GPSY 608
Instructor: Kenneth G. McCurdy, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS Summer Semester 2004
Office: PC 2226 Email: mccurdy003@gannon.edu
Phone: 871-7791 Office Hours: By Appt.
Tue./Thur. (5:00 – 9:00)
PC 2224
I. Course Description:
This course provides an understanding of human growth and development over the life span including theoretical approaches and issues relevant to human services. It emphasizes physiological, cognitive, social, emotional, personality, spiritual, and moral development from conception to death. Legal and ethical issues related to human development, as well as diversity issues, will be reviewed in relation to human services.
II. Course Objectives:
Knowledge
Students will:
A. Demonstrate an understanding of the various theories of individual and family development and transitions across the life span;
B. Demonstrate an understanding of the various theories of learning and personality development;
C. Recognize the various characteristics of human behavior, including an understanding of developmental crises, disability, exceptional behavior, addictive behavior, psychopathology, and situational and environmental factors that affect both normal and abnormal behavior;
D. Compare and contrast theories of identify development contributing to enhancing multicultural counseling competencies used in professional counseling.
Skills
Students will:
A. Demonstrate effective application of various counseling strategies/interventions for facilitating optimum development over the life span;
B. Critically evaluate and explain various controversial and emerging factors related to professional counseling that influence human development;
C. Critically evaluate ethical and legal issues, identifying professionally acceptable practice, given various characteristics of human behavior, the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels, in professional counseling;
D. Demonstrate the use of technology in explaining developmental research studies and identify methods and design utilized in such studies.
Attitudes & Values
Students will:
A. Appreciate the value of understanding the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels, in professional counseling;
B. Recognize the importance of understanding the nature and needs of diverse individuals at all developmental levels in the ethical provision of counseling services;
C. Be receptive to unique characteristics of individuals, couples, families, ethnic groups, and communities, as well as personal biases;
D. Perceive multicultural and pluralistic trends of individuals at all developmental levels, including characteristics and concerns between and within diverse groups nationally and internationally.

III.
Readings
Required Texts
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2004). Human development: A lifespan view(3 rd
ed.).
Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth.
*Other reserve material as assigned.
IV. Procedures
1.
This course is conducted primarily through lecture and discussion. Case study, evaluation, and application approaches will be utilized for understanding the various theoretical approaches to human development.
2.
Attendance is very important. Absences may affect your grade. Absence in two or more classes in a course may result in a failing grade except in cases of emergency or extreme hardship. These extra ordinary circumstances may be considered, but students are responsible for contacting the professor prior to the absence or in as close proximity to the absence as possible.
3.
Participation is expected in each class session and in practical experiences.
4.
All assignments are due by the end of class on the dates listed on the class schedule. Late assignments will generally not be accepted. In cases of documented or extreme circumstances, assignments may be accepted with a
5 point per day reduction of grade. Generally, no “I” grades will be given.
5.
All writing assignments will be graded according to the correct use of APA style, grammar, and punctuation (See
APA Style Manual 5 th ed.) unless otherwise indicated by professor.
6.
Students with special needs are encouraged to notify the professor on the first day of class. Additionally, students with special needs are also encouraged to notify the appropriate university personnel who can discuss your needs and disability documentation to make appropriate accommodations.
V. Assignments
Developmental Milestones / Stories of Development Self-Reflection Paper
Reflect on three developmental milestones in your experience, from three different developmental ages. Describe each experience, explaining it from the perspective of “story” in your life. One of the experiences should include involvement with a diverse population or relate to interacting with an individual, group or setting that is of a different ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status than you. Describe the social and cultural context in which your experience occurred. Analyze the ways in which the subsequent milestones relate to or were influenced by the first. Speculate on how these milestones might influence your future development in a particular area. Draw on and incorporate into your paper specific developmental theories for your analysis. The paper should be 6-10 pages and is primarily a self-reflection, not a research-based paper (25 pts.) .
Developmental Issues Paper and Presentation / Panel Discussion (Small group project)
Paper
In small groups, choose a topic that interests your group related to a developmental issue (e.g. mental retardation, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, blended families, midlife crises, or Alzheimer’s disease). The purpose of the project is for you to gain more knowledge or skill in an area that you can use in your current or future work in counseling. The small group is responsible for writing an 8-10 page,
APA style, research-based paper and include the following sections:
1. description of the problem / topic of investigation (review of the literature)
2. why this problem / topic is important
3. relevance of this problem / topic to minority populations

