Course Exam—HSRV 201 (Social Work and Human Services)

Course Exam—HSRV 201 (Social Work and Human Services)

If you have a course that you would like to see a Course Exam article written for or you recently took a course that you would like to recommend to other AU students, please feel free to reach out with the course name and number, and any questions or feedback you may have.  We’ll be happy to write about it in our next Course Exam article.

HSRV 201 is an entry-level, general interest course in the Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services degree program that introduces students to social work, human services, and the social policies that govern both fields.  The historical underpinnings, approaches, and principles of human services and social work will guide students through the discourse surrounding social welfare.

By engaging with the theories and methods in this course, students should gain a clearer sense of their position on social welfare and are expected to express their reasoning in a personal philosophy statement.  Students will also learn to: read and research at or above the course level; apply the course material to hypothetical scenarios; implement policies as they pertain to persons, families, groups, or communities; consult available resources to establish issues in social work and human services; educate people on said issues; and become an ethically conscious practitioner in the field.

This three-credit course for individualized study has no prerequisites or preclusions, and can be challenged for credit.

Dr. Melissa Jay

Who Should Take This Course and Why

Course coordinator Dr.  Melissa Jay, who is a Nehiyaw member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, says HSRV 201 offers a great introduction to students who are eager to learn more about human services and social work.  She adds that the course is popular among students from other disciplines as well.

Student feedback over the past year has helped Melissa revise the assignments to allow students more freedom in how they share their knowledge, so they should look forward to creative opportunities for self-expression.

Course, Assignments, and Exam Details

Thoughtfully created by Dr.  Jane Arscott, HSRV 201 provides students with a substantial overview of course expectations.  It has four parts, ordered chronologically: Social Welfare; Professional Practice; Practice, Process, and Levels; and Working with Special Populations.

Part One contains the most sections: Getting Started; Social Welfare and Social Work in Canada; The Pillar of Income Security; The History of Social Work; and International Social Work.

Part Two covers Theory and Approaches to Social Work Practice and Professional Practice, while Part Three explores Working with Individuals and Families and Working with Groups and Communities.  It is in these parts where students will demonstrate their fundamental understanding of the coursework by assigning actions to the appropriate populations.

In Part Four, which is called Working with Special Populations, students must respond to particular situations by incorporating their studies from the entire course.

Aside from the personal philosophy statement, which is worth 20% of the final grade, there are three other assignments: Social Work with Individuals, Families, Groups, and Communities (30%), Social Work with Special Populations: Case Consultation (30%), and the Self-Evaluation: Discussion Forum (20%).

These assignments are unique in that, as Melissa explains, “students are invited to choose the type of submission whether it be a traditional paper or PowerPoint presentation.” She also clarifies that the first three assignments are designed to aid students in a tangible integration of course concepts, while the final one prompts students to reflect on their class participation throughout HSRV 201.

How to Be Successful in the Course

Course Tutor’s Advice for the Course

This course, according to Melissa, invites students to be curious and open minded as they are expected to pay close attention to nuanced processes that are often present in professional environments.

The assignments require students to use the seventh edition of the APA style; thus, they will need to become familiar with it as early as possible.  Melissa advises them to refer to their APA manual when necessary and seek support from their tutors as well as AU’s Write Site.

Questions?

If you have any further questions regarding the course, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa at mjay@athabascau.ca.  Happy learning!