12/21/2024 5:05:19 PM	COUN 90 Course Outline as of Fall 2015	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  COUN 90	Title:  INTRO TO HUMAN SERVICES
Full Title:  Introduction to Human Services
Last Reviewed:10/12/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  GUID 90

Catalog Description:

An introduction to human services in relation to human/personal development and need across the lifespan. The course explores societal problems and their causes in the context of the human services profession, and involves a critical exploration of the history, standards and theoretical approaches to human service work and meeting peoples' needs. Psychological, physiological and social forces influencing the individual both as helper and client are examined. Students will study national and international welfare systems, the diverse populations served, and the legal, political and social issues that affect individuals within their community.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to human services in relation to human/personal development and need across the lifespan. The course explores societal problems and their causes in the context of the human services profession, and involves a critical exploration of the history, standards and theoretical approaches to human service work and meeting peoples' needs. Psychological, physiological and social forces influencing the individual both as helper and client are examined. Students will study national and international welfare systems, the diverse populations served, and the legal, political and social issues that affect individuals within their community.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	E	Lifelong Learning and Self Development		Fall 2006
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1999	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Differentiate and examine several perspectives of client problems, barriers to getting help, and the societal influences that impact the life of a client in human services.

2.  Distinguish and assess areas of job responsibilities and the roles for human service professionals.

3.  Develop an information and referral network in Sonoma and neighboring counties.

 

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1.  Outline the historical development of human services and distinguish varying theoretical approaches to human services work.

2.  Develop  knowledge, values and skills that enable workers to support others in problem solving and in making better use of resources within their communities.

3.  Define and research current social issues as they impact people coping with today's societal problems.

4.  Differentiate and assess the individual and societal influences across the lifespan that impact the lives of people in need.

5.  Compare and contrast the different ways of viewing individual societal problems.

6.  Examine their own motivation for choosing a helping profession.

7.  Identify causes of societal problems and explain how people become clients.

8.  Assess and evaluate the psychological, physiological and social forces contributing to societal problems.

9.  Categorize and examine various human service roles and types of career opportunities.

10. Evaluate the ethical and professional issues encountered in the field of human services.

11. Research and describe the goals and/or functions of human service agencies providing services for people in need from a local and global perspective.

12. Compare and contrast the political and economic impact of social issues both nationally and internationally.

Topics and Scope

1.  Introduction to the field of human services and individuals as clients.

2.  The individual as a client throughout the lifespan

   a. Defining the whole person

      1) Biological

      2) Psychological

      3) Social

   b. Identifying barriers to getting help

3.  The individual as a helper

   a. Defining the helper

   b. Values and philosophy

   c. Views of helping

   d. Human service roles

4.  Historical perspective of social work and human services

   a. The evolution of the generalist worker

   b. The evolution of the individual as client

   c. The evolution of the individual as provider in response to

      personal and social problems in living

5. Human services/social work today

   a. Current trends

      1) Rapid social change and its effects

      2) Emphasis on diversity

      3) Aging in America

      4) Impact of technology

   b. Managed care

   c. The international dimension

      1) Political and economic considerations

6. Models of helping professions that focus on human needs

   a. Medical model

   b. Public health model

   c. Human service model

   d. Others

7. The helping process

   a. Helping skills

   b. Crisis intervention

8.  Working within a system

   a. General systems theory

   b. Environmental influences

   c. Models of influence

      1) Biological

      2) Psychological

      3) Sociological

9. Professional concerns

   a. Ethical considerations

   b. Confidentiality

Assignments:

A. Required reading assignments:

  1. Textbook; 30 pages per week.

  2. 3-5 outside reading assignments consisting of instructor handouts.

B. Required writing assignments:

  1. A written evaluation of a novel or short story written from a human needs perspective from a list provided by

     the instructor.

  2. Team reports on societal problems and identification of services.

C. Exams

   1. 2  midterm exams

    2. Final exam

D. 1-3 oral group presentations

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 40%
Written homework, written book case study
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 30%
Exams, application of text concepts to case studies
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 5 - 15%
Application of text to case & novel based studies
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 40%
Multiple choice, essay, oral group presentations, summary of case study
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 15%
Attendance & participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

An Introduction to Human Services (8th). Woodside, Marianne and McClam, Tricia. Brooks Cole: 2015

Human Services in Contemporary America (7th). Burger, William R. Brooks Cole: 2008 (classic)

Theory, Practice and Trends in Human Services: an Introduction (4th).  Neukrug, Ed.  Brooks Cole: 2007 (classic)

Instructor prepared material/handouts.

Novel from list prepared by instructor.

Print PDF