HSS 101 - Introduction to Human Services

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 5
Students will be introduced to the many facets of human services work and will explore the number of services provided by local agencies in food and shelter assistance, addiction and recovery, mental health, community health, and disability services. Students will also review the history, policies, politics, and economic factors that influence and shape the field of human services.
Course Outcomes:

Identify the development of human and social services in America and the changing roles and responsibilities of the human service workforce in the development and implementation of policy.
Compare and contrast the range of health and human service professions and the functions played by private and public agencies.
Evaluate the various human systems, key theories, and approaches fundamental in human services and the appropriate skills when working with those systems.

Course Topics:

An overview of human services today
The history of human services
Social policy development
The nature and principles of the helping process
Career opportunities
Services provided by local agencies
The link between human services field and current issues/social trends in society

Course Attribute(s): Listed Elective