Human Services (HMS)

HMS 499. Tutorial. 1-12 Hours.

Intended to supplement, not supplant, regular course offerings. Students interested in a tutorial must secure the consent of the faculty member concerned before registration and submit any required documentation to him or her.

HMS 501. Critical Perspectives in Human Services. 3 Hours.

Introductory course that should be taken during the student's first semester. Examination of the conflicting roles and functions of human services in an advanced, increasingly technological society. Special attention is given to the issues of poverty, heath care and ageism, child welfare, family problems, substance abuse, and the privatization of human services.

HMS 502. Interviewing and Assessment Skills in Human Services. 3 Hours.

Graduate-level communication and assessment skills needed to develop, sustain, and manage a helping relationship with clients. Instruction in recognizing and using both formal and informal methods of assessment including a variety of tools used in human services.

HMS 509. Survey of Aging through Films. 3 Hours.

Aging is discussed using the medium of film to help students develop a comprehensive perspective of aging. This course is grounded in lifespan development and integrates the arts and humanities into the study of the aging process, reviews and acknowledges the contributions of people who are aging and reflects upon attitudes and perspectives on aging that include stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Advocacy in the media is included.

HMS 511. Social Policy and Human Services. 3 Hours.

An in-depth understanding of social welfare policy, including the historical and current view of systems, concepts of human causes and needs, idealized components of delivery systems, roles and conflicts of the human services professional.

HMS 512. Neurobiological Health and Wellness in Aging. 3 Hours.

Looking through a neurobiological lens, this course creates an understanding of aging as a natural process that explores the natural aging process, longevity, and individualization. Also explored are the plasticity of the body and brain including points of reversibility, late life syndromes and diseases and their risk and prevention factors, and biomedical research discoveries with their applications to individuals and society.

HMS 513. Aging and the Family. 3 Hours.

Explores aging and the family from a communication approach in the context of the individual, the family, the community, and public policy. Using a systems perspective, this course identifies and listens to all stakeholders to develop effective programs that benefit the person who is aging. Discussion of the individual and the family ensues in the context of intergenerational relationships, culture, race and ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

HMS 514. Staff Development and Supervision. 3 Hours.

This course provides students with a background in direct and clinical supervision, personnel issues, staff development, supervision models, and culturally competent and ethical supervisory practices. Application of supervisory skills to practice is achieved by realistic and pertinent case studies.

HMS 516. Ethics and Professional Development. 3 Hours.

This course will examine the moral and legal bases for ethical guidelines and professional ethical codes for Human Service professionals. Students will examine their values and how their values affect the helping relationship.

HMS 521. Advanced Interviewing and Intervention. 3 Hours.

Instruction in facilitating and terminating therapeutic relationships designed to help clients improve their personal functioning and heal emotional pain. Emphasis on skill development in the areas of assessment, treatment, planning, and intervention. Course Information: Prerequisites: HMS 502 or equivalent experience.

HMS 525. Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. 3 Hours.

In-depth overview of the field of alcoholism and substance abuse. Topics include the physiological/biological effects of drugs, treatment and relapse issues, and ethical issues.

HMS 527. Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse. 3 Hours.

Evaluation of substance abuse patterns and assessment of various treatment alternatives. Process of intervention and various approaches to treatment. Course Information: Prerequisites: HMS 525 or equivalent.

HMS 528. Dual Diagnosis and Relapse Prevention. 3 Hours.

Recognition and treatment of clients who present with an initial diagnosis such as alcoholism and substance abuse but may also have a mental illness which, when left untreated, may cause relapse. Explores barriers to recovery, high risk factors to relapse, and the developmental process in recovery. Course Information: Prerequisites: HMS 525.

HMS 532. The Psycho-Social Aspects of Aging in the 21st Century. 3 Hours.

Using the Lifespan perspective, this course explores aging in the 21st century. Topics include life transitions and the adaptive process, dementia, Alzheimer’s, aging, dementia and society, economics and aging, aging, religion, and health, and societal attitudes toward the perceptions of aging.

HMS 533. Child Abuse And Neglect. 3 Hours.

This course explores the problem of child maltreatment. It teaches students to effectively deal with issues of child abuse and neglect, including recognizing and reporting abuse, missions of child protective agencies, interdisciplinary and community resources, and methods of improving the general well being of families who show indications of high risk.

HMS 537. Treating Children from Diverse Populations. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the provision of services to children from diverse populations. Using a biopsychosocial perspective, emphasis is placed on the social, cultural, familial, and individual similarities and differences in values and behavior. Therapeutic techniques are explored. Course Information: Same as AAS 537.

