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HDFS 505 - Human Development for Helping Professionals

  • 3 credits
View available sections

An advanced overview of lifespan development, focusing on wellness promotion and developmental influences on case conceptualization and treatment.

Course Learning Objectives

(These are to communicate observable and measurable student learning outcomes that must be included in every offering of the course, every term, by every instructor, in every format.)

  • Understand, articulate, compare, and contrast theories of individual and family development, and transition across the lifespan.
  • Understand, articulate, compare, and contrast theories of learning and personality development.
  • Conceptualize individuals wihin human development and bioecological contexts, theories, and frameworks. Consider relevant clinical implications.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of, and sensitivity to, individual, biological, neurological, physiological, systemic, spiritual, and environmental factors that affect human development, functioning, and behavior.
  • Identify effects of life-changing events such as crisis, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on diverse individuals across the lifespan.
  • Develop a general framework for honoring differing abilities and identify strategies for differentiated intervention.
  • Understand and describe ethical and culturally relevant strategies for promoting resilience and optimum development and wellness across the lifespan.

This course has exams that require the use of electronic proctoring through ProctorU. Please see https://www.proctoru.com/students/ for detailed instructions. The cost for online proctoring through ProctorU is included in the cost of the course for students enrolled in CSU Online course sections. Students are responsible for purchasing any hardware that may be needed for exams taken with ProctorU, including a webcam and microphone, and for scheduling proctoring appointments at least three days in advance (otherwise, a late fee is charged, which is the student’s responsibility). For students requiring accommodations, please contact http://www.rds.colostate.edu/.

Prerequisite

Graduate standing or written consent of instructor

Important Information

All prerequisities must be complete 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, students ensure they 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

Please check the CSU Bookstore for textbook information. Textbook listings are available at the CSU Bookstore about 3 weeks prior to the start of the term.

Instructors

Katie Gerst
Katie Gerst

katherine.gerst@colostate.edu

Dr. Katie Gerst is an Assistant Professor in the Human Development and Family Studies Department at CSU. She is also a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations. Dr. Gerst has extensive teaching experience both on-campus and from a distance, having taught her first resident instruction class in 2008. She has been at CSU since 2018, but previously taught at Baker College in Michigan, Texas Tech University, and Northern Illinois University. Dr. Gerst’s scholarly interests include gender and power dynamics in romantic relationships, maternal mental health, and the scholarship of teaching and learning in family science.