Course descriptions index


Human Services

HUMS 105  2-3 Credits
Personal Awareness and Growth
Interpersonal and intrapersonal communication explored. Personal growth process presented from a holistic perspective. Focus will identify opportunities for personal enrichment through increased awareness of self and others.


HUMS 117  1-3 Credits
Math Skills for Human Services
(Cross-listed with ECE 117)
Computation involving percentages, estimation, problem solving, reading and creating graphs and tables, data organization and interpretation. Emphasis on applications of computational skills. (1-3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 120  3 Credits
Cultural Diversity in Human Services
The impact of culture on the delivery of human services including Alaskan Native cultures; examination of relationship of multicultural and multi-ethnic concepts. Issues of age, class, disablement, race, gender and sexual orientation will also be discussed. Student exploration of personal values and cultural world view included. (3 + 0) Offered Spring


HUMS 125  3 Credits
Introduction to Addictive Processes
(Cross-listed with JUST 125)
Focus on gaining knowledge of the psycho-social aspects of addiction. Historic and behavioral approaches, disease concept and current trends relating to addiction presented. Twelve step and self-help approaches explored. Also available via Independent Learning. (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring


HUMS 130  3 Credits
Introduction to Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Overview of the history, philosophy and identification of the mental health and developmental disability population. Introduction to service principles and personal suitability for a career in this field. (Recommended: PSY 101 and 240.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 140  3 Credits
Family Empowerment I
Introduction to the concepts of the empowerment approach, with application to families. Concepts include respect, focus on strengths and needed system changes. Prepares and supports workers in applying skills to families. (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 150  3 Credits
Workforce Development I
Introduction to professional workforce development, including career development theory, relevant helping skills, diverse populations, and ethics and consulting. (Note: This is the first of two courses required to become certified as a career development facilitator.) (3 + 1) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 170  3 Credits
Residential Child Care
Review of general knowledge and special skills required to become a competent child care working in a residential setting. Introduction to knowledge and skills in child development, health relationships, attachment and separation, treatment and case planning, creating a healthy treatment environment, crisis and suicide intervention, and engaging families. (Recommended: PSY 101.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 205  3 Credits
Basic Principles of Group Counseling
Concepts and techniques of working with small groups, including establishing group goals, effective group interaction, termination and evaluation. Development of therapeutic group activities presented. (3 + 0) Offered Spring


HUMS 210  3 Credits
Crisis and Grief Counseling
Helping people in crisis from a theoretical and experiential perspective. Understanding how people feel, think and behave during periods of crisis and grieving. Suicide, violence, life transitions and AIDS explored. (3 + 0) Offered Fall


HUMS 215  2-3 Credits
Individual Interviewing
Introduction to interpersonal communication skills. Focus on gathering client information through the interviewing process. Emphasis on development of one to one interviewing, behavioral observation and documentation.


HUMS 232  3 Credits
Human Service Practicum I
Integration of human service theory with skill-based training through a professional, supervised experience in a human service agency. Practicum requires 100 hours. Seminar also meets one hour per week; student shared learning peer support and documentation, including progress notes, social history, mental status and case planning. (Prerequisites: Human Services major or minor; permission of instructor.) (1 + 8) Offered Fall, Spring


HUMS 233  3 Credits
Human Service Practicum II
Continuation of HUMS 232. (Prerequisite: HUMS 232. Course may be repeated once for credit to meet program requirements.) (1 + 8) Offered Fall, Spring


