Concepts, principles, and processes encountered by social service workers; questions of motivation, acceptance, attitude, techniques of listening and interviewing. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

An overview of elder issues including the social, psychological and physical aspects of the aging process. The course will also examine the economic and social impact of the growing elderly population on US society and the global community and will explore career opportunities in this expanding field. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

A study of government policy to familiarize students with programs at the federal, state and local levels that address elder issues from housing to health care to employment to nutrition and recreation. Students will learn how public policy is created, the role of elder advocacy groups in shaping legislative agendas and issues affecting current and future government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

An exploration of the basic changes that occur in the physical make-up of men and women as a result of the aging process. Discussion will include the causes and effects of disease and debility, as well as health assessment measures, health care options and health maintenance strategies. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

An introduction to family theory as found in significant sociological traditions. The course will discuss the effect of the aging process on extended and nuclear families, the changing roles of parent and child, the family stresses and rewards of care giving, the role of aging siblings, relationships between the generations and the financial and psychological impact of caring for the frail elder in the family setting. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

An exploration of the opportunities that are available to the elderly from the well years to the frail years, for personal enrichment, intellectual development, volunteering, health improvement, travel, spiritual growth and second careers. Students will learn the ways in which a majority of an individuals older years may be a time of great opportunities for growth, development and service. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Racial Healing Methodology course aims to jettison the false belief in a hierarchy of human value and replace that archaic notion with a reverence and appreciation for the equal and interconnected nature of the human family. The course will cover the five components of the racial Healing Framework which are Narrative Change, Racial Healing and Relationship Building, Separation, Law, and Economy. The ultimate goal of the Racial Healing Methodology course is to expand the community of healers by training, empowering, and emboldening youth, and youth workers. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Introduction to records, reports, and forms required in social agencies; report writing and record keeping. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Introduction to social welfare resources of the community; discussion of methods to help persons make use of these resources, including analysis of the helping relationship, role of non-professional worker, problem-solving approach to individual, family, and community problems. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This course explores the history of gerontological social work and the methods employed in providing the greatest benefits of human services to the elderly population. Students will learn the practical principles of case management from interviewing to evaluation and become familiar with the characteristics of the service settings in which they will encounter the elderly in the role of Gerontology Specialist. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This course is a study of the basic principles of communication as employed in counseling and human services settings. It will emphasize the development of the listening, speaking, behavioral and attitudinal skills that are required by gerontology professionals at the level of social work assistant. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

A comparative study of aging in a variety of cultures from traditional to modern. Students will learn that the attitude of a culture towards its aging population is based on the complex set of interrelationships between its social, religious and historical traditions. The course will examine Native American, traditional Chinese, modern European, dominant and minority American cultures and their attitudes toward the elderly and how these attitudes are crystallized into social policy. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This course builds on human growth and development, specifically designed to focus on development tasks relative to those who are fifty (50) and beyond. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Fieldwork placement at a community agency employing Racial Healing Circles Methodologies. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

For persons who work with groups; parent groups, community action programs, recreation programs, church groups, or in child care programs. How individuals function as group members; role of the leader; encouraging participation and group action for achieving group goals. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

For students who desire to develop skill in working with groups; discussion of techniques for working most effectively with different types of groups. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

For group workers, community leaders, and teachers. Problems of urbanization, industrialization, cultural and educational deprivation, juvenile delinquency, and techniques and programs organized to combat these problems. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Principles of casework applied to work with families; community resources available to meet economic, emotional, and health needs, and techniques for implementing referrals for such services. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Field work placement in a family welfare agency 20 hours per week, 8 or 16 weeks; 2-hour weekly seminar. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This course will provide students with both a micro and macro perspective of a silent problem that is drastically impacting society today-Domestic Violence. This course will introduce students to the history of domestic violence, and theories and methods used to study domestic violence. This course will be devoted to discussions of different forms of domestic violence including elder abuse, child abuse, and intimate partner violence. There will be dialog of how violence is shaped by social location, race, class, and gender. Additionally discussions will include special topics in domestic violence regarding heterosexual and homosexual families, religion, the military, and American and Global cultures students will use both in a classroom setting and their cooperative work experiences to learn and practice intervention, as well as prevention strategies utilized by social service agencies and the criminal justice system. Upon successful completion of this course and cooperative work experience hours students will receive the Illinois Domestic Violence 40 certification (provided by an approved Illinois Domestic Violence training site). Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Social development and behavior of young people and other adults in all group settings; church groups, street gangs, tutoring programs, recreational groups, YMCAs and YWCAs settlement or delinquency prevention programs. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Field work assignment in youth agency 20 hours per week, 8 or 16 weeks; 2-hour weekly seminar. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This course combines classroom training with field placement at a community agency or institution serving older persons. Students apply learning about the organization and management of aging services, explore community resources, demonstrate work habits, assess their attitudes and career skills in gerontology, and relate current aging research to practice. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This capstone course provides a review of gerontology course work, field placement experience at a human services agency or institution serving older persons, advanced classroom training in practice concepts related to service delivery to older adults, an guidance in producing a final project that will summarize the students gerontological course work. Writing assignment, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

This course introduces students to administrative practices in long-term care facilities including organization, financial management, staffing, community relations, managing the physical plant, in-service training, and alternatives to institutionalization. In preparation for taking the Nursing Home Administrator licensing exam, students will also learn about community health systems, auxiliary agencies and programs, chronic diseases and infirmities, the aging process and the care of the aged, and related local, state, and federal legislation.

This course is designed to give students, who will be essentially non-financial managers, the financial knowledge needed to perform the duties of a healthcare administrator in the long-term care setting.

For students who work with community action programs, community planning, or neighborhood improvement. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Field work placement in a community service agency plus weekly seminars. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course.