SW 411 Human Behavior and Social Environment
]This 3-credit course emphasizes an ecological approach to human development and behavior in micro, meso, and macro level social systems of the individual, families and groups, organizations and communities, and larger society that is cognizant of historical and cultural contexts. The first half of this course provides students with a foundation of classic theoretical frameworks in which to understand human development and behavior from using the person-in-environment, biopsychosocial, sociocultural, and social change lens. Students will understand frameworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in practice, research, and policy arenas. Particular attention is paid to culture, race, class, gender and sexual orientation as dynamic social constructions that can be sources of both oppression and strength at all levels of social systems. Concepts of resilience, intersectionality, sociocultural, and social change ground an understanding of empowerment and resistance to oppression. The second half of the course focuses on current theoretical frameworks to understand the processes that shape human behavior and development of self across the life span. The course emphasizes the biopsychosocial processes and the influence of culture and society on human behavior and development. After completing this course, students will learn to understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards that impact practice with individuals, families and groups, and communities across the life span.