Department of Human Services 
College of Health and Social Welfare

 
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
HUMS 101  Introduction to Human Services                       
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites:  None
Overview of human services. Includes traditional and contemporary helping approaches, plus characteristics, values, and professional roles in human service workers. Covers human service consumers, their problems and functioning, helping systems and strategies, environmental change processes, and legal and ethical issues.
HUMS 106   Introduction to Social Welfare                        
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: SOC 101
Analyzes social inequality and the American social welfare system. Traces historical development of government response to social inequality. Explores historical and persisting dilemmas ethical, political, social and economic explicit and implicit in social welfare provisioning.  Assists in understanding of social welfare problems and their solutions.
HUMS 122   Substance Abuse as a Contemporary Problem 
3.0 Credits 
 Prerequisites: None

Introduction to current issues in addictions with emphasis on understanding alcohol and other drug use in historical, social, cultural, legal, and public health/policy contexts.

HUMS 123   Public Education and Prevention in Substance Abuse           

    3.0 Credits 

 Prerequisites: None

Use of community organization knowledge and skills for development of education and preventive programs in substance abuse.

HUMS 124 Introduction to Physiology and Pharmacology of Substance Abuse  

3.0 Credits

Prerequisite:  PSY 111

Introduction to basic knowledge about psychopharmacological properties and effects of psychoactive substances. Focus will be given to understanding the relationship between infectious diseases and substance use/abuse.
HUMS 140   Family Mediation                                                        
3.0 Credits 
 Prerequisites: None
Trains students in basic mediation skills for resolving family conflict in domestic relations, family business situations and crisis situations within the community.  Mediation skills are presented, evaluated and practiced.
HUMS 153  Human Relations                                                    
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: None
A survey of human relations to include communication, problem solving, interaction, relationship, choice and change skills.
HUMS 155  Human Relations in the Work Place                 
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: None
A survey of communication, problem solving and interaction skills as applied to the world of work.
HUMS 223  Introduction to Paraprofessional Counseling I     
3.0 Credits 
 Prerequisites: None
Focuses on systematic approach to effective helping skills which fall into the following skill categories: skills for understanding, skills for comfort and crisis intervention, and skills for positive action.
HUMS 226 Intervention Continuum in Substance Abuse Counseling  

3.0 Credits

Prerequisites:  HUMS 122, HUMS 223

Presents a continuum of interventions used in substance abuse counseling, to include screening and placement criteria, motivational interviewing, aftercare and relapse planning, documentation, and confidentiality.

HUMS 240  Geriatric Lifestyle Assessment                               
3.0 Credits 
 Prerequisites: HUMS 101 or SOC A110
Provides a holistic overview of the assessment of the older adult. Examines tools and techniques used to assess an older person's functional, cognitive, social and psychosocial strengths and challenges. Explores strategies necessary to develop care plans for optimizing an individual's capabilities and quality of life.
HUMS 250  Cultural Issues in Human Services             
1.0 Credit
 Prerequisites: None
Introduction to intercultural communication through examination of communication as a unit of culture.  Thought, communication, and behavior patterns of various world views.  Cultural orientation and interaction styles, and techniques for effective contact with individuals with differing cultural characteristics.
HUMS 256  Groups and Organizations                                   
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: None
Introduces basic theories, practices and issues of relevance to working in human service agencies and develops skills to work effectively in an organizational setting.  As a result of this course, the student should be more effective in observing, analyzing and coping with the social, psychological and political dynamics of service delivery groups and organizations.

HUMS 290  Selected Topics in Alcohol & Drug Counseling                                                                               

Var. 0.5-3.0 Credits

 Prerequisites: None

Provides the most current education in the area of substance abuse counseling. Specific topics will vary.

HUMS 295A  Human Services Practicum I                                
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS 101, HUMS 223 and Departmental Approval
Students will be placed in a community Human Services Agency, where they will examine agency structure and functioning, observe professional relationships, and discover interagency networks.  Students will then begin to apply their knowledge to entry level helping skills with agency clientele.  Concurrently, students participate in a weekly class seminar structured to facilitate the integration of human service knowledge and theory with practical field applications.
HUMS 295B  Human Services Practicum II                               
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS 295A and Departmental Approval
Continuation of HUMS 295A with emphasis on increasing responsibilities for providing direct client services, assessing problems, and planning interventions within the placement agency.  Concurrently, students participate in a weekly class seminar structured to facilitate the integration of human service knowledge and theory with practical field application.
HUMS 321 Diversity Issues in Human Services Practice  

3.0 credits

Prerequisites:  HUMS 101 and HUMS 223

Using a framework of self-awareness, this course will focus on the range of human diversity and the historical and current responses to it.  It will help students incorporate the relevant needs of diverse groups in their professional practice.

