Course Description
The second course in the human behavior sequence continues the examination of the bio-psycho-social, cultural, and spiritual influences on the life cycle from late adolescence/early adulthood through old age and death. The content will emphasize an understanding of the interactions between individuals, groups, institutions and communities and their environments from various perspectives including a system, ecological, strengths, diversity, and human development. This course will allow students to understand how to engage from a change agent/leader perspective. Formerly titled: SWK 321: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 2 and SWK 226: Evolution of Transformers (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- SWK 101: Introduction to Social Work
- SWK 110: History of Social Welfare
- SWK 225: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 1
- Acceptance into the Social Work Program
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Identify and demonstrate an understanding of the psychosocial developmental tasks and life events that require adaptive responses across the life course.
- Recognize the biological, psychological, social, cultural, economic, and political factors that impact human behavior development across the life course.
- Describe biopsychosocial functioning, and the ways in which healthy development, health, adaptive coping, and well-being are supported and constrained by relationships with others including institutional, organizational, and other environmental structures and practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the uses and limitations of the concepts of normal developmental milestones, abnormal development, and critical, alternative views of development challenging these concepts.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge across the lifespan to assess person and environment for social work practice.
- Examine the relationship between the life course perspective and individual unique life stories as a configuration of specific life-events and person-environment transactions over time.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) / Competencies
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic and environmental justice.
- Engage in anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice informed research and research informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussion (Weeks 1-8) | 30% |
Weekly Assignments (Weeks 1-8) | 70% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbook
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Zastrow, C., Kirst-Ashman, K., Hessenauer, S. (2019). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment - with MindTap Access. 11th ed.
Course Schedule
Week | PLOs | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topic: Gender, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sexism
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2 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topic: Biological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood
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3 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topic: Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood
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4 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topics: Social Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood
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5 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topics: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
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6 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topics: Biological Aspects of Later Adulthood
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7 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topic: Psychological Aspects of Later Adulthood
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8 | 1-7 | 1-6 | Topic: Sociological Aspects of Later Adulthood
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.