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Course Offerings

This degree features a 4-semester sequence, comprised of both class work and field work, in which students explore up to 3 different internship opportunities. All students complete Purposes I and II, and then complete any 2 of the remaining Purposes III, IV, V, VI. The complete degree program requires 64 credits (4 Purposes, as stated above). A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required to graduate. Students who successfully complete the requirements for graduation are eligible for further matriculation into the Bachelor's of Professional Studies in Human Services by requesting an application from the Registrar.

Associate of Arts Course Offerings

Semester 1

Self Assessment And Preparation for Practice
Becoming a professional requires a commitment to life-long learning. The first semester concentrates on self assessment and planning for professional development as the cornerstone of the educational process and a first step in every professional relationship. A key concept, empowerment, is explored in practice, as students learn to assess and expand their own empowerment as learners and professionals.
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Purpose: Clinical Seminar: Introduction to the Constructive Action (CON 110 CON) (2 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; clarification of professional goals, documentation and assessment; critical thinking and analysis.
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Values and Ethics: Contemporary Values and Classical Ethics (HIS 110 VAL) (2 credits)
The Human Service ethic; introduction to values including definition, sources, relation to social rules, clarification, conflicts and their resolution; empowerment and its roots in history; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.
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Self and Others: Biological Aspects of Human Development (BIO 110 SEL) (2 credits)
Physiological, social and cultural factors in human development as interpreted in various theories of human development; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.
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Systems: Introduction to Social Systems (SOC 110 SYS) (2 credits)
Major social systems which impact on lives, including family, community, education, and work.
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Skills A: Critical Thinking and Writing Through the Study of Literature (ENG 110 SKI) (2 credits)
Critical thinking and writing through a cross-cultural survey of various literary forms and styles.
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Skills B: Mathematics for Human Services I (MTH 110 SK2) (0 credits)
Mathematical reasoning and problem solving as a contribution to such professional capabilities as observing and assessing individuals and systems, presenting observations and assessments in quantitative form, and interpreting others' presentations.
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Practicum: (FLD 110 FLD) (2 credits)
Research into the specific learning requirements of the student's field site or expected area of practice; identification of available learning resources.
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Semester 2

Developing Empowering Professional Relationships at the Workplace
In their second semester, students explore the factors that need to be considered as they work to build relationships which promote citizen and organizational empowerment. They will learn to analyze professional relationships within the context of the organization as a bureaucracy, and to identify and compare the diagnostic descriptions of the citizen provided by the citizen, by other participants in the service situation, and in the literature.
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Purpose: Clinical Seminar (CON 120 CON) (2 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; analytical and communication skills. Students demonstrate, in the Constructive Actions performed in the field and simultaneously documented, how they have established professional relationships in order to provide and/or improve services to one or more citizens.
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Values and Ethics: Historical and Comparative Study of Professional Ethics (HIS 120 VAL) (2 credits)
Models of professionalism; attitudes toward people seeking service; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.
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Self and Others: Social and Developmental Psychology I (PSY 120 SEL) (2 credits)
Interpersonal relationships; social development in childhood; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.
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Systems: Social, Political and Economic Aspects of Service Delivery Systems (PSC 120 SYS) (2 credits)
Emphasis on the characteristics of bureaucracies.
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Skills: Math for Human Services II (MTH 121 SKI) (2 credits)
Application of Mathematics to life; the Human Service workplace; emphasizes cooperative learning in collaborative exercises; inclusion of real data; graphing technology.
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Practicum (FLD 120 FLD) (2 credits)
All students are expected to be in a paid or volunteer human service position in which they can carry out a Constructive Action and confront the challenges involved in developing productive, professional relationships.
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Semester 3

Developing Empowerment Through Work in Groups
In this semester, student-practitioners will learn and apply concepts and skills that can be applied to work with families, learning groups in organizations, as well as service teams and other staff groups. They will study the ethical issues involved in group membership and non-membership, including issues of power, responsibility and integrity. They will study theory from sociology and social psychology relating to group behavior, concentrating on the role of family and other primary groups in the socialization process.
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Purpose: Clinical Seminar (CON 230 CON) (2 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; analytical and communication skills. For their Constructive Actions and documentations, students must identify a specific group to work with as human service practitioners. They will demonstrate the growing empowerment of individual members and of the group as a whole through their work together.
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Values and Ethics: Group Values, Norms, and Morality (PSY 230 VAL) (2 credits)
The social context for the formation of values and norms; stages of attachment and independence in groups; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.
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Self and Others: Social and Developmental Psychology II (PSY 230 SEL) (2 credits)
Interdisciplinary study of models of group interaction; comparison, evaluation and application of models; the influence of family and other primary groups; illustrations from literature and the other humanities.
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Systems: The Sociology of Group Behavior (SOC 230 SYS) (2 credits)
Ethnic and racial relations from an American and global perspective; intergroup conflict; racism and discrimination.
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Skills: Statistics for Group Analysis (MTH 230 SKI) (2 credits)
Introduction to statistical reasoning; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to groups, public health, distribution of income, and census studies.
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Practicum (FLD 230 FL) (2 credits)
At their field site and under supervision, students will be expected to lead a group, and to carry out a Constructive Action demonstrating growth of empowerment through the group.
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Semester 4

Promoting Empowerment Through Teaching and Communication
When empowerment is the aim of human service delivery, teaching is an essential part of effective, professional performance. As a basic human service function, teaching plays a part in every work and organizational relationship .
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Purpose: Clinical Seminar (CON 240 CON) (2 credits)
Integration of theory from other Dimension seminars into the Constructive Action and its documentation; analytical and communication skills. In each Constructive Action and documentation, the student must show that through teaching and communication, he/she has tried to increase empowerment for two or more citizens.
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Values and Ethics: Developmental and Comparative Study of Educational Philosophies (HIS 240 VAL) (2 credits)
Topics include the function of education, methods and special issues; examples from literature and the other humanities.
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Self and Others: Theories of Learning and Cognitive Development (PSY 241 SEL) (2 credits)
Genetic, developmental, and cultural factors that affect learning; comparison of traditional and nontraditional models; practical applications.
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Systems: Systems for Learning and Communication (PSC 240 SYS) (2 credits)
The impact of political, economic, and social systems on education.
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Skills: Using Introductory Statistics for Teaching and Communication (MTH 240 SKI) (2 credits)
Solve statistical problems and evaluate data from the Constructive Action by applying appropriate statistical concepts and methods.
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Practicum (FLD 240 FLD) (2 credits)
In their work or internship site, each student will be expected to identify a situation where they can work under supervision to promote the empowerment of two or more people by functioning as teacher and/or communicator.
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