Youth Development and Leadership

Units: 3

This course examines the application of classic and contemporary theories and models of leadership to the work of community-based organizations. Students will examine leadership from diverse perspectives; then analyze the strengths and weaknesses of leadership theories and models when applied to organizational development of community-based systems.

Offered in Spring Only

Units: 3

This course explores the fundamental concepts of child and youth development [including early childhood through adolescence] as applied to programmatic and organizational contexts. A special focus is placed upon the concepts as applied to Community Youth theories & practice.

Offered in Fall Only

Units: 3

Family resource management theory is used to examine personal financial management concepts. Family systems and stress theories will be employed to emphasize the interconnections between families, communities, resources through topics such as personal management [decision-making, time & organizational management, stress management]; human and social capital [education, skill building, health, employability, relationships]; physical capital [transportation, real estate, and housing]; financial management [credit and debt, budgeting, retirement issues, bankruptcy].

Offered in Spring Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Even Years

Units: 3

Historical and contemporary foundations of program development and evaluation in non-formal, community-based family life and youth development settings are examined including theory, research, and three holistic program development constructs: 1] planning; 2] design and implementation; 3] impact evaluation and accountability.

Offered in Spring Only

Units: 3

Preparation for current and future community family and youth development professionals leading and managing community-based organizations. Course includes: fundamentals of management and leadership; institutional and organizational structures; administrative and strategic planning; working with advisory and governing groups; marketing and program delivery systems; information management systems; and human resource, financial, facilities and risk management systems.

Offered in Fall Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years

Units: 3

Preparation for current and future community-based youth and family professionals to better manage volunteers in local program service delivery. Specific foci include: volunteerism as a social phenomenon; volunteer resource management; new forms of volunteerism; and future trends in volunteerism. Restricted to graduate and post-baccalaureate students only.

Offered in Spring Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Even Years

Units: 3

In-depth examination of current and emerging issues and trends impacting volunteer involvement in community-based youth and family organizations to prepare current and future youth and family professionals to manage volunteers in local program delivery; examining contemporary research related to trends and issues, and evaluating historical and current social phenomena so as to understand their impact upon volunteer involvement and consider future challenges for volunteer administrators. Restricted to graduate and post-baccalaureate students only.

Offered in Fall Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years

Units: 3

This course explores contemporary issues facing youth, family, and community professionals in the United States. Students will explore respective social, cultural, political, and/or organizational underpinnings of issues as focused in two major domains: [1] professional ethics and practice and [2] family law and public policy. Emphasis will be placed on issues affecting family life educators and their understanding of the legal issues, policies, and laws influencing the well-being of families, along with understanding the character and quality of human social conduct. This includes the ability to critically examine ethical questions and issues as they relate to professional family life education practice.

Offered in Spring Only

Units: 3

This course will critically compare and evaluate the major human development theories and their application to family life and youth development and examine the usefulness of theory in describing, explaining, predicting, or changing behavior.

Offered in Fall Only

Units: 3

Applications of theories and research about interpersonal relationships and family dynamics to issues facing families over the life course, emphasizing the interplay of social, developmental and health factors in affecting change, continuity and well-being.

Offered in Fall Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Even Years

Units: 3

Family resource management theory is used to examine personal financial management concepts. Family systems and stress theories will be employed to emphasize the interconnections between families, communities, resources through topics such as personal management [decision-making, time & organizational management, stress management]; human and social capital [education, skill building, health, employability, relationships]; physical capital [transportation, real estate, and housing]; financial management [credit and debt, budgeting, retirement issues, bankruptcy].

Offered in Spring Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Even Years

Units: 3

This course will examine educational intervention strategies for family issues that pose particular difficulty for Family Life and Parenting Educators. Topics include: addictions/substance abuse; child abuse and neglect; domestic abuse; Illness, death and dying; divorce/mediation; step-families & single parenting; gang memberships, suicidal ideation, sexuality/teen pregnancy; and rape and other acts of violence. The course will include a discussion of evidence-based prevention and treatment options for referring clients, and a debate of the role of educators in this process.

Offered in Fall Only

YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years

Units: 3

This course will examine health and well-being issues of special concern to families, especially healthy lifestyle choices. Areas of focus will include food safety and nutrition, physical activity and well-being and healthy environments. Woven throughout the course will be the family's role in creating supportive situations related to health and well-being as well as the impact of public and social policies. Students must have completed a Bachelor's of Science.

Offered in Summer

YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years

Units: 3

This course will provide students with an advanced understanding of the physiological, psychological, social and cultural aspects of sexual development throughout the lifespan. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional and psychological aspects of sexuality; gender and sexuality; reproductive health and family planning, and the intersections of sexuality and interpersonal relationships. While some cross-cultural information will be included, the main focus will be sexuality in the United States.

Offered in Summer

Units: 3

The course will include an examination of social, economic, and behavioral housing theory, historical and current housing policy and its relationship to the housing, neighborhoods and community development and an investigation of diverse populations and their housing/neighborhood concerns.

Offered in Summer

YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years

Units: 3

This course examines communication in families and integrates the coach approach to communication including identifying individual and family issues; appreciating differences; discovering purpose; practicing forgiveness; resolving conflict; conducting successful critical conversations; mending relationships; effective communication; direct and indirect communication; the art of saying no; the power of words; powerful questions; work/life balance; identifying values; stress management.

Offered in Summer

YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years

Units: 3

This course explores contemporary issues facing youth, family, and community professionals in the United States. Students will explore respective social, cultural, political, and/or organizational underpinnings of issues as focused in two major domains: [1] professional ethics and practice and [2] family law and public policy. Emphasis will be placed on issues affecting family life educators and their understanding of the legal issues, policies, and laws influencing the well-being of families, along with understanding the character and quality of human social conduct. This includes the ability to critically examine ethical questions and issues as they relate to professional family life education practice.

Offered in Spring Only