Human Services (HUMS)

This course is designed to assist students wishing to pursue careers in helping professions. Focus will be on researching the breadth of positions available as well as salary range and educational requirements. Attention will also be given to specific concerns associated with professional helpers such as boundaries, interpersonal skills, and appropriate conduct in both the professional and personal settings. Special attention will be given to supporting the student in their first internship, HUM 141, during this course. Co-requisite: HUMS 141 1 credit (1 lecture hour/week), fall and spring semesters

This course provides an introduction to the human service field and helping professions, including the theoretical systems for understanding human behavior, modalities of intervention, counseling skills, social policy, professional ethics and standards, and an historical perspective on the human service field. 3 credits (3 lecture hours), fall or spring semester

HUMS 125, Mental Health and Wellness, is a one-credit course that will address the intrapersonal, social and environmental risk and protective factors influencing mental health and wellness. The course will provide targeted topics, information and resources to promote mental health and wellness. Students will engage in activities that promote human flourishing directed at emotional, social and cognitive growth and development of individuals, groups and families across a variety of settings. 1 credit (1 lecture hour), fall or spring semester.

A 45-hour field-based internship experience providing social science majors an opportunity to combine theories and skills learned in the classroom with practical experiences in a human service setting. Students will be required to combine their internship experience with written work to process their experience. Co-requisite: HUMS 100; or permission of instructor 1 credit for each unit, fall or spring semester [Offered at Norwich Campus]

A 45-hour field-based internship experience providing social science majors an opportunity to deepen their internship experience in a human service setting. Students will be required to combine their internship experience with reflection and written work to process their experience. HUMS 142 and HUMS 143 are taken together for a total of a 90-hour internship experience. Co-requisite: HUMS 143 Prerequisite: HUMS 100; HUMS 101, HUMS 141 or permission of instructor 1 credit for each unit, fall or spring semester [Offered at Norwich Campus]

A 45-hour field-based internship experience providing social science majors an opportunity to combine their internship experience in a human service setting. Students will be required to combine their internship experience with written work to process their experience. HUMS 142 and HUMS 143 are taken together for a total of a 90-hour internship experience. Co-requisite: HUMS 142 Prerequisite: HUMS 100; HUMS 101, HUMS 141 or permission of instructor 1 credit for each unit, fall or spring semester [Offered at Norwich Campus]

Explores a new topic each semester based on current issues occurring within the human services profession through addressing critical practice, policy and research topics in the human services field as they emerge. 1 credit (1 lecture hour/week), fall and spring semester.

This course will provide students with the skills and techniques necessary for effective helping. Students will be introduced to the role of the helper as well as the process of helping. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of multicultural practices and helping skills as well as the theories associated with helping. Student will also learn a range of theories, skills and strategies related to crisis intervention Prerequisites: HUMS 101 3 credits (3 lecture hours/week), fall semester

This course will provide an applied foundation to interviewing and counseling techniques. Students will examine strategies pertaining to intentional interviewing and effective interventions. Focus will be given to human strength and resilience. Attention will also be given to the foundations of case management and the importance of this role as a human service provider. Cultural consideration will be integrated into both aspects of this course. Prerequisites: HUMS 101 3 credits (3 lecture hours/week), spring semester

This course will focus on the practices and skills vital to the management and administration of human service delivery. The course will provide an overview of topics associated with human service management such as: the functions of human service management, program development and evaluation, community collaboration, organizational theory, and supervisory skills. Students will gain an understanding of technology utilized in the storing and managing of data and finances pertaining to human service administration. Prerequisites: HUMS 101 3 credits (3 lecture hours/week), spring semester

This is the final required course for the Human Services AAS degree program. This course is designed to provide human services students with an opportunity to integrate and assimilate previous learning experiences with human service delivery. Practical field experience combined with lecture and self-reflection enable students to critically assess their personal, professional, and social values as well as practice interpersonal skills in a learning environment. Course assignments and class discussion will enable students to examine influences of organizational structure, funding sources hiring and training of personnel, as well as other agency policies and procedures on the delivery of services. Students will spend 125 hours at a negotiated human services site, 16 hours in a structured classroom setting, and will complete a Capstone presentation to faculty and practicum supervisors. Successful completion of this course will require a grade of B or better since this course is intended to evaluate the readiness of graduates to participate in human service employment. Prerequisite: Senior status 3 credits (3 lecture hours/week), spring semester

This course will provide students with the skills and strategies necessary for the supervision of human service programs, nonprofit organizations and social services agencies. This includes supervision of individuals, groups and multi-disciplinary teams. The course will look at supervision from an organizational learning perspective with emphasis on the relationship between supervisory skills, organizational structure and staff and client outcomes. Prerequisite: HUMS 202 or PSYC 304 with a grade of C or better 3 credits, fall or spring semester

Advanced Topics in Human Services is an elective that will feature a new topic each semester based on current issues occurring within the human services field. Students will be required to take minimum of 3 credits in HUMS 398 and are allowed to take up to total of 9 credits. The mode of delivery will change based on the topics. Prerequisite: HUMS 202 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the instructor is required. 3 credits (3 lecture hours).

This course will provide current and future human service leaders with a clear understanding of the historical, economic and legal forces that have shaped the relationship between federal, state and local governments and the not-for-profit sector. This will provide students with the knowledge of how to become effective nonprofit leaders in increasingly challenging policy environments. Prerequisite: SOCI 201 and HUMS 203 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the instructor. 3 credits (3 lecture hours).

This course will provide students with the foundational knowledge of grants and contracts in the nonprofit business sector. This will include introducing students to the principles of business plan development, grant-writing and contract management at both the micro and macro levels. This course will use a lab format so that students will work together in teams to learn how to develop social entrepreneurship enterprises, build business plans, write grant proposals and manage funding contracts. Prerequisite: HUMS 302 with a grade of C or better or permission of the instructor. 4 credits (3 lecture hours, 2 lab hours).

This course will prepare students for the full time human services leadership internship experience of HUMS 450. In addition to assisting interns in securing an internship placement opportunity, the course will also support students' application of their leadership skills and the development of their professional portfolio. Prerequisite: Major in Human Services Leadership; successful completion of at least 90 credit hours or permission of the instructor; usually taken in the semester prior to HUMS 450. 2 credits (2 lecture hours).

This course involves placement of students at an internship in a human services agency or business organization. Students will be involved in a planned learning experience under direct supervision of a site supervisor. Students' experiences will also be monitored by a Human Services internship coordinator. In addition to participation in professional experiences, students will address their learning goals through journals, a special project, supervisory evaluation and a final presentation. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in HUMS 449 (Human Services Leadership Internship Preparation) and completion of Human Services Leadership coursework. 12 credits (540 internship hours).