Class Descriptions

Adulthood and Aging

SW616

Credits:	3
Prerequisites:	None
Faculty Approval Date:	09/03/2014

Course Description

This course will examine psychosocial development and change across the adult lifespan. The focus will be on how various psychological factors influence development and change, as well as the impact of social factors on development and change in family and work roles from adulthood through old age. Special attention will be placed on similarities and differences in adult development and change related to an individual's position in society, including diverse dimensions such as ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, sex, and sexual orientation.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Describe and critique major theories of adult development (e.g., life-span, life course). (Practice Behaviors 7.IP, 7.SPE, 7.CO, 7.MHS)
2. Describe and analyze research on major aspects of psychological functioning across the adult life span and the impact on aging individuals and their families (e.g., normal cognitive development, dementing illnesses such as Alzheimer's Disease, self-esteem, subjective well-being, and stress and coping). (Practice Behaviors 7.IP, 7.SPE, 7.CO, 7.MHS)
3. Describe the current trends in marital status and family composition (e.g., marriage, divorce, separation, cohabitation, remarriage, reconciliation, widowhood, and single-parent families) and national demographic trends of the aging population, as well as analyze the implications for social work practice, evidence based interventions, and social welfare policies. (Practice Behaviors 5.IP, 5.SPE, 5.CO, 5.MHS, 7.IP, 7.SPE, 7.CO, 7.MHS)
4. Describe and analyze research on the role of informal social support networks in caring for aging individuals, including current research on issues such as intergenerational relationships, grandparenthood, and successes and failures of caregiving to frail elders. (Practice Behaviors 7.IP, 7.SPE, 7.CO, 7.MHS)
5. Identify the major ways in which an individual's position in society and the key diversity dimensions affect adult development and change. (Practice Behaviors 4.IP, 4.SPE, 4.CO, 4.MHS, 7.IP, 7.SPE, 7.CO, 7.MHS)

Design

Class sessions will include lectures, small group and class discussions, student presentations, audiovisuals, field trips, and guest speakers. These activities will be integrated at critical points in the semester to facilitate understanding of course content. Students are expected to attend all classes, complete assigned readings for each week, participate actively in class discussion, and complete all course requirements on time.

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self knowledge and self awareness to facilitate PODS learning.