SOCW102     INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK

3 sh

Introduces the history and conceptual framework of the social work profession to students.  It provides an overview of social work knowledge, social work ethics, traditional values, commitments and skills; human services where the social work profession is located; intervention roles, methods and techniques, and concerns and issues related to vulnerable people.  It also provides an understanding of generalist skills utilized for working with individuals, families, and divergent groups who are having difficulty coping with the different oppressive or problematic circumstances.  Prerequisites:  BIOL101, SOCI101, HIST102, or permission of the instructor.

SOCW201     HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I

3 sh

Reviews human development and growth over a life span following a social systems framework.  The behavior of individuals, families, groups, organizations and institutions as they interact with their own systems and with the larger systems as part of a total environment is reviewed.  Theories and knowledge about the interplay of biological, psychological, social and cultural systems are studied in order to understand how the systems shape the development and behavior of people and their interactions with others.  The theories focus on the range of social systems in which individuals live including families, groups, organizations, communities, and institutions.  The course assumes a life span perspective and focuses on prenatal development, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.  Prerequisites:  SOCW102, SOCI101, SOCI203, SOCI205, PSYC100, BIOL101, completion of prerequisites for Social Work majors or permission of the instructor and at least 45 sh.

SOCW203     HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II

3 sh

Introduces the normal processes of sequential physical, emotional, and socio-cultural development from middle adulthood through old age.  Emphasizes common stresses and crises affecting normal development and maturity and relates these to social work practice.  Utilizes a social systems framework to focus on why humans behave the way they do in the context of living in our society.  Prerequisites:  Open to declared social work majors and others by permission of the instructor.

SOCW204     SOCIAL POLICY AND SERVICES

3 sh

This course explores the development of social welfare systems, policies, and programs, in  historical, societal and organizational contexts.  The role of social policy is examined as to helping or deterring individuals in attaining their fullest potentials and affecting the practice of social work in general.   The scientific method is used to analyze political and organizational processes that influence policy; the policy formulation process; and the relationship between policies and social work goals and purposes.  Prerequisite:  Students must have completed with a grade of 2.0 or better:  SOCW201, SOCW201, SOCW203, SOCW301, SOCW302, SOCW412 and must have an overall GPA of 2.000.

SOCW301     SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I

3 sh

First of three practice sequence courses, is designed to introduce knowledge, values and skills for generalist micro practice.  Emphasizes self-knowledge, use of self as a change agent, understanding social work values, oppression and strategies for combating it, and developing skills for problem-solving, good interpersonal interviewing, and beginning-level research.  Students will understand the interdependence of policy, research and practice, and the need to empower clients and themselves to advocate for social and economics justice.  Prerequisite:  Students must have completed with a grade of 2.000: SOCW102, SOCW201, and must have an overall GPA of 2.000.

SOCW302     SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II

3 sh

The second in a sequence of three required social work practice courses, this course will utilize a variety of active learning techniques to help students:  integrate social work values and ethics with practice; build critical understanding for effective practice; practice generalist social work, and work with families and groups in social work practice.  Prerequisite: SOCW301.

SOCW310     SOCIAL POLICY AND PRACTICE

3 sh

This course involves an exploration of the development of social welfare programs.  It includes content about the history of social work, the history and current structure of social welfare services and the role of policy in service delivery, social work practice, and the attainment of individual and social well being.  Students will understand and demonstrate social policy skills in regard to economic, political, and organizational system.  Prerequisites:  Enrollment is limited to social work majors who have at least a 2.000 in SOCW404 and SOCW204 and have completed all of their coursework except for SOCW401, 402, and 420.  Students must have an overall GPA of 2.000.

SOCW/SOCI360     DEATH AND DYING

3 sh

Explores the various ways societies have sought to understand and cope with death.  Consideration is given to the way individuals, families, and societies have formulated policy and administrative procedures to make institutions more humane in their response to the terminally ill and bereaved.  Prerequisites:  SOCI101, PSYC100, or permission of the instructor.

SOCW401-402     FIELD INSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR

6 sh each

Students are placed in a community agency under the supervision of an experienced social worker and a social work faculty member.  Students are expected to develop an in-depth understanding of agency activities, programs, and services, and will assume increasing levels of responsibility as beginning level generalist social workers.   Attendance at weekly seminars is required.  The integration/generalization of conceptual content and problem specific knowledge in the field practice experience is a cycle of inquiry from specific practice experiences to concept/theory and back again in a series of cycles.  Prerequisites:  Students should have competed with a grade of 2.000 or better:  SOCW102, SOCW201, SOCW203, SOCW204, SOCW301, SOCW302, SOCW404, SOCW412 and have an overall GPA of 2.000 or higher

SOCW/SOCI403     SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY: THE SOCIOLOGY OF AGING

3 sh

Provides a knowledge base for understanding the problems the aged face when growing old in a modern bureaucratic society.  Emphasis is placed on the influence various structures--groups, associations, and institutions--have on the changing status’s and roles of individuals in society.  Prerequisites:  SOCI101 and PSYC100.

