SW 711 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Credits 3
This course is designed to provide the theoretical and knowledge base for advanced social work practice in the foundational curriculum and promotes students' understanding of human behavior and development as a function of complex interactions between individuals and their environments. It emphasizes the bio-psycho-social development patterns of individuals and families as they interact in various environments across the lifespan. Theoretical perspectives are critically discussed and applied as organizational and interpretative frameworks for understanding human behavior in the context of family, group, community, and organizational systems. Special attention is given to the impact of ethnicity, gender, social class, spirituality/religion, and sexual orientation at each developmental stage (infancy, childhood, adolescence, early and middle adulthood and late adulthood). In addition, students are asked to reflect on how their own developmental experiences shaped their own beliefs and values regarding others. The course looks at the policy and research implications of human behavior in social environments. In keeping with the school's mission, special attention is given to the integration of advanced faith practice and vulnerable populations and how social systems promote or deter the development of individuals and families.