Life Span Human Development
The life span human development M.S. specialization is concerned with the growth and development of the individual, the varying contexts of human development, and the processes underlying development throughout the life cycle. The continuous and systematic changes in the behavior of individuals, and the processes underlying these developmental changes across the life span, are of primary interest. Consideration is given to the ways in which varying and changing ecological contexts, both large and small, influence human development. In the School of Family Studies and Human Services, we are particularly interested in the influences of family context and family relations on the course of development. Further, consistent with the orientations and goals of our applied perspective, this specialization is concerned with identifying factors which may foster and enhance development and optimize growth over the life span. Overall, the life span human development specialization provides students with opportunities to study developmental processes and transitions from conception to death, the many factors influencing the course and direction of development, and implications of these for research, applied programs and social policy.
Requirements
Minimum of 30 hours of graduate course work.
Required Courses
- FSHS 810 Child Development (3)
- FSHS 845 Adult Development and Aging (3)
- FSHS 850 Family Studies (3)
- FSHS 888 Research Methods in Family Studies and Human Services I (3)
- Elective Coursework (10-18)
Recommended Elective Courses
- FSHS 708 Aging in the Cinema
- FSHS 815 Infant Behavior and Development
- FSHS 820 Theories of Human Development
- FSHS 822 Transitions to Adulthood
- FSHS 824 Parent-Child Interaction: Theory and Research
- FSHS 852 Contemporary Families Theories
- FSHS 865 Human Sexuality
- FSHS 875 Delivery of Human Services
- FSHS 880-885 Practica in Family Studies and Human Services
- FSHS 890 Research Methods in Family Studies and Human Services II
- FSHS 892 Practicum in Human Development Research
- FSHS 893 Program Evaluation in Human Services
- FN 503 Maternal and Child Nutrition
- FN 610 Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle
- FN 718 Physical Health and Aging
- IDH 651 Design for Exceptional Needs
- EDACE 782 Educational Gerontology
- ARCH 720 Environment and Behavior
- ARCH 730 Environment and Aging
- HIST 520 Death and Dying in History
- PSYCH 520 Life-span Personality Development
- PSYCH 620 Psychology of Personality
- PSYCH 650 Psychology of Language
- PSYCH 953 Seminar in Personality
- SOCIO 744 Social Gerontology: An Introduction to the Sociology of Aging
- SOCIO 944 Seminar in the Sociology of Aging
End of program requirements
- Thesis: an empirical research project (6-8 hours of M.S. Research) or Report (2 hours of M.S. Research) or Manuscript or journal article of acceptable quality
- Oral examination: focused on the thesis, report or manuscript
Students interested in this option with questions about program requirements or curriculum should contact:
Dr. Rick Scheidt or Dr. Bronwyn Fees
Co-Chairs
Life Span Human Development
School of Family Studies and Human Services
315 Justin Hall or 343 Justin Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-1483 or (785) 532-1476
Students interested in this option with questions about admissions should contact:
Connie J. Fechter
Graduate Program Admissions Coordinator
School of Family Studies and Human Services
304 Justin Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-1473
Please submit the required application materials by February 1 for Summer and Fall admissions or October 1 for Spring admission. International applicant deadlines are as follows: February 1 for Fall admission, August 1 for Spring admission, and December 1 for Summer admission.