Missouri Western State University
SWK 340- Three Credit Hours
Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
Tuesday 12:30–15:20pm- Wilson Hall Room 205
Department CJLSSW- Spring 2014
Geri Dickey PhD., LCSW
Office #: Wilson Hall – 203-C
Office Hours: (Monday-1pm- 2:00pm), (Tuesday-11:00am -12:00pm),
(Wednesday-1pm – 2:00pm), (Thursday-11am- 12:00pm), or by appointment.
Office Telephone: 816-271-4350
E-mail gdickey@missouriwestern.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to introduce social work students to various
theoretical models used to view and understand how human behavior
is shaped by groups, organizations and communities. The ecological
and strength perspectives are employed for understanding human
behavior within the context of these systems. Attention is also placed
on the influence of social class and ethnicity on human behavior.
This course will look at the different worldviews of diverse populations
in order to help students develop and achieve cultural competencies.
Prerequisite for BSW majors: SWK 250 and SWK 330 with a grade
of “C” or better.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will develop an understanding of traditional and alternative
theories that attempt to explain human bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural
behavior within a systems framework with a focus on groups,
organizations, communities and institutions. (Program objectives: 7, 8, 11
& 13)
2. Students will gain an understanding of how knowledge about human
behavior in different contexts is a precursor to generalist social work
practice. (Program objectives: 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 & 13)
3. Students will gain more knowledge about multicultural social work practice
and cultural diversity. Students will understand the impact of diverse
characteristics such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability status,
sexual orientation, and social class on human behavior with groups,
organizations and communities. (Program objectives: 4 &5)
4. Students will become knowledgeable about diverse organizations and
community structures and processes as well as races and social class in
order to practice within the Social Work Code of Ethics as well as in order
to work effectively within these settings/contexts. (Program objectives: 3,
4, 5, 7, 11 &13)
5. Students will be encouraged to be involved with awareness of self and as
it pertains to working as social workers within groups, organizations and
communities. (Program objectives: 2, 4 & 7)
6. Students will develop critical thinking skills. Students will be given
opportunities to ask questions, assess the established facts and issues
involved and assert a concluding opinion. (Program objectives: 2 & 4)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS;
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Any student enrolled in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest
expression of abilities should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that
we can discuss class requirements and identify appropriate accommodations.
Before accommodations can be granted, students must provide an
Accommodation Request Form from the office of Disability Services. It is
imperative that arrangements be made as soon as possible.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:
Academic honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic
honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s
work, falsifying documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity.
Violations of academic honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment,
failure in the course, or expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade
has been affected, violations of academic honest will be reported to the Provost
or designated representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report forms.
Please see 2008-09 Student Handbook and Calendar for specific activities
identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure. This
handbook is also available online at
www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf (University policy) any student
who submits someone else’s work as his/her own will receive a grade of zero on
that assignment. Cheating on an exam will result in a zero for that exam.
Plagiarism on any written assignments will result in a zero for that assignment.
Further disciplinary action may also be employed at the discretion of the
instructor.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
This course will be taught using a variety of instructional methods including
lecture, discussion, roll playing, individual and group exercises, videotapes,
student group presentations/papers, possible guest speakers.
COURSE TEXTS:
Kirst-Ashman, K (2011). Human Behavior, Communities, Organizations, and
Groups in the Macro Social Environment. 3rd Edition. Belmont, CA: Thomas
Brooks/Cole.
Sue, D.W., (2006). Multicultural Social Work Practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley
& Sons.
Course Evaluation:
Your grade in this course will be dependent upon the accumulation of
percentages as outlined below. Class participation and attendance will be
factored in evaluation of performance. A total of two excused absences are given
before attendance becomes a factor in grade evaluation.
Social Service Agency Midterm Assignment
Midterm Exam
Social Service Agency Final Research Paper
Final Exam
10%
25%
15%
25%
Diversity Activity/Reaction Paper
15%
Resources File Assignment
5%
Critical thinking journal Assignment
5%
The individual assignments are graded on a percentage. Therefore, they are
weighted, in order to calculate your final grade you must multiply the grade you
made for each assignment by the assigned percentage prior to totaling the grade
for all assignments and dividing by one hundred.
