ANTH350: Anthropology of Aging and the Aged

An analysis of the influences of cultural systems on the processes of aging. Special emphasis is placed on the behaviors and meanings attached to the stages of growing older in a variety of cultural systems. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 201 or ANTH 202 or ANTH 210 or ANTH 230 or ANTH 240 or ANTH 270 or departmental approval. Starting Summer 2010: ANTH 201 or ANTH 125 or ANTH 210 or ANTH 135 or ANTH 240 or ANTH 270 or departmental approval. Starting Spring 2011: ANTH 201 or ANTH 125 or ANTH 155 or ANTH 135 or ANTH 145 or ANTH 270 or departmental approval.

BIOL110: The Biology of Human Life

The course is intended to serve the non-biology major and present a basic introduction to human anatomy and physiology. It will provide students with a laboratory experience so that they may learn the scientific method and its application in the field of human biology. This course will provide these students with a body of knowledge specific to human anatomy and physiology so that they may be well informed when dealing with important personal, family and societal issues relative to health and life-style decisions. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Natural/Physical Science Laboratory. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Natural/Physical Science, Laboratory or Non-Laboratory Science. 4 sh.

FCST200: Introduction to Family Studies

This course examines families from historical, socio-cultural and theoretical perspectives. It focuses on the changes in American families over time and the implications of those changes for contemporary and future families. It also examines issues that impact family development, structure and function. Those issues include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, class, ablelism, age, gender and sexual orientation. 3 sh.

FCST201: Older Adults and Their Families: An Introduction to Gerontology

In this course, students will examine issues related to aging in America from an individual and family perspective. Students will learn theory, will learn about services for older adults and their families, and will focus on how changes in later life affect older people and their families in their daily lives through case studies, guest speakers, interviews, reflection and class discussions. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the field of gerontology, using a variety of perspectives including biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging and how a person's values, attitudes, beliefs, race, ethnicity, and rituals affect their experience as they age. This course is open to students in all majors who have personal or professional interests in learning more about aging, career paths in gerontology, and services for older adults and their families. It will also provide a basis for more advanced course work. Fieldwork and/or field visits are required. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PSYC 101.

FCST304: Research Methods for Studying Families and Children

An introductory research course designed to enable students to critically read, analyze and produce research in areas relevant to family and child studies. Various research approaches will be reviewed, and the role of research in society and its relationship to conditions of power and oppression will be explored. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 200; and FCST majors only.

FCST305: Death and Bereavement in the Family

This course offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of dying and death within the context of the family. This course will examine human responses to the dying process across the life span as well as the social functions of grief and mourning. Perceptions of death in various social, cultural, and religious contexts will be explored as will substantive and controversial topics related to the end of life. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 200 or PSYC 101.

FCST315: Field Experiences in Family and Child Services

Planned supervised experience with selected agencies offering services for families and for children. Thirty-five hours of field work required. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 214 and PSYC 101.

FCST348: Individual and Family Development Over the Life Span

This introductory course provides an overview of family development over the life course in the United States and in other societies. Concepts and theories related to transitions within families over the life course will be explored. This course will also emphasize the role of culture and diversity in the development and functioning of families. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in FCCL, FCEC, FCEM, FCFS, FCGR. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 200. Starting Spring 2011: FCST 348.

FCST360: Families in Later Life

Combining the fields of family science and gerontology, this course will introduce students to family relationships, roles, and responsibilities in the second half of life. Later life families and the sociological and demographic implications of these families will be discussed. Culturally and ethnically diverse populations will be considered as well as issues of social justice. Multiple substantive topics related to aging families will be examined (i.e., caregiving, grandparenting, marriage and sibling relationships later life, housing, retirement, widowhood, aging parent-adult child relations, etc.). Finally, students will consider gerontological theory and its influence on the study of aging and aging family relationships. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 200 or PSYC 101.

