Contexts of Life-course Development: Childhood, Adolescence, and Early Adulthood
SW630
| Credits: |
3 |
| Prerequisites: |
Foundation Essentials Required |
Pathway Associations
Course Description
This course will examine the development of life course in stages, from conception to early childhood (0-6), middle childhood (7-12), adolescence (13-18), and emerging adulthood (18+). Students will explore how development unfolds, with a particular emphasis on how adversity shapes the experiences of children from a young age. Key theories used to understand human development and behavior include those focused on attachment, trauma, and resilience. Special attention will be given to the relationships between critical life conditions, (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic class, sexual orientation), life events (i.e., separation, loss, illness, transition to school, transition to adulthood) and psychological and physical functioning. Course material on identity will address the topics of self-esteem, self-concept, and the development of gender, race, and ethnic identity.
Objectives
1. Understand individual development within the context of human relationships and particular social environments. (EPAS 7)
2. Understand how caregiving and peer relationships, culture, and biology interact to promote and inhibit adaptation and coping at particular life stages. (EPAS 7)
3. Explore the role of adversity (such as abuse, neglect, poverty, exposure to violence, medical trauma, and bullying) in shaping development. (EPAS 7)
4. Explore critical life conditions, (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic class, sexual orientation) in relation to developmental patterns and outcomes. (EPAS 2)
5. Identify individual, social, and environmental factors that promote and sustain resilience. (EPAS 6)
6. Critically examine and apply knowledge of human behavior to practice and policy decisions focused on wellness and prevention. (EPAS 5)
Design
The course will use multiple pedagogical methods: short lectures, videos, participatory discussions, written assignments, student presentations, and exercises.
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.
This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of developmental and lifecourse theories that will help students explore the connections between race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic class, sexual orientation and psychological and physical functioning and well-being. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will provide students with tools to understand and apply theories to practice with diverse populations.
Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Education Description
Definitions/Criteria for Interdisciplinary or Interprofessional Practice Focus
This course supports students to understand and value the importance of interprofessional and interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork in Social Work practice across a variety of populations, settings and roles.
Inclusion of ID/IPE content is supported by and directly relates to:
CSWE core competencies 1 ,4, 6, 7, 8, 9 competencies
https://www.bu.edu/ssw/files/2016/07/CSWE-2015-Competencies.pdf
University of Michigan 5 IPE Core Competencies: (Values/Ethics, Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Teams/Teamwork and Intercultural Humility)
https://interprofessional.umich.edu/about/ipe-competencies-at-u-m/
ID/IPE content that will be addressed and evaluated in the following ways:
Interdisciplinary and/or interprofessional practice are required content areas in the course with integration of relevant required readings, class lecture and discussion including drawing from interdisciplinary literature focused on child development, life course processes, disciplinary-focused measures, guest speakers, videos and specific assignments related to measures of relevant competencies
Students will be encouraged to actively contribute from their experiences, field placement practice, knowledge of readings, etc. to considerations of the impact of interdisciplinary and interprofessional care related to diverse populations and settings