I=Incomplete due to extenuating circumstances which have been discussed and
agreed upon by your instructor
W=Withdraw when MWSU policy is followed
Note:
*****Papers are expected to be turned in on time, unless an
exception is granted prior to due date. For each day papers are late, your
grade can be effected up to one letter grade.
Course Attendance:
Class attendance and arriving on time for class is expected. Missing more than
two (2) classes could result in a lowering of your final course grade by one letter
grade. At this stage of your academic career professional values and behaviors
are being developed. Therefore, acts of responsibility and classroom
engagement will be rewarded when calculating final grades. I do not wish to
penalize students for illnesses or emergencies; this is life and not the objective of
this attendance policy! However, on the other hand, I think that students
who regularly attend class, who are prepared and participates, should be
rewarded. Thus, students who do not attend class, or are not prepared will not
be receiving extra consideration at final evaluation.
Other Course Expectations:
1. In addition to class attendance, students are expected to come to class
prepared.
2. Be on time. This communicates respect, as well as, professional
behavior.
3. Appropriate classroom behavior is expected. Inappropriate behavior may
result in expulsion from the class. Classroom behavior includes displays
of respect for the instructor and others, alertness and attentiveness.
4. Cell phones are to be turned off during class. Computers can be
used for note taking, but permission must be granted, and will be
subject to checks during class time. If students are using the
computer for anything other than note taking sanctions will be
applied. Please be prepared to be called out in class if you cannot
abide by the above requirements.
5. The use of extra credit will be deemed at the professor’s discretion.
Course Tentative schedule subject to change…
Assignments:
1. Resource File
Need to start NOW!
The purpose of this assignment is for you to begin developing a working
knowledge of local, country, state and federal resources available. This
assignment will aid you as you begin your practicum next year.
Prior to developing your resource file you will sign up to research resources in a
certain area (Note: most of you will need to do more than one area in order to
meet the minimum requirement). You are to gather information on the resources
and compile it into a handout to be given to your professor. In some instances
you may have brochures that you have found.
You will need to know the following (but not limited to):






What need does this community resource address
Location
Contact person and telephone # if there is one
Criteria e.g. income based, gender, abuse…
Is it a free resource or does it have to be paid back
Application process (if any)
Your grade will be based on how well the information provided on the resources
is presented, and how many resources you find. Thus, making it necessary to not
only look locally but in the surrounding counties, state and federal level as well,
and possibly researching more than one area.
Grading is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
20 resources
19-18 resources
17-10 resources
9-5 resources
4-0 resources
100 points
90 points
80 points
70 points
60 points
2. Mid-Term Test:
The mid-term test will test for reading comprehension over class
discussion, power-points used during lecture and chapters covered
upon this date.
3. Social Service Agency: Mid-Term Assignment
The mid-term assignment is essentially the preparation necessary to
successfully complete the research requirements for the Final Paper.
The objective of this assignment is to utilize the readings and class discussions
by preparing a report about how the environment (social, political, economic and
physical) affects the behaviors of people in organizations and communities and
how do the individuals in turn affect their environment.
General Guidelines:
 Each student will select one social service agency. This can be in your
home community or another community.
 Each student will interview at least three (3) staff members at various
organizational levels (e.g. executive director, program director, board
member, professional worker and a client/consumer (if possible).
 Ensure confidentiality for ALL interviewee.
 Incorporate concepts & management principles. Set up interviews—the
student DOES NOT have to have completed the interviews by the midterm date.
 Provide the dates/times for these interviews. Write a paragraph or two on
what services this agency provides.
 Develop a list of questions that you want to ask during your interview.
These may or may not be the same for each person you interview.
 The questions are based around what concepts and management
principles (at least 5) you want to learn about. The following are
examples:
Staff, Executive Director, Program Director…..
