Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | SWK-1010-VO03 - Introduction to Human Services

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Lisa Dubbert
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Kate Hughes

General Education Requirements

VSCS Social Sciences

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course surveys general categories of services and detailed exploration of specific agencies and programs, how they are organized, whom they serve, and criticisms of delivery of service. This course also examines career opportunities and educational requirements in the human service field.

Essential Objectives

1. Trace the development of social welfare institutions in America, including the organization, funding sources, goals, management, and policies of contemporary human service programs.
2. Identify major schools of American political thought with respect to the role of government in providing human services and critique their impact on the American human service system, including the extent to which they function to create, maintain, or dismantle social inequalities.
3. Identify and describe local human service agencies and programs and relate them to federal and state services.
4. Compare human services systems in the United States to those developed in other global cultures and diverse societies.
5. Explain the specific human needs of individuals and communities that are addressed by the human services system, describe some of the programming developed, and review data to evaluate the efficacy of common intervention methods.
6. Assess major contemporary issues facing human service systems and describe how recent behavioral and social science research informs policies and responses to these issues.
7. Explore the scope and diversity of career opportunities in the human services field.
8. Identify and discuss the educational and ethical requirements of human services professionals.
9. Discuss the importance of cultural competence in human services professions and identify skills and strategies for supporting and collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Spring 2024 textbook details will be available on 2023-11-06. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

SWK-1010-VO03 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

The online classroom offers some different ways to engage and learn from the material and each other.
The heartbeat of our class are the Discussions. We gather there to learn, grow, challenge each other and strengthen our skills as students and future professionals.

In addition to the discussion forum-other methods of learning and engagement could include, projects,

small groups, video journals, visual presentations, such as powerpoints, and formal papers/projects.

All formal submissions are required to be APA format. This is very important to remember, this a common stumbling block for students. APA format might be new to you if it is you can find a lot of information about APA by contacting our library. There are many many resources found on the web, including tutorials on youtube.com

Descriptions of assignments are found in the classroom clearly labeled. Take some time to review these assignments earlier versus later in the semester. Reach out for clarification if needed.

Evaluation Criteria

Students are evaluated in multiple ways in the online classroom. Considerations include: participation, being on time, demonstration of knowledge of the material, college level writing, including correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, APA format when applicable, engaging in discussion with classmates, meeting deadlines.

You are invited to engage in the process and explore your passion for the subject. When doing, we might find that many of the considerations listed above naturally fall into place. Our classroom is a place of supportive learning.

Papers, Projects, Video Journals, Midterms, Finals, Groups, etc.: There are various ways in which we will work in the classroom, outside of the Forums.All formal submissions are required to be APA format.If you are unfamiliar with APA format, connect with Hartness Library.

Descriptions of the assignments are found in the classroom and are clearly labeled. Take some time to review these assignments earlier versus later in the semester. Reach out for clarification if needed.

Deadlines apply

ClassRoom Etiquette: Most of our work takes place in the weekly discussion. In our discussions, there will be times that you will disagree with a classmate. If you decide to respond, do so with respect. In our class, it is o.k to debate theories and opinions, to examine an idea from varied viewpoints, to "think outside the box" and to broaden our knowledge base. Let’s keep these exchanges, as well as, all exchanges in a mutually respectful manner. We might find ourselves discussing sensitive topics, which can be challenging, but important to engage in dialogue about. See Student Code of Conduct for CCV's policy and expectation of student behavior.

Be respectful in your communication with each other and your instructor. Since our main form of communication is the written word, there can be misunderstandings at times. When in doubt, ask for clarification.

Here is a summary of the issues that are taken into consideration when grading: Complete academic responses.

Spelling, sentence structure, grammar, and citing if applicable.
Demonstration of knowledge, thoroughness, competency, college level academic work.
Details versus generalization.
Academic work versus opinions/personal thoughts
Frequency of class visits. Students are expected to be in class 3 times per week, once by Wednesday 11:59. Due dates are posted for each weekly assignment in Canvas.
Engaging in discussion with classmates and myself.
Follow through with a question or comment from myself or classmates.
Being on time
Quality of your work
Contribution to group work, (when applicable)
Use of your own words versus copying and pasting. See CCV's Academic Honesty policy.

Discussions 60%
Video Journals 10%
Midterm Paper 15%
Final Paper 15%

I'm looking forward to an educational, interesting semester!

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Attendance: Classes begin on Tuesday and end on Monday at 6PM. This might vary from time to time-in particular the final week. The dates are listed each week for your convenience.

Participation: You need to be in class at least 3 times a week (on 3 separate days/times) and post an academic response. You will notice due dates for assignments throughout the week. Those dates are marked in Canvas.

If you are tardy you will receive a late penalty. Please be mindful of the due dates, which are marked in Canvas.

Our work is spread throughout the week, however, participation is required and you can engage throughout the week with classmates.

When posting your work demonstrate knowledge, insight, and college level work. Be thorough in your responses. Take the time to edit prior to posting. Make sure you are using accurate spelling and grammar. Cite your sources even in your weekly posts. E-tutoring is available to CCV students. Consider working with them; an extra set of eyes can be helpful in the editing process.

Formal papers are required to be in APA format. If you are not sure about APA format, reach out the Hartness Library for a point in the right direction.

Keep in mind that rarely will you be able to answer the weekly question in a couple of sentences. Take time to demonstrate your skills as a student by doing a quality job. Integrate academic material from our readings and other sources in your posts. While opinions and personal stories can be relevant, your work must demonstrate academic awareness of the topics addressed in class.

The discussion forums are a large part of your grade-60%. Doing your best will not only ensure a quality grade but it will enhance your learning experience. This is an engaged classroom. Not only are you expected to read and respond to my posts, but you are expected to read all posts and respond to select posts by your classmates.

Select posts mean responding to post by classmates for whatever reason may stand out to you. Feel free to share information relevant and related to the class topics and material.

For sharing and chatting about topics outside of the classroom material check out the Student Lounge Forum.

Missing & Late Work Policy

You are expected to be in class by Wednesday 11:59 with the first assignment of the week typically due to be on time. Weekly late work earns a late penalty.

Midterms, Video Journals, Finals late submissions are NOT accepted-resulting in a failing grade.

If you are tardy you will receive a late penalty. Please be mindful of the due dates, which are marked in Canvas.

Make-Up Policy: There are times in which you might miss a class. Although in online classes, there is tremendous flexibility. This course is prepared and complete when the semester starts. The forums are open 24 hours a day until the end of the academic week. This is deliberate on my part to ensure the maximum amount of flexibility for students and a range of schedules. Access to the internet is readily available in communities across the country. However, in the event you miss a class there is a make up policy. You can miss one class per semester and make up the work the following week without penalty. You will need to contact me. Messaging me through Canvas is the most reliable

Missing more than once will have a negative impact on your grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity