Summer 2014/Houston

FS510

Russell

FS510: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT (4 Units: 120 hours). Matthew Russell.

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 explore the question, “What is God’s intention for persons to develop into?” Theological anthropology, developmental theories, and contemporary research provide a structure for understanding the development of persons from infancy to later life in the context of family life-cycle stages. Development will be explored from the perspective of human flourishing by humankind’s origin in God. A life-span approach will explore core areas of identity development, traditional and modern theories of the self will be examined and issues including moral/faith, gender and sexuality, trauma, family, cultural/ethnicity and community will be included. Students will also reflect on their own life experiences in light of the course content. This course offers students the opportunity for integration at multiple levels: 1) theological reflection on human development, 2) psychological understanding of religious/spiritual development, and 3) personal integration of course content with student’s life experience.

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 development; (3) have a working knowledge of various theories of development and how they influence personal, communal and theological mindsets; (4) demonstrate appropriate and nuanced understanding of age, gender, economic, ethnic, and cultural diversity; (5) 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 meet on four weekends, Fridays for 3.5 hours and Saturdays for 4 hours, for a total of 30 contact hours. Between session readings, video presentations, class discussion, quest lectures, projects and engagement 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 interaction is expected.

REQUIRED READING:

Balswick, Jack O.,Pamela Ebstyne King, and Kevin S. Reimer. The Reciprocating Self: Human Development in Theological Perspective. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830827930, Pub. Price $28.00 [334 pp.].

Balswick, Jack O. and Judith K. Balswick. The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Home (3rd ed.). Baker Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-0801049347, Pub. Price $29.99 [416 pp.].

Miller, Patricia. Theories of Developmental Psychology (4th ed.). Worth Publishers, 2001. ISBN: 978-0716728467, Pub. Price $47.55 [491 pp.].

Rogoff, Barbara. The Cultural Nature of Human Development. Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0195131338, Pub. Price $29.99 [448 pp.].

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

Articles will be provided in class.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bronfenbrenner, Urie. The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Harvard University Press., 1981. ISBN: 978-0674224575, Pub. Price $35.00 [352 pp.].

Gerkin, Charles. The Living Human Document. ISBN: 978-0687223725, Pub. Price $40.00 [219 pp.] (portions of this book will be provided in class).

Grenz, Stanley. The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei. Westminster John Knox Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0664232382, Pub. Price $50.00 [360 pp.].

Loder, James. The Logic of the Spirit: Human Development in Theological Perspective. Jossey-Bass, 1998. ISBN: 978-0787909192, Pub. Price $39.95 [384 pp.].

McLoyd, Vonnie C., Nancy E. Hill, and Kenneth A. Dodge. African American Family Life: Ecological and Cultural Diversity. Guilford Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-1593854676, Pub. Price $37.00 [348 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Journal assignments, (including personal reflections, theological/intercultural reflections), Participation/engagement in class discussion, attending all class sessions. 30%

  2. Online sexual abuse prevention training, and case studies). 10%

  3. Complete four (5 page) written assignments (developmental stage, case study, theory, personal reflection paper based upon course concepts. 40%

  4. Final reflection paper/presentation exploring practical application to a ministry setting integrating familial, developmental, cultural and theological concepts. 20%

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL.

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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.