I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Human Services

2. Course Prefix & Number:
HSER 1102

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 4

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course combines a basic overview of human-services knowledge with self-assessment exercises to help you evaluate your choice to work in the helping professions. You will learn about the human services field and profession, the history of human services, future trends, and multicultural perspectives. Through exercises, small group work, and experiential learning you will learn how to assess your personal attitudes, values, and interests in the field. Community service project outside of class may be required.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Human Services AAS
Human Services Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Complete reflection papers to analyze personal beliefs and biases
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Identify personal characteristics that align with the Human Service profession
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Describe how the human service profession intersects with diverse populations

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify historical development of Human Service trends that may impact the future of this profession;
• Describe basic elements of the social welfare system;
• Differentiate various professional roles of human services workers and other helping professionals;
• Recognize attitudes, beliefs, values, and common motives for becoming an effective Human Service professional;
• Identify comfort level when working with persons different from self;
• Compare and contrast the various models of practice within Human Services;
• Assess personal readiness for the Human Service profession;
• Describe the skills needed to enter into the Human Service profession;
• Discuss multicultural aspects of human service work;
• Describe the importance of ethical practice within the Human Service profession;
• Recognize the human service professionals’ role in the agency system; and
• Describe the settings in which human service professionals work. 

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. An Introduction to Human Services
• Defining Human Services
• Themes and Purposes of Human Services
• The Human Service Profession
2. The Human Service Professional
• Who Is the Helper?
• Characteristics of Human Service Professionals
3. Human Service RolesHistorical Context of Human Service Practice
• The History of Advocacy in Human Services
• Early Foundations of Advocacy
• Colonialism to Present Day
4. Human Services and Ethical Practice
• Ethical Considerations
• Codes of Ethics
• Competence and Responsibility
• Confidentiality
• Client's Rights
• Ethical Standards of Human Service Professionals
• Ethical Decision Making
5. Multicultural Dimensions of Helping
• Introduction to a Multicultural Context
• Concepts to Help You Build Multicultural Competence
• Exploring Your Own Identity to Help Build Multicultural Competence
6. Models of Service Delivery
• The Medical Model
• The Public Health Model
• The Human Service Model
7. The Helping Process
• The Nature of the Helping Process
• An Introduction to Helping Skills
• Skills for Challenging Clients
8. The Client
• Person Centered Approach
• Understanding Client Problems
• Clients as Individuals, Groups, and Populations
• Barriers and Supports to Accessing Services
• The Client's Perspective
• Client Empowerment
9. Working in the Human Service Field
• Working within the System
• The Agency Environment
• Challenges in Day-to-Day Human Service Work
• Promoting Change
10. Human Services Today
• Settings for Human Service Delivery
• The Impact of Technology
• Trends in Human Services
• The Changing Workplace