Course descriptions for Human Development

In this course, students train to become Peer Educators for the campus community. Students learn listening and intervention skills, develop skills in health promotion and harm reduction, make presentations, and evaluate health promotion programs for fellow students. Students will enhance leadership skills, develop public speaking, and further program planning skills. Students must apply for admission into the Peer Educator program to enroll in the course.

In this course, students assist fellow students in making healthy life choices by creating, coordinating, and implementing health promotion activities that address physical, emotional, social, and spiritual issues faced by students. Students serve as role models for peers through responsible decision making and demonstrating ways of healthful living. Students must have completed Peer Educator training to enroll.

Presents theories of child development and milestones of physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development from the prenatal period through adolescence. Students identify characteristics of play and their impact on development; describe social development of children and adolescents; understand effects of a wide range of influences on development; and identify sources of possible abuse and neglect and describe their impact on development. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

An examination of the developing child in a societal context focusing on the interrelationship of family, school and community and emphasizing historical and socio-cultural factors. Discussion of patterns of development, childrearing, and the value of education in contemporary society. Highlights the processes of socialization and identity development, showing the importance of respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families and respond to all children's developmental needs.

In Close Relationships and Family Development, students learn about the formation of romantic relationships, mate selection, dating, gay and lesbian relationships, theories of love, and marriage. In addition, students study the formation of families, family development across the lifespan, parenting, and diversity in families. Special emphasis is given to contextual influences on families. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Course explores how different forms of technology (e.g., video games, cell phones), and media (e.g., T.V.) mediate human development. Content focuses on physical, cognitive/language and socio-emotional developmental, exploring how technology and media are integrated into everyday contexts and activities, linked to specific issues of development across the lifespan, and generate policy and research debates regarding their use and misuse. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Lifespan Development: Transition and Change surveys theoretical perspectives of human growth and development across the life span and draws from current social science research in examining the complex array of social, psychological, and cultural forces that combine to determine each individual's life course. Emphasizes applications to real world settings and successful passage through the life course. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Course examines how human development is influenced by, and influences, cultural norms and practices, and how culture plays a role in physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development across the lifespan. Course examines topics such as family, socialization, language, gender, schooling, and health, and life events such as birth, rites of passage, marriage, and death in the cultural contexts within the U.S. and internationally. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Behavioral & Emotional Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence explores common behavioral and emotional disorders which occur during childhood and adolescence such as attention deficit disorder, autism, depression, eating disorders, and conduct disorders. Physiological and environmental origins of the disorders are discussed as well as prevention, intervention, and treatment. Multidisciplinary and multicultural perspectives are included. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Infancy and Early Childhood focuses on developmental, behavioral, and other psychological theories in providing a rigorous introduction to the various biological, social, and cultural factors known to contribute to human growth and development during the initial phases of life (prenatal to preschool). Readings emphasize research and application in family and social settings. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Child Development provides a rigorous overview of theories and research concerning child growth and development. Focuses on children's social, cognitive, and psychological development with emphasis on multicultural and social policy issues. Addresses the current conditions of children in the local community and globally, emphasizing the need for diverse and culturally competent policies and practices. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Adolescence focuses on psychological, biological cognitive, and other ecological theories in examining adolescent development. The impact of culture and context on identity development and on successful transition to adulthood is emphasized. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Observation and Assessment introduces students to the strategies, techniques, and ethics of observing and recording student interactions in the classroom and the impact of culture upon those observations. Introduces a variety of assessment strategies and techniques. (Offered only as interest warrants. May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Adulthood & Aging focuses on the theories and understanding of early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. Emphasizes the consolidation of personal identity, the primary factors of adulthood, and healthy and successful aging. Draws readings from diverse sources, including psychological and sociological research and media. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Geriatrics & Gerontology examines the key issues, complexities, and challenges around changing health and service systems in the aging process. Addresses the etiology of life altering events, quality of life for the elderly, and end of life choices. Issues are addressed from multicultural and international perspectives. (Offered only as interest warrants. May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Service Learning in Human Development: In this course, students will apply and evaluate HDEV theory to service learning experiences, reflect on their SL experience and site as it applies to their professional development, develop skills in reflective, ethical, strengths- based practices for human development, and strengthen their interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities in their SL experience and area of study. (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Special Topics courses study a particular topic in Human Development on an experimental or time-limited basis. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/ No Credit Available) (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Allows upper-division students to pursue courses on special topics. May involve such activities as readings and reactions to papers, term papers, reports on life experiences, and action research. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)

Allows upper-division students to pursue courses on special topics. Requires completion of a community service project. May involve such activities as readings and reactions to papers, term papers, reports on life experiences, and action research. (Offered only as interest warrants. May be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.)