EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Helping professionals develop interpersonal relationships despite their differences is the theme of a new Eastern Michigan University course called The Human Service Professional. 

Offered through EMU’s Professional Programs & Training, the new course stemmed from the One Love Symposium, founded by Eastern’s Bright Futures Project Administrator Anna Gersh, who wanted to analyze what she refers to as the moment in a service position when a resource-seeker comes in contact with a resource gatekeeper. From her experience in the classroom and serving on various task forces, Gersh is taking what she learned to help those in human service professions, such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement students, better understand how to interact and facilitate relationships with others.

“In a shared society, we are obliged to find ways to understand each other and to share power to be comfortable with people who are different and with whom we have nothing in common,” said Gersh. The training is designed as a set of experiences that may support a shift in thinking about how we treat each other through key cultural and social differences. 

Gersh intends to bring people from different backgrounds and skill sets together to discuss their interactions with those they serve as human service professionals throughout the course. Students will learn how to engage with others during a moment in service when faced with someone who doesn’t share their experience. The cross-disciplinary conversations in the course will help focus the learner on common skill sets and an increased sense of responsibility necessary to support the best possible outcomes in these interactions.

“Once we ignite an interest in difference, then the learner is much more receptive to lessons about history,” said Gersh.

Register at the Professional Programs & Training site here.

While the course is open to professionals in multiple fields, educators who take the
course can receive 33 SCECHs (State Continuing Education Clock Hours), provided for
professional continuing education courses that meet state guidelines for teachers. Each educator
needs 150 SCECHs every five years in order to renew their teaching certificate with the
Michigan Department of Education.

Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a digital credential from EMU Professional Programs & Training. Read more about EMU Professional Programs & Training here.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.