HMS 538. Social Services Administration. 3 Hours.

This course provides comprehensive overview of administering human service organizations. Topics include leadership theory, strategic planning, time management, diversity management, staff employment challenges, fiscal management, funding, and resource development, team building, and board work. Application of administrative skills to practice is achieved by experiential activities and case activities.

HMS 541. Senior Care Administration. 3 Hours.

Using an administrative model, students learn to educate public regarding older persons. Course includes planning, organizing, operations and services, and resource development. Management of staff and evaluation of facility performance, government relations, hiring, training, and supervising employees are also included. Students will learn about involvement in the public policy process to advocate for fair and equitable treatment of our aging population.

HMS 550. Internship. 3 Hours.

Intensive direct service experience in a social service agency. Regular supervision is required. Placement is developed with adviser; 100 hours of service earns one credit hour. Service time may be concurrent with classes or may be full time. Course Information: Credit/No Credit grading only.

HMS 563. Sociology of Death, Dying, and Bereavement. 3 Hours.

This course will explore the social, psychological, cultural, and personal experiences of death, grief and loss. Examples of topics covered will include: cultural attitudes towards death, caregiver-patient relationships, hospice and palliative care, coping with life threatening illness, active and passive euthanasia, bereavement, grief and mourning. This class is not meant to serve as a grief recovery support group: however, the content does prompt personal reflections as we all continue to process the losses experienced in our lives. Course Information: Same as SOA 563.

HMS 567. Family Dynamics and Intervention. 3 Hours.

Comprehensive study of the dynamics of marriage and family life. The course teaches practitioners cultural sensitivity and variety in treatment methods. A study of models used in marriage, family, and divorce intervention is explored.

HMS 580. Master's Project/Thesis Continuing Enrollment. 0 Hours.

This course is offered to those students who enrolled in HMS 579 as their closure option and were unable to complete that option by the time four hours were accrued in continuing enrollment. Students must register in HMS 580 for zero credit hours (one billable hour) in all subsequent semesters until the closure option is completed. Course Information: May be repeated. Restricted to HMS.

HMS 584. Introduction to Nonprofit Management. 3 Hours.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary issues in managing nonprofit organizations. Topics include theories of nonprofit management, basic leadership practice, social problem analysis, programmatic intervention strategies, effective program design, needs assessments, mission statements, goals and objectives, program evaluation and performance measurement, and successful diversity management.

HMS 585. HMS Capstone. 3 Hours.

Taken during the last semester of studies, this course provides students with the structure to complete a comprehensive assessment case study analysis. It integrates learning from core and concentration courses and further prepares students to use best practices. To receive credit, students must present their capstone document to a faculty committee and obtain formal committee approval. NOTE: If the closure option is not completed by the time four hours are accrued in continuing enrollment, students must register for HMS 586 for zero credit hours (one billable hour) in all subsequent semesters until the closure option is completed. Course Information: Restricted to HMS; student must be enrolled in last semester.

HMS 586. HMS Capstone Continuing Enrollment. 0 Hours.

Refer to NOTE in course description for HMS 585. Course Information: May be repeated. Restricted to HMS.

HMS 588. Grant Writing in Human Services. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of the grant writing process for human service programs. Students learn a step-by-step process by writing an actual proposal for an assigned human service organization. Students learn to collaborate with each other and their assigned organization resulting in a competitive grant proposal.

HMS 589. Financial Management in the Nonprofit Sector. 3 Hours.

HMS 589 lays the foundation for financial management in the nonprofit sector. This course begins with basic budgeting and covers an array of financial management topics. This course is an elective for SSA students. SSA students have the option to take another course in an alternative HMS concentration that is of interest to serve as their SSA elective. This course can serve as an elective. Restricted to graduate students and must have instructor approval.

HMS 591. Fundraising in the Nonprofit Sector. 3 Hours.

Fundraising is integral to the sustainability of nonprofit organizations large and small. HMS 590, Fundraising in the Nonprofit Sector, addresses critical practices and fundraising programs commonly seen in nonprofit organizations. This course covers topics that include principles of fundraising, gift giving, cause-related fundraising events, online fundraising, planned giving, managing fundraising, volunteers and legal and ethical issues.

HMS 599. Tutorial. 1-12 Hours.

Intended to supplement, not supplant, regular course offerings. Students interested in a tutorial must secure the consent of the faculty member concerned before registration and submit any required documentation to him or her.