OCU’s Bachelor of Arts in Human Services major requires its students to critically explore the practice of social advocacy within a biblical worldview. Human Services majors will be prepared for a variety of professions and for graduate work in criminology, counseling, psychology, and social work. Through broad exposure to readings, extensive composition activity, and oral presentations, OCU’s Human Services major will develop the intellectual and practical skills needed to make a difference in their community.
Objectives:
On completion of this major, students should be able to:
MAJOR45 Hours
This program requires 21 hours at the 3000 level or above. This major does not prepare students for licensure.
HUMAN SERVICES 33
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Fundamental concepts of human services, addressing addictions, criminology, family studies, psychology, and sociology with a biblical worldview. Students will develop a personalized view of the helping professions.
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Basic human behavior from a Christian viewpoint as a framework for learning the biological, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects that affect human behavior.Prerequisite: HSV1000
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Public and private services and institutions and how these can be best utilized to serve general, at-risk, and vulnerable populations.Prerequisite: HSV1000
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This course examines the cycles of addictions and their impact on individuals, families, communities, and societies. A review of initiation, dependence, intervention, recovery, and relapse as well as the concept of addictive thinking.Prerequisite: HSV1000
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Skills for providing case management in private and public services, with emphasis on coordinating services as a direct provider.Prerequisites: HSV1000, HSV2000
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Capstone course for the AA in Human Services, emphasizing traits and characteristics of excellent servant leaders using biblical examples and practical wisdom. The course requires students to integrate, synthesize, and apply knowledge and skills grounded in the curriculum, and relevant to delivery of social services.Prerequisites: HSV2100, HSV2200, HSV2300
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Human services policies and policy formation in the legislative and private sectors, with attention to how public policy is made, and emphasis on the roles of advocacy campaigns, which are often influenced by policy analysis.
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Professional ethics in the field of Human Services with primary attention to the Code of Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals.
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Principles of leadership and administration in human services, with attention to personal assessment and the development of leadership capabilities.
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Theoretical and practical application of skills for and techniques that advance the needs of culturally diverse client communities, including a plan of advocacy for services from various agencies and/or institutions. In this capstone course for the BA in Human Services major students identify an issue or problem, develop an action plan, and complete sufficient research to produce a final project demonstrating understanding of the Code of Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals.Prerequisite: Completion of major courses
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The scientific study of society, institutions, and group interaction, with focus on the sociological imagination and core theories. Topics include the sociological perspective, the individual in society, stratification and social inequality, social intuitions, human ecology, and social change, with special attention to issues of diversity.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ELECTIVES 3
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Fundamental justice system concepts, and roles within justice systems including law enforcement officers, court officers, corrections officers, victims, and defendants, in the context of a Christian worldview. Opportunities to plan strategic steps for the student’s program and career.
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The functions, operations, and decision-making processes of the judicial process in the United States, including an analysis of the role of courts and the function and responsibilities of the key personnel within them.Prerequisite: CJU1010
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The role of the victim and the relationship between victims and offenders in criminology, including historic and current treatment of victims, problems and dilemmas faced by victims, and theodicy as a basis for personal understanding and communication with victims.Prerequisite: CJU1010
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Principles and practices of law and how it impacts criminal justice, with emphasis on the dynamic interaction among the individual, criminal justice, and society in the context of Christian ethics and proper conduct.Prerequisite: CJU1010
PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVES 6
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Critical thinking about the major personality theories, focusing on major features and underlying assumptions of each theory, with attention to the use of new and long-standing theories as they apply to modern thinking and behaviors in light of the principles of Scripture.Prerequisite: any introductory psychology course.
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Social group influences on individual behavior, including behavioral expressions such as aggression, prejudice, attitude change, and affiliation, examined from the viewpoint of social science and Scripture.Prerequisite: any introductory psychology course.
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An introduction to basic psychological research techniques and methodology including collecting, organizing, and analyzing psychological data for quantitative research, and an introduction to statistical reasoning with a focus on fundamental concepts and statistical methods for psychological research. (Recommendation: prior college level math course)
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Conflict analysis and appropriate resolution methodology, with effective methods of commu¬nication for conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING 3
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Fundamental concepts related to substance use disorders in multiple client populations, including assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders, planning a course of treatment, analyzing effects of substances on the client and others, etiology, and best practices in counseling and treatment through a Christian worldview.
*This course may be applied to GenEd requirements as noted.
Graduation Requirements:
In addition to the courses listed on this page, graduates must meet the requirements listed here, including:
- A General Education Core
- Associate degrees – 36 credit hours
- Bachelor’s degrees – 45 credit hours
- Minimum credit hours
- Associate degrees – 60 credit hours
- Bachelor’s degrees – 120 credit hours
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Notes:
- Some majors require more credit hours than the listed minimums.
- Students choose elective courses to complete credit hour requirements.
- Electives may apply toward a minor, certificate, associate degree, or second major.
- Sometimes a course required in a student’s major can also fulfill a requirement in the GenEd core. (See notes on the individual major pages.)
Find complete information in the OCU Academic Catalog.
Contact the University Registrar's Office if you have graduation questions: 1 (740) 477-7780 or registrar@ohiochristian.edu