Riverland Community College

This course examines the history of human services and social work and the current roles and workplace settings of social workers and human service workers. Many current policies and laws drive the function and focus of the social worker and human service worker. To understand more fully the functions of these policies and laws, this course examines a few of the important policies and laws that affect workers in this field. Ethics will be closely reviewed during the course as well as the basic skills and interventions that are required of human service workers. (3 Cr – 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course provides students with the first opportunity to experience human service work under the supervision of experienced workers. Students perform 30 hours of field experience and spend an additional 15 hours in the classroom preparing for and processing these experiences. Students will also have the opportunity to learn from guest speakers from the field. Students learn more about social work/human services and are better prepared for future career decisions in the human service and social work field. (1 Cr – 0 lect, 1 lab)

This course focuses on enhancing communications skills by learning beginning counseling skills such as active listening, restating, paraphrasing, termination, and using empathy to understand unstated feelings. Students explore responsibilities of the client and helper relationship and assess the helper’s role in effective communication. Students examine how these skills affect rapport and therapeutic interventions. Guided encounters, discussions, presentations, and assigned projects help the students develop their skills. (2 Cr – 2 lect, 0 lab)

This is an introductory college writing course designed to help students develop effective writing skills for college level work.  Students learn to generate ideas and organize them into unified, coherent essays.  Methods of instruction vary, but most sections combine individual conferences and peer review with regular class meetings.  Prerequisites:  A grade of C or higher in ENGL 0960 or appropriate placement score.

MnTC (Goals 1/CM and Goal 2/CT); (3 Cr – 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course focuses on the theory and practice of public communication including individual and group presentations.  This course emphasizes audience analysis, organization, content development including topic selection and speaking ethics.  Students will prepare and deliver a variety of both individual and group presentations and demonstrate an ability to apply research from diverse sources.  Students should expect to reduce speech apprehension and develop self-confidence in their ability to communicate in public.

MnTC (Goals 1/CM and 9/EC); (3 Cr – 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course explores human growth and development from the prenatal through adult life stages, including aging and death.  Students will examine the interaction between genetics and environment on the individual’s physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development. In addition, family, culture and cohort influences will be explored.

MnTC (Goal 5/SS and Goal 9/EC); (3 Cr – 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course introduces proven strategies and applications to help students achieve greater success in college and in life.  Topics include, but are not limited to, time management, goal setting, learning strategies, critical thinking, communication skills, diversity awareness, health and wellness, college and community resources, and financial planning.  This course introduces students to making choices that promote responsibility, motivation, interdependence, and self-awareness.  Recommended:  Score of 52 or above on test Accuplacer Reading Comprehension.
(1 Cr – 1 lect, 0 lab)

This course focuses on clarifying the role of the practitioner when intervening in helping relationships. Commonly used intervention and treatment approaches are explored including: crisis intervention skills, one-to-one counseling skills, positive parenting, verbal de-escalation skills, natural and logical consequences, basic behavior modification skills, and grief and loss counseling skills. Mandated reporting is explored as it relates to children and vulnerable adults. Minnesota statutory guidelines and federal laws are reviewed. (2 Cr – 2 lect, 0 lab)

This course provides students a second opportunity to learn about human service work experientially. Students perform 30 hours of field experience and spend an additional 15 hours in the classroom preparing for and processing these experiences. Students will also have the opportunity to learn from guest speakers from the field. Students learn more about human services and focus on intervention approaches. Additional intervention approaches are presented. Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in HSER 1103. (1 Cr – 0 lect, 1 lab)

This course focuses on understanding group processes and utilizes this knowledge in working with groups of people. Skills and knowledge acquired are employed in two contexts: 1) understanding group interactions and their effects on participants, 2) understanding major group theories and 3) leading and/or facilitating groups concerning variety of special topics. A combination of cognitive and experiential techniques is used to facilitate learning that may include lectures, discussions, role-playing, group experiences, assigned readings, and films. (2 Cr – 2 lect, 0 lab)

This is a second semester composition course focused on the writing of an academic research paper.  Students learn how to employ the resources of an academic library and how to cite those sources in a fully documented analytical/interpretive term paper.  Prerequisites: ENGL 1101.

MnTC (Goals 1/CM and 2/CT); (3 Cr - 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course examines the major world religions and their “sub-groups.” Emphasis is placed on when, where and under what influences the various religions developed, the geographical areas of the world where the religions are located, as well as the primary tenets, qualities and characteristics of the religions. The course examines the place and role of religion in human life.

      MnTC (Goals 6/HU and 8/GP); (3 Cr – 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course examines family systems with respect to historical family values and current trends in families. Students examine a variety of issues and how they impact families. These issues include family rules, communication styles, belief systems, societal expectations, divorce/remarriage, blended families, gender, and multicultural issues that impact the family. Students are introduced to various theories relating to family assessment and counseling. (3 Cr – 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course focuses on sexuality and interpersonal relationships. The following topics will be emphasized: healthy sexual attitudes, communicating about sexuality and relationships, decision making, responsibility, values, gender roles, sexual abuse, dealing with changing expectations in relationships and society, differentiating healthy from unhealthy relationships, and forms of intimacy. MnTC (Goals 5/SS and 7/HD); (3 Cr - 3 lect, 0 lab)

This course is an introduction of basic statistical methods including sampling, analyzing a research study, measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing of means and proportions, Chi-square, analysis of variance, correlation, and regression. The use of statistical software is included in this course. College-level reading ability in English is strongly recommended. Prerequisite: Math 0660 or appropriate placement in course based on Multiple Measures for Course Placement – Math Decision Band Chart. MnTC (Goals 4/MA and 2/CT); (4 Cr - 4 lect, 0 lab)

This course is an introductory study of human biology. The scientific method, biological molecules, and cell biology will be studied as a foundation to learning human histology (the study of tissues) and organ systems. Each human organ system will be investigated to develop an understanding of its contribution to the human body. Current health and social issues, and other diseases related to human biology, will also be studied.

MnTC (Goals 3/NS and 2/CT); (3 Cr – 2 lect, 1 lab)

Internship III is a primary internship in the Human Services Program. Each student performs a total of 330 hours in a residential treatment center, correctional facility, counseling center, group home, daycare center or other human service setting. Concurrent or previous enrollment in HSER 1102. (8 Cr – 8 lect, 0 lab)