BA in Human Services

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:

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  Demonstrate an ability to think clearly, logically, critically, and creativity.
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  Analyze best practices in current trends related to human services.
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  Identify, advocate for, and manage the unique expectations and needs of human services within a variety of culturally diverse communities.
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  Integrate a biblically based and Christ-centered approach in the practice of managing human services within a variety of contexts and to a variety of constituencies.
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  Be accepted into a graduate program or be employed in a field related to human services.

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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  HSV1000 Introduction to Human Services3
  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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  HSV2000 Essentials of Human Behavior3
  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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  HSV2100 Public and Private Services3
  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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  HSV2200 Cycles of Addiction3
  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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  HSV2300 Managing Social Casework3
  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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  HSV2800 Servant Leadership in the Helping Professions3
  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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  HSV4000 Advocacy and Public Policy3
  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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  HSV4100 Ethics in Human Services3
  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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  HSV4200 Leadership and Administration3
  Principles of leadership and administration in human services, with attention to personal assessment and the development of leadership capabilities.

   
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  HSV4800 Human Services Capstone Course3
  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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  SOC1020 Introduction to Sociology (Soc. & Behav. Sci. Elective)*3
  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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  CJU1010 Introduction to Justice Systems3
  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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  CJU3400 Courts and Judicial Process3
  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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  CJU4000 Victimology3
  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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  CJU4100 Criminal Law3
  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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  PSY3020 Theories of Personality3
  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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  PSY3030 Social Psychology3
  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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  PSY3060 Statistics for Social Sciences3
  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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  COM3040 Conflict Resolution3
  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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  SAC1020 Introduction to Substance Abuse3
  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.