Summer 2013/Fuller Online

FS510

DeWitt Goudelock

FS510: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT. Brianne DeWitt Goudelock.

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: The course will be conducted online using an 11-week lesson program aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Online discussion, readings, projects, and papers will facilitate course objectives. Students are expected to complete all assigned readings and participate in all discussions. All assignments must be completed to pass the course and regular online participation is expected.

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) [377 pp. assigned].

Online sexual abuse prevention training, $10 charge, on the Darkness to Light website: http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6035035/k.8258/Prevent_Child_Sexual_Abuse.htm [requires 2-3 hours of online training time]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS: Regular online class discussion/participation, ministry application forums, journal assignments (including personal reflections, theological/intercultural reflections, online sexual abuse prevention training, and case studies), and group leadership of course discussion.

  1. Weekly forum posts (300 words) responding to questions posed that relate to assigned reading, online course material, and activities including a weekly response to one classmate’s post (150 words) - (20% of grade). [4-5 hours reading/week; 1-2 hours of online activity/week; 2-3 hours posting/week]

  2. Ministry Application Forum Posts (300 words) applying course material to particular ministry setting and bi-weekly response to two classmate’s post (150 words each) - (20% of grade). [1 hour preparation; 2-3 hours posting/week]

  3. Writing Assignments on topics related to course material (50% of grade) [9 total assignments, 2-6 pages in length – 33 total pages throughout the quarter; 35-40 hours preparing and writing]

  4. Darkness to Light Online Sexual Abuse Training. (10% of grade) [2-3 hours of online training]

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.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.