HUMS 1601: Human Service Field Practicum
Students participate in a 190-hour blended community service learning practicum to establish linkages between human service knowledge, values, and skills. Students experience supervised opportunities to demonstrate self-knowledge and self-awareness, professional integrity, and positive working relationships in a human service agency. The focus is on the application of core human service concepts and the recognition of the knowledge to practice relationship.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate self-knowledge and self-awareness in human service interactions and practice.
- Demonstrate professional accountability and integrity in a human service practice setting.
- Demonstrate professional conduct, boundaries, ethical behaviour, and a positive attitude towards clients, peers, and the agency.
- Work collaboratively as a member of a team to promote project objectives.
- Demonstrate professional, effective communication skills with clients, agency personnel, and other professionals.
- Provide examples self-knowledge and self-awareness as they occur within worker—service user relationships.
- Demonstrate respect for clients and an acceptance/understanding of differences in culture, lifestyle, and beliefs.
- Achieve responsible self-care throughout the practicum.
Course outline
The course is divided into six lessons, each one covering different aspects of practice. The course lessons prepare you for the assessments, and midpoint and final evaluation meetings:
- Lesson 1: Preparing for Social Services Worker Field Education
- Lesson 2: Entering the Field Agency and Developing a Field Learning Plan
- Lesson 3: Ethical Client-Centeredness
- Lesson 4: Addressing Diversity in Practice
- Lesson 5: Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution
- Lesson 6: Final Evaluation and Endings
Required text and materials
- Fujishin, R. (2020). Natural bridges: A guide to interpersonal communication.
(2nd ed.). Routledge.
Type: Textbook: ISBN: 978-0-367-18577-0.
The following text would have been purchased in HUMS 1581. If students don't already own the required textbook, please be aware that students will need to purchase it. To do so, please contact Enrolment Services at student@tru.ca or 1.800.663.9711 (toll-free in Canada), 250.852.7000 (Kamloops, BC), and 1.250.852.7000 (International).
- O’Hara, A., Weber, Z., & Levine, K. (2016). Skills for human service practice: Working
with individuals, groups, and communities (2nd Cdn ed.). Oxford University
Press.
Type: Textbook: ISBN: 978-0-19-901182-7.
Additional requirements
The other resources that you need for this course are the following:
- A computer with Internet access, and audio recording capacity
- PowerPoint, Prezi, or other presentation software
Assessments
To complete this course successfully, you must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Project.
The following table illustrates how your final grade will be determined for this course:
| Assignment 1: Orientation to Field Experience | 20% |
| Assignment 2: Midpoint Evaluation | 35% |
| Assignment 3: Interpersonal Communication | 10% |
| Assignment 4: Final Field Evaluation | 15% |
| Final Project: Media Presentation * | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
*Mandatory
Please note that for this course to apply to the completion of your Social Service Worker Certificate, you must obtain a C grade (60%), or higher, overall in the course
Open Learning Faculty Member
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Primary communication through the Learning Environment’s “Mail” tool or by phone. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.