SOCW 290Human Behavior and the Social Environment

3 credits · Social Work · Penn State

This course provides students with a conceptual framework to acquire knowledge of human behavior and the social environment with an emphasis on human growth and development theories throughout the life span. Special attention to biopsychosocial functioning and spiritual factors will be examined from a social work practice perspective. SOCW 290 will assist students in identifying indicators of normal and abnormal development in addition to better understanding person-in-environment (PIE) theory and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks relevant to social work. Competent social work practitioners view human behavior in the social environment through a resiliency, risk, and vulnerability model. By examining human behavior throughout the lifespan, SOCW 290 provides a foundation for students to organize thoughts about the challenges and needs of diverse client populations to better provide social work-related interventions, services, support, and resources. Theories discussed in this course will be connected to cultural, developmental, and social issues that are experienced throughout each stage of life. Students are expected to utilize acquired knowledge and skills gained in this course to better understand the interactions between clients and their environment by examining the major domains of human development from a social work lens. This course is designed to address CSWE competency requirements. SOCW 290 is a requirement for SOCW majors.