Greenville Technical College
Human Services Department
Course Syllabus
Summer 2007
Course: HUS 206, Section W01
Semester Credit Hours: 3.0
Instructor’s Name: Beverly Wagner, LISW
Office Location: Bldg 123, Office 218
Office Hours: By Appointment
Office Phone: 250-8823
E-Mail Address: wagnerb@gvltec.mailcruiser.com
Course Description:
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This course is a study of the issues of death and dying. The dying process, coping with dying, cross cultural views of dying, suicide and grief are covered in the course. |
Purpose of the Course: This course is designed for the Human Services student to assist them in developing skills in providing services to clients, with particular emphasis in providing supportive services to families and geriatric clients who are coping with death and dying issues. College transfer student meeting prerequisite requirements may also take this course.
Required Text: DeSpelder, Lynne Ann, Strickland, Albert Lee. The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying. Seventh Edition. (2005). Boston: McGraw Hill. ISBN Number: 0-07-292096-3.
Students for Whom the Course is Intended: All Human Services students
Approved by: Date: May 5, 2007 Department Head, Human Services
Approved by: Date: May 5, 2007
Dean, Business and Public Service
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to:
1. Distinguish between present and past attitudes towards death with particular emphasis on developing an understanding the American death experience.
2. Examine how death is viewed from various cultural and religious perspectives.
3. Apply a life cycle framework to how one’s views and meaning of death are shaped over time.
4. Identify key differences between Hospice and traditional medical care of dying people.
5. Describe ways that the dying cope with impending death.
6. Distinguish and analyze differences between supportive and non supportive communication when providing services to the dying and their families.
7. Examine significant legal aspects of dying to include the use of advanced directives, dispositions of property and wills.
8. Identify current theories regarding near death experiences.
9. Utilize a life cycle framework in describing the bereavement and grieving process.
10. Distinguish and analyze differences between supportive and non supportive communication with the bereaved.
11. Examine and identify risk factors for suicide to include utilizing a life cycle perspective, cultural influences, and personality issues.
Course Requirements: Each student will be responsible for reading the textbook, class outlines and doing assigned homework in the form of drop box assignment as well as completing tests and projects. In addition, participating in discussion boards to further explore death and dying concepts are also a requirement of this course. Due dates for all assignments can be found on the calendar.
Evaluation Methods and Schedules: Students will be evaluated by tests, completion of drop box assignments, discussion board and class projects. Please use appropriate spelling, grammar and punctuation in all your online postings and assignments. All assignments should be written in your own words, with appropriate citation of sources. Appropriate citation of sources includes citing sources in the text of your papers and at the end of each paper in a sources cited section.
Drop Box Assignments: There is a drop box assignment for each chapter. The assignments can be found by following the assignment link or at the learning modules under “Drop Box.” Some drop box assignments will ask you to provide thoughts and feeling about your unique experiences while others will include a short paper based on the readings and outlines for the particular chapter. Late assignments may be submitted up to one week after the due date and will loose half credit.
Discussion Board/Homework: Each chapter will require a discussion board. These will include posting your thoughts based on your readings and study in this class. Discussion Board postings must be completed by the due date on the calendar. Late postings will not receive credit.
Projects: Students will pick two of the following projects during the semester: Obituary project, Cemetery project, Death and Dying arrangements project, Reading: Tuesdays With Morrie, or My Sister’s Keeper and/or Grief Project. Due dates for these can be found on the class schedule below. The project’s due date can be found on the calendar. Late assignments may be submitted up to one week after the due date and will loose half credit.
Exams: There will be three exams in this course. Exams may be taken up to one week after the due date. Late exams will loose half credit.
Grading Rubric:
Exams: 100 points x 3 exams= 300
Drop Box: 35 points x 10 chapters= 350
Bulletin Board: 10 points x 10 chapters= 100
Class Projects: 50 points x 2= 100
Total Points: 850
Grading Scale: (Based on total points received)
90 - 100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69% = D
Below 60% = 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
Because the faculty, staff, and administration of the Public Service & General Business believe that attendance is a key element of and directly related to student success in all courses taken within the Division, we have adopted the following attendance policy. This policy is in keeping with the College policy.
