Human Services

Survey course introduces students to the human services field. Includes history, ethics, values, and principles of human and social services. Focus on modern practice, research techniques, and critical service provider skills. Students will explore community resources and human service roles and the development of a multicultural approach to working with diverse populations.

Choose one course from List A below

Introduction to psychology-counseling theory, skills, techniques, and processes in working with individuals and/or groups. Multiculturalism in American society. Emphasis placed on issues and processes of a minority-majority environment. Includes review of demographics, social services, community agencies, and intervention programs. Fundamental counseling techniques, counseling theory and socio-cultural issues related to working in the “service provider” role.

This work-based learning course offers students a supervised field experience in a community organization, agency, or institution within human services/social work. Students will reinforce and apply knowledge gained in the prerequisite coursework while learning new skills outside of the classroom environment. In addition to engaging in fieldwork, student will attend a weekly class meeting that will complement their fieldwork experience. Students pursuing an AA-T in Social Work and Human Services need to complete a total of 2 units. Course study under this section may be repeated for a maximum of 16 units for occupational or a combination of general and occupational work experience education. One unit of credit is earned for each 75 hours of paid work or 60 hours of volunteer work per semester.

This course provides the student who is participating in a supervised field experience in a community organization, agency, or institution with a weekly class meeting that provides the academic element to the experiential course offering. In conjunction with the required corequisite work experience course, students will gain insight about their future role as a Human Services/Social Work practitioner through discussion, problem solving, reflection, and evaluation with self, instructor, supervisor, and peers. Ethical, legal, professional, and social justice issues in the field of Human Services/Social Work will be addressed.

Choose one course from List B below

Choose one course from List C below

Introduction to case management theory, models and techniques. Multicultural issues affecting case management theory. Emphasis is placed on case management philosophy, ethical issues, concepts and practices. Analysis of needs, documentation and confidentiality and individualized client plan development. Analysis of inter-agency collaboration. Includes issues of monitoring an ongoing case management plan and maintaining client commitment to plan success. Designed to provide students with knowledge in case management theory implementation for Human Service, Social Work and/or Mental Health.

PSCN 13 recommended, see a counselor for appropriate course

Exploration of causes of low self-esteem, methods for building self-esteem and habits for success. Designed to improve self-esteem to ensure academic success.

Enhance knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively navigate the transitions encountered throughout life, such as graduating from high school, entering the world of work, becoming a parent, changing careers, entering or loss of a relationship and other major life changes. Centers on personal health, family life, community life and career development. Provides the opportunity to develop a positive self-concept, independence and positive attitude while also practicing skills to grow with change and maintain a positive lifestyle. Promotes and supports developing holistic well-being in managing life as purposeful contributing members of society.

Exploration of behavior in interactions with others to benefit academic, career and personal development. Examination of feelings, self-acceptance, awareness, and understanding in human relationships (interpersonal and group). Practice of active listening skills, self-disclosure, empathy, and positive regard through various counseling approaches.

Explores academic programs, college policies, student rights and responsibilities, graduation and transfer requirements, student services, campus resources and activities, and the concept of educational planning through self-assessment. Emphasis is on self-assessment of individual interests, values, needs, and abilities. Designed for first time, returning and re-entry students to ease transition into college and maximize successful matriculation through college toward academic/vocational goals. (May not be taken for credit if General Studies 20 has been completed.)

Review of study skill techniques for success in college. Emphasis on time management, personal learning style, active listening, note-taking and test-taking strategies. Includes modeling, practice and evaluation of study skill techniques.

A course designed to equip students for lifelong learning and developing critical thinking that will facilitate their adjustment to the college environment and the successful pursuit of their educational and career goals. This course provides an introduction to academic skills and strategies, campus resources and activities, decision making and planning, college policies and procedures, interpersonal communication, stress management techniques, self-exploration and goal setting, and student rights and responsibilities.

Exploration of the concept of career, educational and life planning focusing on personal career development through self-assessment. Emphasis on clarification of individual interests, values, needs, abilities and decision making styles, investigation of occupational opportunities in the world of work, and introduction to job search strategies, resume writing and interview skills. Designed for those undecided or uncertain about their career and educational plans.

Introductory course in the epidemiology and toxicology of substance abuse and addiction and their effects on individuals and society at large. Basic terminology used in alcohol, psychoactive drugs and other related addiction terms will be covered. Definitions and side effects of licit and illicit drugs, pharmacologic, neurologic and physiologic effects of addictive substances will be examined. Analyze theories of socioeconomic and political ramifications of the drug industry. Investigate current models of prevention, treatment planning, recovery, local resources and client monitoring.

Exploration of intercultural and interethnic communication behavior of individuals in relationships and/or groups, personal identity formation in the American context, historical development of culturally influenced communication styles, and evolution of new, American inter- and intra-group communication. Will examine social science research models, including single subject case study, in three (3) of the five (5) following groups: African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native/Indigenous Americans, Pacific Islander-Americans, Hispanic-Americans. Students will attend Bay Area cultural events.

Introduces students to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Provides an overview of major psychological concepts and theories in such areas as consciousness, learning, memory, motivation, perception, personality, stress, and social behavior.

Designed to illuminate the way students see their social world. Uses a sociological perspective: scientific study of human interaction and society, with emphasis on impact of groups on social behavior. Includes the systematic examination of culture, socialization, social organization, social class, race, gender, deviance, social change and empirical methodology. These content areas are woven throughout the fabric of the course, particularly as they affect the lives of at least three of the following groups: African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Middle Eastern Americans and/or women.

Emphasis on developing, organizing, researching, and delivering informative, persuasive, or entertaining ideas to an audience. This course also includes developing critical listening, audience analysis, and problem-solving skills for public speech making. Communication theory and best practices for communication to a public are analyzed.

Develops skills in close reading, critical thinking, analytical and argumentative writing, research, and information literacy through the study of works from major literary genres. Works will include poetry, fiction (short stories and novel), and drama, but may also include alternative genres such as creative nonfiction, graphic novels, spoken word, flash fiction, and lyrics. Primary texts will showcase diverse writers, including marginalized voices.

Develops critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as they apply to the analysis of primary and secondary non-fiction books, articles, and essays from a range of academic and cultural contexts. Primary texts will showcase diverse writers, including marginalized voices. Theme based units will emphasize the techniques and principles of effective written argument in research-based writing across disciplines.

Exploration of issues relating to the multicultural community in which we live today. Interpersonal relations and communication. Focus on improving the individual’s understanding of other cultures and how those cultures impact the American lifestyle. Includes exploration of myths and misunderstandings. Discussion of four specific cultures or sub-cultures from the following groups: 1) African-American, 2) Asian-American, 3) Hispanic-American, 4) Native-American, 5) Middle Eastern-American, 6) European-American, 7) Gay/Lesbian American, 8) Disabled American.