Course Descriptions

FCS 810 Life in the Global Community (3 and 0)

Examines the global perspectives and trends related to the social, psychological, economic and physical well being of children, youth and adults, and selected organized groups including the family, primary institutions of society and civil society; examples of accommodation and resistance to globalization; examination of the tensions among the needs of today’s marketplace, society, individuals, and families; analysis and comparative review of the effects of globalization on everyday life in selected countries.

FCS 811 Human Development and Family Life in Cultural Context (3 and 0)

Examines the cultural context in human development and family life; the effects of culture on physical, cognitive and social development; analytic and comparative review of the influences of different environmental experiences on individual and family functioning; practical applications of a cross-cultural perspective on human and family development; examines the state of human development around the world and the effects of globalization on human development in the USA and selected cultures abroad. Prerequisite: FCS 810 or consent of instructor

FCS 812 Democracy and the Growth of Civil Society (3 and 0)

Democracy is studied as a political system and as a way of life. Examines the nature of civil society and its relation to the development and sustainability of democratic values and institutions. Cultural, economic, and political correlates of civic participation through philanthropy, volunteer activity, grassroots discussion, and political action are discussed. Attention is given to the nature, causes, and effects of such involvement at various points in the lifespan. Such issues are examined in the contexts of political and educational theories and of historical and cross-cultural comparisons, with consideration of the nature and strength of democratic government and civil society in countries at various points in political and economic development. Prerequisites: FCS 810 & 811, or consent of the instructor.

FCS 820 International Human Rights Law (3 and 0)

Examines international human rights law. Attention is given to the origins of international human rights, the emergence of international human rights law, issues related to the implementation of international human rights law, the position of the U.S. regarding the ratification of human rights treaties, processes for monitoring and implementing human rights around the world, and the treatment of human rights in the courts. Topics include a discussion of key principles underlying treaty provisions and trends in the development of treaties.

FCS 821 International Law and Policy on Children’s Issues (3 and 0)

Comparative analysis of law and policy on children’s issues; examines the relevant international instruments, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and related concepts in the law and policy of various nations, including the United States.

Prerequisite: FCS 820 or consent of instructor.

FCS 822 The Right to Health (3 and 0)

Examines the relationship between health and human rights with an emphasis on the application of a rights-based approach to health-related interests of children, families and communities. Topics include discussion of the content and contours of a right to health and of emerging trends in health and human rights.

Prerequisite: FCS 820 or consent of instructor.

FCS 830 Community Development: Principles and Practices (3 and 0)

Comparative theory and practice of community development, community building and community transformations that supports child, youth and family well-being; U.S. community development examples with selected examples from other nations.

FCS 831 Community Transformation (3 and 0)

An advanced course on community transformation theories, theologies and practices; discussion and illustration of major paradigm shifts within the last three decades in the way community development is thought about and done; case studies on community transformation from selected nations. Prerequisite: FCS 830 or consent of instructor.

FCS 832 Policies and Programs in Human Services (3 and 0)

Examines the philosophy, theories, and principles for organizing human services in and across selected nations, emphasizing strategies for and barriers to the development of collaborations among and between governmental and non-governmental organizations. Of particular interest are child and family support at the community level (e.g., neighborhood, village, and township); poverty alleviation; healthcare; early childhood education and care; and old-age assistance. Prerequisite: FCS 830 or consent of instructor.

FCS 833 Humanitarian Assistance (3 and 0)

Introduction to humanitarian assistance with a special emphasis on the study of relevant terminology and concepts associated with refugees and internally displaced people. Topics covered include historical background, current status, determinants, legal issues, and health and social service delivery. Considerable use made of current and past refugee/IDP situation examples and of ethno-political conflicts and terrorism as major sources of humanitarian crises. Prerequisite: FCS 830 or consent of instructor.

FCS 835 Religious Institutions in Community Life (3 and 0)

Primary focus on comparative review of religious organizations as a core institution in everyday life and community well-being; the personal, social and political meaning of religious involvement; comparative theological frameworks motivating faith-based organizations’ involvement in community development; comparisons and contrasts across a variety of national contexts discussed including the effects of globalization on normative religious behavior related to social action. Prerequisite: FCS 810 or consent of instructor.

FCS 840 Community, Societal, and International Research (3 and 0)

Overview of issues and methods related to community, societal, and international research and evaluation. Emphasis is on the variety of conceptual and methodological issues surrounding the macro-level assessment of the impact of interventions and the documentation of change. A special focus is placed on how the research process is influenced by cultural differences, as defined at various levels of generality. Topics include multi-method etic and emic strategies, theory-based evaluation, longitudinal designs, and collaborative, consultative models of research. Prerequisite: Psych 810 and Psych 811 or consent of instructor.

FCS 891 Research Project (1-6 and 0)

Credits to be arranged. For students that enter program post-baccalaureate.

FCS 892 Special Topics (3 and 0)

Selected current and classic topics not covered in other courses. May be repeated for credit.

FCS 893 Practicum (3 and 0)

Comprehensive community building situation involving a group of FCS majors working with a faculty member and community leaders. Prerequisite: FCS 810, 820, 830 and 840 or consent of instructor

FCS 896 Independent Study (1-6 and 0)

Individual readings or research on a topic area selected according to a student’s interests or program needs. May be repeated for up to six hours. Graded on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisite: Approval of the IFNL coordinator of graduate studies.

FCS 991 Doctoral Dissertation (18 credits)

Research, credit to be arranged.