SYLLABUS
Introduction to Human Services
Instructor: Ed Neukrug. Ed.D.
Course Number: HMSV 341
Course Title: Introduction to Human Services
Purpose:
The purpose of this course is to examine the broad range of services and functions of the
human service professional in his or her workplace. The student will become
knowledgeable about the many roles and functions of the human service professional,
gain an understanding of the types of agencies where human service professionals are
employed, and be exposed to an overview of the human service profession. This course
is the first course toward training students to become professionals in the human service
field.
Course Description:
Students will learn about human services, the helping process, and the role and function
of the human service professional. Students will be exposed to local and state human
services facilities.
Objectives:
1. To examine what the human service professional does at work.
2. To visit various work settings of the human service professional and discuss
similarities and differences at these sites.
3. To study the history of the mental health movement as it relates to the human
service professional.
4. To distinguish between the various kinds of professionals in the social service
fields.
5. To identify the attitudes and personal characteristics of the effective human
service professional and evaluate to what degree each of us embodies these
attributes.
6. To understand what it means to be a "developmentally mature" human service
professional and discuss how each of us might strive to be more effective as a
human service professional.
7. To understand the change process and demonstrate how to facilitate change in
clients.
8. To learn about and practice basic interviewing and counseling skills.
9. To learn about basic case management techniques and examine how case
management is used at varying social service agencies.
10. To compare and contrast the concepts of guidance, counseling, psychotherapy,
and mental health support.
11. To learn about theories of human development and examine how knowledge of
human development can be applied with clients.
12. To define basic concepts of systemic interaction in groups, families, and social
systems and discuss how such knowledge can be applied to make change occur in
systems.
13. To compare and contrast theories of career development and to discover ways of
assisting clients and ourselves in defining one's career and in finding a job.
14. To reflect on the process of ethical decision making and to compare and contrast
varying ethical standards of professional social service associations.
15. To discover the importance of using a theoretical approach when working with
clients and to compare and contrast some of the major theories of counseling and
psychotherapy.
16. To learn about the nature and function of testing and research in the human
service field and identify how testing and research is used to assist clients.
17. To learn about theories of multicultural counseling, compare and contrast various
cultural groups throughout the world, and reveal how multicultural issues have
affected each of us.
18. To learn about and discuss future trends and professional issues in the human
service field.
Activities:
1. Text readings as assigned.
2. Involvement in experiential activities.
3. A paper using eight journal articles.
4. An interview of a human service professional.
5. Midterm and final exams.
6. Submission of 10 experiential exercises.
7. Extra Credit: Involvement in a minimum of three personal counseling sessions or
attendance at a human services conference. Worth an extra three points on overall
grade.
Media: Readings, films, lectures, in-class presentations.
Evaluation:
25%.......Paper
50%.......Midterm and Final (25% each)
15%.......Interview of a human service professional whom you do not know* (see pages
184 - 186 for guidelines)
10%.......Completion of 10 experiential exercises*
03%.......Extra Credit: Counseling with graduate student, personal counseling, or
attendance at 1 day workshop or conference on counseling-related issue.
*Grades of A- (90), A (95) or A+ (100) will be given for completion of these
assignments. If an assignment is seen as incomplete, it will be sent back to be redone.
Experiential exercise assignments will be given out weekly.
Grading:
Point Spread for Grade Determination
92.1..to..100.....=..A.........................78..to..79.9..=..B90.....to....92.....=..A-........................75..to..77.9..=..C+
85.....to....89.9..=..B+.......................70..to..74.9..=..C
80.....to....84.9..=..B..........................68..to..69.9..=..CAttendance Policy:
If you miss more than three classes, you cannot obtain any “A” grade; more than five
class you cannot obtain any "B" grade; more than seven classes, you cannot obtain any
"C" grade.
Special Needs:
In accordance with university policy, a student who wishes to receive some instructional
accommodation, because of a documented sensory and/or learning disability, should meet
with the instructor to discuss this accommodation. Any student who has a concern or
needs to make special arrangements for meeting the requirements of the course is
encouraged to speak with the instructor.
