Sample Syllabus - Introduction to Human Services
- Laura McCormick
- Dec 31, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 21, 2024
Please download the file or see the syllabus details below.
HUS-200 – Introduction to Human Services – Course Syllabus
Course Description
This course provides an overview of human services organizational systems. Classwork will cover the history of the human services field, various social service organizations, nonprofit creation, management, and development, policy and advocacy, and possible career options for graduates. Emphasis is placed on building competency and skills required for working as a human services practitioner.
Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None
Instructor Contact
Laura McCormick
Phone: 352-812-3111
Instructor Office Hours:
Mondays, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Wednesdays, 10:00am-12:00pm
By appointment
Class Meeting Days and Times:
Course Term
January 1, 2024 – March 24, 2024
Online Lecture/Q&A
Tuesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm
In Person – Thursdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm
(North Campus, Building 3, Room 402)
Course Format and Environment
Course Expectations
In this hybrid course, classroom engagement is imperative to your success. Your active participation encourages critical thinking, collaborative learning, and benefits both you and your classmates. Your contributions, thoughts, and ideas add value to the academic environment and create a more dynamic learning atmosphere that everyone can learn from. As future human services professionals, it is your responsibility to be culturally competent and aware of your own personal biases and beliefs. I ask that you respect your fellow peers, embrace diversity, and promote inclusivity.
Please review the rubrics before beginning your assignments each week. The rubrics provide a detailed breakdown of how your work will be assessed and graded. Rubrics can be found on the student portal under Class Rubrics. If you have any questions or need clarification about any assignment requirements, do not wait to ask me. Send an email, call/visit during my office hours, or schedule an appointment and I will be happy to help. I encourage all students to reach out if they need any assistance and would much rather take a few moments to discuss the assignments before submission than to take off points afterwards.
All classroom and online assignments are to be submitted through the student portal ON or BEFORE the due date. Instructions for uploading documents can be found under Support. Weekly assignments consist of written work, in-class quizzes are T/F and/or multiple choice, and the final exam will be released two weeks before the due date and will be completed online.
All work must be done following APA formatting. Please refer to the course text for APA guidelines. For more information on APA formatting, follow this link: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format
Online lectures/Q&A sessions can be accessed via the Meetings link on the student portal.
Classroom Conduct
Silence cell phones and refrain from taking calls or text messages.
If calls must be taken, please exit the classroom.
Speak clearly and loudly; your full participation makes the course more meaningful.
Be prepared for class by reading the weekly learning resources. Class discussion, lectures, and activities are based on readings.
Ask questions. Clear communication is extremely important. Ask for what you need.
Students should keep copies of all materials submitted to the instructor as well as returned graded materials until the end of the term.
The University is committed to fostering a culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). In my classroom, I recognize the importance of respecting and valuing the diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences, and perspectives of every student and I expect the same from each of you.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the basic concepts of Human Services in the United States.
Explore the origin and history of Human Services work.
Describe the different types of Human Services organizational structures.
Understand the impact of policies and programs on diverse populations and the principles of social and economic justice.
Describe the meaning of social change and identify ways to
Understand how advocacy can promote policy changes that positively affect individuals who are served by the Human Services field.
Recognize ethical dilemmas and challenges within human services organizations.
Analyze the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders within the Human Services field.
Academic Policies and Procedures
Academic Integrity
Every student is expected to produce only their own original work. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, including the use of any other person’s ideas, words, or work without properly citations and references. This also includes the use of ChatGPT or any other AI models. Any form of academic misconduct will not be tolerated.
Students with Disabilities (ADA) Policy
I am committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students. If you have a disability or condition that requires accommodations for this course, please contact the University’s Office of Accessibility Services to discuss your specific needs. Accommodations are designed to support equal access to the curriculum and class activities. Additionally, I am open to discussing individual needs and making appropriate arrangements to ensure full participation. Please email me directly with any questions.
Student Resources
National Organization for Human Services Ethical Standards
ChatGPT
University Library and Office of Student Clubs and Organizations
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all in-person classes and are strongly encouraged to attend the online lectures/Q&A sessions. For those who are unable to attend the online lectures, they will be recorded and posted on the student portal within 24 hours under Recorded Sessions for later viewing. Failure to attend class will result in a 10-point reduction per class.
Late Assignment Policy
It is crucial to manage your time effectively and plan ahead to ensure timely submission of assignments. Please communicate any concerns or difficulties regarding assignment deadlines with me as soon as they arise. Late submissions disrupt the learning process and can impact your overall performance in the course.
Late Penalties: Late assignments will incur a 1 point deduction for each day past the due date, up to a maximum deduction of 5 points. Weekends and holidays count as days for late submission penalties. After 5 days, late work will no longer be accepted, and students will receive a zero for the assignment.
Extension Requests: Exceptions to this policy may be considered in extenuating circumstances such as medical emergencies or other justifiable reasons. Students must contact me as early as possible before the due date to discuss and request an extension. Documentation may be required.
Assignments are due by 11:59 PM EST. All due dates are listed in the schedule chart below.