It is the student’s responsibility to be present for all scheduled classes and labs. Any student missing more than 10 percent of the class meetings may be administratively withdrawn by the instructor EXCEPT in extreme cases of illness or death in the immediate family. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the faculty when absences are necessary due to illness or death in the family. Each student’s situation will be judged on an individual basis, and the final decision rests with the faculty. In an on line class, not logging in to the course for a two week period constitutes missing 10 percent of class meetings. The faculty will be responsible for making a reasonable attempt to notify the student of intent to administratively withdraw; however, failure to notify the student will not prevent the faculty from proceeding with the administrative withdrawal.
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
All students who have a disability and need accommodations should visit, call or email Student Disability Services. The office is located in the Student Center, 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.
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
The following lab rules are in addition to those mandated by the college as outlined in the Computing Facilities Use Policy (College Catalog/Student Handbook, pages 56-57). By signing the Syllabus Acknowledgement Form for this course, you agree to follow all of the guidelines specified by both the college and the division. Failure to comply with all computer policies will result in the loss of privileges involving campus computer facilities.
· Children are not allowed in labs and classrooms nor left in hallways (College Catalog/Student Handbook, page 56).
· Food and drinks are not allowed in computer labs.
· Labs are to be used only for students enrolled in Computer/Business Program courses and for educational purposes only and may not be used for commercial or personal purposes.
· A Student ID is required. You may be asked to show your student ID and also a copy of your current class schedule.
· You must log into the computer when you arrive. You will enter your first and last names and your CampusCruiser ID. You will then receive a listing of courses for the current semester, and you will need to select the course for which you are completing work. Remember to log out of the computer before you leave the computer and the lab.
· 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 in the Business Division Student Lab is now available. Students will need to purchase a pay-to-print card (one is located in the lab), and the student will be charged per page for printing. Printing from the Internet is allowed; however, all regulations regarding the use of the Internet also apply to printing from the Internet.
· Printing in the lab classrooms may only be done at the request of the instructor during class time. Then only one copy of the final assignment may be printed for submission. No other printing is permitted in these labs.
· Lab assistants are on duty to handle hardware/software problems; they do not providing tutoring.
· The Lab Assistant’s office and telephone are not to be used by students; a pay phone is located in the canteen.
· All equipment malfunctions are to be reported to the lab assistant; do not attempt repairs.
· Labs are closed to all students during exam days (except for scheduled exam use), holiday breaks, and between semesters.
· Copying of any software programs and applications which are licensed or protected by copyright is theft.
· Copying of computer programs, documents, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, computer codes, etc. is not tolerated.
· You must keep the labs neat and clean by picking up after yourself.
· Labs are occasionally reserved for classes; adhere to posted signs.
· You must leave the lab and/or classroom to answer or return cell phone calls. Please put your cell phone on manner-mode or vibrant when in the lab and/or classroom; disruptive and loud ring tones are not acceptable. Students may be asked to change inappropriate ring tones that are disruptive to the learning environment in the lab and/or classroom.
· The lab assistant may be asked to perform corrective activity for a disk, but it is done so at your own risk with no guarantees that data will not be lost.
· Loading of ANY software onto campus computers is prohibited.
· Internet downloading is prohibited!
· Use of personal laptops is not permitted in the lab. Only computers owned by the College may be plugged into any College network.
· Instant messaging is prohibited.
· All students must use the Business Division Student Lab to complete work outside of the scheduled course times. Students will not be allowed to remain in the classroom to complete work after the class is over. Instructors will ask all students to leave the classroom and report to the Student Lab if they desire to continue working on a computer.
The Business Division Student Lab is located on the Barton Campus in the Engineering Building (103), 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 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am to 1:00 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.
Greenville Technical College endorses and promotes the following college-wide competencies for all associate degree students:
· Comprehend and generate effective written and oral communication. *
· Demonstrate research skills necessary for personal and professional purposes. *
· Apply mathematical skills appropriate to solve day to day as well as work related problems.
· Demonstrate knowledge of computer applications compatible with job demands.
· Exhibit professionalism appropriate to the values and ethics of their chosen career. *
· Demonstrate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to fulfill work and personal responsibilities. *
· Practice interpersonal skills and team work in their professional lives. *
· Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of various cultures. *
(Competencies marked with an asterisk (*)are being reinforced within this course.