SWK 503

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

This course presents theories that explain human behavior and inform competency-based generalist social work practice with individuals, families, and groups and their relationships to communities and organizations. A multidisciplinary theoretical perspective includes theories relevant to human needs and aspirations. A contextual-systems framework captures the depth and breadth and nature of interactions within, between, and among persons and environment(s). This lays the theoretical groundwork for practice, policy, and research by teaching fundamental concepts used in assessment, analysis, and problem formulation. It also establishes the theoretical framework for the second year specialization course work. Generalist and specific critical perspectives are used to examine human behavior theory for assessing, intervening and evaluating person and environment transactions and for planning practice responses to enhance these relationships.

Units: 3.0