Courses

This course is the beginning level course which acquaints students with the development of social work as a profession; the philosophy and value base of the profession; a generalist method of social work practice; and the diversity of settings in which generalist social work is practiced. Course fee applicable.

This course, a Social Work Department elective, is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of several career tracks in the field and to assist their decision making process in field placement selection. A unique onsite visit will occur in a variety of social work settings designed to increase the student’s familiarity with the social worker’s role as part of an interdisciplinary team. The student’s classroom experience will provide an in-depth exploration of the current terminology and issues germane to each social work practice setting.

This foundation course is designed to provide students with knowledge of human diversity and social and economic justice in our nation and the world. Its goal is to help produce a culturally sensitive professional by increasing one’s cultural awareness, promoting one’s knowledge acquisition, and assisting in one’s skill development. A goal is for students to complete this course with a better understanding of themselves and of the diverse groups that will be examined. Also listed as SOCS 2050.

A comprehensive required course addressing alcohol and other drug use (ATOD), HIV, as well as the impact of each on the family. Emphasis is on motivation for drug use and abuse, specific types of drugs and their identification, physiological and psychological implications of alcohol, tobacco and other (ATOD) drug abuse. There are no course prerequisites. Also listed as SOCS 2060.

This course is designed to provide students with perspectives on intimate relationships. The course explores relational dynamics including communication, conflict resolution, sexual intimacy, and managing economic resources. The course highlights intimate relationships and identifies the challenges and opportunities in relationships. Three distinctive themes of intimacy, marital and family strengths, and diversity are woven throughout the course. The goal of this courses is to integrate research, theory, and practical ideas to promote and sustain healthy and productive relationships. Also listed as SOCS 2080.

Junior and senior students may participate in studying a particular area of social work not covered in other course areas. Topics may include a variety of contemporary issues. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

This course helps examine the history of U.S. social welfare policies and programs in the context of economic, political, religious and social systems. In addition, this course examines the underlying implicit and explicit values of social welfare efforts. During this course students will understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination considers social as they engage in the advancement of social and economic justice. Students will also analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social well-being. Attention will be given to the considering economic, ethical, religious, and/or personal values as they affect and are affected by social welfare. Course prerequisite is PSYC 1010 and SOWK 1030

This course is designed to provide students with knowledge about the complexities of the human experience in relation to various macro systems. The course begins with an orientation to key social systems theories to help students understand dimensions of human behavior in the social environment. Students will then learn to apply social systems theories as they critically think about the macro systems impacting communities, families and individuals. During this course students will critically examine how various systems impact individuals from a psychosocial and spiritual perspective. In addition, students will learn about changing locales, populations, scientific and technological developments, and emerging societal trends so that they are equipped to provide leadership in promoting sustainable changes to improve the quality of social services. Assignments are designed to 1) help students assess and integrate multiple sources of information; 2) utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the processes of assessment, intervention, and evaluation; 3) critique and apply knowledge to understand person and environment; and 3) demonstrate effective oral and written communication. Perquisite PSYC 1010 and SOWK 1030

This course focuses on basic concepts underlying the creation of social policy and its analysis. It examines the interaction of social policies and programs. Students will be introduced to the analysis of legislation and the legislative process and apply critical thinking to advance social and economic justice. Students will engage in an advocacy project utilizing social work ethical principles as a guide for professional practice. During this course attention will be given to understand how personal and societal values impact social policy. Students will also examine how their own values impact their views on social policy. This course builds on previous learning. Students will be expected to employ their knowledge from the Social Welfare Services course where historical groundwork was laid for current policy directions. Prerequisite: SOWK 3010.

This course applies the generalist model to practice with individuals in a variety of social work settings. The content covers the stages of planned change, psychosocial assessment interviewing, developing psychosocial assessment reports, service planning, and intervention skills that can be applied to working with a variety of populations such as youth and older adults. Other primary foci of the course include demonstrating ethical and professional behavior, engaging diversity and difference in practice, and the integration of spirituality and social work practice. Prerequisite: SOWK 1030.

This course is designed to help the student develop a biopsychosocial and spiritual framework for analyzing human behavior and appreciate diversity within the context of human development across the lifespan. The course utilizes the developmental of scientific knowledge regarding opportunities and vulnerabilities present during the different stages of the lifecycle. This course builds upon the foundation of SOWK 3020 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. Its primary focus will be on building an appropriate theoretical knowledge base that will enable the students to move from comprehension to guide the processes of assessment, intervention, and evaluation at both the micro and mezzo levels of intervention. Its secondary focus will be to introduce the growing impact of our larger macro social systems on the individual, family, and communities within which we all live. Prerequisites: PSYC 1010 and SOWK 1030

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with social work practice within diverse family settings. Building upon the knowledge base provided by earlier courses, Practice with Families will apply five core competencies, and six operationalized practice behaviors. Students will identify and explore family compositions, their rules, roles, relationships, and rituals in this course. They will be trained and evaluated on their ability to work ethically, think critically, engage sensitively, assess and intervene in class and in the Emergency Room Trauma Simulation Lab. SOWK 1030 and SOWK 3100.

This course explores the individual characteristics and interpersonal skills that contribute to effective mentoring of individuals with intellectual disabilities who are participating in college based transition programs. The course uses PEERS® (Program for the Evaluation and Enrichment of Relational Skills), an evidence-based mentor-assisted social skills intervention for young adults. During each class, mentors are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session with their assigned young adult. Students will incorporate the goals and objectives from the sessions into skill generalization activities that will be practiced in the campus community each week. Also listed as TEDU 3260 and PSYC 3260.

