Practical, theoretical, and empirical information on the dynamics of family and parenthood across the lifespan. Emphasis on understanding how families and parents in diverse ecological and social contexts experience their roles and relationships. Exploration of factors that contribute to risk as well as evidence-based practices to support and enhance family systems and parents.
Course Learning Objectives
- Analyze and apply bioecological theory to family functioning and the relationship between parents and children.
- Analyze the historical and theoretical foundations of research in the areas of family and parenting.
- Evaluate changes in parenting styles and strategies across developmental stages from pregnancy to adulthood and the changing family life cycle.
- Apply developmental theory to parenthood as a process and as a function of variations in risk status, family systems, and ecological contexts.
- Analyze and apply theories of family and parenthood within a social and family cycle context.
- Examine the phenomenology and practical aspects of being part of a family and parenthood, from communication to discipline and risks and benefits of various family systems.
- Illustrate the ways in which professionals interact with families and parents across all contexts and how professionals provide resources based on needs of parents and with unique needs or contexts such as adolescent parents, stepparents, single parents, and same-sex parents.
- Apply knowledge about families and parenthood in a variety of ways to demonstrate analysis of the development of families and parents across the life cycle.
- Demonstrate effective writing and communication skills relevant to the course content.
Prerequisite
HDFS 101 (Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3)) or PSY 100 (General Psychology (GT-SS3)); and completion of 30 credits.
Important Information
All prerequisites must be completed or consent from the instructor given prior to enrollment.
If you register for this course after the start of the term, please contact the instructor at the time of registration. By contacting the instructor, you ensure you are added to the CANVAS section as soon as possible and have access to the course and details about the class requirements.
Textbooks and Materials
Course materials are available on the course site and do not need to be purchased.
Instructors
Dr. Julie Taylor-Massey
julie.taylor@colostate.edu
Dr. Julie Taylor-Massey is part of the senior teaching faculty in HDFS. She has extensive teaching experience both on-campus and from a distance, having co-taught her first resident instruction class in 2001 and been involved in the launch of the first online courses offered by the department in 2006. Since 2010, she has specialized in teaching in the online format. Julie has been recognized with multiple teaching honors including the CSU Online Innovative Educator Award as well as been nominated for that award several times. Her interests include adolescence and early adulthood, the influence of technology on well-being, and online pedagogy. In addition to her time in the virtual classroom, she collaborates with an education publishing service to update and create lifespan development teaching and learning resources.