FCST400: Senior Seminar

A capstone course which explores the integrative nature of the study of families and children and investigates the roles, conflicts and decision-making perspectives for beginning professionals. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Family and Child Studies major and departmental approval.

FCST409: Internship

Opportunity to work as an intern in a professional setting in a community organization, agency, or a service organization. Application available in the Family and Child Studies Department. 8 - 12 sh.

Prerequisites: Family and Child Studies major and departmental approval.

FCST418: Working with Diverse Families and Children

Approaches to working with diverse families and children in human service, community, and educational settings will be examined. A particular focus will be on skill development for facilitating and leading family conferences in a variety of professional settings. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 200.

FCST445: Poverty and Families

Examines the impact of economic structures, social conditions, gender, race and ethnicity as they affect the family system. This course will further examine the various social problems that place families at risk including family structures and community conditions such as poverty, access to resources, and geographic locations. Community contact is a requirement of the course. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Contemporary Issues. Meets the Human and Intercultural Relations Requirement (HIRR). Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FCST 200.

HLTH440: Health Aspects of Aging

This course focuses upon changes in aspects of health during the middle and later years of life. Includes anatomy and physiology, nutritional requirements, sensoria and those phenomena associated with aging and sexuality. Common causes of morbidity and mortality explored as they relate to the aged. Attention given to the psychosocial and economic needs of the elderly as well as to those aspects of gerontology which deal with legislation and community organization. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Health Education major or departmental approval.

MUTH100: Introduction to Music Therapy

Survey of use of music therapy with various populations and other topics of relevance to the music therapist. 2 sh.

PALG322: Wills, Trusts and Probate Law

Basic concepts, practice, and procedures in wills, probate, and trusts. Includes will drafting, estate planning, probate procedures and estate administration. Forms and questionnaires utilized by paralegals in these areas. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PALG 210 or JUST 200 or JUST 201 or departmental approval.

PALG413: Elder Law

This course presents basic Elder Law concepts, practices and procedures. This course is a "service-learning course" requiring students to participate in an organized service activity that addresses an identified community need in this case, that of the elderly. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PALG 210 or JUST 200 or JUST 201 or departmental approval.

PEMJ340: Fitness and the Aging Process

The anatomic, physiologic and social changes experienced by the older adult as he/she ages. The students will learn the bases for selection of appropriate activities and techniques for communicating with this specialized population. Field experiences involving older adults in fitness settings will be included in this course. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PEMJ 320.

PSYC101: Introduction to Psychology

This course is an introduction to the study of human behavior and surveys major topics within the diverse discipline of psychology. Topics covered will come from each of four core areas offered by the psychology department: Social/Applied (e.g., Social, Industrial-Organizational, Health), Biological Basis of Behavior (e.g., Physiology, Perception, Motivation/Emotion, Comparative Animal Behavior), Cognition (e.g., Learning and Memory, Conditioning and Learning, Cognition, Language) and Personality (e.g., Personality, Abnormal, Development). Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science for non-psychology majors only. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Social Science, Survey Course for non-psychology majors only. 3 sh.

PSYC268: Psychological Aspects of Aging

Overview of later maturity and aging. Emphasis on psychological, physiological and sociological aspects. Aging and the cognitive process. Mental health, death, adjustment problems, needs, issues. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PSYC 101.

PSYC302: Health Psychology

The theoretical, empirical and clinical aspects of health psychology will be presented. The relation of health psychology with other areas of psychology and other scientific disciplines will be discussed. The historical developments of the field, its research methodologies, theoretical models and exemplary interventions will be described. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PSYC 301.

SOCI309: Sociology of Health and Illness

The focus of this course is on the relationship between society and health with a special emphasis on the role of culture and social structure. Health inequalities and the sociology of disability will be central concerns. Other topics will include social and cultural definitions of health and illness, the social role of the "sick", comparative medical beliefs and practices and medical institutions. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: SOCI 100 or 113 or 201 or 202 or 204 or departmental approval.