Online · School of Behavioral Sciences · Community Care and CounselingIntroduction to Human Services Counseling

HSCO-500CG Section 8WK11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020Modified 12/12/2022

Course DescriptionThis course explores the historical context and the current structure of the Human Service field. Students will be exposed to the primary intervention strategies utilized in human services including interviewing, case management, and facilitating groups. The special populations served in the Human Service profession will be examined. Topics including values and ethical dilemmas, the social welfare system, diversity, program planning, organizing and changing systems, legal issues, staying current and avoiding burnout will be considered.

RequisitesFor information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog (https://catalog.liberty.edu/ ).

RationaleThis course will serve as an introduction to the Human Service field. It provides the student with an awareness of the challenges and the wide range of services included in this field.Please note that the online Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling is not designed to fulfill clinical licensure requirements as an LPC, LMFT, etc. For programs designed for counseling licensure, please see Liberty’s online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Course Learning OutcomesUpon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: A. Describe the historical roots of human services and the creation of the human service profession. B. Identify personal attitudes and values about the human services field. C. Integrate the ethical standards outlined by the National Organization for Human Services and the Council for Standards in Human Service Education into personal practice, especially as they relate to client confidentiality and appropriate use of data. D. Recognize various populations being served by the human services profession and differentiate between these populations’ unique needs. E. Examine the role of diversity (including, but not limited to, ethnicity, culture, gender, and socioeconomic status) and its impact on the human services profession. F. Describe historic and current legislation affecting human service delivery. G. Compare biblical standards and practices to standards in human services.

Course ResourcesClick on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are registered: Liberty University Online Bookstore (https://bncvirtual.com/liberty )

Additional Materials for LearningA. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment B. Internet access (broadband recommended) C. Canvas recommended browsers (https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Basics-Guide/What-are-the-browser-and-computer-requirements-for-Canvas/ta-p/66) D. Microsoft Word

Course AssignmentsTextbook readings and lecture presentations Course Requirements Checklist After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations (https://www.liberty.edu/institutional-effectiveness/student-expectations/), the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

DiscussionsDiscussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete Discussions in 2 parts over the course of 2 modules. In the first module, the student will be presented with a thought-provoking prompt to which he/she will post a 300-word response in a new thread. The thread must include at least 2 references to the textbook and/or peer-reviewed source. Then, in the following module, the student will read his/her classmates’ threads and post a 150-word reply to at least 3 classmates. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Research Paper AssignmentsThroughout this course, the student will assemble the various parts of his/her Research Paper: Final Submission Assignment. A Topic Selection Assignment, Annotated Bibliography Assignment, Working Outline Assignment, and Final Submission Assignment will all be submitted throughout the duration of the course. This 10–12-page paper will be on a topic of interest regarding a social problem related to human services. The student will utilize at least 10 peer-reviewed resources for this assignment. Current APA format will be strictly adhered to throughout all elements of the paper. (CLOs: B, D, E, F)

Quizzes (4)Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes and have a 1-hour time limit. The student will need to carefully review all the reading to answer 20 questions successfully. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Course Grading

• Course Requirements Checklist: 10
• Discussions: 200
  • Discussion Threads (4 at 50 pts ea): 200
  • Discussion Replies (4 at 30 pts ea): 120
• Research Paper Assignments: 430
  • Topic Selection Assignment: 90
  • Annotated Bibliography Assignment: 100
  • Working Outline Assignment: 100
  • Final Submission Assignment: 150
• Quizzes (4 at 60 pts ea): 240
• Total: 1010

Course Policies

• Professional Communication Please be professional in your email communication. We live in a fast-paced world with text messaging which encourages short and abbreviated communication. However, since you are in a counseling program, you are encouraged and expected to use full sentences and good grammar when communicating with other students and faculty. It is also an expectation that your electronic communication is pleasing to God. Being courteous and polite to peers and professors demonstrates dignity and respect, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them” (Luke 6:31, ESV).
• Dual Relationship The faculty is responsible to interact with counseling students in a supervisory capacity/role. As such, faculty may provide students professional principles, guidance, and recommendations as it relates to the context of the student-client setting. The faculty is responsible to avoid dual relationships with students such as entering a student-counselor or student-pastor relationship. Thus, the faculty does not provide personal counseling addressing student personal problems. If a faculty member perceives that a student is in need of personal or professional counseling, then that faculty member will recommend that the student pursue either pastoral or professional assistance from a counselor in their community.
• Limits of Confidentiality In the event of a student’s disclosure, either verbally or in writing, of threat of serious or foreseeable harm to self or others, abuse or neglect of a minor, elderly or disabled person, or current involvement in criminal activity, the faculty, staff, administrator, or supervisor will take immediate action. This action may include, but is not limited to, immediate notification of appropriate state law enforcement or social services personnel, emergency contacts, and notification of the appropriate program chair or online dean. The incident and action taken will become part of the student’s permanent record.

Policies

• Late Assignment Policy Course Assignments, including discussions, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time. If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email. Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

• Disability Assistance Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu for accommodations. Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition. For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/ . Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support. If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at equityandcompliance@liberty.edu. Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.
• Course Attendance In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses must go through the withdrawal process.

Academic IntegrityPlease review the policies regarding Honor Code and Plagiarism. The full university Honor Code can be viewed in the LUO Honor Code (https://www.liberty.edu/student-affairs/community-life/honor-code/).

Student ExpectationsFor other student expectations, please review the Student Expectations (https://www.liberty.edu/institutional-effectiveness/student-expectations/).

Course Schedule

ModuleReading & StudyAssignments1Schwitzer et al.: chs. 1, 2- Course Requirements Checklist <br> - Discussion Thread 1 due2Schwitzer et al.: chs. 3, 4, 5- Discussion Replies 1 due <br> - Discussion Thread 2 due3Schwitzer et al.: chs. 6, 7, 8- Discussion Replies 2 due <br> - Research Paper: Topic Selection4Schwitzer et al.: chs. 9, 10- Discussion Thread 3 due <br> - Quiz 15Schwitzer et al.: chs. 11, 12- Discussion Replies 3 due <br> - Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography6Schwitzer et al.: ch. 13- Discussion Thread 4 due <br> - Research Paper: Working Outline7Schwitzer et al.: chs. 14, 15- Discussion Replies 4 due <br> - Quiz 28Schwitzer et al.: chs. 16, 17- Research Paper: Final Submission <br> - Quiz 39Schwitzer et al.: ch. 18- Quiz 4