Course Syllabus

Fall 2024 | SWK-1010-VO02 - Introduction to Human Services

Online Class

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

Faculty

Maureen Wilson
View Faculty Credentials

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 provides an overview of the organization, values, theories, and variety of activities of various human service professions, with specific emphasis on social work. Students explore the human services and examine opportunities and educational requirements for a career in social work and other helping professions.

Essential Objectives

1. Trace the development of social welfare institutions in the United States, including the organization, funding sources, goals, management, and policies of contemporary local, state, and federal human service programs.
2. Compare human services systems in the United States to those developed in other global cultures and diverse societies.
3. Explain the needs of individuals and communities that are addressed by the human services system, describe human service programming, and evaluate the efficacy of common intervention methods.
4. Identify and discuss the educational and ethical requirements of human services professionals including the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
5. Apply the core values of Social Work—service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
6. Discuss the importance of cultural competence and demonstrate skills and strategies for supporting and collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
7. Explain the forms, mechanisms, and dynamics of oppression and the strategies of social change that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
8. Explore the scope and diversity of career opportunities in social work and other human services fields through assignments such as informational interviews, job shadows, or other career exploration activities..

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 is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

METHODS AND CONTENT:Online course methods include weekly readings, written homework assignments, readings and assignments are from the readings. Class participation and Discussion, case reviews, and exams.

COURSE WORK:

Discussion Attendance and Participation: Regular attendance and participation in class is expected and maximizes your learning. Attendance is taken on Tuesday and is based on posts in the Discussion forum and completing homework. Please be aware of the CCV policy regarding attendance. Missing more than three classes/weeks may result in an unsuccessful final grade.

The discussion forum:In order to get full credit for a discussion you need to post at least three times during the discussion period, with a minimum of three relevant and substantive posts in the general discussion forum. Your first post must be by Thursday and on two other days. Minimum length should be at least one paragraph. Each week the Discussion is worth 10 points each. Additional substantive posts help to earn full credit.

Weekly Homework Assignments: Assignments consists of readings, written responses to weekly assignments. Weekly assignments will cover important concepts and learning objectives of the course. Homework assignments are due on Mondays. All written work is due by midnight on the due date listed. Homework is graded based on comprehensiveness of response and sufficient length to both respond to the questions and support your answers. Homework is worth 10 points each week.

Reading:Most weeks will include a reading unit which should be read in advance. All readings should be completed by the end of the first day of the new week. Each reading unit includes an associated discussion board thread which is generally broken into 1 or 2 components.Video- to be viewed.

Research is important to use in supporting your posts in the Discussion and in your Homework assignments.

Exams: There will be two exams given over the course of the semester. The goal of the exams is to review material covering the course objectives. Exams are posted in course documents in Canvas. Exams are worth 50 points each.

Late work policy limits a up to a 4 day deduction by one day deduction by each day. No further acceptance of late work.

Text, video, video, Discussion and homework for each week are listed within the course by week.

Evaluation Criteria

Weekly Discussion participation 10 points= 150

Weekly written homework assignments 10 points =130

Exams (2) 50 points each 100

TOTAL = 380

You following your grades is an important way to review your status in the course.

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

Weekly Schedule

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

Discussion Attendance and Participation: Regular attendance and participation in class is expected and maximizes your learning. Attendance is taken on Tuesday and is based on posts in the Discussion forum and completing homework. Please be aware of the CCV policy regarding attendance. Missing more than three classes/weeks may result in an unsuccessful final grade.

The discussion forum:In order to get full credit for a discussion you need to post at least three times during the discussion period, with a minimum of three relevant and substantive posts in the general discussion forum. Your first post must be by Thursday and on two other days. Minimum length should be at least one paragraph. Each week the Discussion is worth 10 points each. Additional substantive posts help to earn full credit.

Missing & Late Work Policy

LATE WORK POLICY:This policy only applies to written work such as homework or exams. For any work turned in late there will be a reduction in your grade. For each day that passes the due date, your grade will be lowered one whole grade as follows in this example:

Day 1 late- if you have earned an A for the assignment = reduced one grade to a B.

Day 2 late –if you have earned an A for the assignment = now reduced to a C.

Day 3 late –if you have earned an A for the assignment = now reduced to a D.

Date 4 late –if you have earned an A for the assignment = now reduced to a F.

- It is not possible to make up for your absence in class. The last week of the course no late work is accepted.

If you have a life crisis that interferes with work completion, notify the instructor immediately to discuss.Maureen.wilson@ccv.eduOtherwise, all assignments are expected on the due date.

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