Nov 26, 2024

2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog

2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Human Development Major, B.A.

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This interdisciplinary major in human development will provide students with a focus on the entire life span and in-depth knowledge about theory, research, and application in human development. Students will participate in field experience to make connections between theory, research, and practice. The major has five separate concentrations, serving the needs of students seeking early childhood education teacher licensure (early childhood education concentration) or elementary education licensure (elementary education concentration), students interested in gerontology or planning other careers working with children and adults (applied concentration and gerontology concentration), and students who wish to pursue graduate study (graduate school concentration).

Upon completion of a degree in Human Development at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the major theories, basic principles, current issues, and emerging concepts in the field. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of biological, cognitive, social, emotional, and contextual aspects of human development and the interrelations among them.
Demonstrate the ability to think critically about human development, including being able to identify similarities, differences, and connections among human development theories and perspectives.
Demonstrate knowledge of the processes of cognitive development, including the development of logical and abstract thought, memory, mathematical understanding, scientific thinking, and literacy skills, and how those processes change over time.
Demonstrate the ability to relate theories and methodologies from human development to problems and issues in other disciplines, such as sociology, education, nutrition and health.
Demonstrate the ability to communicate knowledge of the field of human development both orally and in writing, the latter following the American Psychological Association guidelines.
Demonstrate the ability to conduct independently a comprehensive literature review that critically evaluates an area of research in human development. Students will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply knowledge of research methodology and statistics to the interpretation and evaluation of research.
Understand the ways in which culture and society (both national and global) impact development, including the roles of the family, the peer group, school, and the media. Students will also be able to discuss the roles of ethnicity, race, and gender and issues in social relationships such as aggression and cooperation.

Prepare for successful careers in their chosen concentration, as follows:

Graduate School concentration: Students take courses in statistics and research methods to help them prepare to enter a graduate program in human development, psychology, or a related field.
Applied concentration: Students take courses that are geared toward working with diverse populations of children and families to prepare them for working with social service agencies.
Gerontology concentration: Students’ coursework is focused on understanding various issues related to aging to prepare them for careers in the gerontology field.
Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education concentrations: Students’ coursework prepares them to work with children as a classroom teacher.

A grade of “D-” or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required. Human Development majors must have a GPA of 2.0 in their major and an overall GPA of 2.0 to graduate.

Required Common Core:

PSY 1001 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 2330 - Statistics and Research Methods for the Social and Behavioral Sciences I Credits: 3 ^a
PSY 3280 - Developmental Research Methods Credits: 3
PSY 3340 - Cognitive Development and Learning Credits: 3
PSY 3350 - Psychology of Social Development Credits: 3
PSY 4960 - Senior Thesis in Human Development Credits: 3 ^b

Subtotal: 18

Notes:

^a Students who have taken MTH 1210 or its equivalent before deciding to major in human development may substitute it for PSY 2330. However, MTH 1210 cannot be used in both the major and to satisfy the General Studies Quantitative Literacy requirement. Students cannot earn credit for both MTH 1210 and PSY 2330.

^b Meets senior experience requirements.

Required Distribution:

In addition, students must choose one course from each category. NOTE: Each student must also select a concentration, and in the early childhood education, elementary education, and gerontology concentration, specific courses from the following categories are required (see concentrations below). Please note that some of the courses have prerequisites (*).

Subtotal: 15

Additional Requirements: 9

(dependent upon the track)

Total for the Major: 42

Students must choose one of the following five concentrations:

All students must have 15 upper-division hours in the major, and transfer students must complete at least 15 hours of the major at MSU Denver.

Graduate School Concentration

Common Core: 18

Required Distribution: 15

In Addition:

In addition, students must take PSY 2320 (Inferential Statistics) and SOC 1010 (Introduction to Sociology)^a and 3 credit hours from the following list of courses. Students may not use the same courses to count for the major, the minor, or General Studies.

PSY 3970 - Practicum Credits: 3
PSY 4970 - Teaching of Psychology Credits: 3
A course approved by advisor or department Chair: 3 credit hours

Total for Major with Graduate School Concentration:42

Note:

^a Students may not count SOC 1010 for both the HD major and General Studies Level II.

Applied Concentration

Common Core: 18

Required Distribution: 15

In addition:

In addition, students must take at least 9 credit hours from the following list or from courses in the required distribution list not already used. Students may not use the same courses to count for the major and for the minor or General Studies.

