Human Services Administration Syllabus

HSV 405.97 – Human Services Administration
Post University
Course Syllabus
Saturday Schedule, July 5 – Aug 23, 2008

Professor Henry Schissler
380 Cedar Lane, Cheshire, CT 06410
Cell – 203-430-1411
EMAIL – henryschissler@cox.net

sociologycultureblog.blogspot.com for general information, articles of interest

talkingsociology.blogspot.com for specifics about this course

RECOMMENDED & REFERENCED TEXTS:
American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition Revised. Washington DC: APA, 2003

EVALUATION CRITERIA:
Ideology Paper – 20%
Creating a Human Services Agency – 20%
Organizational Culture – 20%
Looking To the Future – 20%
Attendance (05%) Participation (15%) – 20%

Class Schedule

July 5 – Class & Professor Introductions; Syllabus Review; History of Social Welfare Policy; “The Safety Net;” Review of Key Concepts from Sociology, Psychology and Human Services

July 12 – Class Themes: What Human Services Responds To: Defining and Analyzing Social Problems; Ideological Frame; the Problem Solving Template

July 19 – Class Theme: The Business of Agency Building and Agency Administration; Paper #1 due: 4-page discussion of where you fit on the spectrum of ideology; Review of Text, Part I

July 26 – Class Theme: Supervision; Paper #2 due: Using concepts from text create a human services agency (organizational chart, budget, etc.) for needle exchange and condom distribution, HIV/AIDS primary prevention program.

Aug 02 – Class Themes: Organizational Culture; Diversity Workplace Issues; Review of Text, Part II

Aug 09 – Class Theme: Advocacy; Paper #3 due: 4-page discussion of organizational culture as a concept; how does it work, why does it work; what are key reasons why organizational culture falls apart

Aug 16 – Class Themes: Human Services Elements in School Environments; Human Services in Criminal Justice Settings

April 29th – Class Theme: Setting the Agenda for Human Services in the Post-Bush/Cheney Era; Paper #4 due: 4-page discussion of today’s topic, using the Problem Solving Template

GRADING SPECIFICS:

Guidelines for Your Papers: It is critical that you cite sources in the body of your papers using APA format and include a works cited page that is also correctly done. You may not (and should never) use Wikipedia as a source because it can be unreliable. If you use a web reference, you must cite it correctly in the body of the paper and on the works cited page. Use an 11-font, Arial or a similar “understated” font; and use space-and-a-half when formatting. Use correct margins. Relevant images enhance papers and I encourage their use, but they do not diminish the four page requirement of written work. You can always write more than four pages but never less. Use paragraphs correctly (one idea = one paragraph); this is a chronic problem for some students which seriously diminishes the paper’s overall effectiveness.

Call or email me with any questions or concerns. Because we are adult learners, there are times when “life takes over,” and you might experience difficulty with completing a paper on time. I understand this and do not penalize for late papers. However, learners who fall behind tend to earn lower grades because of the stress associated with catching up. Work with me so that does not happen to you!


Attendance and Participation: Attendance is required and please arrive on time. If you miss a class, you are responsible for arranging details of a makeup assignment for the missed class. Participation is expected.


CELL PHONE POLICY: Turn it off! Check it during breaks! NEVER leave the class to answer a call. If you need to keep it on for any important reason, just let me know at the beginning of class.

MISSED CLASS MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENT: You will complete a three page minimum paper on topics covered during that class. Use your syllabus as your guide to what the content of the assignment will be.