1. Position and length of service at the agency
2. What are some of the most rewarding and challenging events of
a typical day/meeting? Illustrations? (Challenges can be
physical, procedural, time pressures, social/interpersonal,
emotional etc.).
3. To what extent is the agency structured appropriately (e.g. lay
out of the departments, personnel in the departments,
procedures followed by different departments) to process clients
and facilitate your work? How would you restructure the
organization if you were given an opportunity?
4. What organizational goals do you assist in fulfilling at this
agency, and how?
Clients:
1. What has been your experience when you interacted with
employees of this agency?
2. How do you view this agency and the employees e.g. what do
you like about the agency and the employees?
3. What (services, employees, processes are
oppressive/discriminatory) can use some change? Illustrations?
4. How does your current situation (homelessness, unemployed,
domestic violence) affect your experiences at the agency?
Illustrations?
Writing guidelines:
Title and author of the paper
APA style
4. Diversity Activity/Reaction Paper
The purpose of this assignment is to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers,
difficulties, biases, prejudices…that other people in our society experience based
on race, sexual orientation, illness, poverty…
Your assignment is to assume a different “identity” and become that person
experiencing discrimination. Some examples include but are not limited to the
following: go to the local food kitchen, apply for services as a HIV status person,
use a wheel chair all day, and use a motorized cart at Wal-Mart. Do not identify
yourself as a student doing a research assignment. Pay careful attention to your
inner feelings, thoughts, actions…
Write a reaction paper based on your experience. Your paper should include
your thoughts, feelings, reactions but not be limited to just these things. Also,
how has this experience changed you? Does it change how you will relate to
people?
The paper should be approximately three (3) pages, double-spaced, 1” margins
and 12 point font.
Per the University’s rules, each student will need to fill out and sign a Waiver.
These will be distributed in class.
5. Critical Thinking Partner Dialogue Journals
This assignment is designed to develop your critical thinking skills which are vital
to social work. Prior to class on Tuesdays you will need to read the assigned
reading(s) and journal your “reactions and/or thoughts.” What does the text
make you think about? You can supplement with class lectures, and/or class
discussions. Use the rubric provided to guide you in this process.
On Tuesday of each week, you will switch your journal with a classmate (keeping
the same partner throughout the semester). It is your job to write comments to
that classmate about what they wrote. Read the assigned readings and then
write in that journal. ALWAYS bring the journal back on Thursdays to your
Practice II class to hand back, so your partner has time to read assigned
readings and journal for the following week. The journal switch will occur outside
of class time. Each student is required to manage this piece of the journal
assignment.
Please write your name on the FRONT of your journal, and the Chapter(s) of the
assigned readings at the top of each journal page. NOTE: I may ask to see how
you are doing anytime throughout the semester.
6. The FINAL paper will have the following sections
1. Introduction to the paper which describes the purposes of the
assignment and what was done to fulfill the assignment. Include
information about the social service agency. What type of agency is it for
example, non-profit, for-profit…etc, services provided, organizational
structure (include an organization chart), other pertinent information.
2. Body using the three interviews, incorporate the concepts and
management principles into the paper. Define the concept/principle and
then explain how the concept is relevant to a section of the interview.
REMEMBER: you need to have at least 5 concepts/principles from the
chapters on Organizations.
Conclusion: What did you learn from this assignment about behaviors of
people within organizational contexts?
As a potential employee, what more would you like to learn about this
agency?
What implications does the existing organization structure and process
have for workers and clients?
If you were the CEO, what would you do differently to make the structure
and process more conductive for and responsive to workers and clients
and in line with social work values?
Writing guidelines:
Title and author of the paper
APA style
Final (See Tentative Schedule)
The final exam will test for reading comprehension over class discussion, powerpoints used during lecture, as well as the chapters that were cover after the midterm exam.