Class Schedule
| Topic | Learning Resources | Assignments | Due Date |
Week 1 | History and development of the human services field | Hall, P.D. Chapter 1 – Historical perspectives on nonprofit organizations in the United States. In D.O. Renz & Associates, The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management (p 2-42) | Choose one person who you feel made a significant impact on the development of the human services field. Write a 1-2 page paper discussing their work and why you believe their efforts were important in creating or improving the helping profession. | January 7th |
Week 2 | What is social change? | Chase-Dunn, C. K., & Babones, S. J. (2006). Global social change: Historical and comparative perspectives; Section 5 | Pick 1 of the 3 examples in Section 5 of the text and write a 2-3 page paper describing how the authors define social change. | January 14th |
Week 3 | Introduction to nonprofit organizations; leadership and management | Hopkins, B.R., & Gross, V.C. Chapter 2 – The legal framework of the nonprofit sector in the United States. In D.O. Renz and Associates, The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management (p 42-78). | IN CLASS QUIZ – Types of nonprofit organizations | January 21st |
Week 4 | Starting a nonprofit | Pakroo, P.H. Starting and building a nonprofit: A practical guide; Chapters 1 & 2 | Write a 2-3 page paper listing the steps for starting a nonprofit organization. Briefly describe | January 28th |
Week 5 | Nonprofit funding | Ilona Bray, J.D. Effective fundraising for nonprofits: Real-world strategies that work; Chapters 2 & 3 | IN CLASS QUIZ – Funding fundamentals | February 4th |
Week 6 | Using technology for nonprofits | Kenyon, J. Chapter 9 -Effective online communications. In H. Ross, K. Verclas, & A. Levine (Eds.), Managing technology to meet your mission: A strategic guide for nonprofit leaders | Imagine you have been hired as the Communications Director of a new nonprofit organization. Develop a comprehensive plan to create and implement online communication tools to increase transparency, credibility, communication, and stakeholder engagement for the organization. Include at least four SMART goals and a timeline. | February 11th |
Week 7 | Child protective services | Crosson-Tower, C. Exploring child welfare: A practice perspective; Chapters 8 & 11 | IN CLASS QUIZ – Family based services | February 18th |
Week 8 | Elderly care services | Little, M. O., & Morley, J. E. Healthcare for older adults in North America: Challenges, successes, and opportunities. | Write a 1-2 page paper discussing the key points of the article. | February 25th |
Week 9 | Mental health and substance abuse services | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Programs; review SAMHSA’s programs and identify the mission or purpose of each one. | IN CLASS QUIZ – SAMHSA programs | March 3rd |
Week 10 | Social entrepreneurship | Levenson Keohane, G. Social entrepreneurship of the 21st century: Innovation across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors; Part 1 | Use the internet to identify 3-4 social entrepreneurs. Pick one and write a 1-2 page paper about their work. Be sure to include information about what services they provide, who they serve, who their partners are, and why you believe this is important for the human services field. | March 10th |
Week 11 | Policy and advocacy | Jansson, B.S. Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice; Chapter 1 | Use the web to search for current U.S. human services policies; select a policy and write a 2-3 page evaluation which includes a description of the policy, its advocates/stakeholders, those in opposition, pros and cons of the policy, implications for social change, and a brief explanation of why you do or do not support it; SUBMIT FINAL EXAM | March 17th |
Week 12 | Careers in human services | Human Services Guide. Careers in human services. HumanServicesEDU.org | Write a 2-3 page reflection paper describing what you have learned in this class and how you plan to apply your knowledge towards developing your future career goals. | March 24th |
Required Resources
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). ISBN: 978-1-4338-3218-5 (electronic edition).
Chapter downloads and additional resources for the weekly readings are available on the student portal under the Resources tab. Course references are listed below.
Course References
Chase-Dunn, C. K., & Babones, S. J. (2006). Global social change: Historical and comparative perspectives [electronic resource]. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Crosson-Tower, C. (2018). Exploring child welfare: A practice perspective (7th ed.). Pearson Education Inc.
Hall, P.D. (2016). Historical perspectives on nonprofit organizations in the United States. In D.O. Renz and Associates, The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management (p 2-42). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hopkins, B.R., & Gross, V.C. (2016). The legal framework of the nonprofit sector in the United States. In D.O. Renz and Associates, The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management (p 42-78). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Human Services Guide. (n.d.). Careers in human services. https://www.humanservicesedu.org/occupation-career-outlook/
Ilona Bray, J.D. (2019). Effective fundraising for nonprofits: Real-world strategies that work (6th ed.). Bang Printing.
Jansson, B.S. (2017). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Kenyon, J. (2009). Effective online communications. In H. Ross, K. Verclas, & A. Levine, (Eds.), Managing technology to meet your mission: A strategic guide for nonprofit leaders. Jossey-Bass.
Levenson Keohane, G. (2013). Social entrepreneurship of the 21st century: Innovation across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors. McGraw-Hill.
Little, M. O., & Morley, J. E. (2022). Healthcare for older adults in North America: Challenges, successes and opportunities. Age & Ageing, 51(10), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac216
Pakroo, P.H. (2021). Starting and building a nonprofit: A practical guide (9th ed.). Bang Printing.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Programs. https://www.samhsa.gov/
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