Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major - Learning outcomes

Graduates from the Bachelor of Professional Arts–Human Services (BPA-HSRV) program will demonstrate the ability to:

• Synthesize the foundational knowledge of human services concepts, theories, principles, models, practices and competencies in social policy development, communication theory, political science, organizational behaviour, Indigenous issues, and in the support of vulnerable populations.
• Evaluate the merits of various policies and practices, existing and emerging social, ethical, global, political, and legal concerns relevant to the field of human services and other related disciplines.
• Appraise qualitative and quantitative data drawn from disciplinary and interdisciplinary sources, to make appropriate judgements and recommendations to improve policy and practice in the human services field.
• Utilize effective decision-making and problem-solving skills to create solutions to social problems within the scope of their practice.
• Synthesize theory, research, and evidence-based practice, within a framework of social justice, while working with individuals, communities, human service organizations and governments, consistently following legal, ethical, professional and academic codes of conduct, acknowledging the influences of the limits to one’s knowledge and ability.
• Formulate beliefs, concepts, propositions and arguments that are well-informed with respect to the delivery of human services in coherent, concise, technically correct forms, adapted according to the purpose, audience, occasion and technology used.
• Execute, competently and professionally, the required duties of a human services worker, independently or collaboratively, with accountability and integrity, while maintaining confidentiality.

Program outcomes

The general program outcomes, categorized by areas of study, are as follows.

A. Interpersonal Communications

1. Express self clearly: demonstrate effectiveness in speech and in writing.
2. Be attentive to the framing of problems: contextualize problems using sophisticated analysis.
3. Nurture value-based learning: use values to guide theory and practice.
4. Work well with others in a variety of settings: demonstrate values, skills and knowledge for successful team-building.

B. Relating Practice to Theory

1. Employ skills related to practice.
2. Succeed in intervention and/or advocacy efforts: demonstrate effectiveness in intervention and/or advocacy.

C. Using Critical Perspectives

1. Recognize, critically evaluate, and analyze arguments and theories: demonstrate critical perspectives and analytical thinking related to the human services sector.
2. Use strategies for inclusive personal and social change: demonstrate effectiveness in the use of strategies to achieve inclusiveness in personal change as well as social change.

D. Familiarity and Understanding of the Human Services Sector

1. Know emergence and breadth of the sector of human services: demonstrate familiarity with the history and evolution of the human services sector, along with several of its fields.
2. Contribute to the developing professional character of the human services sector and one’s place/role within it.

E. Professionalism

1. Demonstrate ethical professional conduct and attitudes.
2. Relate self to the role of the human services provider in broad contexts: demonstrate the impact of contexts and exhibit ethical professional conduct and attitudes.
3. Use continuous learning to integrate knowledge of related concepts, theories and policies.

F. Demonstration of Success as Human Services Educator

1. Continue learning from experiences for personal growth and development through self-reflective practices.
2. Display evidence of professional effectiveness such as lobbying, policy-making, protest and advocacy