HUMS 240  4 Credits
Family Empowerment II
Continuation of HUMS 140. For family workers. Includes empowerment skills to work more effectively with families. Concepts and skills include family development assessment and planning, home visiting, referrals, special services needed and how to asses them, family conferencing, and cooperation and collaboration skills in working with other agencies. State and national policies affecting families and family empowerment are considered. (Prerequisite: HUMS 140.) (4 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 250  1-4 Credits
Current Issues in Human Service
Selected current issues of importance to the human service field. Emphasis on issues impacting Alaskan communities. Repeatable for credit by Human Services majors to a maximum of 9 credits. (1-4 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 255  3 Credits
Workforce Development II
Continuation of HUMS 150. Emphasis on labor market information, assessment, employability skills, public relations, program management and useful technology. (Prerequisite: HUMS 150. Note: Successful completion of HUMS 150 and 255 qualifies the student for certification as a career development facilitator.) (3 + 1) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 260  1 Credit
History of Alcohol in Alaska
Significant historical forces, events and consequences related to alcohol and other drug use in Alaska. Includes current impact and trends. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125 or permission of instructor.) (1 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring


HUMS 261  1 Credit
Substance Abuse Assessment: ASAM PPC II
Assessment of need for treatment and intensity of services required. Presents criteria of ASAM PPC II and skills needed to apply it to specific cases. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125 or permission of instructor.) (1 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 262  1 Credit
Pharmacology of Addictions
Pharmacological overview of significant drugs of abuse in today's society. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125.) (1 + 2) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 263  1 Credit
Service Delivery -- ARND
Identification and ARND (FAS/E), understanding of developmental differences, secondary problems and development of intervention strategies leading to best practice. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125 or permission of instructor.) (1 + 0) Offered


HUMS 264  1 Credit
Cultural Considerations in Providing Chemical Dependency Services to Alaska Native People
Importance of culture to recovery, and the impact of cultural diversity on counseling and service delivery. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125. Note: Meets requirements for certification as substance abuse counselor in Alaska.) (1 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 265  1-2 Credits
Substance Abuse and the Family
A basic understanding of family dynamics and roles related to addictions. (Prerequisites: HUMS 125 or permission of instructor.) (1-2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 266  1-2 Credits
Dual Diagnosis Intervention and Treatment
Theories and skills related to counseling the mentally ill substance abuser. Includes diagnosis, treatment planning and approaches, and special considerations. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125.) (1-2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 270  3 Credits
Adolescent Issues and Therapeutic Interventions
Basic knowledge of adolescent development and culture for the human services residential care worker. Includes communication and intervention strategies, and life skills assessment with case planning. (Prerequisite: HUMS 170 or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 271  1 Credit
Managing Aggressive Behavior
Basic knowledge and skills required to prevent and intervene in the aggressive behavior of children and youth, primarily in a residential setting. Includes interaction model of crisis intervention, the importance of blending in crisis's intervention, the appropriate use of non-physical and physical intervention techniques, and effective limits and consequences. (Prerequisite: HUMS 170.) (1 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 272  1 Credit
Attachment, Separation and Loss
The components of the attachment cycle, and effects on children when the cycle is disrupted by abuse, neglect, separation and placement. Includes strategies to deal with the losses. (Prerequisite: HUMS 170.) (1 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HUMS 301  3 Credits
Ethics in Human Service
Professional and ethical issues related to the helping professions. Ethical concerns in multicultural and rural human service delivery. Ethics and legal issues related to substance abuse counseling in Alaska. (Prerequisite: COMM 131X or 141X; PSY 101 or SOC 100X.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring


HUMS 305  3 Credits
Substance Abuse Counseling
Introduction to the basic principles of substance abuse counseling. Application of counseling modalities to intervention and treatment of individuals, families and groups experiencing alcohol and drug abuse or dependence. Cross-cultural issues addressed. (Prerequisite: HUMS 125.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring


HUMS 310  3 Credits
Management of Complex Cases
Concepts, policies, skills and techniques required for competence and confidence in effective case management in the human services. Includes assessment tools, advanced skills and treatment planning for complex cases, community resource identification, documentation, consultation, advocacy, building alliances with multi-agency treatment teams, and management of conflict and confrontation. Strength-based, empowerment approach. (Prerequisite: HUMS 215 or Rural Human Services certificate. Recommended: PSY 101 and HUMS 125.) (2 + 2) Offered As Demand Warrants