4. how is this problem / topic addresses by community counselors and school counselors
(brief review of most relevant treatment, interventions, counseling strategies supported in the literature)
5. a conclusion summarizing the project including your personal perspectives and thoughts about the future of this topic
6. references (at least eight references, two of which must be accessed through the internet).
Students will have to e-mail this document to the professor by noon on the day before the class this
assignment is due (see course schedule) (55 pts.).
Presentation / Panel Discussion
The small groups are also responsible for conducting a presentation about your problem / topic.
The presentation should summarize your project, identify pertinent issues, relevance of problem / topic to minority populations, and the relevance to both community counseling and school counseling. An alternative to doing a lecture style presentation is to engage the class in a panel discussion with the group members as experts, discussing your problem / topic and the relevance to both community counseling and school counseling. A summary of the project and references should be given to the professor and distributed to the rest of the class. Both the presentation format and panel discussion format should be approximately one half hour in length (20 pts.).
Exams
 Midterm Examination
The midterm exam will include multiple choice, true and false, matching, and short answer essay questions. Extra credit items may be given (100 pts.) .
 Final Examination
The final exam will have two parts. The first part is a take home case study essay, which will be distributed during the second to last class session. Each case study will be specified for either community counseling students or school counseling students. It will need to be completed and returned at the last class session when the rest of the final examination is given.
The second part is an objective test that includes multiple choice, true and false, matching, and short answer essay questions. Extra credit items may be given (100 pts. total for both parts) .
VI. Evaluation
Developmental Milestones Paper:
Developmental Issues Paper:
Developmental Issues Presentation / Panel Discussion:
Midterm Examination:
Final Examination
Points:
25
55
20
100
100
Total Points: 300
Academic integrity, professional and ethical behavior will be assessed with each assignment. Students will be expected to abide by the university academic integrity policy, sound professional and ethical behavior in accordance with accepted standards of ethical practice in the counseling profession. While there is no direct amount of points assigned for academic integrity and professional judgment, assignment grades may be greatly influenced by breaches of academic integrity and poor professional judgment.
Grading Criteria by Points
A = 94 & above B+ = 89-87 B- = 83-80 C =70-76

A- = 93-90 B = 86-84 C+ = 79-77
Class Date / Topic
* Indicates graded assignment(s)
September 2 Introductions & Course Overview
The Study of Human Development
September 9 Biological Foundations
Exploring the World
September 16 Thought & Language
Entering the Social World
September 23 Off to School
September 30 Expanding Social Horizons
October 7 Rites of Passage
Adult Social World
October 14 Racial Identity Development
* Developmental Milestones Paper
October 21 Becoming an Adult
* Midterm Examination
October 28 Being with Others
Work & Leisure
November 4 Midlife
* Developmental Issues Presentation / Panel Discussion
November 11 Personal Aspect of Later Life
* Developmental Issues Presentation / Panel Discussion
November 18 Social aspects of later Life
* Developmental Issues Presentation / Panel Discussion
* Developmental Issues Paper
December 2 Death & Bereavement
* Developmental Issues Presentation / Panel Discussion
December 9 Last Class / Wrap-Up / *Final Examination
F = 69 & below
Reading Assignment
Chs. 1
Chs. 2 & 3
Chs. 4 & 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
Chs. 8 & 9
Handouts
Ch. 10
Ch. 11 & 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Ch. 15
Ch. 16

Developmental Milestones Paper
Grading Format
I. Description and explanation of 3 developmental experiences
II. Incorporation of developmental theories.
III. Inclusion and relation of a diverse population.
IV. Description of social and contextual contexts of experiences.
V. Influence of milestones on ones personal development.
5/ _______
5/ _______
5/ _______
5/ _______
5/ _______

DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES PRESENTATION / PAPER
GRADING FORMAT
Content Area
I.
Developmental Issues Presentation / Panel Discussion
Pertinent issues relating to problem / topic.
II.
Relevance to minority populations
III.
Relevance to community counselors
IV.
Relevance to school counselors
_____ Points
5/ _______
5/ _______
5/ _______
5/ _______

Handout Total Points for Assignment
Content Area
Developmental Issues Paper
I. Description of the problem / topic
II. Why the problem / topic is important
III. Relevance of this problem / topic to minority populations
IV. Relevance of this problem / topic to community counselors
V. Relevance of this problem / topic to school counselors
VI. Acceptable literature review (references)
VII. APA Style
Total Points for Assignment
20/ ______
Points
10/ ______
10/ _______
10/ _______
10/ _______
10/ _______
2/ ________
3/ ________
55/ _______