A survey course to orient the student to the field of social work. Introduces an understanding of people as individuals and as members of groups and communities. Generic roles emphasizing change and responsibility are explored and identified. Major topics include: history and mission of social work, professional values, nature of the social work relationship, and fields of practice. Course Fee Required.
Offered Fall, Spring for 3 Semester hours.
A course designed to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and the social environment; integration of knowledge gained in the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural realms; and the impact of these forces on the development of individuals. Prerequisites: SWK 21103, BIO 11404, ENG 11203, PSY 11103, SOC 11103, SOC 24103, and HPE 10101. (All may be taken concurrently.)
Offered Fall for 3 Semester hours.
An introduction to social service agencies as society’s response to social problems. Orientation will emphasize the practice approach in the context of contemporary social welfare policy. Welfare philosophies will be identified in the application of policy and service evaluation. Prerequisites: SWK 21103, POL 11103, HIS 13203, and SOC 25103. (All may be taken concurrently.)
Offered Fall for 3 Semester hours.
An integrating methods course that builds on the developing appreciation of human behavior in the social environment to identify the knowledge, values, and skills that serve as social work resources to intervene in people-environment transactions as systems. The basic concepts of generalist practice provide a foundation for exploring the generic aspects of social work methodology. Prerequisites: MTH 21404, SWK 21103, SWK 22103, SWK 23103.
Offered Spring for 3 Semester hours.
A skill-building course designed to develop the information collecting requirements of all social service positions. Emphasizing practical situations and role-playing, students will participate in identifying their personal style of engaging clients in directed conversation. Learning to exchange information establishes communication skills and forms the basis for case management. Prerequisites: SWK 21103, and COM 11103
Offered Spring for 3 Semester hours.
Taken concurrently with the first field experience, SWK 28902, this course allows practicum supervision to monitor classroom/ field integration. A major focus is on developing self-evaluation skills. Course fee required. Prerequisite: SWK 24103 (May be taken concurrently.).
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 1 Semester hours.
A study of topics not included in current social work offerings or topics of more in-depth study than covered in current social work courses. The course may be repeated for credit upon change of the course topic. Prerequisites: Proposed by social work instructor, review by program director, review by School Chair, and approval by the Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Offered On Demand for 1-4 Semester hours.
The introductory field experience for the social work major provides the student with the opportunity for direct exposure to social service in an agency setting. Through affiliation with an agency as service provider, the student observes the nature of the client-worker relationship. The development of perceptual orientation and description skills is emphasized through varied levels of observation. The student will spend up to eight (8) hours per week for ten (10) weeks in an agency setting. Oral and written reports are required. Sites are approved by Field Placement Director. Prerequisite: SWK 24103 (May be taken concurrently.).
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 1-2 Semester hours.
Independent study and/or research under the supervision of an instructor in Social Work, and approved by the Director. May include directed research and readings, formal in-depth study of a topic of special interest to the student, individual projects, special educational experiences, or a practicum in which theories and their practical applications are brought together in a single educational experience. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and the completion of at least six (6) hours in the discipline, as well as sponsorship by an instructor and approval of the Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Offered On Demand for 1-3 Semester hours.
An analysis of the social organization of the community and its service networks. This course solidifies a system’s perspective of the social environment with particular emphasis on defining the dynamics of community. Differentiating target systems in the social environment confirms an ecological perspective as a base to generalist problem solving. Prerequisite: SWK 22103.
Offered Spring for 3 Semester hours.
This course promotes an appreciation of the individual existing in a social environment. Working with individuals the student recognizes the importance of developing skill in problem identification, interviewing, strategy selection, and effective intervention. The socializing task of the developing family is recognized as a primary social environment. Microsystem size is differentiated in the generalist context. Prerequisite: SWK 24103.
Offered Fall for 3 Semester hours.
An introduction to the use of group work as an interventive strategy. Generalist methodology acknowledges a fluid transactional zone and appreciates strategies which maintain, promote, and remediate group functioning. Exploration of group theory and group skills are achieved through both didactic and experiential methods. Process observation reveals leadership and membership, decision making, conflict resolution, power, norms, attractiveness, and creativity. Prerequisite: SWK 24103.
Offered Spring for 2 Semester hours.
An analysis of macro organizational and community structures, i.e., bureaucracy, institutions, stratification, collective behavior, and social change. Generalist methodology differentiates organizational, policy and program development, and cause advocacy. Prerequisite: SWK 24103.
Offered Spring for 3 Semester hours.
Taken concurrently with the middle level field experience, SWK 38901-03, this course stresses peer review, theory/practice integration, and self-evaluation. Prerequisites: SWK 24103 and SWK 28902.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 1 Semester hours.
A study of topics not included in current social work offerings or topics of more in-depth study than covered in current social work courses. The course may be repeated for credit upon change of the course topic. Prerequisites: Proposed by social work instructor, review by program director, review by the School Chair, and approval by the Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Offered On Demand for 1-4 Semester hours.
A middle level field experience focusing on the development of practice skills in the context of the social work relationship. The student is introduced to the responsibilities of professional intervention, generalist problem-solving methodology, and social policy as negotiated service. The student will spend up to ten (10) hours per week for twelve (12) weeks in an approved agency setting. Sites are approved by the Field Placement Director. Prerequisites: SWK 24103 and SWK 28902.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 1-3 Semester hours.
An advanced course in social welfare philosophy analyzing the relationship between social problems, social policy, and social service. The seminar orientation encourages political inquiry, developing the student’s skill in policy, research and practice integration. Independent research and peer review cultivates the healthy tension of democratic debate. Prerequisite: SWK 24103.
Offered Spring for 3 Semester hours.
An advanced methods course focusing on the principles of generalist practice as an integration of the continuum of traditional social work focus (individual, family, group, organization, and community). Performance evaluation is based on a beginning level of professional social work practice. Prerequisites: Senior status, SWK 24103, SWK 28902, and SWK 38901-3.
Offered Fall for 3 Semester hours.
This course focuses on the application of research methods to practice and agency evaluation. Activities will focus on evaluation of the effectiveness of individual practice, formative and summative program evaluation, and needs assessment. Prerequisites: SWK 24103, SWK 38901-3, and SOC 36103.
Offered Fall for 3 Semester hours.
An integrating seminar class to be taken concurrently with the senior field placement, SWK 48605/48705. Group supervision will focus on knowledge-skill-attitude-value integration in generalist practice. Prerequisites: SWK 25101 and SWK 35201.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 1 Semester hours.
This major senior level practicum is the first half of a two-semester sequence requiring 200-clock hours (minimum 12 week) affiliation with an approved social service agency. The purpose is to develop and establish the student in beginning professional social work practice. Performance evaluation focuses on knowledge-value-skill integration. Sites are approved by the Field Placement Director. Prerequisite: SWK 44103 (May be taken concurrently.).
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 5 Semester hours.
A consecutive assignment in the same agency as established in SWK 48605 requiring 200-clock hours (minimum 12 week) affiliation and increased responsibility. Performance evaluation continues with supervision. Sites are approved by the Field Placement Director. Prerequisites: SWK 46103 and SWK 48605.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer for 5 Semester hours.
Independent study and/or research under the supervision of an instructor in Social Work, and approved by the Director. May include directed research and readings, formal in- depth study of a topic of special interest to the student, individual projects, special educational experiences, or a practicum in which theories and their practical applications are brought together in a single educational experience. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing and the completion of at least twelve (12) hours in the discipline, as well as sponsorship by an instructor and approval of the Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Offered On Demand for 1-4 Semester hours.