FSHD Course Listing

FSHD 117 Lifespan Human Development

Behavioral science approach to human development through the life span.

FSHD 150B1 Men, Fatherhood & Families: Biocultural Perspectives

This course provides a synthesis of our understanding of men in their role as fathers in families from biological and cultural perspectives. The biological perspective explores the evolutionary history and adaptive dimensions of human fatherhood, including comparisons with forms of parenting and family life in other primate species, male life history strategies, and the contributions of genetic, developmental, physiological and ecological factors to fatherhood. The cultural perspective examines the ways in which fatherhood, marriage, and families vary across cultures, in relation to differences in social traditions and practices, socio-political systems, and modes of subsistence. The synthesis of these two perspectives consists of understanding socio-cultural variability in human paternal behavior in the context of human evolutionary adaptations to past and ongoing social and ecological pressures. Through in-class group activities and homework assignments students will apply current theories and data concerning fatherhood to their own lives, and will pursue their implications for society at large.

FSHD 197A Introduction to Family Studies and Human Development

The focus of this 1-unit workshop is to help students successfully transition into the Family Studies & Human Development (FSHD) pre-major. Topics include: student success and time management, exploration of campus resources, professionalism, FSHD academic advising and graduation planning, academic writing, and personal exploration of careers and internships related to FSHD. This class combines activities, discussions, and guest speakers to help students explore interests, develop goals, and create meaningful experiences.

FSHD 257 Contemporary Families

Family relationships can be rewarding, challenging, complicated, and more. This course overviews research from the family science field covering topics related to contemporary family life including gender roles, work/family balance, marriage, parenthood, divorce, blended families, family violence, and related topics.

FSHD 377 Adolescence

This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of adolescent development, including the relationships between theory, research, and practice. We will examine various aspects of adolescent development, focusing on the major developmental milestones (such as identity, intimacy, and sexuality), transitions, strengths, and challenges of adolescents, as well as the contexts in which these occur. Additionally, this course will introduce you to the practice of working with adolescents and their caregivers, and provide opportunities for you to apply research and theory to specific issues of adolescent development (such as best practices for structuring out of school programs).

FSHD 384 Leadership, Ethics, and Professional Practices

Theories and applications of leadership and communication applied to professional decision-making, planning and control in the workplace. Examination of personal and professional qualities essential for successful internship and career planning. Roles, responsibilities, and ethical standards for professionals will be examined.

FSHD 401 Basic Skills in Counseling

Selected counseling skills and their applications. Designed for students needing basic skills in counseling as an adjunct to other primary occupational functions. Approved as: Interdisciplinary course in FSHD major--Advanced Complementary perspectives.

FSHD 405 Theories of Counseling

Techniques for the study of human behavior; implications for improving adult-child relationships, applying various theories of counseling.

FSHD 408 Program Planning and Evaluation

The overall objective of this course is to guide and assist students as they conduct a thorough case study of an existing or proposed social service, educational or community program/agency. The course is designed to provide students with applied knowledge of program planning components as well as program evaluation techniques.

FSHD 413 Issues in Aging

This course addresses major issues facing older adults and their families, society, and how earlier life experiences influence our older adult years. This class will tackle questions such as: What opportunities and challenges do adults face as they age? What resources and barriers shape their lives? How do physiological, psychological, interpersonal/family, economic, and socio-historical factors affect the experience of aging? How do gender, social class, and ethnicity influence the experience of aging? How do government policies, community services, the healthcare system, and health interventions affect the lives and well-being of older adults?

FSHD 427A Mental Health & the Family: Adulthood

This course overviews a variety of mental illnesses and relationship problems in adulthood, with specific focus on how those issues impact individuals and their family systems. Prevention and treatment approaches for these issues are discussed, including research-supported therapeutic approaches and family-based strategies.

FSHD 447A Sociocultural Context of Development

In-depth examination of human development from a sociocultural perspective; focus on socialization processes in childhood and adolescence and the role of the social and cultural context in those processes.

