses on the influence of human diversity, ethnic/cultural, and gender differences, family and social contexts, social issues including discrimination, economic deprivation and oppression, and values and ethical issues are considered throughout this course. Emphasis is placed on understanding human growth and development in the multicultural context of the Belizean and Caribbean environment.