Courses
SocW 402-403:
Human Behavior and the Social Environment
Instructors for Winter 2009:
Course Description
Social workers have practice responsibilities with a wide array of client systems
ranging from individuals and families to small groups, organizations, and communities.
Knowledge of human development and behavior within social systems, the conditions
needed for healthy growth and development, and the application of this knowledge
to social welfare and social work is a central element in education for professional
social work practice. Soc Wf 402-403 is required for students seeking the BASW
degree at the University of Washington School of Social Work.
Course Summary
Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II (hereafter referred to
as HBSE) is a two quarter sequence that focuses on understanding human development
and human behavior, and their interactions with various elements in the physical
and social environment. After learning about the values and purposes of social
welfare and social work, you will learn a variety of ways of understanding human
development and behavior. You will learn traditional and alternative theories
of development and behavior, and be able to critically apply them to social
work practice situations. The content of the course includes:
- Knowledge paradigms and their relevance to HBSE perspectives and theories;:
- Processes of socialization and enculturation and physical, cognitive, moral
and emotional growth;:
- Information about environments, including socio-cultural, historical, economic
and political contexts relevant to understanding and assessing the behaviors
of individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities; and:
- Diversities and oppressions related to gender, race and ethnicity, social
class, sexual orientation, age religion and ability.
General Objectives
Soc Wf 402-403 has been designed to assist students achieve the following
knowledge, affective and skill objectives. Upon completion of the course sequence
students will be able to:
- Explain the values, ethics and purposes of social work;
- Apply the ecological and strengths perspectives in social work assessment
and intervention;
- Understand the major assumptions of empowerment principles and their applications
to social work practice;
- Describe how your individual characteristics and your personal membership
in various groups(e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation,
age, religion and ability groups) have influenced your personal development,
values, and behavior;
- Describe the possible effects on individuals, families, small groups, organizations,
and communities of oppressions based on gender, race, ethnicity, social class,
age, religion, and ability and apply this knowledge of oppressions to social
work practice; and
- Critically apply selected social science theories to understand the development
and behavior of :
- diverse individuals in their environments,
- diverse families in their environments,
- small groups in their environments,
- organizations in their environments, and
- communities in their environments
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