SOCW404     RURAL SOCIAL WORK

3 sh

This course is designed to further develop and fine tune generalist social work skills at all levels of intervention (including individuals, families, organizations and communities).  Course content will focus on rural practice and the types of situations that students will encounter in micro practice, understanding and working with families, and working in and with organizations and communities.  Advocacy, striving for social and economic justice, and macro level change will be stressed.  Prerequisite:  Enrollment is restricted to Social Work majors who have earned at least a 2.000 in SOCW102, SOCW201, SOCW203, SOCW301, SOCW302, and SOCW412.  Students must have an overall GPA of at least 2.000.

SOCW410     SOCIAL WORK AND AGING

3 sh

Utilizing an ecological systems perspective and a problem-solving approach, this course focuses on some of the needs and problems of the elderly and the resources and services that are available through social welfare agencies and institutions. Designed to prepare the beginning-level social work generalist practitioner to link the elderly with appropriate programmatic resources, the course emphasizes the need for policy change, advocacy and the enactment of major professional social work roles.  Prerequisite:  SOCW301 or permission of the instructor for students who are non-majors.

SOCW411     SOCIAL WORK WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS AND GROUPS

3 sh

Utilizing a problem-solving approach within an ecological systems framework, this course examines social service delivery with selected client populations and focuses on some of the newer intervention strategies that are available through a variety of agency settings and social service programs.  Case Management in social work practice will be a focal concern.  Prerequisite:  Students must have completed with a grade of C or better:  SOCW102, SOCW201, SOCW203, SOCW301 and have an overall GPA of at least 2.000.

SOCW412     APPLIED SOCIAL RESEARCH

3 sh

A basic overview of research methodologies used in the social sciences including quantitative and qualitative research methodologies; analyses of data; systematic evaluation of practice; evaluation theoretical bases, research questions, and findings of research reports; research activities; and the use of electronic data processing technology.  Students are taught how to evaluate social research literature and are provided an experience in formulating an actual research project.  Prerequisites:  MATH107 and SOCW302 and 404.

SOCW413     WOMEN IN CRISIS

3 sh

Explores women's changing roles, and crises due to these changes, and their implications for Social Work and human service practitioners.  Emphasizing the social worker's responsibilities for advocacy and the responsibilities of a change agent, this course focuses on the social worker's accelerated roles and tasks associated with the situation.  Prerequisites:  SOCW301 or permission of the instructor for students who are non-majors.

SOCW414     FAMILY IN CRISIS

3 sh

Deals with the selected problems experienced by family systems as these systems attempt to cope with the multiple stresses associated with:  rapid societal change, depersonalization, economic and occupational upheaval, physical and emotional impairment and family disintegration.  The course examines problem assessment, strategies of intervention and community resource utilization to achieve problem resolution or amelioration.  It also identifies "families-at-risk" and encourages the use of preventive strategies.  The term crisis is broadly defined to identify those family systems, which are troubled, intermittently or continuously by situational problems.  Prerequisites:  SOCW301 or permission of the instructor for students who are non-majors.

SOCW415     CHILD WELFARE SERVICES

3 sh

Designed to explore contemporary child welfare issues utilizing the systems and ecological perspectives, integrated with a problem-solving approach.  Allows students to understand major concepts and issues related to children and their families at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of service delivery and establishes a skill-base for promoting change and addressing oppression of children and families.  Prerequisites:  Restricted to students who have a minimum 2.000 overall GPA.  Must have a minimum grade of 2.000 in SOCW102, SOCW201, and SOCW301.

SOCW420     FIELD PLACEMENT SEMINAR

3 sh

The senior seminar, which accompanies field instruction, is designed to serve as a capstone course, and an integrating methods seminar.  Prerequisites:  Students must have completed with a grade of 2.000 or better:  SOCW102, SOCW201, SOCW203, SOCW204, SOCW301, SOCW302, SOCW404, and SOCW412 and must have an overall GPA of 2.000.

SOCW499     INDEPENDENT STUDY