Course Descriptions
Holly Brophy-Herb, Ph.D.

FCE 322 - Infant Development and Programming
FCE 411 - Developmental Study of a Child

FCE 414 - Parenting
FCE 424 - Student Teaching in an ECE Setting

FCE 820 - Infancy - The Contexts of Fmaily, Community, and Culture
FCE 810 - Theories of Human Development

FCE 823 - Infant Programs and Practices
FCE 892: The Development of Social Competence in Young Children

FCE 322 - Infant Development and Programming
This is a new FCE course at the undergraduate level. The course is designed to address all major components of infant development, 0-3 years, and to highlight the characteristics of high quality programming for infants and toddlers. Elements of high quality child care and early intervention practices are addressed in the course.


FCE 411: Developmental Study of a Child
This course provides students an opportunity to conduct an in-depth analysis of children's development and behavior using regular observations within the early childhood classroom. Applications of developmental theories and research are used.

Objectives:
To refine your observational skills.
To take careful notes without comments, judgment or personal bias.
To refine your child development knowledge through readings.
To review behaviors and relate them to published research.
To identify the typical characteristics of a child.
To study the teacher's and parent's perspectives of a child's development through interviews.
To critically evaluate written observations.
To write an advanced level, integrated case study according to a specific, required format.
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FCE 414: Parenting
This course is designed to facilitate understanding of the parenting process as well as core principles and theoretical perspectives on parenting. Parenting issues will be explored across the lifespan using family systems and ecological theoretical frameworks. The course will address a variety of parenting topics which include, but are not limited to, fatherhood, multiracial families, single parenting, divorce and remarriage, adoption, gay and lesbian parenting, and cross cultural perspectives on parenting. Methods, practices, and policies relating to parenting education, will also be addressed.

Objectives:
The goal of this course is to provide students with a better understanding of contemporary parenting issues using a variety of learning formats, which include small group discussion, lecture, group assignments, video presentations, and personal reflections. Specific learning objectives include:

To demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical perspectives, models of parenting, and principles of parenting across the lifespan;
To demonstrate an understanding of contemporary parenting issues and parenting in particular contexts;
To acquire up-to-date knowledge about current research findings in the area of parenting, parent-child relationships.
To acquire knowledge relative to current parenting education/family support initiatives and demonstrate an understanding of the principles of successful parenting education/family support initiatives;
To demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of parent-child relationships over time, influences on parenting practices;
To acquire an understanding of cross-cultural perspectives on parenting practices and beliefs;

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FCE 424 - Student Teaching in an ECE Setting
FCE 424 is a supervised teaching experience consisting of two major parts: a seminar and a practicum involving young children and their families.  The seminar is designed to provide you with a theoretical and practical knowledge base relative to key issues in early childhood education and child development so that you may be successful in your applied practicum experiences. In the practicum portion of the course, you are expected to apply your knowledge and skills in the areas of program planning and supervision, professional behavior and ethics in early childhood education, collaborating in a team, large group experiences, working with families, and child assessment. 

Students successfully completing the seminar and practicum will demonstrate knowledge and skills related to:

Organizing the physical environment to support a comprehensive, daily program for all children;
Integrating knowledge and theory of child development in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate program for young children;
Organizing and supervising adults in the program environment;
Supervising and supporting individual children and groups of children in the program environment;
Communicating effectively, sensitively and respectfully with families and other resource individuals through face-to-face contact and in writing;
Engaging in professional and collegial behavior in the program environment;
Evaluating personal performance and program efforts;
Expressing to others the values of child development and early childhood education and the strategies necessary to support and implement high quality programs for young children and their families.

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FCE 820 - Infancy - The Contexts of Family, Community, and Culture
This is a course approved by FCE and currently under review at the university. This graduate level course is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge of infant development, 0-3 years with an emphasis on developmental contexts. Specifically, students will have opportunities to examine the unique but interrelated contexts of families, communities and culture as they relate to infant development.


FCE 810: Theories of Human Development
The course is designed to provide information about major theories of human development and to structure a process in which theories of human development are systematically examined. We will engage in a variety of instructional experiences in class. I will be using cooperative and active learning experiences designed to enhance your learning. Course materials and some assignments will be posted on the course website.

Objectives:

To demonstrate understanding of theory building;
To acquire skills to critically evaluate theory;
To acquire up to date knowledge on the application of theories in current research;
To demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively in researching current theories and their applications in research;
To demonstrate the ability to articulate a chosen theory, its content, and its application in research;

To describe the ways in which theory guides research

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FCE 823: Infant Programs and Practices
The course is designed to address issues related to early educational experiences for infants and toddlers in informal and formal settings. The course is organized into three main topic sections: 1) Overview of Infant and Toddler Development; 2) Infant and Toddler Programs: Theories, Program Content, Schedules, Practices and Activities, Program Evaluation; and 3) Early Intervention: Types of programs/current program, the effectiveness of early intervention, policy issues. The course will interweave contemporary issues in the field of infancy, childcare and early intervention with current research findings in these areas. Students will have the opportunity to explore various infant and toddler programs through field work experiences.

Objectives:

To increase knowledge of infant and toddler development
To increase knowledge of infant programming in a variety of early childhood settings
To enhance understanding of infancy and programming for infants and toddlers within an ecological framework
To increase knowledge of adult-infant interactions that are conducive to healthy growth and development and those that are not supportive of healthy development
To develop or enhance skills in implementing developmental appropriate programs for infants and toddlers

To increase competence in reviewing scholarly writing, interpreting research and producing written work both for professional and lay audiences

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FCE 892: The Development of Social Competence in Young Children

The course will focus on the social and moral development of young children with an emphasis on the development of social competence. Current research in the field will be reviewed and practical applications of research and theory will be discussed.

Objectives

To enhance knowledge and understanding of the development of social and moral development.
To become familiar with the literature surrounding the development of social competence in young children.
To understand the role social competence plays in school and social success.
To identify ways in which the development of social competence may be facilitated in the classroom, childcare or home settings.ment
To reflect on your own experience and beliefs relative to children’s development.

To engage in meaningful interpretation of research literature; to articulate clearly the research literature on this area of children’s development, and to define practical applications of such research.

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