AAS 3550 - The Black Family Credits: 3
BIO 3530 - Physiology of Aging for Non-Biology Majors Credits: 3 (HES 3810)
CHS 3210 - The Chicano Family Credits: 3
ECE 3340 - Administration of Early Childhood Programs Credits: 4
ECE 4310 - Working with Families and Communities Credits: 2
HPS 4500 - Motor Learning and Development Credits: 3
HSP 1010 - Introduction to Human Services and Community Resources Credits: 4
NUT 3100 - Nutrition and Aging Credits: 3
PAR 2050 - Introduction to Parent Education Credits: 3
PAR 3070 - Working with the Contemporary Family Credits: 3
PSY 3400 - Psychology of Exceptional Children Credits: 3
SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 3040 - Contemporary Issues in Gerontology Credits: 3
SOC 3220 - Prejudice and Discrimination in Contemporary Society Credits: 3
SOC 3420 - Education in a Changing Society Credits: 3
SLHS 2890 - Language Acquisition Credits: 3
SWK 3030 - Social Work with the Aging Credits: 4
SWK 3100 - Child Welfare and the Law Credits: 3
SWK 3200 - Social Work with Urban Families Credits: 3
SWK 3300 - Social Work with Parents with Developmental Disabilities Credits: 1

Subtotal: 9

Total for Major with Applied Track: 42-44

Notes:

Students who are interested in a particular area within the applied concentration (e.g., A particular age emphasis, cultural or family issues, problems of development) should see a human development advisor in the Department of Psychology for course selection. It is permissible to select all electives from the same department.

Gerontology Concentration

Common Core: 18

Required Distribution as follows:

Developmental Foundations:

PSY 2270 - Death and Dying Credits: 3
or
SOC 3100 - Death and Dying Credits: 3

Developmental Breadth:

PSY 3270 - Adulthood and Aging Credits: 3

Health Issues:

NUT 2040 - Introduction to Nutrition Credits: 3

Social Influences:

SOC 1040 - Introduction to Social Gerontology Credits: 3

Cultural Context:

RECR 2330 - Advocacy, Leisure, and the Aging Adult Credits: 3

Subtotal: 15

In Addition:

In addition, students must take 9 credit hours from the following courses. Students may not use the same courses to count for the major, the minor, or General Studies requirements. Students in the Gerontology concentration may not have a Gerontology minor.

BIO 3530 - Physiology of Aging for Non-Biology Majors Credits: 3
SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
NUT 3100 - Nutrition and Aging Credits: 3
or
SOC 3040 - Contemporary Issues in Gerontology Credits: 3
or
SWK 3030 - Social Work with the Aging Credits: 4

Subtotal: 9

Total for Major with Gerontology Concentration: 42-43

Early Childhood Education Concentration

Common Core: 18

Required Distribution as follows:

Developmental Foundations:

PSY 1800 - Developmental Educational Psychology Credits: 3

Developmental Breadth:

PSY 3240 - Infancy Credits: 3

Health Issues:

NUT 2040 - Introduction to Nutrition Credits: 3

Social Influences:

ECE 4310 - Working with Families and Communities Credits: 2

Cultural Context:

ECE 3860 - Cultural Socialization of Children Credits: 3

Subtotal: 15

In addition:

In addition, students must take 9-10 hours from the following list. Students may not use the same courses to count for the major, the minor or General Studies. Students working toward Early Childhood Education licensure or director qualification are required to take the (*) courses.

ECE 3340 - Administration of Early Childhood Programs Credits: 4 ^*
ECE 3750 - The Young Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learner Credits: 3 *
PSY 2210 - Psychology of Human Development Credits: 3
PSY 3250 - Child Psychology Credits: 3 ^*
PSY 3400 - Psychology of Exceptional Children Credits: 3
SLHS 2890 - Language Acquisition Credits: 3

Total for Major with Early Childhood Concentration: 42-43

Students pursuing teacher licensure should consult with an advisor in the Teacher Education Department for the current licensure requirements of the Colorado Department of Education.

Notes:

^a Students who have taken MTH 1210 or its equivalent in transfer before deciding to major in human development may substitute it for PSY 2310. However, MTH 1210 cannot be used both in the major and to satisfy the Level I General Studies mathematics requirement.

Students pursuing teacher licensure should consult with an advisor in the Teacher Education Department for the current licensure requirements of the Colorado Department of Education.

Elementary Education Concentration:

Common Core: 18

Required Distribution as follows:

Developmental Foundations:

PSY 1800 - Developmental Educational Psychology Credits: 3

Developmental Breadth:

PSY 3250 - Child Psychology Credits: 3

Health Issues:

NUT 2040 - Introduction to Nutrition Credits: 3

Social Influences:

SOC 3410 - The Family in Transition Credits: 3

Cultural Context:

ECE 4360 - Cultural Influence on the Socialization of Children Credits: 3
-or-
SOC 3400 - Childhood and Adolescent Socialization Credits: 3

In addition:

In addition, students must take SOC 1010 (Introduction to Sociology^a) and 6 credit hours from the following list. Students may not use the same course to count for the major, the minor, or General Studies.

ECE 4310 - Working with Families and Communities Credits: 2
HPS 4500 - Motor Learning and Development Credits: 3
PSY 2210 - Psychology of Human Development Credits: 3
PSY 3260 - Psychology of Adolescence Credits: 3
PSY 3400 - Psychology of Exceptional Children Credits: 3
SLHS 2890 - Language Acquisition Credits: 3

Total for Major with Elementary Education Concentration: 42

Students pursuing licensure should consult with an advisor in the Teacher Education Department.

^a If Soc 1010 is being taken to fulfill a General Studies requirement, students must take 3 additional credit hours from the list.