Greenville Technical College

Human Services Department

Course Syllabus

Spring 2008

 

Course Title:   Introduction to Human Services

Course:           HUS 101, Section W01

Semester        Credit Hours:  3.0

Prerequisite:    Placement in ENG 101

 

Instructor’s Name:    Bonnie J. Smith, MSW                     

Office Location:        Bldg. 123, Rm. 212

Office Hours:             By appointment         

Office Phone:            (864) 250-8856

E-Mail Address:        smithb24@gvltec.mailcruiser.com or private mail within WebCT                                  

 

Course Description:  This course is an overview of the field of Human Services. Role responsibilities, problems, boundaries, and strategies of human services workers are included.

 

Purpose of the Course:  This course is designed to introduce Human Services students to the profession and to issues affecting future clients.  College transfer students meeting prerequisite requirements may also take this course.

 

Required Text:  Neukrug, E. (2008) Theory, Practice and Trends in Human Services: An Introduction. 4rd ed., Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/Cole. ISBN-10 9780495097136  |

 

Required Software: Microsoft Word 97 or higher and ability to save documents as .doc or .rtf files.

 

Students for Whom the Course is Intended:  All Human Services students

 

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to:  

1.     To explore the various work settings of the human service professional

2.     To be able to describe characteristics of the effective human service professional         

3.     To be able to describe the influence of psychology, social work and counseling on the human service profession 

4.     To learn the roles of various professional groups working in  human service organizations

5.     To be able to analyze ethical dilemmas

6.     To review some of the major theories of counseling and psychotherapy

7.     To understand basic interviewing and counseling skills

8.     To examine basic case management techniques

9.     To understand how the human service worker can use knowledge of human development

10.   To examine ways of facilitating change in groups, families, and social systems.

11.  To explore how issues related to gender and multiculturalism relate to the work of the human service professional

12.  To understand the nature and function of research, program evaluation, and the use of tests by the human service field

13.  To examine ways of preparing for and finding a job in the human service field and how to assist clients in finding jobs

14.  To examine future treads and professional issues in the human service field

15.  To understand and apply the concept of the “developmentally mature” human service worker.     

 

 

Course-Specific Information

 

Methods of Instruction:  Each student will be responsible for reading assignments, completing assignments and participating in online discussions to bring to life the concepts of the course.

 

Evaluation Methods and Schedules:  Students will be evaluated by tests, participation in online discussion, and other written assignments. Please use appropriate spelling, grammar and punctuation in all your online postings and email assignments. All assignments should be written in your own words, with appropriate citation of resources.
 

Assignments: Students are expected to complete all Assignments by the due date indicated on the calendar. Assignments may be turned in early. Assignments can be turned in within one week after the due date with a 50% grade penalty.

 

Discussions: Discussion assignments are provided for each chapter and are the basis for online dialogue. Due dates can be found on the Calendar. Each student will post answers to the discussion questions to be read by and commented on by classmates. Participation in online discussions is essential in the learning process in online courses. It replaces classroom discussion. Each student is expected to answer the questions posted by the instructor and to respond to questions and statements posted by other students. Answers to discussion assignments are to be posted by the due date indicated on the calendar. Students are expected to respond to at least two other postings, asking questions or offering insights. Discussions will be graded following the grading form found within each Discussion description.

 

Exams:  There will be 4 exams in the course. Due dates are found on the calendar. Each exam may consist of multiple choice, true and false, matching and short answer questions related to the readings from the text, assignment and class discussions. Exams are online and must be completed within the allotted time and submitted by the due date and time listed in the calendar. Exams may be taken early without penalty. Students may ask the instructor to open an exam for up to one week past the due date. There is a 50% grade penalty for exams taken late.

 

Grading Scale in points:       

900 - 1000 = A

                                    800 -   899 = B

                                    700 -   799 = C

                                    600 -    699= D

                                    Below  600  = F

 

"I" - Incomplete

An I indicates some work is incomplete in a course taught in the traditional manner.  The student is responsible for making up all unfinished work within the next semester.  The student cannot re-enroll in the class until the "I" has been replaced with a letter grade.  The "I" will be changed to an "F" if all work is not completed satisfactorily by one week before the beginning of exams in the next semester.  "I" does not affect grade calculations; earns no credit hours.  Only under unusual and extenuating circumstances will an instructor consider granting an "I".

