2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

HS 474 - Field Experience in Human Services I


This supervised field experience offers students an opportunity to observe and shadow professionals who are practicing in a community based setting. Sites include community agencies, both public and private. Specialized populations include children and families, the mentally ill, the chemically dependent, the elderly, the homeless, and other populations needing human services. The structure of these field experiences varies by the background and interests of the student. All are supervised by a field supervisor employed by the agency, and by the mentor coordinating the class. There will be face-to-face classes so that students have the opportunity to share and support each other in the fulfillment of their field experience requirement. Portfolios are developed by all students during this course and any other field work courses for this major.

Typically students will have placements in agencies where they will be supervised by social workers, or human service administrators. They will be practicing interaction with clients, staff and communities while engaging in the skills of advocacy, communication, documentation, and program development. Because they are undergraduates they will not perform tasks expected of graduate students in a field placement. Rather, they will be performing tasks that will prepare them to apply for positions in agencies generally filled by someone with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services. The environment of the field experience provides the context so that students can integrate the knowledge, theory, skills and professional behaviors of the human services worker.

1 semester 3 credits