SWK 321: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 2

Course Description

Human Behavior and Social Environment 2 will continue to explore major theories of human development from infancy to old age, and the interaction between human behavior and the social environment. The person-in-environment perspective will be emphasized, and the reciprocal interaction between the individual and larger systems such as families, organizations, and communities. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2
  • SWK 101: Introduction to Social Work
  • SWK 320: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 1

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Identify and demonstrate an understanding of the psychosocial developmental tasks and life events that require adaptive responses across the life course.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the biological, psychological, social, cultural, economic, and political factors that impact human behavior development across the life course.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding about 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.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge across the lifespan to assess person and environment for social work practice.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) / Competencies

  1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  4. Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  5. Engage in Policy Practice
  6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Course Activities and Grading

 

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

20%

Written Assignments (Weeks 5 and 7)

30%

Quizzes (Weeks 4 and 6)

15%

Final Exam (Week 8)

35%

Total

100%

 

Required Textbook

  • Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore

    • Cengage Unlimited - Access (12 months)

    • The Social Work Program has partnered with Cengage to provide all e-texts, MindTap activities, and other resources through the Cengage Unlimited Yearly Subscription. All Social Work courses will use Cengage Unlimited and MindTap content activities. You will only need to purchase this product one time for the year. Please do not purchase this product multiple times within a subscription year.

      In addition, this subscription allows students to rent textbooks through the Cengage website for $9.99 per book.

      Students will have access to all materials for their social work courses from the day of purchase. The subscription expires 365 days after students access and opens their first e-text link. 

Additional Resources

  • Video and reading links assigned by the instructor.

Course Schedule

Week

PLOs

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,5

1,2,3,4

Topic: Introduction and Pre-Adolescence

  • Read and Review:
    • Read article: ABCs of Adolescents
    • Review website: Stages of Adolescents
  • Review Getting Started information in Blackboard
  • Review course syllabus
  • Read assigned article
  • Review assigned website
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions

2

1-5

1-5

Topic: Early Adolescence

  • Read and Review: 
    • Read IX. Development in Adolescence Vignette
    • Read Chapter 19
    • Article: Research Facts and Findings - Stages of Adolescent Development
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Read assigned article
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions

3

1,2,3,5

2,3,4,5

Topic: Middle Adolescence

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapter 20
    • Review videos:
      • A Girl Like Me
      • Transgender Teen Life,
      • The Adolescent Brain
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review assigned videos
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions

4

1,2,4,5

1,2,3,4,6

Topics: Late Adolescence

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapter 21
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete Week 4 Quiz
  • Begin work on the Week 5 Cultural Competence Paper

5

1-4

1-6

Topics: Early Adulthood

  • Read and Review:
    • Read X. Development in Early Adulthood Vignette
    • Read Chapters 22, 23, and 24
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 5 Cultural Competence Paper

6

1-5

1-6

Topics: Middle Adulthood

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapters 25, 26, and 27
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete the Week 6 Quiz
  • Begin work on the Week 7 Reflection Paper

7

1-5

1-6

Topic: Late Adulthood

  • Read and Review:
    • XI. Development in Late Adulthood Vignette
    • Read Chapters 28 and 29
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 7 Reflection Paper
  • Prepare for the Week 8 Final Exam

8

1-5

2-6

Topic: The Elder Years

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapter 30
    • Review video: A 97-Year-Old Philosopher Faces His Own Death
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete the Week 8 Final Exam
  • Complete Course Evaluation

 

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.