HBSE is a two-semester, foundation course. Together with Policy I & II, HBSE I & II are constructed as “theory for practice” courses. Theories for Practice form a conceptual framework to develop understanding of the impact of social context on health (broadly defined) and well-being – and on social work. These theories attempt to explain how and why people live their lives as they do; how we construct ways to understand our lives how we develop actions to sustain ourselves and develop as a species, and as a community (both local and global). Theories for Practice permit us to articulate a value-driven, social justice vision within which we construct and operationalize our mission and our practice. For this reason, we begin our study with an examination of human rights with particular attention paid to health as a human right.
HBSE is designed to develop and refine our consciousness of the continuous, dynamic and historical relationship that persists between human beings in any social context. HBSE explores different theories about how human beings develop, understand, and participate in social relationships that include societal structures and distributions of power and resources necessary for healthy human development; how we formulate and act on basic assumptions about ourselves and others; and how the identity and experience of individuals is affected by class, gender, race or ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and other factors as these are reflected in different political-economic and cultural contexts. This examination is guided by the values found in our mission and in the profession’s code of ethics. Theories for Practice are the foundation for Theories of Practice: they form the basis for a professional practice informed by values, embedded in conceptual frameworks that are evidence-guided, and responsive to critical evaluation.
Professional ethics require social workers to examine our own values and their influence on the theories, concepts and beliefs we hold about human beings and our social and cultural context. This course sequence reflects the commitment of the U.N.E. School of Social Work, and the social work profession, to the core values of human dignity, social justice, individual and cultural diversity, and self-determination. We will consider how our own beliefs and ideas about these values have been shaped, how they have contributed to the formation of our identities, and how they contribute to our own developing knowledge and professional practice. A lens for reflection will be provided that is grounded in the belief that health is a human right.
Course content and readings reflect our concern about the scope, depth, and meaning of inequality and inequity and their health impact on individuals, groups, families, and communities. Theories of human behavior and interaction with the social environment are presented, with attention to the interaction of biological, psychological, social and economic, and spiritual dimensions of human experience. Theory is assessed from a critical perspective in order to evaluate its contributions and limitations, and how it addresses (or fails to address) social justice, the capacity of human beings for growth and change, and for its relative utility for practice with specific populations at risk relevant to social work in general and this region in particular.
Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:
This course will help students to:
Through the completion of their assignments, students will demonstrate their ability to:
A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners. Learning activities for each week include the following:
Description: This course will use an array of readings, podcasts, voice-over PowerPoint presentations, and videos to present the important concepts. The readings and multimedia provide the foundation and background for student discussion threads and written assignments.
Description: An important learning method in this course is student participation and interaction in the discussion threads within each week. Students are expected to participate actively and in a respectful manner. Please refer to Course Policies about participation for a full discussion of expectations.
Grading and Feedback Method: Grading and feedback methods are listed with each specific discussion assignment. Please refer to the descriptions week by week and in the discussion boards for more information.
Description: The How do I Know Who I Am paper asks students to discuss how their understanding of class, gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation evolved and influenced their developing identity and consciousness.
Due Dates: Due dates for all learning activities are provided in the “Course Schedule.”
The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignment | Point Value | Percentage of Grade |
---|---|---|
Weekly Participation in all Discussions | 400 points (50 points * 8 weeks) | 40% |
How do I Know Who I Am Paper | 400 points | 40% |
Bio Small Group Bib and Discussion | 200 points | 20% |
Total: | 1000 points | 100% |
Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
All assignments are to be submitted by 11:59 P.M. E.T. on the dates listed below. Unless otherwise specified, all discussions and assignments are due the last day of the week.
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.