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Course Syllabus

SW 2750 Ethics and Values for the Behavorial Sciences

  • Division: Social and Behavioral Science
  • Department: Behavioral Science
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: SW 1010 or PSY 1010. Students who are part of the Behavioral Health Technician program may receive permission from the instructor to take this class with one of the prerequisites.
  • Corequisites: none
  • Semesters Offered: Spring
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2030
  • End Semester: Summer 2031
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 30

Course Description

This course helps students prepare for a meaningful career in the helping professions with an in-depth look at values, ethics, and scope of practice. Students will learn to navigate ethical practices, balance personal and professional values, and develop the skills to serve individuals, families, and communities with integrity. This course is ideal for those pursuing psychology, social work, behavioral health, or human services careers.

Justification

Ethics is a foundational principle for helping professions, and students pursuing behavioral health, psychology, and social work must be prepared to address ethical dilemmas with integrity. This course fulfills a requirement for the Behavioral Health Technician Certificate, ensuring our students are both professionally prepared and aligned with industry standards. It aligns with similar courses offered at other USHE institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. After completing this course, students will be able to explain the core values, ethical principles, and professional standards that guide behavioral health and helping professions.
  2. After completing this course, students will be able to apply ethical principles and professional codes of ethics (NASW, APA, ACA, NAADAC, etc.) to realistic practice scenarios.
  3. After completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate self-awareness by recognizing personal values and biases, and differentiate them from professional standards and cultural considerations in ethical decision-making.
  4. After completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of emerging ethical challenges in behavioral health (e.g., technology, telehealth, social justice issues) and explain appropriate professional responses.

Course Content

This course explores the values and ethical principles that guide professional practice in the behavioral health and helping professions. Students will be introduced to the ethical foundations of behavioral health, along with the major professional codes of ethics, including those from NASW, APA, ACA, and NAADAC etc. The course examines values and theoretical frameworks that shape ethical practice, with attention to conflicts between personal and professional values and strategies for resolution. Students will study boundaries and dual relationships in professional settings as well as approaches to identifying and addressing ethical dilemmas in real-world practice. Additional focus areas may include client rights, informed consent, confidentiality, the duty to protect, and scope of practice. The course also considers emerging issues such as technology, telehealth, and digital confidentiality, preparing students to respond with professionalism and integrity in diverse and evolving professional environments.