Sample Plan: Social Services and Education

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

Theme and Statement of Focus: Social Services & Education
Subjects of Focus: Psychology, Sociology, HDFS

I choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Multidisciplinary Studies program, with a Social and Behavioral Sciences option because I believe this program will give me the broad education I need for the job choices I wish to pursue in the Social Services field.

Psychology courses will prepare me to have a better understanding of what is going on in the minds of the families and children I am working with and give me a better knowledge of how to deal with any psychological issues they may be living with. The HDFS courses will prepare me for the many issues, other than psychological, that the families and children I will be working with are dealing with, as well as providing me with the skills I need to help them to the best of my ability. Sociology courses will complement these fields of study by also giving me a better understanding of the world today and the reasons that people are who they are and do what they do.

Self-designing this major will allow me to achieve my academic goals by allowing me the freedom to get the education necessary for the type of social work I wish to pursue. A traditional major will only give me the skills to pursue a particular career path; therefore a more broad education is necessary in order to be qualified for more than one type of job. A broad education appeals to me because I want to be able to apply my qualifications to different types of work in the Social Services field.

Primary Areas of Coursework

The following courses will support my academic plan as well as fulfill the Multidisciplinary Studies degree requirements.

Theory/Application: Psych 212- Introduction to Developmental Psychology

The purpose of this course is to introduce theories and principles used in psychological research and practice and learn to apply them in real-world situations. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge to enhance the well-being of the children and families I work with by applying age-relevant solutions to and strategies for the prevention of individual and social problems.

Communication Skills: Spanish 110- Intermediate Conversation

The purpose of this course is to improve my fluency of the Spanish language through oral expression and other means of usage. This course will prepare me to use my knowledge of the Spanish language to assist Spanish speaking families I work with.

Research Methods/Projects: HDFS 229- Infant and Child Development

This purpose of this course is to research theories behind social, behavioral, and biological processes related to development during infancy and childhood. This course will prepare me to apply methods and knowledge learned to properly assist the families I work with to improve the quality of their lives.

Critical Analysis: SOC 119- Race and Ethnic Relations

The purpose of this course is to discover how racial identity shapes one’s life experiences, while learning about historical patterns of racial and ethnic groups. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge of the nature of racism and discrimination to educate families on how to better adapt to and respect our multicultural environment.

400-Level Courses:

Psych 412: Adolescence

The purpose of this course is to understand how many biological and environmental factors influence an adolescent’s physical, cognitive, and personality development. This course will prepare me to identify risk and protective factors during adolescence and better prepare me to work with this unstable age group.

Psych 464: Behavioral Genetics

The purpose of this course is to learn how gene mechanisms and gene- environment interactions determine behavior, paying particular regards to deviant human behavior. This course will prepare me to identify possible genetic basis and/or environmental interactions that contribute to a person’s phenotypic traits, thereby leading me to a course of action that will improve that their general well-being and quality of life.

Psych 476: Child Psychopathology

The purpose of this course is to learn concepts of normal and abnormal behavior in children and adolescents. I will learn the etiology and diagnoses of many DSM disorders, including the mentally retarded, gifted, physically handicapped, and emotionally disturbed child, as well as interventions and accommodations used in school settings for these children. This course will prepare me to apply strategies for working with children and adolescents of all impairments.

SOC 406: Sociology of Deviance

The purpose of this course is to look at theories and research of social construction and its effects on society’s reactions to the violation of social norms. This course will prepare me for a career in the social services field by giving me the skills to apply my knowledge of structural, cultural, and psychosocial processes involved in deviant behavior to help families’ better the state of their lives.

HDFS 414: Resolving Human Development and Family Problems

The purpose of this course is to learn strategies for applying solutions to problems in human development and family functioning. This course will prepare me in my role as a professional specialist to work with families to better the quality of their lives by improving their family functioning and helping them apply solutions to a variety of problems they may be dealing with.

Additional Selections:

Psych 100: Introductory Psychology

The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic guidelines of psychology, emphasizing theories and principles of behavior as well as mental and physiological processes. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge, skills, and techniques to solve or prevent individual and social problems, while enhancing the quality of life of my clients.

SOC 012: Criminology

The purpose of this course is to promote a better understanding of crime by learning theories of criminal behavior, and discussing topics that impact crime, including criminal law, characteristics of criminals and victims, and environmental factors that may contribute to criminal behavior. This course will prepare me to identify warning signs in a client’s life that may impact their susceptibility to criminal behavior and therefore apply intervention techniques to improve their quality of life.

HDFS 129: Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies

The purpose of this course is to introduce psychosocial and family development of individual and family life cycles from conception to death. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge of psychosocial development to improve the quality of my clients’ and their families’ lives.

Senior Capstone: Psych 476: Child Psychopathology

Internship: Psych 495

The Steppingstones Autism Internship is an applied six credit work experience internship to be conducted over two semesters. The purpose of this internship is to improve my overall knowledge of the Autism Spectrum Disorders and interventions, focusing specifically on Applied Behavioral Analysis and the Eclipse Model. I will read "Students with Autism," "Applied Behavior Analysis," and The Eclipse Model." I will participate as a staff member in the NHS Steppingstones Program and write a personal journal, as well as write and present a case study with selected intervention on a selected student. This internship will specifically prepare me for working with children with Autism, however, I can apply my intervention training and knowledge to virtually any child or adolescent I work with.

Career and Academic Goals:

My individualized LASAL degree will prepare me for the future by giving me the knowledge and skills to enter the Social Services field in a highly qualified manner. I hope to be an integral part of a non-profit company one day, yet still be adaptable in my position. My goal is to be able to be flexible in regards to different employment opportunities, so I will always be a valuable asset to my employer. I believe this self designed major will fully prepare me for the life I wish to lead helping children and their families.