Human Growth and Development Across the Life Course (PG)
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| SOCW4003 | Social Work | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- SOCW4003
- School
- Social Work
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
The module will provide students with the opportunity to:
• Understand the ways in which human growth and development is affected by a range of factors across the life course and how these factors may impact on the development of resilience and wellbeing.
• Develop a critical awareness of a range of theories and evidence about the life course and human growth and development.
• Consider the application of these concepts, theories and evidence to situations encountered in social work practice.
Target Students
Only available for MA Social Work students or PGDip Social Work students.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment
- 75% Coursework 1: 3,000 words.
- 25% Coursework 2: 1,000 words.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aims of the module are to:1.Encourage students to develop critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to applying models and theories of human growth and development to social work practice.2.Introduce students to some of the main conceptual debates regarding human growth and development, with a focus on social work values and principles.3.Invite students to critically consider the impact on individuals’ life course trajectories of social, political, cultural, economic and environmental factors. 4.Enable students to develop a good baseline knowledge of developmental milestones for the purpose of assessment and intervention, with an awareness of how this may differ for some individuals. Understandings of cultural ‘norms’; stigmatising attitudes and experiences of oppression; disability; mental distress; abuse and trauma will also be developed.5.Students will be supported to explore and challenge personal attitudes and assumptions about the life course, with a focus on the universality of experience as humans on a life journey.This premise is aligned firmly with social work values and themes of the module such as growth, transition and opportunities for positive change from points of crisis.6. Crucially, students will be supported to understand why theories, models and critical debates relating to human growth and development across the life course are integral to effective and compassionate social work practice.Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theory and evidence regarding human development and its determinants through the life course.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the developmental impacts arising from adverse life circumstances and trauma.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the social work interface with changes which may occur at key phases of development, i.e., childhood, adolescence, middle and older age and the end of life.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance and impact of issues of inequalities such as poverty, gender, sexuality, race, class disability and culture on human development.
5. Demonstrate an emerging capacity to understand and apply current evidence about the impact of sociological and psychological determinants on human development as well as the strengths and limitations of different theoretical frameworks.
6. Demonstrate a values-led and trauma-informed approach to social work drawing on life course perspectives to inform effective practice.