This course explores the individual characteristics and interpersonal skills that contribute to effective mentoring of individuals with intellectual disabilities who are participating in college based transition programs. The course uses PEERS® (Program for the Evaluation and Enrichment of Relational Skills), an evidence-based mentor-assisted social skills intervention for young adults. During each class, mentors are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session with their assigned young adult. Students will incorporate the goals and objectives from the sessions into skill generalization activities that will be practiced in the campus community each week. Also listed as TEDU 3270 and PSYC 3270.

Juniors in the social work program participate in a 40 hour (1 credit) or 80 hour (2 credit) supervised field instruction within a local social service agency, school, or other organization where they learn to apply classroom knowledge and social work competencies in a real-world setting. Concurrently, students attend a one-hour weekly field seminar class where relevant topics related to the application of social work knowledge, skills, and values are discussed. The purpose of the field placement is to expose students to social work practice outside the classroom and help students prepare for the senior field experience. Primary areas of course content include supervision in the field, the policy context of services, engaging diversity and difference in practice, and the function of social workers in the engagement, planning, intervention, and evaluation phases of planned change. Prerequisite: Only open to junior social work majors (accepted or provisionally accepted in the Undergraduate Social Work program).

The techniques and methods of social work research are introduced and studied through course materials and the completion of an agency-based, group research project. Included are formulating research questions, understanding and implementing research design, measurement, constructing surveys, writing research reports, dealing with ethical issues, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. This course prepares the student to understand and implement aspects of Evidence-based Practice in social work settings. Prerequisite: MATH 2400

This course includes social work theory, knowledge, and practice with the dynamics of groups, to gain the practice skills needed to prepare the student for generalist level social work with small groups. The skills of self-awareness; attending to professional roles and boundaries; ethical decision-making; analyzing and applying different practice approaches; effective communication; and the ability to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate within a group setting are all highlighted. It includes content on the knowledge, values, and skills to enhance the well-being of people and to aid in the reformation of the environmental conditions that affect people adversely. Prerequisite: SOWK 3100 or permission of instructor.

This course concentrates on the history, philosophies, principles, and intervention strategies common to community organization, social planning, and administration of social welfare agencies. Case materials are presented to highlight some of the techniques used in these practice areas. Various forms of macro practice are highlighted for discussion and learning purposes. During this course students will conduct a community needs assessment to engage and assess communities and organizations. Students will then initiate a macro intervention project using the knowledge gained from their needs assessment to intervene as change agents in community practice. Students will also evaluate the effectiveness of their completed intervention. Throughout this course, students will utilize critical thinking, engage in research-informed practice, and respond to the community context from a psychosocial and spiritual perspective. Course Prerequisite: SOWK 3020 and SOWK 3080

This course is a study of the development and range of public and private social services, principally in the Western world, on behalf of children, youth, and families. This includes an analysis of issues, and practice modalities in such areas as day care, foster and adoptive home care, and institutional care. The impact of substance abuse on children will also be a major topic. Prerequisite: SOWK 1030.

This capstone course endeavors to assist students to integrate spirituality with the professional social work perspective on helping. It provides a comparative analysis of social work values and ethics with Biblical ethics and teachings. A major emphasis of this course is placed on helping students to integrate their unique spirituality/worldview with their practice as a social work professional. Emphasis is also placed on ethical decision making; spiritual self-awareness; analysis of models of spiritual assessment; the demonstration of sensitivity, awareness, and understanding of the client’s spirituality; and the ability to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate in practice settings in spiritually sensitive ways. Prerequisite: SOWK 1030

Field Instruction II is the capstone internship course of the BSW program. Students learn to draw on all areas of the Undergraduate Social Work curriculum in the application of their skills within an agency, school, or other social service organization serving the needs of clients. This course includes a supervised block field placement completed over 30-35 hours a week, with a 2-hour seminar class for theoretical integration held one day a week. The seminar includes weekly assignments designed to facilitate the integration of the program’s core competencies and learning from the classroom and the field. A specific focus of this course is the application of knowledge, skills, and values in an actual setting designed to enhance the wellbeing of clients served within the organization. This course addresses the development of the core competencies of social work practice within the field setting environment. Significant emphasis is placed on the professional roles and boundaries of social work; the importance of diversity and difference in providing services to clients; the policy context of services; the application of aspects of Evidence-based Practice; the demonstration of effective oral and written communication in working with client systems; the utilization of conceptual frameworks to guide the processes of intervention; and the function of social workers in the engagement, assessment, planning, and evaluation phases of planned change. Prerequisite: All other social work courses.

Junior and senior students may participate in studying a particular area of social work not covered in other course areas. Topics may include a variety of contemporary issues. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

Independent study provides opportunity to pursue advanced or special-interest topics not covered in the curriculum. Prerequisites: 1. Junior standing. 2. A minimum of 9 semester hours in the discipline of the Independent Study. 3. A minimum grade point average of 2.50 in the discipline. 4. Proof of motivation and ability to work independently. 5. Approval of the department in which the study is to be taken. 6. Permission from the student's advisor, the course instructor, the Department Chair, the School Dean, and the Registrar.

Students conduct laboratory research in social work under supervision of a faculty member. Permission of instructor is required. Guidelines for Independent Study apply. A written report is required. (May be repeated with new research) Prerequisites: 1. Junior standing 2. A minimum of 9 semester hours in the discipline of the Independent Study 3. A minimum grade point average of 2.50 in the discipline 4. Proof of motivation and ability to work independently 5. Approval of the division in which the study is to be taken 6. Permission from the student's advisor, the course instructor, the Division Chair, and the Registrar