T006: Adult Development

*Lottery-Based Enrollment* What types of growth and change are possible for us in adulthood? Can we intentionally foster development in adulthood, and if so, how? As our world grows ever more complex, adults face increasing demands to develop. The possibilities for profound growth and change over the course of our adult lives are now well-documented and widely accepted. And we are becoming increasingly clear about the conditions and practices that support this type of growth. This course is not a survey of many theories in the field of Adult Development. Instead, we explore one theory deeply, Robert Kegan’s theory of adult development. Why this theory? It is uniquely powerful and rigorous and provides a very useful vantage point on other theories in the field. Kegan has also extended and applied his theory, developing processes and practices that support transformational growth for individuals and collectives. We’ll apply this learning to ourselves, challenge ourselves with transformative practices, and consider the implications for our work roles and personal lives. Evaluation will be based on several short written exercises during the semester and a concentrated end-of-term paper.