Human Service Worker Course Descriptions - Certificate

Courses

Semester 1 - Fall (September to December)

All course are available online and in the classroom for students who have been accepted into a CYFS program.

CYFS 101 - Inclusive Interpersonal Communications
Interpersonal Communications enables the student to develop interpersonal communication skills to enhance their work and personal relationships. We also expect students to clearly evaluate their own values, beliefs and attitudes that influence their interpersonal communication.
Prerequisites: none

CYFS 102 - Observing & Recording
This course is designed to help human service workers, education assistants and early childhood educators enhance their skills in observing and recording human development and behaviour from birth through adulthood. A variety of observing and recording techniques will be explored in the course.
Prerequisites: none

CYFS 105 - Professional Communications
CYFS 105 is designed to help you, the learner, present yourself professionally in careers related to Child Youth and Family Studies. CYFS 105 covers topics essential to writing professionally. These topics include letter and report writing, research skills, APA formatting, marketing, and proposal writing.
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 200 - Roles and Responsibilities in Human Services - (formerly HSW115 )
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to human service/social work practice through an exploration of the history, philosophical foundation, and theoretical perspectives of the profession of social work. This exploration will include a review of the relevant codes of ethics and practice standards that guide practitioners. This course will also provide an overview of the roles in which social workers become involved, for example, as advocates, policy analysts, administrators, activists, educators, counsellors, facilitators, mediators, organizers and researchers.
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 201 - Trends and Issues in Human Services - (formerly HSW 116)
A critical introduction to the study of Canadian social welfare policy. The objectives and context of social welfare are presented and examined using different ideologies and discourses. Particular consideration is given to the problem of poverty and to how policy affects Indigenous and other oppressed marginalized groups.
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 117 - Systems and Structure
HSWR 117, Systems and Structures, introduces students to the structure of social services in Canada (federal, provincial, municipal) and organizations that provide these services. Students explore the legitimacy, strengths, and limitations of the public sector social welfare system, commercial social welfare programs and services, and a range of social welfare programs provided by voluntary agencies. Students also become familiar with the services and programs available in their local communities.
Prerequisites: none

Semester 2 - Winter (January to mid April)

All course are available online and in the classroom

HSWR 120 - Applied Behavior Analysis
This course is an introduction to the science of applied behaviour analysis applied to the field of Child, Youth and Family Studies. Applied Behavior Analysis provides an overview of the principles and procedures needed to systematically change socially significant behaviour and to understand the reasons for that change.
Prerequisite: CYFS 102 strongly advised

HSWR 101 - Disability Studies (online only)
HSWR 101 is designed to introduce you to relevant physical, mental, emotional, and health conditions. The causes, interventions and effects of disability on the individual, family, and community will be examined, as well as changing values & practices. Specifically, we will explore the impact of poverty, deinstitutionalization, unemployment, and isolation on the lives of people labelled as disabled.
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 103 - Counseling Skills
This course is an introduction to the basic skills required for establishing the helping relationship. The student is introduced to the concepts, skills and self-awareness needed for helpful interviewing and counselling. The context of this course is specific to developing skills, knowledge and values for employment in Human Service Work settings.
Prerequisite: CYFS 101 strongly advised

CYFS 116 - Lifespan Development
This course is devoted to the study of the characteristic development of physical traits, learning and intelligence, social and emotional behaviour, personality and adjustment from conception to senescence. Formerly: CYFS 106 + HSW 107
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 118 - Practicum #1
180 hours of supervised field experience that focuses on the application of HSW theory & skills learned in the classroom. It also introduces students to the structure, goals and operation of different human service agencies in their community of choice.
Prerequisites: HSWR 200 and HSWR 200; CYFS 101, CYFS 102

Semester 3 - Spring (Mid April to June end)

All course are available online and in the classroom

HSWR 106 (formerly CYFS 108) - Families
This course is designed to enhance early childhood educators' and human service workers' understanding of healthy families and families in crisis, and to assist in building skills to work collaboratively with families.
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 108 - Health & Wellness
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the Holistic Health Care Needs of individuals in the classroom and in the community. The students will be provided with the basic skills necessary to assist individuals who are unable to meet their own health care needs. It also covers topics related to self care and practitioner burnout.
Prerequisites: none

HSWR 119 - Practicum #2
This 180 hour supervised field education will provide students with an opportunity to enhance and refine their human service work skills. As much as possible, the assigned field education setting will broadly match the particular type of human service work experience that the student wishes to pursue.
Prerequisite: all course work and practicum #1

CYFS 110 - Capstone
This course provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate how they can integrate the knowledge, abilities/skills, and values that faculty have been teaching and/or demonstrating throughout the program. Students should reflect on the process of moving from student to practitioner, should complete a case study related to their specific area of specialty, and should evaluate themselves as a paraprofessional.
Prerequisite: all course work and practica