SOWK 331 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I

3 credits
3 hours per week.

This two course sequence is a study of physical and social environments, including communities and organizations as the context for life course development. Using the Ecological Systems Perspective as a framework, the course focuses on the complex and dynamic interaction between various environmental systems and the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial development of the individual. Special emphasis will be placed on factors which are obstacles to healthy bio- psychosocial development and functioning, i.e., poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage, interpersonal and community violence, chemical abuse, oppression, etc. Special attention will also be given toward helping students develop their capacity for critical analysis of development theories and the appropriateness of their use as frameworks for understanding and assessing human behavior and functioning of people of color and other diverse populations. Must earn a “C” or higher in the course.

Prerequisite(s) BIOL 101, PSYC 101, SOCI 101, SOWK 200 and SOWK 209 completed with grades of “C” or higher
Offered (FALL/SPRING)