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Social Science
General Goals for Learning
Students:
• Understand the interactive nature of persons and their environments;
• Are able to select, plan, implement, and evaluate interventions designed to improve daily life, and
promote human well-being;
• Possess the range of communication and information management skills necessary for various
professional human services roles; and
• Engage in reflective ethical practice, guided by self-awareness and professional self-management.
Human Services Major (37-38 credits plus thesis or internship):
Generalist human services professionals are often ‘front line’ workers and have daily contact with
vulnerable individuals and families. These professionals work with interdisciplinary teams to assess
functioning, and develop service plans, coordinate services, provide support, and work for social
change. The human services curriculum prepares generalists who have knowledge and skills necessary
to work with a variety of vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, persons with mental
illness, persons with disabilities, and victims of violence.
A. Practice Core: All of the following:
HS111 Introduction to Human Services
HS211 Interviewing and Assessment
HS306 Case Management
B. Research Core: three courses; either PY290 or S250:
PY290 Experimental Psychology and Statistics
S250 Logic of Analysis
S350 Field Methods
ST132 Reasoning with Statistics
C. Human Development Core: All of the following:
B200 Human Biology
B201 Human Biology Lab
PY111 General Psychology
PY211 Developmental Psychology
D. Three upper-division courses approved by the program coordinator.
E. Section E or F: Both of the following:
HS489 Thesis Development
HS490 Research: Human Services
F. Section E or F: All of the following:
HS495 Human Services Internship Preparation
HS496/497 Human Services Internship (minimum 6 credits)*
HS498 Human Services Internship Integration
A student may complete the internship requirement with an approved semester study abroad program;
consult with the program coordinator to discuss options.
Human services majors are strongly encouraged to complete at least 400 hours of related service work
through volunteering, service learning, field experience and internships, and to achieve basic Spanish
language proficiency.
Program Courses
HS111 Introduction to Human Services 3 credits
Students trace the development of human services as a profession, identify employment options
for human services professionals, and examine the various social problems to which human services
professionals respond, including but not limited to child abuse, domestic violence, homelessness,
immigration, mental illness, needs of the frail elderly, and substance abuse. Students complete 25 hours
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