Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Principles of Effective Parenting (Online)

FLHD 3700-30I

Course: FLHD 3700-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: FLHD
CRN: 31177

Course Description

This course emphasizes theoretical foundations for effective parenting strategies and skills. Examines historical and current parenting perspectives. 

3 credits. Course fees: $3 per credit hour 
Prerequisite(s): FLHD 1500 or PSY 1100 or PSY 1110 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C
Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Holden, G. (2021). Parenting: A dynamic perspective (2nd ed.). Sage Publishing
  • ISBN: 987-1-4833-4748-6
  • Other reading materials will be available on Canvas

Learning Outcomes

Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
This course is designed to enable students to do the following: 
  1. Promote healthy parenting from systems and lifespan perspectives (NCFR 7)
  2. Promote healthy parenting from a child's and parent’s developmental perspective (NCFR 7)
  3. Apply strategies based on the child’s age/stage of development to promote effective developmental outcomes (NCFR 7)
  4. Identify different parenting styles and their associated psychological, social, and behavioral outcomes (NCFR 7
  5. Analyze various parenting programs, models, and principles (NCFR 7)
  6. Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of various parenting strategies (NCFR 7)
  7. Analyze various parenting roles and their impact on and contribution to individuals and families (NCFR 7)
  8. Evaluate parenting issues within various family structures (NCFR 7)
  9. Recognize the impact of societal trends on parenting (NCFR 7)
  10. Recognize and recommend positive strategies that influence of cultural differences and diversity (NCFR 7
  11. Identify and implement strategies to support children in various settings (NCFR 7)
  12. Recognize and advocate in behalf of the various pathways to parenting and their associated issues and challenges (NCFR 7)

Course Requirements

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Individual Assignments and Discussions (5/10/15 pts). Throughout the semester students will submit individual assignments capturing their reading of the assigned material, answering a specific question (e.g., their take on some reading findings). Students will also initiate a discussion with other students on Canvas. These individual assignments and discussions will vary from week to week, and instructions for each can be found on Canvas. These assignments should be written carefully, with attention paid to APA style and grammar.

2. Parenting Across Childhood (75 pts). The objective of this assignment is to provide a critical review of parenting across childhood. In doing so, students need to identify important milestones during each stage of development and then determine parenting techniques/behaviors that would be most effective in facilitating a specific goal (usually children's compliance). The paper should be 3 – 6 pages in length (double-spaced, 1-inch margins, and Times New Roman 12-point font). Title page and reference page do not count toward page limit.

3. Chapter Quizzes (5 pts). After each chapter, students will take a 10-question quiz to demonstrate their understanding of the material. These are open book, but not open neighbor. 

4. Exams (40 pts). Three exams will be given during the course. Exam are closed book and can be taken from home using Honorlock. 

Course Outline

COURSE OUTLINE: PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE PARENTING – FLHD 3700-30I (online)
FAll 2025: August 27 – December 7, 2025


INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: Trenton Call, PhD LMFT
Email: trentoncall@suu.edu
Office: ED 315
Office Hours: Wednesday & Friday: 10am - 1pm

COURSE OUTLINE:

Module/Dates | Topics | Required Readings | Assignments
PART I

Module 18/27 – 9/2 | Introduction: From Beliefs to Scientific Evidence | Chapter 1
| Chapter 1 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 9/2)

Module 29/3 – 9/9 | Theoretical Perspectives on Parenting | Chapter 2
| Chapter 2 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 9/9)
Discussion (initial post): Theory Pros and Cons (due by 11:59 pm on 9/9)
Discussion (response): Theory Pros and Cons (due by 11:59 pm on 9/13)

