Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | SWK-1010-VO02S - Introduction to Human Services

Synchronous Class

Synchronous courses are delivered through a combination of online and regularly-scheduled Zoom sessions. In synchronous classes, students must attend Zoom sessions and actively engage with each other and faculty in course activities and discussions.

Faculty

Judith Castonguay
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-VO02S 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

As a synchronous course, weekly classes will consist of a 2-hour Zoom meeting each Monday from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. with group discussions and activities, and lectures with power points. Students will also be asked to participate in role-play scenarios. Zoom meetings are not optional and cameras must be turned on for Zoom sessions. They are a critical component to the teaching and learning that happens in this course, and are designed to be interactive opportunities for students to engage with each other and the faculty. There will also be a weekly assignment posted on Canvas. Participation in, and completion of, these weekly meetings and tasks will be how your attendance and participation grade is computed.

Videos, articles and other other readings, and guest speakers will be used as they relate to course content.

Students will be asked to write and submit weekly journal entries and/or observational reports commenting on reading assignments, class discussions/activities and case studies. Topics for journal entries may be periodically assigned.

Two take-home exams will be given to assess student learning.

Each student will complete an agency visit, which will include an informational interview.

Each student will complete one (1) Community Resource research project.

Each student will complete a final research project - to be determined in collaboration with the instructor - on a human-resources related topic.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Regular participation in weekly Zoom meetings - with camera on - and in online discussions and activities, as well as completion of weekly Canvas assignments.
2. Satisfactory completion of exams.
3. Satisfactory completion of weekly journal entries.
4. Satisfactory completion of community resource project.
5. Satisfactory completion of agency visit & interview.
6. Satisfactory completion of final project.

Grading Criteria:

Attendance/Participation:90 points (A total of 6 points weekly is possible. This includes attendance at weekly Zoom sessions with camera on, participation in online discussion forums. and completion of weekly Canvas assignments.)

Exams:50 points (25 points each)

Journal Entries:60 points(5 points each)

Community Resource Project:50 points

Agency Visit & Interview:75 points

Final Project:75 points

Total Possible Points: 400

355 - 400 points: A

300- 354 points: B

250- 299 points: C

200- 249 points: D

0 - 199 points: F

Extra credit accepted if approved in advance.

Letter Grade Criteria:

360 - 400 - A (392 - 400 - A+; 372 - 360 - A-)

320 - 359 - B (352 - 359 - B+; 332 - 320 B-)

280 - 319 - C (312 - 319 - C+; 292 - 280 C-)

240 - 279 - D (272 - 279 - D+; 252 - 240 D-)

0 - 239 - F

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

Full participation requires active and thoughtful engagement in class each week. The following habits and skills are important. You'll have the opportunity to self-assess and receive instructor feedback on each of these areas at the mid-point and the end of the semester.

• Attend class regularly, on-time and for the full session. Cameras must be turned on for Zoom meetings.
• Complete all of the week's readings and assignments before the start of class.
• Listen to others attentively and with an open mind.
• Positively contribute to class discussions and activities.
• Ask questions and seek help when you need it.
• Challenge yourself to do your best work.

Missing & Late Work Policy

• All assignments are due on the date stated in the Weekly Schedule and can be turned in via Canvas or e-mail. Late assignments will be accepted with a reduction of 1 point for journal entries and 5 points for exams and other projects. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from completing work in a timely manner, extensions can be granted. Please speak to the instructor if this is the case.
• If you miss a class, you are responsible for checking Canvas and getting any notes, materials and assignments for the class you missed. Please reach out and ask questions if anything is unclear.

Experiential Learning Expectations

Hours: 6-10

In collaboration with the instructor, each student will select a local Human Services Agency to visit. The visit must include an interview with an employee and/or supervisor of the agency, as well as a tour of the facility itself. After the visit a written assignment will include a summary of the interview as well as the student's overall impressions of the agency and how it meets client need.

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