What is Human Development?
and Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is Human Development?
As a field of study, Human Development examines the context of families, schools, work and community and studies how these contexts can enhance or limit development from birth through the end of life. Human Development takes a multidisciplinary, systems-based approach devoted to understanding the nature of how individuals develop across the life span. It is increasingly important that education and training for those who are interested in and choose to work with people use multiple perspectives and strategies for analyzing problems, developing solutions, and delivering information.
The primary goal of the WSU Vancouver Human Development Department is to provide an educational experience that promotes the integration and application of knowledge and professional practice from the fields of child development, family and human services.
All Human Development programs recognize the critical importance of culture, gender, diversity and global perspectives in the generation of knowledge and the preparation of professionals who choose to work with people. At WSU Vancouver, the Human Development Program is highly valued for its teaching, community-based field experiences, scholarship and community engagement.
What are the departmental values?
- Quality and relevance in teaching and scholarship.
- Collaborative and productive professional/community engagement.
- Continued development of professional skills.
- Respect for diversity of person and perspective.
What are the department's mission and vision?
Mission:
The Department of Human Development provides knowledge, skills, and leadership to students, professionals, and the people of Washington so they may:
- Facilitate individual, family, organizational, and community development
- Understand and conduct research on individuals and families across the life-span
- Develop capacities for making individual, family, organizational, and public decisions that influence human development
- Contribute to the development and evaluation of public policy options related to human and family development
- Empower children, youth, and families through research-based prevention/intervention programming, and
- Foster capacities for lifelong learning.
In support of this mission we provide a high-quality academic program, conduct creative scholarship and research, and engage in effective and relevant professional and community-based outreach initiatives.
Vision:
To benefit the citizens of Washington State (particularly those who reside in Southwest Washington) by
- Extending knowledge and understanding about the nature and context of human development and activity
- Delivering high-quality professional practice and
- Improving quality of community through knowledge-in-practice.
This vision will be accomplished through ongoing activities that support: Instruction, scholarship, and engagement
What are the program priorities for students?
In designing and delivering this program, the Human Development faculty is committed to students acquiring the following:
- Self-direction and personal/professional responsibility
- Understanding of developmental and systems perspectives
- Knowledge of research and evaluation
- Respect for diversity, change, and growth across the life span
What will students learn in the Human Development program?
The Human Development program has designed and implemented its undergraduate curriculum with the following priorities for student achievement:
- Acquisition of a strong theoretical knowledge base with regard to development, systems and ecological theory, and application. Students will be able to generalize knowledge to existing and emerging issues and problems and will be able to understand the basic elements of research, policy, and application.
- Development of specific professional skills appropriate for working effectively with individuals, families, and the professional community. Students will be able to develop appropriate professional skills, including an appreciation of appropriate behavior and expectations, respect and support diversity of information, perspective, and values in others; identification of issues and solutions objectively; development of skills in order to collaborate and communicate effectively; and respond to problems in an ethical manner.
- Acquisition of the perspectives of "Human Development" as a disciplinary approach for one's professional and personal development. Students will
- acquire an understanding of interdisciplinary, collaborative, professional work
- document personal and professional change while engaged in the program
- understand the ideologies of
- individual strengths
- prevention and intervention,
- the application of theory
- understand and demonstrate
- the need for community and professional networking
- one's need for life-long learning
- one's role as an educated individual
- the priority for maintaining a connection to educational institutions to sustain one's professional (and personal) development.
How do students experience learning in Human Development classes?
The Human Development curriculum reflects the need for theoretical understanding linked with professional skill demonstration. To facilitate student achievement in both areas, professors employ a variety of instructional processes and techniques, including but not limited to
- Traditional lecture
- Class discussion
- Small group process and demonstration
- Examinations (objective, essay, etc.)
- Distance learning
- Project completion
- Application of information and theory
- Review of theoretical literature and objective information
- Supervised demonstration and field experiences
- Self-reflection, self-evaluation, and evaluation of one's learning experiences within the program