Human and Social Services Course Descriptions - Southern State Community College





	HUMAN AND SOCIAL SERVICES - HSSR HSSR 101 Introduction to Human and Social Services 3 credits In this course, students are acquainted with the fields of human services, counseling, social work, and related fields. Explores etiology of social problems of minorities and outgroups, history and development of the fields in general, legal and ethical issues, and various settings in which services are provided. Goals of the human services system and the role of the social work assistant will be included. HSSR 105 Survey of Substance Abuse 3 credits This course explores chemical dependency issues from a historical, cultural, and legal perspective. Major topics include: recognizing signs and symptoms of substance abuse, prevention of substance abuse, differences in helping strategies with substance abusers, pharmacology, and psychopharmacology. HSSR 120 Human Services Methods and Procedures Prerequisites: PSYC 110 and HSSR 101 3 credits This course provides a framework of human services practice meant to prepare students for their actual experience in a human services agency. Ethical and legal issues related to interventions with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities in generalist practice and chemical dependency are emphasized. Seminar format provides for discussion and integration of experiences with academic courses. Creative problem solving and human services values are featured. Exposure to differing theoretical perspectives. HSSR 135 Affective Education and Group Process 3 credits This course emphasizes the principles of therapeutic group dynamics; intrapersonal and interpersonal communication processes; and personal growth and development in the generalist practice and chemical dependency settings. Topics include group formation, group leadership skills, examining motives for entering the helping professions, conflict resolution, rapport building, verbal and non-verbal communication. Current issues, ethics, and specific needs of various populations will be featured. Features heavy emphasis on experiential learning, awareness of group dynamics, and practice of interpersonal skills through participation as a group member in the laboratory setting. HSSR 140 Racial and Cultural Diversity in the Helping Professions Prerequisites: SOCI 107 3 credits This course focuses on help seeking behaviors among racial, ethnic, cultural, and other diverse populations in the United States and includes historical, religious, sociocultural issues, and current conflicts. Stresses the importance of sensitivity to diversity in human services careers and the helping professions. HSSR 150 Writing in the Helping Professions Prerequisite: ENGL 102 and HSSR 120 3 credits A writing intensive course focusing on the various forms of professional writing typically encountered in the helping professions, and the use of behavioral observations and writing to document client interactions and behaviors. Students will learn beginning skills needed to maintain records necessary for rendering professional services to clients. Students will learn to analyze professional writing situations and apply the principles of effective writing to professional writing tasks including documentation, measurable goals and objectives, grant/proposal writing, letters, memos, and recommendations. HSSR 199 Seminar: Special Topics 1-9 credits Selected topic related to the area of human services. Focus of topics will be on current trends, issues, and social problems facing human services workers and other helping professionals. HSSR 206 Chemical Dependency and the Family Prerequisites: HSSR 105 3 credits This course will focus on chemical dependency and its impact on the family and other relationships. Students will be exposed to the dynamics of family by understanding interactive patterns among family members and the alteration of those patterns due to the presence of addiction. This course features a heavy reliance on academic research (scholarly journals) to supplement the material presented in the texts. HSSR 207 Psychology of Addiction Prerequisites: HSSR 105 3 credits This course will cover a broad range of issues related to addiction including various theories of addiction, how addiction is defined, how it develops, how it is treated, and how it can be prevented. The coursework will include study of biological, developmental, motivational, familial, societal, and cultural aspects of addiction, and will focus on many types of addiction, including alcohol addiction, drug addiction, tobacco addiction, sex addiction, eating disorders, compulsive gambling, and emerging forms of addictive behavior new to our understanding. Class activities will include researching and reading journal articles and class discussion, as well as study from the assigned textbooks. Students who have completed PSYC 225 may not receive credit for this course. HSSR 210 Counseling Theories Prerequisites: PSYC 110 and HSSR 120 4 credits This course presents the major counseling theories and philosophies including discussion of major concepts and techniques, impact on the client-helper relationship, advantages and disadvantages of different theories. Emphasis on practical application. Students who have completed PSYC 230 may not receive credit for this course. HSSR 211 Counseling Techniques Prerequisite: HSSR 210 and permission of instructor 3 credits This course builds on the basic interpersonal and interviewing theories studied in HSSR 210, with emphasis on learning basic counseling skills that are appropriate to the client-helper relationship in generalist practice and substance abuse settings. Topics include techniques related to attending skills, facilitating growth, active listening, nonverbal behavior, action responses, focusing, skill integration, and determining personal style. Special needs of diverse populations will also be featured. HSSR 215 Social Gerontology Prerequisites: PSYC 110 and HSSR 101 3 credits This class takes a multidisciplinary approach to examining the issues facing people in late adulthood. Students will explore the demographic, sociocultural, and mental health aspects of aging. Problem solving techniques will be covered, along with future trends necessary with the approach of an aging population. Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of aging will be discussed. Students who have completed SOCI 235 may not receive credit for this course. HSSR 216 Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Chemical Dependency Prerequisites: HSSR 206, HSSR 207, and HSSR 210 3 credits This course systematically studies chemical dependency and the theory and practice modalities related to treatment. The course will cover skills needed to recognize the enormity of this problem, how to assess and diagnose it, and how to treat individuals and families who come for assistance. Strategies and community resources for diverse populations will be featured. Materials useful in preventing chemical dependency and/or relapse are also presented. HSSR 220 Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities 3 credits This course covers developmental and lifecycle stages, etiology, psychosocial services, treatment, and education of the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. It also presents an overview of past, present, and future trends in the field. Terminology and legal issues will be discussed. HSSR 231 Case Management Prerequisites: HSSR 120 3 credits Overview of case management and treatment planning in generalist practice and chemical dependency. Topics include case assignment, planning, assessment, goal setting, observation, documentation, intervention, evaluation, and referral. Areas of concentration include service provisions when working with special populations with special emphasis on American minorities. HSSR 235 Crisis Intervention Prerequisite: HSSR 120 3 credits Emphasizes assessment of crisis situations with emphasis on the use of short-term interventions and problemsolving techniques to help individuals and groups deescalate crisis situations and develop appropriate coping techniques. Involves a combination of interpersonal communication skills, crisis intervention strategies for diverse populations, and crisis management models. HSSR 271 Human Services Practicum I Prerequisites: Must be enrolled in Human and Social Services program, have a minimum of 50 credits with a C or better in every course completed from the plan of study, must be entering final year of Human Services program with a definitive plan to graduate by the end of Spring Quarter, and permission of instructor. 3 credits A 160 hour placement in local social services agency under professional supervision. Provides on the job training for students including development of human services skills, integration of human services theories and skill based training, professional documentation. The course includes a one hour per week seminar on-campus, focusing on discussion of learning experiences encountered in the practicum setting. Students will become familiar with the operations of a human services agency; including client/staff interaction and employee responsibilities. HSSR 272 Human Services Practicum II Prerequisites: HSSR 271, must be enrolled in Human and Social Services program, have a minimum of 50 credits with a C or better in every course completed from the plan of study, and permission of instructor 3 credits This course is designed as a continuation of practical experience and provides an additional 160 hours in a human services agency. Students will increase their level of responsibility in implementing human services skills. Supervision will be provided by a qualified professional. The course includes a one hour per week seminar on-campus, focusing on discussion of learning experiences encountered in the practicum setting. Students will become familiar with the operations of a human services agency; including client/staff interaction and employee responsibilities. HSSR 273 Human Services Practicum III Prerequisites: HSSR 272, must be enrolled in Human and Social Services program, have a minimum of 50 credits with a C or better in every course completed from the plan of study, and permission of instructor 3 credits Continuation of HSSR 272 with a third 160 hour placement in a local social services agency. Continued development of human services skills, integration of human services theories and skill based training, professional documentation. The course includes a one hour per week seminar on-campus, focusing on discussion of learning experiences encountered in the practicum setting. Students will become familiar with the operations of a human services agency; including client/staff interaction and employee responsibilities. HSSR 275 Community Mental Health Issues Prerequisites: HSSR 101, HSSR 150, and PSYC 110 3 credits A writing intensive course covering the nature of mental illness, mental health, and the organization of mental health services. Topics include identification and classification systems, community based and residential treatment, societal impact of deinstitutionalization, strategies for meeting the needs of individual and communities within a diverse population. Students who have completed PSYC 215 may not receive credit for this course. HSSR 276 Psychopharmacology Prerequisite: PSYC 275 or permission of instructor 3 credits Course content will provide a basic understanding of drugs that effect human behavior both normal and abnormal, to acquaint providers in counseling, nursing and human services fields with psychoactive medications to aid in appropriate referral and follow up procedures when pharmacological intervention is necessary.