Core Curriculum
All students seeking the Ph.D. in Human Services complete a Foundation course, the Foundation Research Sequence, and three KAMs that focus on the social and behavioral science foundations important to all professions. All students complete the Ph.D. program with a dissertation.
Foundation Course (6 cr.)
SBSF 8005 Foundations for Doctoral Study (6 cr.)
All beginning Ph.D. in Human Services students are required to successfully complete this course, and are automatically enrolled in it during their first quarter. In this course, students develop a Professional Development Plan and a Plan of Study as their guide to the rest of their program.
Core KAM Curriculum (42 cr.)
Core KAM I: Principles of Social Change (14 cr.)
KAM I offers students perspectives in the social and behavioral sciences and how they influence human values and lifestyles, communication, social networks, and forecasting alternative futures. Students begin to integrate theoretical constructs into practical applications for individual interest areas.
Breadth: SBSF 8110 Theories of Social Change (5 cr.)
Depth: SBSF 8120 Current Research in Social Change (5 cr.)
Application: SBSF 8130 Professional Practice and Social Change (4 cr.)
Core KAM II: Principles of Human Development (14 cr.)
Students examine basic theories and current research on biological, psychosocial, cognitive, and affective human development, including normal developmental patterns and crises that may occur. Students explore developmental questions in the context of both chronological time and underlying physical, social, and psychological experiences.
Breadth: SBSF 8210 Theories of Human Development (5 cr.)
Depth: SBSF 8220 Current Research in Human Development (5 cr.)
Application: SBSF 8230 Professional Practice and Human Development (4 cr.)
Core KAM III: Principles of Organizational and Social Systems (14 cr.)
This KAM provides an introduction to systems theories from various disciplines. The primary models of structured system theories are presented as a background and theoretical framework for the other knowledge areas. Also studied are theories that impact micro and macro levels of social, political, and economic systems.
Breadth: SBSF 8310 Theories of Organizational and Social Systems (5 cr.)
Depth: SBSF 8320 Current Research in Organizational and Social Systems (5 cr.)
Application: SBSF 8330 Professional Practice and Organizational and Social Systems (4 cr.)
*Criminal Justice Foundational Core KAMs*
Students who plan to declare a specialization in Criminal Justice but do not possess a master’s degree in Criminal Justice or a closely related field, must complete the core KAMs below, instead of the regular Human Services core KAMs. These KAMs are designed to provide graduate-level foundational knowledge in the areas of social change, human behavior, and organizational and social systems from a criminal justice perspective.
KAM I: Principles of Social Change (14 cr.)
Breadth: SBSF 8110 Theories of Social Change (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8120 Current Research in Social Change: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8130 Professional Practice and Social Change: Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
KAM II: Principles of Human Development (14 cr.)
Breadth: SBSF 8210 Theories of Human Development (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8220 Current Research in Human Development: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8230 Professional Practice and Human Development: Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
KAM III: Principles of Organizational and Social Systems (14 cr.)
Breadth: SBSF 8310 Theories of Organizational and Social Systems (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8320 Current Research in Organizational and Social Systems: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8330 Professional Practice and Organizational and Social Systems: Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
Foundation Research Sequence (14 cr.)
The first and second courses are online seminars, requiring students to participate in weekly, Web-based discussions. The third course combines online activities and a 12-hour face-to-face meeting with a Walden residency. Instructors guide discussions, require specific readings and written assignments, and evaluate assignments.
SBSF 8417 Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science (4 cr.)
HUMN 8427 Research Seminar II: Design in Human, Public Health, and Health Services Research (5 cr.)
HUMN 8437 Research Seminar III: Data Analysis in Human, Public Health, and Health Services Research (5 cr.)
Dissertation (30 cr.)
HUMN 9000 Dissertation (30 cr.)
Specialized Curriculum
In addition to the Core Curriculum, students complete three specialized KAMs unique to the Human Services curriculum and appropriate to their specific area of study.
Before being formally admitted to any specialization other than the General Program, students must first complete KAMs I–III and SBSF 8417 Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science from the Core Curriculum. Students then submit a completed Intent to Declare a Specialization and Plan of Study for the Specialized KAMs in Human Services form to their faculty mentor. The faculty mentor reviews and signs the form before forwarding it to the associate dean or the associate dean’s designee. The associate dean or designee reviews the form, ensures that the student is appropriately prepared to undertake specialized study, and notifies the student within 10 working days of the results of this review. After receiving notification of approval from the associate dean or designee, students may proceed with the specialized KAMs, integrating content appropriate to the specialization into the breadth, depth, and application sections. The dissertation must also reflect the specialization.
General Program
The General Program offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of social service.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8510 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8520 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8530 Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8610 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8620 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8630 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8710 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8720 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8730 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services (4 cr.)
Clinical Social Work Specialization
The Clinical Social Work specialization focuses on the use, understanding, and development of models and theoretical frameworks for clinical practice with vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. The specialization’s learning philosophy emphasizes developmental theories; healthy life adjustment; biopsychosocial stress; human diversity; a synthesis of social, behavioral, and developmental approaches to human growth; and the broad application of these theories to research and practice in the preventive, therapeutic, and consultative realms of helping. It prepares clinical scholars who are well-grounded in the qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry and highly skilled in a variety of intervention modalities. Graduates are prepared to become leaders in direct practice; enter university-level teaching or clinical research positions; or enter advanced positions in clinical administration, supervision, and consultation.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8517 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice: Clinical Social Work (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8527 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Clinical Social Work (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8537 Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services: Clinical Social Work (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8617 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services: Clinical Social Work (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8627 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Clinical Social Work (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8637 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Clinical Social Work (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8717 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services: Clinical Social Work (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8727 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Clinical Social Work (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8737 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Clinical Social Work (4 cr.)
