Graduate Course Descriptions

The following directory lists the graduate courses which the University expects to offer, although the University in no way guarantees that all such courses will be offered in any given academic year, and reserves the right to alter the list if conditions warrant. Click on the links below for a list of courses in that subject area. You may then click “View Classes” to see scheduled classes for individual courses.

5001. Orientation to Human Development and Family Sciences

1.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Seminar in professional orientation to the field of human development and family sciences.

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5003. Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Family and human development procedures, research experience related to analyzing interpersonal interaction and developmental processes.

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5004. Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced family and human development research methods; research design and underlying methodological issues in analyzing interpersonal interaction and developmental processes.

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5005. Qualitative Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: HDFS 5003; open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Philosophical bases of qualitative research in the social sciences; developing qualitative strategies; including: existential-phenomenological, intensive interviews, participant observation, and textual analysis.

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5006. Professional Development in Human Development and Family Sciences

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Professional, ethical, and career development issues related to human development and family sciences. Covers conceptual ideas related to ethics as well as practical tools for professional and career development.

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5010. Practicum in University Teaching of Human Development and Family Sciences

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Supervised teaching of undergraduate courses in Human Development and Family Sciences.

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5020. Culture, Health and Human Development

3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 6 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to current interdisciplinary approaches to the study of human development and health in the context of culture. An overview of theoretical approaches; presentations of current research by invited speakers, focusing on how to combine disciplinary perspectives and methods in order to build a new integrative science of health and development across and within cultures.

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5021. Culture, Health and Human Development

1.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 6 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to current interdisciplinary approaches to the study of human development and health in the context of culture. An overview of theoretical approaches; presentations of current research by invited speakers, focusing on how to combine disciplinary perspectives and methods in order to build a new integrative science of health and development across and within cultures.

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5030. Research Practicum

1.00 - 6.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 24 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Supervised research in Human Development and Family Sciences. May be repeated for a maximum of 24 credits.

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5031. Culture, Health and Human Development Project

3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 6 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Group discussion and guidance through planning, implementation, and write-up of a publishable research project in fulfillment of a core requirement for the Graduate Certificate in Culture, Health, and Human Development.

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5032. Research Seminar in Qualitative Methods

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Discussion and application of qualitative methods as applied to students' individual ongoing research projects. Participants must be currently conducting research using qualitative methods.

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5088. Supervised Field Work in Family Development

1.00 - 6.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 21 credits.

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences; others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Work in a community agency related to the field of family development.

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5095. Special Topics in Human Development and Family Sciences

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 12 credits.

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

In-depth investigation of a recent issue of human development and family sciences. With a change of topic, students may enroll up to four times for a maximum of 12 credits.

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5098. Current Issues in Human Development and Family Sciences

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 12 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Focused presentation and discussion of an aspect of theory or methods related to advancing the field of human development and family sciences.

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5099. Independent Study

1.00 - 6.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 48 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced study for qualified students who present suitable projects for intensive, independent investigation in human development and family sciences.

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5101. Infant and Toddler Development

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Contemporary theories and research on infant and toddler development; evaluation of prevention and intervention programs designed to address contemporary social issues facing infants/toddlers and their families.

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5102. Early and Middle Childhood Development

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Theory and research related to early and middle childhood as a developmental period. Focus will be on topics such as executive functioning and cognitive development, language and literacy development, peer relations, gender roles, aggression, and prosocial behaviors, as well as on prevention and intervention programs designed to address contemporary social issues facing children and their families.

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5103. Adolescent Development

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Adolescent development; understanding the various forces related to adolescent behavior.

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5110. Families, Communities, and Positive Behavior Supports

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Analysis of theory, research, systems, and curricula in Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) with emphasis on family and community partnerships. Interventions for problem behavior are examined across context and perspective. Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences and related fields, and (with permission) to upper level undergraduates and those enrolled in the Honors Program.

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5150. Human Attachment Across the Lifespan

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Theory and research on attachment, separation, trauma, and loss; lifespan approach to studying continuity or discontinuity from infant-parent attachment to peer-peer interactions to adult relationships.

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5215. Models and Concepts of Lifespan Human Development

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Overview of approaches to understanding human development across the lifespan. Emphasis on models that cross disciplinary boundaries to explore development in social and cultural contexts.

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5232. Research Seminar in Adult Development and Aging

3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 9 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Research models and approaches specific to studying development in the latter half of the lifespan. Development of an individual research project.

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5240. Aging: Personality and Social Interaction

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Patterns of adjustment to aging; continuity versus change in personality, role changes, and family relations of the elderly.

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5248. Adaptation and Development in Adulthood

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Young adulthood through middle-age with particular attention on transition episodes; stability and change in adult personality with attention to familial and other social relationships.

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5250. Close Relationships

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Formation, maintenance, and dissolution of close relationships across the life span; relationships like courtship, marriage, parent-child, and friendships.

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5255. Living with Chronic or Life-threatening Illness

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Chronic and/or life-threatening illness from diagnosis through long term management. Psychological, interpersonal, family, and ethical aspects of the chronic illness experience across the life span, in contexts for culture and health policy.

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5269. Gender Role Transitions and Conflicts Over the Lifespan

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

The identification and study of men's and women's gender role transitions and conflicts over the lifespan using psychosocial theory. Developmental stages and tasks are critically analyzed using psychological, sociological, multicultural, and gender role theories and research.

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5277. Human Sexuality

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Human sexual behavior and attitudes.

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5310. Patterns and Dynamics of Family Interaction

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Readings and research concerning the family, stressing interpersonal processes and communication.

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5311. Theories of Family Development

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Concepts and theories in the area of family development.

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5312. Diverse Families: Adaptations Across the Lifespan

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences; others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

An interdisciplinary examination of the issues and experiences of diverse families within sociological and psychological contexts and how factors such as race, ethnicity, and culture shape contemporary family life across the lifespan.

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5321. Seminar on Parent-Child Relations in Cross-Cultural Perspective

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Research and theory regarding the antecedents and effects of major dimensions of parental behavior on child development in the U.S.A. and cross-culturally, parental warmth, control, punishment, and their interactions.

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5340. Prevention, Intervention, and Public Policy

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Survey course of the theory, practice and science of primary prevention of human problems. Prevention concepts and case studies are presented. Students give analysis and critique of course content and develop personal and professional perspectives on prevention practice and possible social policy initiatives.

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5342. Parenting, Parenthood, and Family Science Interventions

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to graduate students in Human Development and Family Sciences, others with instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Parents’ roles, identities, and behavior and the dynamics of parenthood across the lifespan. Interpersonal, familial, and societal roles of parents and the interventions that support individual parent and family well-being outcomes are presented.

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5442. Latina/o Health Disparities

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Overview of health and health care issues among Latina/os in the United States with particular focus on health disparities.

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5550. Social Policy, Law, and Child Welfare

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Application of theory and research on child development, family relations, and intervention/prevention practices to legal, policy and child welfare contexts.

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