Honors Pledge:
"I pledge to support the honor system of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from
any form of academic dishonest or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware
that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all
suspected violators of the honor system. I will report to Honor Council hearings if
summoned." By attending Old Dominion University you have accepted the
responsibility to abide by this code. This is an institutional policy approved by the Board
of Visitors. Please inform the instructor of any special needs you may have for the
course.
Class Information:
Spring Break:
March 7 - 12, 2004
Withdrawal Deadline: March 15, 2004
Classes End:
April 26, 2004
Exams Begin:
April 28
Prerequisites:
Junior Standing or Permission of Instructor
Course Sequencing:
Introduction to Human Services Counseling is a required course in the Human Services
Counseling Major. Generally, it is the first course taken in the major. Students are
required to have junior or senior standing, or permission of the instructor.
Text: Neukrug, E. (2004). Theory, practice, and trends in human services: An
introduction (3rd. ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Course Content:
WEEK 1: Orientation to Course (January 11 and 13)
WEEK 2: Defining the Human Service Professional. Chapter 1 (January 18 and 20)
WEEK 3: The Human Service Professional: History and Standards. Chapter 2 (January
25 and 27) (If you missed first class, viewing of tape and signed statement of rules is due.
If it is not received by February 1st, you will receive an F in the class).
WEEK 4: Theoretical Approaches to HS Work. Chapter 3 (February 1 and 3)
WEEK 5: The Helping Interview: Skills, Process, and Case Management. Chapter 4
(February 8 and 10)
WEEK 6: The Development of the Person. Chapter 5 (February 15 and 17)
WEEK 7: Catch-Up and Review for Exam (February 22, 24, and March 1) (First 5
experiential exercises due: March 1)
WEEK 8: Midterm Exam (March 3)
WEEK 9: Systems: What Are They? How Do We Work With Them? Chapter 6 (March
15 and 17)
WEEK 10: Human Service Professionals in a Pluralistic Society. Chapter 7 (March 22
and 24)
WEEK 11: Research, Program Evaluation, and Testing. Chapter 8 (Papers Due March 31)
(March 29 and 31)
WEEK 12: The HS Professional and the World of Work. Chapter 9 (Interview and 5
more Experiential Exercises Due on April 7)(April 5 and 7)
WEEK 13: A Look to the Future: Trends in the Function and Roles of the Human Service
Professional. Chapter 10 (April 12 and 14) (Extra Credit Due)
WEEK 14: Catch-Up and Review for Exam (April 19, 21, and 26)
WEEK 14: Final (April 28)
Demographic Information:
Ed Neukrug
Office Phone Number: 683-3326
E-mail Address: eneukrug@odu.edu
Office Address: Education 110, Counseling Program
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529
Paper Guidelines:
Your paper should include a minimum of eight journal articles and should revolve around
any topic in the social service field (e.g., a survey of curriculum standards of human
services program, counseling HIV positive individuals, the human service professional
and child protective services). The paper should be typed, double-spaced, and follow
APA guidelines. If you are not clear on APA referencing style, please use your text as a
model, and/or obtain a copy of the APA style manual guide at the ODU bookstore or
your college library in the reference section.
The paper should be written objectively and should integrate the articles that you have
read. Grammar, organization, spelling, neatness, and the use of APA referencing style
are reviewed very carefully and could substantially reduce your grade if not done
correctly. Please note that the following constitutes plagiarism and/or cheating: copying
directly from a source without quotation marks, paraphrasing a source without
referencing, using a paper that has been used in another class, and having someone else
write all or part of your paper (note: this is not an exclusive list).
The paper should be typed and double-spaced, have the subheadings listed below, and be
a total of not more than six pages. Please use 12-point font and 1 inch margins. The body
of the report is four pages.
1) Title Page (separate page)
2) Introduction
3) Major Headings and subheadings (if appropriate)
4) Summary
5) References(separate page)
The contents of this communication are the sole responsibility of Ed Neukrug and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies
of Old Dominion University. Updated on 12/12/04. Ed Neukrug is responsible for the maintenance of this page. Addresss: College of
Education, Counseling Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23507. E-mail: eneukrug@odu.edu.
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