I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Multicultural Dimensions of Human Services

2. Course Prefix & Number:
HSER 1112

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course focuses on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that human service practitioners need to work effectively in culturally diverse communities. You will learn how to assess the impact of cultural differences in human service situations and how to adjust communication, goals, and services to meet the needs of clients. As part of this course, you will explore your own, and one another’s cultural identities, values, attitudes, and behaviors.

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 fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Human Services AAS
Human Services Technician Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Demonstrate active listening skills.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Describe cultural humility and cultural competence, and give examples of each as it applies to engaging with a client from a diverse population.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Identify similarities and differences between personal cultural experience and a classmate, family, or friend's cultural experience.

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

• Understand the importance of cultural competence and cultural humility in the human service industry;  
• Identify your own cultural identity; 
• Describe racism, power, and privilege;   
• Understand implicit bias and how it impacts your work with clients;  
• Demonstrate understanding of issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Incorporate culturally appropriate communication in your work with clients; and
  
• Explore resources and services available to diverse populations.
  

V. Topical Outline

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

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Exploring Culture
• Definitions 
• Dimensions of Culture
2. Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Self-Awareness
• Curiosity
• Nonjudgemental Approach
3. Racism, Prejudice and Discrimination 
• Definitions
• Individual Racism
• Systemic Racism
• Microaggressions
• Implicit bias 
• Implications for Providers
• Allyship

4. Power and Privilege

5. Understanding and Honoring Cultural Differences
• The Cultural Iceberg
• Historical Lens and Present Day Experiences
6. Bias in Service Delivery 
• Impact of Social, Political, and Racial Attitudes 
• Underrepresentation in Providers 
7. Risk, Barriers, and Impact of Individual and Systemic Racism
• Stress  
• Psychological Trauma/PTSD
• Racial Identity and Group Belonging 
• Assimilation and Acculturation 
• Substance Use
• Historic Trauma
• Unresolved Grief
• Forgiveness and Reparations
8. Working with Diverse Populations
• LGBTQ
• Socioeconomic Experience
• Black/African American
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Native American/Indigenous
• White
• Asian
• Arab and Muslim American
• Neurodivergent
• Deaf