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Active as of Summer Session 2024
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
2. Course Prefix & Number:
HSER 1100
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
HSER 1100 is an introductory level course that will develop student’s knowledge of the social work profession and values. Major topics covered include history and evolution of the social work profession, varied work setting social workers practice in, roles and responsibilities of the social work profession and understanding of the NASW code of ethics. Students will self-assess and evaluate personal attitudes regarding human diversity, oppression and privilege as it relates to issues of social justice and systemic oppression.
5. Placement Tests Required:
Accuplacer (specify test): |
No placement tests required |
Score: |
|
6. Prerequisite Courses:
HSER 1100 - Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
HSER 1100 - Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
Bemidji State University: SOWK 2120 Introduction to Social Welfare
St. Cloud State University: SW 216 Introduction to Social Work
III. Course Purpose
Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
Human Services Technician Diploma
Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway AS
Other - If this course is not required in a program or is not part of the MN Transfer Curriculum, it may be used for the purpose(s) listed below:
Technical Elective
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
Demonstrate written communication skills |
Complete papers and/or projects assessing the varied roles within the social work field. |
Assess alternative solutions to a problem |
Apply critical thinking skills to analyze, interpret and evaluate comfort level to work with persons different from themselves. |
Apply ethical principles in decision-making |
Demonstrate critical thinking skills to apply ethical principles to cases and scenarios in social work practice. |
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments |
Complete assignments exploring social work perspective on human diversity, oppression and privilege. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
- Discuss the historical evolution of the social work profession;
- Identify major fields of practice in the social work profession;
- Explain generalist social work as a profession;
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of the social work profession within the social welfare system;
- Differentiate among professional social worker’s responsibility and other service providers’ responsibilities;
- Discuss social work’s perspective on human diversity, oppression, and privilege;
- Discuss the values of the profession and recognize the NASW Code of Ethics as the practice framework for generalist social work practice;
- Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication;
- Identify their comfort level to work with persons different from themselves;
- Identify selected social problems, social welfare agencies’ responses to these issues, and the role that social workers play in these various settings; and
- Identify socioeconomic and related issues impacting populations at risk including issues of social justice and systems of oppression.
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- An Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
- Education, Licensure, and Careers
- Professional Values
- Field Experience
- The Social Work and Human Services Professional
- Characteristics and Skills
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Practice Settings
- Personal and Professional Values
- Scope of Practice
- History of and Current Issues in Social Work and Human Services
- Historical Approaches
- Current Issues and Approaches
- Community Programs and Services
- Ethical Practice
- Ethical Standards of Human Services Professional
- NASW Code of Ethics
- Multicultural Dimensions of Helping
- Introduction to a Multicultural Context
- Introduction to Theories and Frameworks
- Person Centered Approach
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
- Strength Based Perspective
- Systems Theory
- Person in Environment/Ecological Model
- Levels of Practice
- The Helping Process
- Introduction to the General Intervention Model
- Introduction to Helping Skills
- The Client
- Person First Language
- Understanding Client Problems
- Clients as Individuals, Groups, and Populations
- Barriers and Supports to Accessing Services
- Self-Determination
- Social Justice, Poverty, and Populations at Risk
- Stigma
- Current Trends
- Policy Impact
- Social Work and Human Services Today
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
2. Course Prefix & Number:
HSER 1100
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
HSER 1100 is an introductory level course that will develop student’s knowledge of the social work profession and values. Major topics covered include history and evolution of the social work profession, varied work setting social workers practice in, roles and responsibilities of the social work profession and understanding of the NASW code of ethics. Students will self-assess and evaluate personal attitudes regarding human diversity, oppression and privilege as it relates to issues of social justice and systemic oppression.
5. Placement Tests Required:
Accuplacer (specify test): |
No placement tests required |
Score: |
|
6. Prerequisite Courses:
HSER 1100 - Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
HSER 1100 - Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
Bemidji State University: SOWK 2120 Introduction to Social Welfare
St. Cloud State University: SW 216 Introduction to Social Work
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
Human Services Technician Diploma
Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway AS
3. Other - If this course does NOT meet criteria for #1 or #2 above, it may be used for the purpose(s) selected below:
Technical Elective
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
Demonstrate written communication skills |
Complete papers and/or projects assessing the varied roles within the social work field. |
Apply ethical principles in decision-making |
Demonstrate critical thinking skills to apply ethical principles to cases and scenarios in social work practice. |
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments |
Complete assignments exploring social work perspective on human diversity, oppression and privilege. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
- Discuss the historical evolution of the social work profession;
- Identify major fields of practice in the social work profession;
- Explain generalist social work as a profession;
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of the social work profession within the social welfare system;
- Differentiate among professional social worker’s responsibility and other service providers’ responsibilities;
- Discuss social work’s perspective on human diversity, oppression, and privilege;
- Discuss the values of the profession and recognize the NASW Code of Ethics as the practice framework for generalist social work practice;
- Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication;
- Identify their comfort level to work with persons different from themselves;
- Identify selected social problems, social welfare agencies’ responses to these issues, and the role that social workers play in these various settings; and
- Identify socioeconomic and related issues impacting populations at risk including issues of social justice and systems of oppression.
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- An Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
- Education, Licensure, and Careers
- Professional Values
- Field Experience
- The Social Work and Human Services Professional
- Characteristics and Skills
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Practice Settings
- Personal and Professional Values
- Scope of Practice
- History of and Current Issues in Social Work and Human Services
- Historical Approaches
- Current Issues and Approaches
- Community Programs and Services
- Ethical Practice
- Ethical Standards of Human Services Professional
- NASW Code of Ethics
- Multicultural Dimensions of Helping
- Introduction to a Multicultural Context
- Introduction to Theories and Frameworks
- Person Centered Approach
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
- Strength Based Perspective
- Systems Theory
- Person in Environment/Ecological Model
- Levels of Practice
- The Helping Process
- Introduction to the General Intervention Model
- Introduction to Helping Skills
- The Client
- Person First Language
- Understanding Client Problems
- Clients as Individuals, Groups, and Populations
- Barriers and Supports to Accessing Services
- Self-Determination
- Social Justice, Poverty, and Populations at Risk
- Stigma
- Current Trends
- Policy Impact
- Social Work and Human Services Today