FSHD 450 Human Sexuality and Relations

Overview of human sexuality from development and interpersonal perspectives, topics to include reproductive physiology and health, sexual function and dysfunction, educational and intervention strategies.

FSHD 487 Theories of Interpersonal & Family Relationships

Critical analysis of selected studies and current research in family relations.

FSHD 491 Preceptorship

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.

FSHD 492 Directed Research

Individual or small group research under the guidance of faculty.

FSHD 493 Internship

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.

FSHD 494 Practicum

The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.

FSHD 496Z Topics in FSHD

In-depth coverage of special topics in Family Studies and Human Development (rotating topics).

FSHD 497A Preparing for Graduate School

This course focuses on the process of identifying and preparing students to apply to Master's and PhD programs in graduate and professional school. This includes identifying programs of interest, mapping out plans on applying to them, constructing needed documents for applying, and information on the adjustment to and paying for graduate school. It also includes the importance of the development of alternative plans than one's identified program.

FSHD 498H Honors Thesis

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

FSHD 499 Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

FSHD 567 Theories of Human Development

The study of human development is a diverse interdisciplinary field that includes psychology, sociology, biology, and anthropology. Across these disciplines is the emerging dominant paradigm of developmental science. At its core, developmental science perspectives and theories of human development consider the complexity of individual, group, and species-level development as it unfolds across contexts and the lifespan. There are four overarching goals for this course: 1. The primary goal is to provide a general introduction to key theoretical concepts informing the study of human development and shaping the field of developmental science. 2. You will apply these concepts in order to understand some of the dominant modern theories of human development. 3. You will critically and meaningfully evaluate the theoretical and empirical work of others. 4. You will ground your own work, including research question selection, hypothesis development, and methodology in key theoretical perspectives or approaches to human development.

FSHD 600 Career Planning and the PhD Job Market

This course covers professional, ethical, and career development issues for advanced-stage Ph.D. students in Family Studies and Human Development and related social science fields. We will cover a wide range of topics including career planning, the development of your academic dossier, how to obtain a job in and outside of academia, effective teaching and mentoring, and work-life integration techniques. The structure of this course includes in-class exercises, discussion, and a few interactive guest panels. Through these activities, students will have the opportunity to develop, practice, and strengthen professional skills.

FSHD 602 Topics in Family, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being

This course covers various topics in family, interpersonal relationships and well-being. Exact topics will vary across semesters, students should contact instructor regarding exact course focus.

FSHD 617A Advanced Data Analysis: Structural Equation Modeling

This course covers basic and intermediate topics of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Within these topics, we will consider both traditional approaches and state of the art innovations. The focus will be applied, so that students will (a) acquire an understanding of how SEM (and related latent variable models) can be used in human development and family research (and related research areas); (b) gain an appreciation of the conceptual and, to a lesser extent, the mathematical, basis of SEM; (c) develop the ability to formulate and evaluate models; and (d) become proficient in using the lavaan package in R for the analysis of statistical models.

FSHD 696Z Family and Consumer Sciences

The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.

FSHD 699 Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.

FSHD 799A Independent Study for Comprehensive Examination

Independent Study for major written Comprehensive Examination. To receive a passing grade in the class, the student will need to take their written comprehensive exam that semester (before the grade is due). This requirement will be written into the Independent Study Proposal Form that is used to describe the student's plans and goals for their independent work over the semester. If there are extenuating circumstances, a student can potentially take an Incomplete (I) for the course, given the approval of their major advisor.

FSHD 900 Research

Individual research, not related to thesis or dissertation preparation, by graduate students.

FSHD 909 Master's Report

Individual study or special project or formal report thereof submitted in lieu of thesis for certain master's degrees.

FSHD 910 Thesis

Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.

FSHD 920 Dissertation

Research for the doctoral dissertation (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or dissertation writing).