Critical Thinking Journal Rubric
Minimum
Marginal
Average
Proficient
Advanced
1
2
3
4
5
Making
connections
and
Developing
Voice
__x5= __/25
No personal
response is
made to the
issues,
concepts raised
in the text
Analysis
conveys little
evidence of a
personal
response to the
issues/concepts
raised in the
text
Analysis
conveys some
evidence of a
personal
response to the
issues/concepts
raised in the
text
Analysis
conveys
evidence of a
personal
response to the
issues/concepts
raised in the
text. Student
demonstrates
that he/she is
beginning to
develop critical
thinking skills
Reflection
__x5=___/25
Does not
reflect on own
thoughts and
learning & no
examples are
provided
Reflects on
own thoughts
and learning
but does not
provide many
examples
Demonstrates
an ability to
reflect on own
thoughts and
learning but
examples are
minimal
Knowledge
Base
__x5___/25
Is not
comprehending
or reflecting on
what is heard,
read or viewed
Demonstrates
some basic
comprehension
of texts but
does not make
connections
with the bigger
picture
Comprehends
the surface
level meaning
of texts and
begins to relate
issues to
general
knowledge and
experiences.
Effort and
Legibility
__x5___/25
No effort
and/or not
legible
Little effort
and/or sloppy
Some effort
and/or
somewhat
legible
Demonstrates
an ability to
reflect on own
thoughts and
learning &
provides
examples
consistently
Is able to make
inferences and
comprehends
deeper
meaning on
most
occasions.
Relates text
and issues
raised
consistently to
experiences.
Work is legible
&
demonstrates
much effort
Analysis
conveys
extensive
evidence of a
personal
response to the
issues raised in
the text.
Student
demonstrates
personal
growth &
development of
critical
thinking skills.
Reflects well
on own
thoughts and
learning.
Provides many
examples
Comments:
Is able to make
inferences well
and
comprehends
deeper
meaning
consistently,
demonstrating
insight and
relevance to
experiences.
Work
demonstrates
legibility &
much effort
was made with
originality and
initiative.
Journal points earned: _______/25 points
Clary S08
Tentative Course Schedule
(All chapters correspond to the 3rd edition of the textbook, it is your responsibility to
adjust if you have a different edition)
Date
Jan 14
Jan 21
Jan 28
Feb 4
Feb 11
Feb 18
Feb 25
Mar 4
Topic
Introduction to course/syllabus
Introduction to ACAT
Introduction to Macro Social
Environment
Multicultural Social Work Practice
Organizations
Culturally competent social work
practice
Social Service Organizations
Organizational
Structure/Dynamics
More on Organizations
Women, Sexual minorities, Elderly
persons & those with Disabilities
Midterm Exam
CT Journal
Diversity in the Macro social
environment
Afro-American, Asian-American &
Native American
Biracial/multiracial,
Latino/Hispanic &
Immigrant/Refugee populations
Mar 11
SPRING BREAK
Mar 18
Mar 25
Apr 1
Communities: Theories and
Concepts
Assessment of geographic
communities
Neighborhood Empowerment
Apr 8
Social Justice and global
community
17th
Apr 15
No Class/SWK Institute
Barriers to Multicultural Social
Work
April 22
Paper MUST be personally
handed in to Professor or
special arrangement made prior
to 4/22
Reading/Assignments
WELCOME 
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 1
Sue, Chpt. 1
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 5
Sue, Chpt. 2
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 6
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 7
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 8
Sue, Chpt. 14
Midterm exam
Critical Thinking Journal Due (Feb 25)
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 12
Sue, Chpt. 12
Sue Chpt. 13
Social Service Midterm Assignment Due
(March 4th)
FINISH Diversity Paper…Its due when you
come back!
As well as have some FUN!
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 9
Diversity/Reaction paper due (March 18th)
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 10
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 11
Resource files due (April 1th)
Kirst-Ashman, Chpt. 13 (make sure you have
excused absences for Thursday Classes!)
Institute Mandatory Attendance on 4/17
Sue, Chpt. 7
Critical Thinking Journals due (April 15th)
Sue, Chpt. 8
Social Service Agency Final Paper Due
4/22
May 6
FINAL
May 6th 11:30 am – 1:20 pm
Wilson 205- Final