 

Greenville Technical College Policy For Repeating A Course

Effective January, 1994, a student may register for a class a maximum of three times.  (W’s, F’s, and in some cases, D’s count toward the maximum of three registrations.)  If extenuating circumstances have occurred, such as prolonged illness, an appeal may be made to a subcommittee appointed by the chairperson of the Academic Council. Refer to the College Catalog and Student Handbook for more information on this policy.

 

Attendance Policy

Students “attend” the course by logging in. Students are expected to log in on the first day of class, then at least one time per week for the remainder of the semester. If a student goes for a period of two weeks without logging in to the course, the instructor may administratively withdraw the student.

 

Policy Pertaining to Academic Maters

If at any time during the semester a problem should arise pertaining to this course or any other academic matter, you should consult your instructor first.  If further assistance is needed after this consultation, your instructor will make an appointment for you with the department head.  If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, the department head will make an appointment for you with the person at the next appropriate level.  The counselor for our division is Tracie Raines.  Her office is in HE 247 and her telephone number is 250-8147.

 

Academic honesty

All tests and projects must be the sole work of the student.  Any student involved in cheating, plagiarism, or collusion may receive a course grade of “F” at the instructor’s discretion.

 

Student Code

The Student Code can be found in the Greenville Technical College Catalog and on www.greenvilletech.com. All students are expected to read it and to follow the provisions of the Code.

 

Students with Disabilities

Refer to the College Catalog/Student Handbook, page 48, for additional information.

 All students who have a disability and need accommodations should visit, call, or e-mail Student Disability Services at the beginning of each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain their accommodation forms within the first 2 weeks of class to ensure appropriate services. The office is located at the Barton Campus in the Student Center (Building 105), Room 124, and can be reached by phone at 250-8202 or 250-8408 or by email at sharon.bellwood@gvltec.edu. The Disability Service Counselor is available to meet with students on satellite campuses by appointment

 

Policy for repeating a course

Effective January, 1994, a student may register for a class a maximum of three times.  (W’s, F’s, and in some cases, D’s count toward the maximum of three registrations.)  If extenuating circumstances have occurred, such as prolonged illness, an appeal may be made to a subcommittee appointed by the chairperson of the Academic Council.

Refer to the Student Handbook for more information on this policy.

 

Important Dates

 

SPRING - 2008

 

Spring Classes Begin (M)

January 7, 2008

Martin Luther King’s Birthday (M)

January 21, 2008

Classes Begin for 10-Week Session (T)      

February 12, 2008

Students’ Last Day to Withdraw from 1st Half (W)

February 13, 2008

Last Class Day for 1st Half Term (W)

February 27, 2008

Exams for 1st Half Term (R-F)

February 28-29, 2008

Classes Begin for 2nd Half Term (M)              

March 3, 2008

Students’ Last Day to Withdraw from Full Term (M)

March 17, 2008

Spring Break (M-F)             

March 24-28, 2008

Students’ Last Day to Withdraw from 10-Week Session (F)

April 4, 2008

Students’ Last Day to Withdraw from 2nd Half (T)

April 15, 2008

Last Class Day Full term, 2nd Half & 10-Week (M)

April 28, 2008

Exams (T-F)

April 29-May 2, 2008

Graduation (T)

May 6, 2008

 

Divisional Student Support Services:

Department Head:  Dr. Barry W. Shreve                    ADM 214        250-8822

Dean, Business and Public Service:  F.M. Rogers      CJ 125             250-8204

Division Counselor:  Tracie Raines                            HE 247            250-8147

Writing Center:                                                           UT 131            250-8452

Student Services (for tutoring information):                SC 135            250-8102

Advisement: Karen White                                           ARC                250-8043

           

Business Division Student Lab Rules

Effective Summer 2003 (2003su)

1.          Children are not allowed in labs and classrooms nor left in hallways.  This is a campus-wide policy (pg. 53 of the Student Handbook).

2.          Due to the nature of the equipment, no food or drinks are allowed in computer labs.

3.          Labs are to be used only for students enrolled in Computer/Business Program courses and for educational purposes only.  No college-owned computing resources are to be used for unauthorized commercial or personal purposes.  Student ID required – You may be asked to show your student ID and also a copy of your current class schedule.

