HUMS 101: Introduction to Human Services

• Course Number and Title: HUMS 101 Introduction to Human Services

• Semester Credit Hours: 3

• Course Description: Introduction to Human Services is an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of human services in a multicultural society. The theoretical and practical approaches utilized by various human service agencies within the community will be considered. The course will also introduce the student to the skills necessary for entry level and professional workers in education, social work, mental health, human services administration, and supported employment.

• Course Prerequisite: None

Core objectives for this course include:

• Recognize the broad perspective of the field of human services, including its history, theoretical bases, and current issues.
• Discuss the implications of managed care and welfare reform.
• Compare models of human service delivery.
• Examine career options with special emphasis on job development and job coaching.
• Identify and use various strategies used in assessment and service delivery.
• Assess the ethical and legal issues involved in working in the helping professions.

Assignments and Tests	Point Value
Book Review	300
Participation	100
Exam I	200
Exam II	200
Final Exam	200
Total Points	1000

Final Points	Letter Grade
900-1000	A
800-899	B
700-799	C
600-699	D
599 and below	F

Woodside, Marianne & McClam, Tricia (2001). An Introduction to Human Services (4th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

ISBN# 0-534-36879-4

Book Review

Students will be required to read Jonathan Kozol's "Amazing Grace" or "Rachel and Her Children" or Dave Pelzer's "A Child Called It". Students can find a copy of these in their local bookstore or library. After reading the novel, students are required to submit a 5-7 page term paper which is due by December 3, 2004. Details on how the term paper should be outlined and how the term paper will be graded will follow during the first few weeks of the semester. This book will also offer a good base of discussion on the bulletin board throughout the semester. This assignment is worth 300 points towards your final grade. Five points per day will be deducted for late papers.

Participation & Discussion Participation

Each student will be required to participate with discussions on the bulletin board. This includes initiating discussion and responding to others comments including the instructor on a regular basis. It is also expected that assignments and exams be completed as scheduled. Five points per day will be deducted from the final grade of the term paper for lateness. Permission must be given by the instructor for a student to miss a scheduled exam. If the student does not receive an excusal for missing the exam, he or she will receive an incomplete and no points for that exam.

Five points will be deducted from participation points for each missed bulletin board assignment and for each missed module assignment. If you complete all the required assignments, you will get the full 100 points.

Exams

There will be a total of three exams during the semester including the final exam. Each exam is worth 200 points towards your final grade. The format may include short answer, essay, multiple choice and true/false.

 

Here are some tips you should follow which will help you to succeed in this course:

• Set aside a specific time each week to work on this course. The estimated amount of time you should spend is 6-9 hours/week.
• Keep in touch with me and your classmates by frequently checking your course e-mail, bulletin board, and calendar. This will help build a sense of community among us. Using the various communications tools provided in this course effectively is the same as "raising your hand" and participating in class discussions.
• Be aware of the time lag that is inherent in most on-line courses. Although the communications tools make it appear that the transfer of information such as assignments is "instantaneous", it does not mean that the reply will be instantaneous. One of the hardest things about an on-line course is becoming comfortable with its asynchronous nature. In general, expect assignments to be returned within 7 days .
• Familiarize yourself with published deadlines.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• Remember that there are traditional ways for keeping in touch. Use the telephone, a fax, or make an appointment to meet with me on campus.
• Work off-line and save your assignments on your computer before submitting them electronically. You can use the saved version of your work to copy and paste to an on-line assignment or you can attach the saved file to an e-mail or bulletin board message. This will prevent a lot of frustration should your Internet connection or your system "fail".