Counseling Specialization
The Counseling specialization is grounded in systems theory and intervention strategies. It focuses on healthy life adjustment; biopsychosocial stress; human diversity; and a synthesis of social, behavioral, and developmental approaches to human growth. The specialization’s learning philosophy emphasizes developmental theories and the broad application of these theories to research and practice in the preventive, therapeutic, and consultative realms of helping. Promoting positive, health-oriented growth with emphasis on helping others achieve greater psychological, social, academic, vocational, and ethical development is stressed.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8515 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice: Counseling (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8525 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Counseling (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8535 Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services:
Counseling (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8615 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services: Counseling (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8625 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Counseling (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8635 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Counseling (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8715 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services: Counseling (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8725 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Counseling (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8735 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Counseling (4 cr.)
Criminal Justice Specialization
The Criminal Justice specialization prepares and trains professionals to address current issues related to public safety, juvenile delinquency, the courts, and prisons. Students examine criminal behavior and society’s response to it and explore solutions for the control and elimination of criminal behavior. Students explore crime as a social phenomenon, studying demographic shifts, economic disparity among racial and ethnic groups, urban decay, and the role of substance abuse in criminal behavior. They also study criminological theory, the nature of crime, the criminal justice system and its administration, the factors that lead people to commit crimes, and planned change in the criminal justice system.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8512 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8522 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8532 Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services: Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8612 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8622 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8632 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8712 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8722 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Criminal Justice (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8732 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
Family Studies and Intervention Strategies Specialization
The Family Studies and Intervention Strategies specialization focuses on the utilization of advanced clinical theory and research methodology within a unique client-centered ecological context. Students explore a broad spectrum of theoretical and clinical approaches to intervention: brief and solution-focused, structural, object relations, cognitive-behavioral, strategic, intergenerational, narrative, and social constructionism. Emphasis is also placed on feminist, minority, and gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender issues. Students are strongly encouraged to develop their own integration of these therapeutic modalities and special treatment considerations.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8518 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8528 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Family Studies and Intervention Strategies (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8538 Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services: Family Studies and Intervention Strategies (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8618 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8628 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Family Studies and Intervention Strategies (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8638 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Family Studies and Intervention Strategies (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8718 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8728 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Family Studies and Intervention Strategies (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8738 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Family Studies and Intervention Strategies (4 cr.)
Human Services Administration Specialization
The Human Services Administration specialization explores the theoretical foundations of organizational behavior and the practice of management and planning with special attention to their sociopolitical, technical, and interpersonal dimensions. Topics for inquiry include program development and implementation, leadership, creating and sustaining interorganizational and community relations, and staff development and training. Students explore internal and systemic efforts organizations can make to improve the well-being of individuals and groups, to promote social justice, and to enhance social welfare.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8514 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice: Human Services Administration (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8524 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Human Services Administration (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8534 Integrating Theory and Practice in Social Service: Human Services Administration (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8614 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services: Human Services Administration (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8624 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Human Services Administration (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8634 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Human Services Administration (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8714 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services: Human Services Administration (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8724 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Human Services Administration (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8734 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Human Services Administration (4 cr.)
Social Policy Analysis and Planning Specialization
The Social Policy Analysis and Planning specialization focuses on the analysis of social policy, with an emphasis on social welfare and planning, and on the use, development, and protection of human and societal resources within multicontextual frameworks. Study includes historical, social, physical, political, cultural, economic, ecological, legal, key actor, spatial, technological, national, and institutional frameworks. Analysts, planners, and development managers in this field seek the best use of these resources in the overall interest of society and study how communities organize and direct their relationship with the world around them. While covering an array of environments (i.e., urban, rural, community, regional, and national), the international focus on sustainable development is an integral part of this specialization.
Specialized KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8516 Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8526 Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8536 Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8616 Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8626 Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8636 Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services (14 cr.)
Breadth: HUMN 8716 Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (5 cr.)
Depth: HUMN 8726 Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (5 cr.)
Application: HUMN 8736 A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Social Policy Analysis and Planning (4 cr.)
Self-Designed Specialization
Students in the Ph.D. in Human Services program have the option to self-design a specialization. A self-designed specialization must fit within the existing range of expertise of the Social Service instructors and the KAM curriculum structure. of the General Program. A self-designed specialization must be developed in consultation with program instructors and approved by the associate dean or the associate dean’s designee.
Declaring and Completing a Self-Designed Specialization
Students electing the Self-Designed specialization option should complete the Program of Study form using the General Program course numbers for the breadth, depth, and application components of each KAM. The depth and application components should include a subtitle that reflects the focus of the unique specialization. In the specialized or advanced KAMs, the titles of the breadth component must also reflect the unique specialization. Students selecting this specialization must first complete core KAMs I–III and SBSF 8417 Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science from the Core Curriculum. Students then submit a completed Intent to Declare a Specialization in Human Services and Plan of Study for the Specialized KAMs form to their faculty mentor. The faculty mentor reviews and signs the forms before forwarding them to the associate dean or the associate dean’s designee. The associate dean or designee reviews the forms to ensure that the student is appropriately prepared to undertake a self-designed specialization and notifies the student within 10 working days of the results of this review. After receiving notification of approval from the associate dean or designee, students may proceed with the specialized KAMs, integrating content appropriate to the self-designed specialization into the breadth, depth, and application sections. The dissertation must also reflect the specialization. Academic work that does not adequately support the self-designed specialization will be returned to the student for revision. Human Services students pursuing a self-designed specialization must attach a copy of the approved Intent to Declare a Specialization in Human Services form to all Learning Agreements, KAMs, the proposal, and the dissertation.
