Social Work/Human Services (SWHS) Courses
SWHS 299 Experimental Offering in Social Work/Human Services
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.
SWHS 300 Introduction to Social Work & Human Services
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025)
- C-ID:C-ID SWHS 110
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course provides an introductory overview of the fields of social welfare, social work, and human services within the United States, with a critical evaluation of contemporary social issues and the various approaches to service delivery. Students examine the historical settings and circumstances that shaped the evolution of social welfare and the social work profession, focusing on key individuals, events, policies, and legislative acts. Emphasis is placed on core skills and knowledge including a fundamental understanding of the code of ethics, ethical decision-making, values, culturally-responsive practice, cultural humility, and the generalist perspective. Additionally, students explore the various career and academic pathways in the field.
SWHS 302 Introduction to Psychology of Human Relations
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course introduces the skills of communicating and relating to others by improving attitudes, values, and methods that enhance communication skills in human relations. This course will improve the students' interpersonal self-awareness skills and assertiveness techniques. This course is open to all students and is a required course for the Social Work/Human Services AA degree and certificate programs. This course is not open to students who have completed HSER 302.
SWHS 331 Cross Cultural Psychology
- Same As:PSYC 368
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:PSYC C1000
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course explores the impact of cultural influences on the psychological and individual development of ethnic group members. Emphasis will be placed on integrating traditional theoretical approaches and current cross-cultural statistical research and theory in the study of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native-Americans, gays & lesbians, the elderly, and the disabled. This course is not open to those who have completed PSYC 368 or HSER 331.
SWHS 340 Introduction to Chemical Dependency
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025)
- C-ID:C-ID ADS 110X
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This introductory course provides a historical and sociological perspective on the use, abuse, and social control of drugs associated with substance use disorder. Included are overviews of the biopsychosocial nature of addiction, the impact of addiction on children, families, and society. An overview of contemporary methods used in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment will be reviewed, including analysis of effective evidence-based strategies and local and national recovery resources. This course is not open to students who have completed HSER 340.
SWHS 350 Ethical Issues in Social Work/Human Services
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:SWHS 366
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course introduces students to the skills, duties, and responsibilities of a human services paraprofessional, with a focus on legal and ethical obligations. Course topics include professional codes of conduct, ethical decision-making models,common social service interventions, crisis intervention, documentation, court mandated reporting, legislative mandates and laws pertaining to working with special populations. This is a required course for the Social Work/Human Services certificates and AA degree. This course is not open to students who have completed HSER 350.
SWHS 360 Techniques for Interviewing and Case Management Services
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:SWHS 302 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course introduces students to effective case management, counseling, and interviewing techniques as applied to associate paraprofessional experiences as counselors, group counselor aides, mental health workers, social service technicians and other new careers in human services. This is a required course for the Human Services Specialist certificate and the Social Work & Human Services General AA degree.
SWHS 365 Techniques for Working with Groups
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:SWHS 300 and 360
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course introduces the basic elements and techniques of groupwork. Through class discussions, in-class practice, and role plays students will learn the knowledge and skills needed for effective group facilitation. The course emphasizes different types of groups, stages of group process, and techniques for working with specific populations including individuals with substance use disorders and those from diverse backgrounds. This course is not open to students who have completed HSER 365.
SWHS 366 Practices in Human Services
- Units:3
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 108 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:SWHS 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course provides students a supervised practicum experience in a community organization, agency, institution, or social service program, allowing the student to apply knowledge and learn new skills outside of the classroom environment. This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to observe, practice, and develop skills that would facilitate gaining employment in a paraprofessional human services position. Weekly class meetings provide the academic element to this experiential learning course. The application of concepts gained in previous social work and human services courses will be emphasized. Students complete a total of 108 hours of work or volunteer experience in a practicum setting. Students must provide their own transportation to the practicum site.
SWHS 367 Advanced Practices in Human Services
- Units:3
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 108 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:SWHS 366 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This advanced course provides students a supervised practicum experience in a community organization, agency, institution, or social service program, allowing the student to apply knowledge and learn new skills outside of the classroom environment. This course is designed to build upon learning from the SWHS 366 practicum experience and provide the student with another opportunity to observe, practice, and develop skills that would facilitate gaining employment in a paraprofessional human services position. Weekly class meetings provide the academic element to this experiential learning course. The application of concepts gained in previous social work and human services courses and previous practicum experience, will be emphasized. Students complete a total of 108 hours of work or volunteer experience in a practicum setting. Students must provide their own transportation to the practicum site.
SWHS 494 Topics in Human Services
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:9 - 72 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:SWHS 300 and 350 with grades of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This practicum course provides research and classroom experience in designing programs for public and/or private agencies providing mental health, corrections, chemical dependency, and child/adolescent treatment services. Students integrate concepts, values, and skills acquired from previous courses and apply their knowledge to the process of helping others via project planning. This course is not open to students who have previously taken HSER 499: Experimental Offering in Human Services (Advanced Practices in Human Services). This course is not open to students who have completed SWHS 367.
SWHS 495 Independent Studies in Human Services
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
SWHS 498 Work Experience in Human Services
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Student must be in a paid or non-paid internship, volunteer opportunity, or job related to career interests.
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment or advancement within the field of Social Work/Human Services. Course content will include understanding the application of education to the workforce; completing required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at the work site; and developing workplace skills and competencies. During the semester, the student is required to attend orientation. Students must complete 27 hours of related paid or unpaid work experience for .5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional .5 unit. The course may be taken for a maximum of 16 units. Students should have access to a computer, the Internet, and some computer media such as a USB drive to store data files. Online students must have an email account. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.
SWHS 499 Experimental Offering in Social Work/Human Services
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.