This course provides an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of community human services agencies and systems. It introduces the student to the skills necessary for entry and professional work in education, social work, mental health, human services administration, and related employment. This course also reviews implementation of social services policies.

This course is designed to facilitate development of basic communication skills necessary to develop an effective helping relationship with clients. Students will be introduced to basic procedures and skills in information management, assessment, evaluation, problem-solving, and referral procedures. It includes the utilization of special skills to assist individuals, families, groups in achieving objectives through exploration of a designated problem and its ramifications, examination of alternative solutions, and decision making.

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the history of crisis intervention and crisis theory. In addition, it will also present a comprehensive model of crisis intervention and will include developing, listening, and understanding skills, as well as assessment approaches and interventions.

This course teaches the dynamics of drug addiction and dependence, classification and origins of drugs, short and long-term effects, risk of dependence, and medical uses. Drug education, laws, treatment, and rehabilitation are additional areas of focus.

This course provides the first of two hands-on field experiences for students pursuing an associates degree in Human Services. The purpose of this course is to help prepare students for careers in the field. This practicum is a non-paid opportunity to work with local agencies and institutions related to human services. Professors assigned to the course will maintain contact with site supervisors to provide students with appropriate training and feedback. Students will meet weekly with professors to track progress. Upon successful completion of this course, students may move onto HUS2801.

This course focuses on the communication behavior of individuals within group structures. Didactic and experiential techniques are used to explore the stages of group development, decision-making techniques, group problems, problem solving, resolution skills, norms, structures, leadership, authority, membership, ethics, cultural sensitivity, and intra- and inter-personal dynamics within small groups. This course incorporates experiential learning through group exercises in class.

This course is designed as an introduction to the study of domestic and family violence. It teaches human services workers both the evaluation as well as the outreach skills necessary for working in the field of domestic violence. The dynamics of partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sibling violence are explored.

This course teaches theories of substance abuse and treatment. Causes of addiction, including biological and environmental influences, are are explored. Emphasis is placed on understanding the dynamics of successful treatment.

This course will explore various approaches used by the human services worker to help facilitate linking a client with needed community services. It is designed to introduce students to a variety of ways in which case management is used to assist vulnerable populations of clients.

This course offers a broad overview of the basic processes of substance use, abuse, addiction, treatment and recovery. Students will examine the biological, psychological and societal forces that encourage the use, misuse, abuse and addiction to both licit and illicit substances. The course focuses on the major substances of abuse and their historical, social and legal impact on our society as well as their physical, psychological and social impact on individuals, families and the community.

This course focuses on the dynamics of family dysfunction including negative patterns of parental behavior, substance abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and mental illness. The course addresses a broad spectrum of issues including the characteristics of dysfunctional families as well as the traits and characteristics of functional families. Emphasis is placed on causes, effects, and roles of individuals within the family system.

This course will help students explore the relationship between the law, the framework of ethics, and human service organizations. Legal duties and the rights of clients and providers will be discussed. The course will also provide a forum for the exploration and analysis of ethical questions and value dilemmas encountered by managers and clinicians in human services.

This course explores theories explaining familiar abuse and teaches evaluation and outreach skills. Legal issues relating to partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sibling violence are addressed.

This course examines factors such as health, finances, and social roles as they related to individuals in late adulthood. Familial role changes and independence of the elderly are explored. A holistic approach is taken to the understanding of the well-being of the elderly in particular, and the family unit in general.

This course is designed to give students an overview of abuse and neglect of the elderly. The course will focus on definitions of abuse, prevalence rates, prevention, assessment, theories of possible causes, and the referral process.

This course is a continuation of the practicum for the Human Services student. This is the second of two required practicum courses within the Human Services AS degree. The course serves as a scheduled work experience, without remuneration, which helps the student bridge the gap between classroom and workplace. This opportunity is designed to prepare students to become entry-level human service practitioners. The practicum is an intensive field experience in human services and community agencies. Students continue to learn from observations and hands-on-experience.