LA - Social Sciences

This course is an overview of anti-discrimination laws in the United States. It examines the protection of individual rights afforded by the Constitution by analyzing litigation against violations of individual rights. Particular emphasis is placed on race discrimination, sex discrimination, as well as other relevant areas.

The course provides an overview of crime as a social phenomenon from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students discuss classical concepts of criminal behavior followed by a more detailed exploration of the major contemporary biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of criminal behavior. Other significant issues in criminology such as the measurement and extent of crime are also explored.

This course provides an overview of the juvenile justice system in the United States. Students explore the nature, extent and causes of juvenile delinquency, as well as an understanding of the juvenile justice system. Theories of delinquent behavior and social control responses to juvenile misconduct are discussed as well. Additional topics include contemporary social, political, and legal techniques and strategies.

This course examines the nature of victimization. Emphasis is placed on the nature of potential risk, as well as demographic and geographical patterns and trends associated with victimization. Relationships between victims and offenders, and the interactions among crime victims and members of law enforcement are also studied.

This course is an introduction to contemporary counseling theories, techniques, and their applications. The course examines numerous behavioral models and both traditional and non-traditional perspectives. Emphasis is placed on conditions for an effective counseling relationship, attending and interviewing skills, basic theoretical assumptions, ethical principles, and professional orientation, including the attributes necessary for the practice of counseling.

This course explores the dynamics of child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect. The course provides a historical perspective of child abuse and society's response. Students learn to define different types of abuse, as well as, the role of the social services and legal agencies involved in the detection, processing, investigation, and treatment of both the child abuser and the child victim. This course also provides students with the principles of mandated reporting procedures for child abuse and neglect as it pertains to legal and social service fields.

This course examines the dynamics of persons in crisis and the various intervention modalities. Areas of focus include theoretical, historical, ethical, and cultural considerations and coping skills. Students are provided with the knowledge, values, and skills to work with people in crisis.

This course covers the core functions of case management through discussion and exploration of fundamental concepts, components, principles and models of case management in various settings. Students learn the best practices associated with effective management of the client from intake through termination. Treatment planning, documentation, and recording are covered with specific case studies incorporated to help students develop case management skills.

This course examines deviance as a social phenomenon with particular attention on its causes, and the methods developed to address deviant behavior. Students explore the nature of both criminal and non-criminal forms of deviance, theoretical perspectives the causes of such behaviors, and the role of society in labeling certain segments of the population as deviant. The course also examines how culture, race, gender, law, and power shape current and historical definitions of deviance.

This course explores the dynamics of cultural diversity and the competencies needed to work effectively in human service domains. The shared values, traditions, norms, customs, religion, art, history, folklore, and language of specific cultural groups are covered with a focus on race, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Students examine language barriers, stereotyping, prejudice, and value differences and gain an appreciation of the need for tolerance and the acceptance of cultural diversity in relation to the provision of services to people in society.