Winter 2014/Irvine
FS510
Clardy
FS510: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT (4 Units). Casey Clardy.
DESCRIPTION: This course provides an integrated overview of the process of human development in various social contexts. We will address psychological, cultural, and theological perspectives on the nature of personal and social development as we seek to answer the question, “What is God’s intention for persons to develop into?” Development will be explored from the poles of flourishing and languishing as informed by humankind’s origin in God. A life-span approach will explore core areas of identity development including moral/faith, gender and sexuality, family, and cultural/ethnicity. Students will reflect on their life experiences in light of the course content.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course encourages self, family, and relational exploration and personal development to aid in your personal growth. Additionally, students are required to practically apply developmental theories learned to their particular ministry context.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) be able to design ministry practices that take into consideration critical life span issues of human nature and functioning; (2) be able to identify individual, familial, community and cultural resources and risks that influence flourishing and languishing; (3) demonstrate appropriate and nuanced understanding of age, gender, economic, ethnic, and cultural diversity; and (4) identify personal issues that may impact their own well-being and will design an action plan to begin addressing them.
COURSE FORMAT: This is a hybrid course. There will be online assignments and online engagement during nine weeks of the quarter and the class will meet in the classroom for one week daily for four-hour sessions [20 hours]. Online discussion, readings, assignments, and in person class sessions will facilitate course objectives. Students are expected to complete all assigned readings and participate in all elements of the course. All assignments must be completed to pass the course and regular participation is expected.
Note: Students who are taking this class for residency are required to attend a complimentary lunch on Monday through Friday, as well as a two-hour session every evening.
REQUIRED READING:
Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2002. ISBN: 978-0767905923, Pub. Price $11.99 [192 pp. assigned].
Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Reissue edition). Ballantine Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-0345514400, Pub. Price $6.99 [304 pp. assigned].
Balswick, Jack, King, Pamela, & Reimer, Kevin. The Reciprocating Self: Human Development in Theological Perspective. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830827930, Pub. Price $27.00. [293 assigned pages]
Balswick, Jack, & Balswick, Judith. The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Home. (3rd ed.). Baker Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-0801032493, Pub. Price $26.99 [229 pp. assigned].
Course Reader (available on course Moodle site).
Online sexual abuse prevention training, $10 charge, on the Darkness to Light website: https://learning.vitalect.com/d2l/ [Requires 2-3 hours of online training time]
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
PREREQUISITES: None. This course is not recommended for SOP students
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL (effective Winter 2010).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.