4.          You must sign-in when you enter the lab by printing your name, program of study, and course that you will be working on in the lab.  Sign out as you leave.

5.          Inappropriate or unethical use of the Internet is strictly prohibited (i.e., chat rooms, pornographic web site access, etc.)  On the first offense, a written warning will be issued.  Lab privileges will be revoked upon the second offense.  Printing from the Internet is prohibited!

6.          Students may print only one copy of a project.  We encourage you to use print preview to find errors before printing the final copy.  If you need to print multiple copies, such as a class handout, please see your instructor (Instructor will be responsible for having copies made for this purpose.) or use the library's services.

7.          Printing from the Internet and from PowerPoint is prohibited!  Printing from all other programs has been limited to a maximum of 10 pages.   Note:  Printing restrictions have been implemented due to budget constraints. 

8.          Students are not allowed in the Lab Assistant’s office. Lab assistants are on duty to handle hardware/software problems.  They are not tutors.  If you feel you need help with your assignments see your instructor or contact Student Services for tutoring information.

9.          The telephone in the Lab Assistant’s office is not to be used by students to place or receive calls.   A pay phone is located in the canteen area of the Engineering Building.

10.          Report all malfunctions of equipment to the lab assistant.  Please do not attempt repairs yourself.

11.          Labs are closed to all students during exam days (except for scheduled exam use) as well as during holidays and between semesters.

12.          The unauthorized copying of any software which is licensed or protected by copyright is theft, and thus unethical.

13.          Respect for the intellectual work and property of others has traditionally been essential to the mission of colleges and universities.  We do not tolerate plagiarism; and we do not condone unauthorized copying of software, including programs, applications, databases, and code.

14.          Please help keep the labs clean by picking up after yourself.

15.          Please note posted signs.  Labs are occasionally reserved for classes.

16.          Devices such as beepers/pagers and personal cellular phones are permitted on campus; however, they MUST NOT be activated in classrooms or labs.  Students MUST leave the classroom or lab to answer or return calls. 

 

The Business Division Student Lab is located in the Engineering Building, Room 115.

 You will be required to sign in and out when using this lab.   Be sure to keep your student ID and class schedule with you; you may be asked to show your current student ID and/or your current class schedule.

Open Lab Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 10:30 pm

Saturday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Sunday Closed

Human Services Program Competencies

Students are expected to effectively demonstrate competencies in the following in order to successfully complete the academic program.

  1. knowledge of the historical roots of Human Services, the development of Human Service programs, and the current social service system
  2. knowledge of a wide range of community Human Service agencies, the organizational structure of human services at the local, state, and federal level, general policies/regulations in delivery systems, and how evaluation, research, and needs assessment are used in Human Service systems.
  3. knowledge of specific problem areas and conditions such as: aging, mental illness, physical disability, family-related issues, substance abuse, etc.
  4. knowledge of common counseling approaches, related techniques and modalities of counseling, including key concepts, goals of counseling, the nature of the helping relationship, and specific contributions and limitations
  5. ability to gather information and assess client needs including psychosocial history, basic psychological functioning, presenting problem(s), motivation to change, etc.
  6. ability to communicate effectively through verbal and in writing with clients and co-workers; demonstrate knowledge of and skills in using basic counseling and interviewing techniques
  7. demonstrates self-awareness in relation to abilities, personality, interpersonal style, beliefs and values and how these may affect personal and professional interactions
  8. demonstrates belief in the personal dignity of people in need of services, in client self-determination, client worth and uniqueness, etc.
  9. projects and expresses positive regard for others, warmth in relationships, genuineness, courtesy and respect, empathy, and congruence in relationships
  10. ability to maintain responsible work habits and foster collaboration and teamwork in academic and work-related settings

 

College-Wide Competencies

Greenville Technical College endorses and promotes the following college-wide competencies for all associate degree students:

  1. Comprehend and generate effective written and oral communication.
  2. Demonstrate research skills necessary for personal and professional purposes.
  3. Apply mathematical skills appropriate to solve day to day as well as work related problems.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of computer applications compatible with job demands.
  5. Exhibit professionalism appropriate to the values and ethics of their chosen career.
  6. Demonstrate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to fulfill work and personal responsibilities.
  7. Practice interpersonal skills and team work in their professional lives.
  8. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of various cultures.