HUMS 322 Service Coordination in Human Services Practice  

3.0 credits

Prerequisites:  HUMS 101 and HUMS 223

Introduction to the fundamentals of service coordination across disciplines.  Using an empowerment and strengths based framework, course focuses on the functions of service delivery, including assessment, planning, and implementation, utilizing the concepts of collaboration, ethics, and diversity.

HUMS 324  Introduction to Paraprofessional Counseling II   
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS/PSY 223 or Faculty Permission
Focuses on 11 major paraprofessional counseling skill clusters. Course emphasis will be skill performance in a direct service context.
HUMS 333  Alternative Dispute Resolution                               
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS/PSY 223 and HUMS/PSY 324
A conceptual framework in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) with particular emphasis on history, communication skills and ethics.  Uses simulation exercises including negotiation strategy and tactics; mediation process and techniques; and development of arbitration case theory presentation.  A comparison of the adversarial and collaborative dispute resolution systems as a theoretical backdrop.
HUMS 350  Men and Masculinity                                           
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: SOC 101 or PSY 111
Examines perspectives on masculinity and male sex role from historical, cultural and social psychological perspectives with focus on males as clients in the human services setting.  Examines the dynamics of male socialization and its influence on men in areas such as a family and work, sexuality, and physical and mental health.  Attention given to implications for prevention and human service delivery.
HUMS 390  Selected Topics in Human Service Practice                                                                                 

Var. 0.5-3.0 Credits

 Prerequisites: HUMS 101
Provides the most current education in the area of Human Service practice. Specific topics will vary.
HUMS 412  Ethical Issues in Human Services Practice       
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS 101 and HUMS/PSY 223
Overview of ethics in Human Service practice. Clients rights and confidentiality, worker responsibility for ethical behavior in the areas of confidentiality, multicultural counseling, professional responsibility and practitioner competency.
HUMS 414  Rural Treatment Strategies for Human Service Prof     
3.0 Credits   
 Prerequisites: HUMS 101
Focuses upon Human Service work in rural settings. Development of relevant knowledge and skills in the following areas: cultural issues, the addiction process and their impact on the individual, the family and the community.  Prevention and treatment of substance abuse strategies are presented focusing upon the Human Service Worker as a change agent.

HUMS 416 Substance Abuse and the Older Adult  

3.0 Credits

Prerequisites:  HUMS 124 and HUMS 223

Addresses the issues related to aging adults who misuse alcohol, drugs, prescription medications, and other substances.  Emphasis will be placed on identification, assessment, and intervention strategies.

HUMS 417  Substance Abuse Counseling for Paraprofessionals     
3.0 Credits  
 Prerequisites: HUMS 122, HUMS 123, and HUMS/PSY 223
Develops advanced counseling theory and skills specifically required by Human Service professionals in substance abuse treatment.  Includes client assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.  Substance abuse treatment strategies will be compared and contrasted.
HUMS 424  Advanced Counseling for Human Service Professionals      
3.0 Credits   
 Prerequisites: HUMS/PSY 223 and HUMS/PSY 324
Comparative counseling systems and theories appropriate in the Human Service context are presented.  Cognitive, affective, behavioral systems will be presented as approaches in a variety of Human Service settings including education, family and community, rehabilitation and mental health.
HUMS 434  Group Facilitation for Human Service Workers      
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS/PSY 223 and HUMS/PSY 324
Advanced facilitation skills appropriate for group work to include goal setting, reciprocation, task identification and personal growth.  Presents a theoretical case in both group dynamics and group leadership.  Contemporary ethical and managerial issues are included.
HUMS 461  Crisis Intervention                                                                               
3.0 Credits   
 Prerequisites: HUMS 101, HUMS/PSY 223 and HUMS/PSY 324
A systematic and social approach to causes and treatment of human crises.  Covers characteristics of crises, intervention strategies, and specific techniques for resolving various crisis situation.  Students are expected to research, analyze, and compare community crises support services.
HUMS 495A  Human Services Practicum III                                            
3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS 295A, HUMS 295B, and Admission to Bachelor of Human Services Degree Program
Agency placement with advanced levels of responsibility for providing direct client services and/or completing special projects or activities in the agency.  Extends development of student's professional and specialized skills.  Weekly classroom seminar required.
HUMS 495B  Human Services Practicum IV                                                   
 3.0 Credits
 Prerequisites: HUMS 495A
Continuation of HUMS 495A.  Agency placement with advanced levels of responsibility for providing direct client services and/or special projects or activities in the agency.  Course is designed to further develop professional skills and to learn new roles or specialized skills.  Weekly classroom seminar is required.  In this practicum, students spend more time in direct client contact to enhance interpersonal counseling skills.  Increasing independence is emphasized.
 
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Last Updated August 3, 2005  Melodee@uaa.alaska.edu
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