Course Syllabus
Course: SW 2100
Division: Social and Behavioral Science
Department: Behavioral Science
Title: Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment
Semester Approved: Spring 2024
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2028
End Semester: Fall 2029
Catalog Description: This course will provide students with a social work perspective on human behavior and the social environment. Students will study biological, psychological, and social development through a chronological life span approach.
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Justification: This course is part of the Social Work curriculum at Snow College, and similar courses exist for Social Work programs throughout other USHE institutions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Evaluate contemporary and/or historical problems using social science and Social Work specific research methodology. This will be accomplished through the presentation research submitted by the student and evaluated by the instructor, by the student’s participation, and in addition to a final project.
Describe and analytically compare Social Work's different social, political, economic, cultural, geographical, or historical settings and processes. Students will complete critical thinking exercises in the chapters or take the appropriate quiz, ethical questions, , and exam. Following the major portion of the work, the student will submit the assignments for evaluation by the instructor. Additionally, the student will complete a presentation.
Develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for individual human behavior within the large-scale historical or social context as it relates to Social Work. This outcome will be determined to be met through an in-class presentation and the significant me essay.
Write and/or demonstrate effectively within social science and the Social Work discipline, using correct disciplinary guidelines, to analyze, interpret, and communicate about social science phenomena. This outcome will be accomplished in all the written assignments and projects.
Content:
Students are introduced to the Biological-Psychological-Sociological perspective of human behavior using the person-in- the-environment perspective (Systems theory).Topics discussed include: issues of family life, racism, young adulthood, middle age, old age, death and dying, the grieving process, child development, etc. Class discussion will address the broad diversity of challenges with these issues and the people that face them, in particular, in relation to the diverse topics that this class inherently teaches.
Key Performance Indicators:
Presentation 20 to 40%
Exams 30 to 50%
Ethical Questions 15 to 35%
Significant Me 5 to 15%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, Current edition.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be taught by lecture, group work, discussion, written assignments and projects which require practical application. Efforts will be made to encourage students to bring their opinions, analysis, and life experiences to help increase inclusivity in this application. The course values this inclusivity and participation by all members of the course regardless of their background.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Online
Maximum Class Size: 40
Optimum Class Size: 40