Module 39/10 – 9/16
| Approaches to Parenting Research
How Important Are Parents? | Chapter 3
Chapter 4
| Chapter 3 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 9/16)
Authoritative Parenting assignment (due by 11:59 pm on 9/20)
Chapter 4 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 9/16)
Module 49/17 – 9/23 | Determinants of Parenting

| Chapter 5 andarticle on Canvas
| Chapter 5 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 9/23)


| EXAM 1 Open from 9/18 at 12:00 am to 9/23 at 11:59 pm |
|

PART II

Module 59/24 – 9/30 | Becoming a Parent
| Chapter 6
| Chapter 6 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 9/30)
Ethical Issues assignment (due by 11:59 pm on 10/1)

Module 610/1 – 10/7
| Parenting Infants and Toddlers | Chapter 7 | Chapter 7 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 10/7)

Module 710/8 – 10/14
| Parenting Pre-schoolers | Chapter 8
| Discussion (initial post only): Child Care Debate due by 11:59 pm on 10/14
Chapter 8 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 10/14)

Module 8 10/15 – 10/21 | Parenting During the Middle Childhood Years | Chapter 9
 | Chapter 9 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 10/21)
Homeschooling assignment (due by 11:59 pm on 10/21)

Module 9 10/22 – 10/28 | Parenting Adolescents and Emergent Adults

 | Chapter 10
 | Emerging adulthood assignment (due by 11:59 pm on 10/28)
Chapter 10 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 10/28)

| EXAM 2 Open from 10/23 at 12:00 am to 10/28 at 11:59 pm |
|

PART III

Module 1010/29 – 11/4(11/4 Election Day) | Parenting in Non-Traditional Families

| Chapter 11

| Parenting Across Childhood paper (due by 11:59 pm on 11/4)
Chapter 11 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 11/4)

Module 1111/5 – 11/11 | Parents at Risk

| Chapter 12 | Chapter 12 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 11/11)
Discussion (initial post): Love Toward a Parent vs. Love Toward a Child (due by 11:59 pm on 11/11)
Discussion (response): Love Toward a Parent vs. Love Toward a Child (due by 11:59 pm on 11/15)

Module 1211/12 – 11/18 | Parenting Across Cultures
Cultural Diversity in U.S. Parents | Chapter 13
Chapter 14 | Chapter 13 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 11/18)
Chapter 14 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 11/18)

Module 1311/19 – 11/25
Thanksgiving Break 11/26-11/30
  | Child Maltreatment: When Parenting Goes Awry

| Chapter 15


| Chapter 15 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 11/25)
Child Maltreatment assignment (due by 11:59 pm on 11/25)



Module 1412/1 – 12/5 | Parents and Social Policy
| Chapter 16 | Chapter 16 Quiz (due by 11:59 pm on 12/5)

| EXAM 3Open from 12/1 at 12:00 am until 12/5 at 11:59 pm | 





Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Student responsibility. Students are responsible for following the syllabus, knowing the readings, and completing work on time. Students can contact the instructor to appeal a grade within 7 calendar days of receiving said grade. 

Email policy. The instructor and TA will answer emails Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm. Students will receive a response within 48-hours of their query, excluding weekends. For the security of your private educational information, all email correspondence should be sent through your SUU email account. If students have difficulty uploading their documents to Canvas or if Canvas is undergoing any service interruptions, students need to email their assignment by the due date to the instructor. 

Late policy and missing assignment policy. With the exception of exams and quizzes, any work submitted late will receive 5% deduction in grade for each day it is late, and no work will be accepted after 3 days it is late. Additionally, any conflict of interest needs to be communicated prior to the assignment due date. Students will not be allowed to make-up exams or any other class activities without letting the instructor know ahead of time that they have a conflict of interest. Relatedly, students are required to provide proper documentation (e.g., doctor's note) for not completing their work on time and/or for any conflict of interest (in the event they want the instructor to waive 5% penalty).

Please note: Students are responsible for keeping track of their points/grade. Grades will not be rounded up (e.g., if you receive 89.9%, your grade will be a B, not an A).


Attendance Policy

Because this is an online class the expectation is that students will stay on top of the assigned workload and due dates. 

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.