Online Human Services Degree

This is a learning experience that complements the Introduction to the Sciences course. Since the course addresses how scientific thinking and the resultant technology has changed modern life, this lab will provide students with experiences in the scientific approaches of different sciences covered, such as: biology, chemistry, physics, geology and astronomy. This lab will be constructed specifically to extend the learning from each unit of the Introduction to the Sciences course, designed to provide experiences which deepen students’ familiarity with the scientific method and way of asking questions and solving problems.

This course surveys three main components of the criminal justice system - law enforcement, the courts and corrections. It includes an overview of the history, structure, functions, opportunities, and challenges faced by the current criminal justice system.

This course is an introduction to the role of law enforcement and police processes. Students will examine organizational structure, supervision and administration of law enforcement agencies as well as the day-to-day field operations, leadership, policies, procedures, communication, information and performance evaluation process. Special emphasis is placed on writing skills such as report writing.

An introduction to the theory and practice of homeland security in both the public and private sector at the national, regional, state, and local level. An overview of the administrative, legislative, and operational elements of homeland security programs and processes (including a review of homeland security history, policies, and programs) is provided. The course will touch on the following sub-disciplines within the enterprise: counterterrorism, emergency management, public health, transportation security, maritime security, border security, and critical infrastructure protection, as well as the agencies, organizations and institutions involved in these fields.

The student will conduct a comprehensive examination of the adult corrections process and the history, sentencing alternatives, and future direction of correction modalities. The course also explores community corrections and the various methods used outside traditional correctional institutions.

This course addresses victimology as an emerging area of study in the field of criminal justice, and surveys society's emotionally and politically complex issues as they relate to victims of crime. Victimology is an objective and scientific approach to the study of victims of various forms of crime, from battered women to auto theft, with special emphasis on victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

During this course, the student will survey the area of juvenile delinquency through the study of the theories of juvenile misconduct, the juvenile court system and methods of rehabilitation.

This course is a study of the general principles of criminal law. Specifically it includes both the policy and procedure of criminal law, giving students the ability to apply the essential elements of general criminal law principles to specific substantive crimes.

Criminology surveys the motivations of the criminal mind using both sociological and cognitive restructuring theories. It presents an overview of the meaning of crime, crime statistics, theories of causation, criminal thinking and major offense areas, and describes methods for changing criminal behavior.

Criminal Procedure provides an in-depth study of the criminal court system and Constitutional law. The defendant’s Constitutional rights are explored through case-law study and includes the basic underlying concepts of search and seizure, self incrimination, the right to counsel, the exclusionary rule, privacy, probable cause, reasonableness, and the rights guaranteed by the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments.

In this course, the student will be provided a thorough examination of the laws of evidence for criminal justice professionals. Topics include circumstantial and opinion evidence, hearsay, character evidence, relevancy and materiality, privileged communications, expert witness testimony, objections to and exclusion of evidence, and chain of custody.

Provides an introduction to the field of public administration. The course is focused on the structure, functions and processes of the executive branch; agencies of national, state and local governments; and emphasizes nonprofit organizations as co-actors with government in the policy-making/policy-implementation area.

This course introduces students to the study of social psychology. The course includes an exploration of human behavior in groups and the impact on interpersonal relationships and the workplace: how individual behavior is impacted by group dynamics, and, how group identity is shaped by individual and team membership. The course will include topics such as: group processes, relationships, group thinking, conforming to group norms, individuality, as well as, stereotypes and prejudice. During this course the student will examine examples of individuals interacting within the social environment. Students will analyze theoretical perspectives and themes that have emerged in the field of social psychology and how these perspectives have influenced the modern workplace and the field of psychology as a whole.

This course examines how to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior and present the major perspectives regarding psychological disorders. The medical perspective, the psychoanalytical perspective, the behavioral and cognitive perspectives, the socio-cultural perspective as well as the humanistic perspective of diagnosis and dealing with behavior label abnormal are explored. The course reviews a historical perspective regarding unusual, out of the norm and or distressed behavior in the past, linking it to superstition, witchcraft and contrasting arrays of treatments and approaches available today. Common disorders are defined such as anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, psycho-somatic disorders, dissociative disorders, mood problems, schizophrenia, depression and personality disconnects. Those who deal with human behavior in the workplace need to understand behavior and assess when it has reached a level of concern that may require outside expertise.

This course is designed to provide the knowledge and application of effective career management strategies for career development and transition; through student self-assessment and research into potential career fields.  Students pursue the knowledge and skills to identify and communicate themselves as a brand.

This course introduces the student to the work of helping professionals in the context of the criminal justice system along with identifying the theory base and skills involved in Human Services.

This course surveys the use, abuse, and addictive nature of ethyl alcohol, and the treatment of alcoholism. The student will gain a basic knowledge of alcohol use and abuse, alcoholism, and the broad range of current approaches to prevention and treatment.

This course provides an in-depth study of child abuse in the context of the criminal justice and social welfare systems. Students will learn to identify risk factors, signs and symptoms of child abuse as well as the legal requirements for interventions in child abuse cases. Students will use case studies to analyze the problems in child abuse investigations and the treatment methods and services available to abused children.

In this course, the student will gain a basic knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions involved in alcohol and other drug abuse in society, in families and with individuals, as well as how these interventions address a variety of problems. Students will be introduced to the continuum of care from prevention through rehabilitation.

This course provides a survey of use, abuse and the addictive nature of mood altering chemicals outside the use and abuse of alcohol. Students will gain a working knowledge of factors affecting the abuse of a wide variety of legal and illegal drugs along with the influence of drug use on behaviors. Approaches to prevention and treatment and available resources will be discussed.

This course explores the ethical and legal issues as they related to the practice of counseling and client/counselor relationships. The student will gain a foundational understanding of the ethical standards for counselors, client rights and legal implications, and what defines quality client care.

This course will be specifically devoted to addiction- related contemporary issues. Appropriate topics may include: special populations; diagnosis, assessment, advanced counseling for individuals, groups, or families; theory, research, and practice in addictions; practice or policies relating to addictions; scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention; continuing care for addiction and substance-related problems; dual diagnosis issues; addictions and domestic violence, violence in the workplace, criminal activity, sexual abuse, child abuse and neglect; counselor wellness, and professional development.

This course serves as an introduction to a variety of counseling theories, therapeutic approaches and counseling skills. The student will gain a basic knowledge of the theoretical and foundations of counseling and basic counseling skills.

Foundations of Group Counseling provides an introduction to the dynamics of group counseling theories, therapeutic approaches and facilitative skills. The student will gain a basic knowledge of, and experience with, the theoretical foundations of group counseling and group counseling skills.

This course provides an introduction to family systems theories, therapeutic approaches and counseling skills. The student will gain a basic knowledge of the theoretical foundations of family counseling and specific family counseling skills.

A capstone course that focuses on chemical addiction issues and facilitates the integration of the knowledge gained in the program courses. The course focuses on the application of skills through case study, application of law and ethical rules in a human services context.

Students will learn the essential skills of researching a proposal, identifying stakeholders, incorporating the necessary drafting steps, and crafting a perfect match between a funder’s and solicitor’s needs. The course provides guidance on writing proposals for a variety of types of organizations.

Students will explore the assessment and treatment of child and adolescent psychopathologies and discuss evidence-based treatments. Case studies will provide an opportunity to analyze case formulations and the complexities in the nature of childhood disorders.