HUMS 1601 - Human Service Field Education – Year 1

Course Description

Students participate in a 190-hour blended community service learning practicum to establish linkages between human service knowledge, values, and skills. Students experience supervised opportunities to demonstrate self-knowledge and self-awareness, professional integrity, and positive working relationships in a human service agency. The focus is on the application of core human service concepts and the recognition of the knowledge to practice relationship.

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate self-knowledge and self-awareness in human service interactions and practice.
• Demonstrate professional accountability and integrity in a human service practice setting.
• Demonstrate professional conduct, boundaries, ethical behaviour, and a positive attitude towards clients, peers, and the agency.
• Work collaboratively as a member of a team to promote project objectives.
• Demonstrate professional, effective communication skills with clients, agency personnel, and other professionals.
• Provide examples self-knowledge and self-awareness as they occur within worker—service user relationships.
• Demonstrate respect for clients and an acceptance/understanding of differences in culture, lifestyle, and beliefs.
• Achieve responsible self-care throughout the practicum.

Course topics

• Lesson 1: Preparing for Social Services Worker Field Education
• Lesson 2: Entering the Placement and Developing a Field Learning Plan 
• Lesson 3: Ethical Client-Centeredness
• Lesson 4: Addressing Diversity in Practice
• Lesson 5: Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution
• Lesson 6: Final Evaluation and Endings

Required text and materials

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials on their own: 

1. Fujishin, R. (2024). Natural Bridges: A Guide to Interpersonal Communication. (3rd ed.). Routledge. 
   Type: Textbook. ISBN: 9781003852490/  9781032355054 

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following VitalSource link.

2. O’Hara, A., Weber, Z. & Levine, K. (2016). Skills for Human Service Practice: Working with Individuals, Groups, and Communities. (2^nd Canadian Ed.). Oxford. 
   Type: Textbook. ISBN: 9780199011827 / 9780199011834

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following VitalSource link.

Additional requirements

• A computer with Internet access, and audio recording capacity
• PowerPoint, Prezi, or other presentation software

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the Final Mandatory Project.

Please note that for this course to apply to the completion of your Social Service Worker Certificate, you must obtain a C grade (60%), or higher, overall in the course.

Prerequisites

• This course is only available to students who have been admitted to the Social Service Worker Certificate Program.
• HUMS 1540 with grade C or better
  Or
• HUMS 1541 with grade C or better
  Or
• EDCS 1540 with grade C or better.
  And
• HUMS 1580 with grade C or better
  Or
• HUMS 1581 with grade C or better
  Or
• EDCS 1580 with grade C or better

Exclusions

• HUMS 1600
• EDCS 1680