Psych W3615y	Children at Risk	Spring 2011

Instructor: Geraldine Downey
Teaching Assistant: Chris Crew
Teaching Assistant: Carey Bollinger

10:10 - 12 pm Tu Th in 200B Schermerhorn Hall

	Overview		Prereqs		Contact Us
	Calendar		Syllabus		Grading
	Projects		Links		CourseWorks

 

Brief overview

This course considers contemporary risk factors in children's lives. We analyze the immediate and enduring biological and behavioral impact of risk factors, their interaction, and child characteristics that modify their effects. The course is organized developmentally. It begins with a discussion of prenatal development and prenatal hazards, such as mother's drug use, and ends with adolescent risks, such as unsafe sex. We examine risks originating inside (e.g., family violence) and outside (e.g., poverty, racism) the family and explore both traumatic and chronic stressors. We end with a discussion of why some children survive extreme adversity and why some intervention programs work. The course will attempt to bridge the areas traditionally covered by developmental and abnormal psychology with an emphasis on considering the public policy implications of risk in childrens eyes .

The format of the course will include lecture, discussion, speakers, and group presentations. We expect students to read primary articles and books. We also expect students to work in a group to develop and give a class presentation on a topic of the group's choice. We encourage students to become involved in a volunteer activity serving children at risk as one of their class projects.

Course requirements include regular attendance and participation, written report of one individual project, one in-class exam based on lectures and readings, and a class presentation and written report of one group project.

Contact Information

Please click here for information on admission to the Spring 2011 class

Prerequisites

Prior to enrolling in Children at Risk you should have completed at least one of the following courses, or its equivalent at Barnard or elsewhere: Psychology W1010 or W2280 or W2620 or W2680. In addition, you need to obtain permission from the instructor to be admitted to the course.

Important: All students who wish to participate in Children at Risk MUST attend the first class meeting.