• To know the characteristics of an effective helping professional

• To be aware of the variety of careers in human services and the settings for those careers

• To understand ethical standards for human service professionals

• To know about different types of clients and how they may be empowered to solve life problems

• To work effectively in a group

• To strengthen skills in writing and oral communication

READINGS
Reading assignments will be from An Introduction to Human Services, Fifth Edition, by Woodside and McClam, as well as three articles on library reserve. Since tests, written assignments, and some class discussions will be based on chapters in the book, each student is expected to buy the book and read every chapter. Due dates for the reading assignments are below.

CASE STUDIES
At the beginning of the semester, each student will be assigned a case study. This case will be the basis for seven written assignments, due every two weeks and based on instructions to be down­loaded from the website. The grade for each assignment will be based on thoroughness in following the instructions, evidence of relating the case to material in the textbook, correct grammar and spelling, and handing it in on time. You will be required to meet with a tutor at the Writing Center to prepare these assignments – at least one meeting for each assignment. On May 6 each student will give a presentation based on the final assessment of his or her case.

TESTS AND EXTRA CREDIT
There will be ten quizzes, given on most Mondays beginning January 28, a midterm exam on March 3, and a final during the exam period, between May 7 and May 12. Missed quizzes cannot be made up.

Quizzes are based on the reading assignments and on concepts that will be explained both in the book and in class. In order to prepare for each week’s quiz, please go to the course website and click on the “tests” link. This will give you all the information that you need to study for the quiz. It is important to get this information no later than 2 p.m. each Monday, in order to guide your reading and your note-taking in class during the coming week.

You may earn extra credit by answering the extra credit questions in the written assignments and/or scheduling help sessions during my office hours (or by appointment).

GRADES 
Grades will be determined as follows:

	Distribution			Points to Grade
	Average of quizzes........................ Average of written assignments...... Midterm Exam.............................. Final Exam.................................... Total.............................................	25 points 25 points 25 points 25 points 100 points		93-100 points 90-92 points 87-89 points 83-86 points 80-82 points 77-79 points 73-76 points	A A- B+ B B- C+ C		70-72 points 67-69 points 63-66 points 60-62 points < 60	C-  D+ D D- F

Grades of C- or lower are reported as midterm warnings. All students are graded according to the same standards and final grades are non-negotiable.

ATTENDANCE
Your contribution to the class is valuable, both for yourself and for the other students. For this reason, attendance is required. More than six absences will result in an automatic F for the course. Frequent late arrival will count as one-third of an absence each time. If there are special circum­stances affecting your attendance, please let me know. To be excused for a religious holiday, you must hand in, one week before the holiday, a typewritten one-page explanation of the meaning of the holiday and why it is important to you.

Class cancellations will be posted on the website. There is no ten minute rule. If class is not cancelled, students who leave after ten minutes will be marked absent.

INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
If you have a documented learning disability, please let me know by January 25, so that appropriate testing accommodations and other help may be made available to you if needed.

COMMUNICATION
You are welcomed to drop in during my office hours, to talk with me after class, or to make an appointment. At other times the best way to reach me is by email. If a message is important or urgent, please send it to both of my addresses: mcousineau(a)mountida.edu and mrcousineau(a)comcast.net. Announcements are posted on this website. Please check it frequently.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
We all have a right to be respected. In addition, since this is a Human Services class, it is especially important to have an attitude of caring about others. Each member of the class is expected to treat others with respect, to listen when others speak, and to refrain from distracting behavior. In order to ensure that everyone feels accepted and supported, negative comments related to race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sex, or sexual orientation are not permitted. Students who disregard any of these principles will be suspended from the course until they have a meeting with me to discuss the terms of returning to class. The intent of this policy is to create an environ­ment in which all students may maximize their learning potential.

BARKS AND BEEPS
Seeing eye dogs are welcomed in the classroom, but all other non-human companions will be asked to stay outside. Please turn off cell phones, iPods, and other electronics before you enter the classroom.

(back to top)

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Honesty is an absolute requirement in this course. It is obvious that cheating is harmful to the student who does it, since that student is not learning as much as he or she could learn by studying. In addition, it is unfair to other students, who may study hard for a test and get lower grades than students who cheat. So cheating violates the principle of caring and respect for others that is central to this course. For these reasons, there is a policy of ZERO TOLERANCE for cheating on any assignment or test. Students who are caught cheating or encouraging others to cheat will be dismissed from the course with a grade of F. In the case of plagiarism on  written assignments (see the explanation of plagiarism below), students will be given a warning for the first offense, to allow for the possibility that it was unintentional, and dismissed on the second offense.

Plagiarism is using someone else's ideas without giving credit to the original author. This includes:

All reading assignments are from Woodside and McClam, except for the three articles on library reserve.

F I N A L   E X A M :   D A T E   T O   B E   A N N O U N C E D   ( M A Y   7 – 1 2 )

(back to top)