Social Work: Bachelor Course Descriptions

Prerequisite(s): SOCL 1133 or PSYC 1103.

This course is an introduction to the social work profession and is designed to assist students in clarifying and selecting social work as a major. It is required for all (but not limited to) social work majors and provides an overview of the profession’s history, philosophy, values, ethics, knowledge base, skills, and areas of service. Generalist and social systems perspectives are emphasized as conceptual frameworks for practice. In addition, the course considers the institution of social welfare in contemporary American society, emphasizing human diversity and discusses policy and practice relevant to special populations. A 20-hour volunteer placement in a social service agency is required.

Theories regarding raising mentally healthy children within a family environment. Policies and laws related to child abuse and neglect and foster care and adoptions. Distance education only.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 1103, MATH 1003

Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include data distributions, descriptive statistics, sampling distributions, interval estimation, one- and two-sample significant difference tests, one-way analysis of variance, correlation, and regression.

This course addresses the needs and problems (including abuse and neglect) of children and their families and considers possible solutions to these problems. Policies and practice issues are explored as they pertain to child welfare in diverse populations. The course is intended for students from a variety of disciplines.

Prerequisite(s): SOWK 2423. Only social work students may take this course.

This course examines the theoretical base for generalist social work practice, the structure of the social work process, and the skills of assessment and intervention with emphasis on social work with individuals and families. Content includes women and minorities as well as ethnocultural factors.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. SOWK 2423 or concurrently with adviser's consent.

This course is a study of child development, beginning before conception and ending with early adolescence. Theories are presented on physical development, cognitive and social development, and emotional development. The many influences on child development within the context of family and their environment include the effects of diversity, oppression, discrimination, and social and economic injustice, and spirituality. A 40-hour practicum is required, 10-hours each in four different agencies.

Prerequisite(s): SOWK 3544. Only social work students may take this course.

This course focuses on the life-span from adolescence through death. It builds on the knowledge of the life cycle from conception through adolescence, the basic understanding of terminology and processes regarding the social and psychological nature of humans, and on the understanding of social work values learned in Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. It provides a framework for understanding the individual, group, organizational, institutional, and cultural contexts which influence human behavior. A 40-hour practicum is required, 10-hours each in four different agencies.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. 6 hours of social work and SOWK 3313 or consent of instructor.

This course is designed to familiarize the student with basic terminology of research, basic research design, methods for evaluating practice and social programs through qualitative and quantitative methods. It is also designed for the student to be able to read and analyze research reports, to relate research to issues in professional practice, to gain experience in performing both cognitive and practical tasks in research, and to increase awareness of potential biases in research, particularly in issues involving women and minorities.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. SOWK 3533.

This course is designed to give students an understanding of group processes and to improve their skills as group members and leaders. The course provides an integration of group theory, research, and applied methods into the generalist practice model.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course.

This course introduces substantive issues of social welfare policy in the United States. It presents an historical overview of major policies as responses to social problems, and it explores the role of social work in policy development, implementation, and analysis. Emphasis is placed upon the ways in which policy informs practice at micro, mezzo, and macro systemic levels and upon the importance of policy in work with special populations.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course.

This course provides content about differences and similarities in the experiences, needs, and beliefs of people. It provides theoretical content regarding differential assessment and intervention skills which will enable practitioners to serve diverse populations including minorities, multicultural, race, and ethnic groups, as well as socially and economically oppressed groups and populations-at-risk.

The goal of this course is to promote a fuller understanding of the aging process as a normal, human, and social fact of life. This course will examine stereotypes and images that modern society often views older people. These stereotypes and images will be contrasted with demographics and basic information concerning aging. We will examine the issues that older people face and society’s response to these issues.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. Nine hours of social work.

Intensive study for the advanced student within a special area in the field of social work.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. Nine hours of social work.

Intensive study for the advanced student within a special area in the field of social work.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. Nine hours of social work.

Intensive study for the advanced student within a special area in the field of social work.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. SOWK 3833, SOWK 3914.

This course is designed to give social work majors the opportunity to learn basic theory and techniques related to social work practice in macrosystems. Specifically, the focus will be on theory and techniques related to administration, planning, evaluation, and community organization.

This course focuses on the family life cycle and family development. Different theories regarding improvement of family functioning are covered such as structural problem solving and communication. Solution focused Bowens intergenerational systems theory.

Students will learn to assess parenting skills using standardized tests, interviews and observations. The major theories regarding how to rear a mentally healthy and socially skilled child will be taught. These will include behavioral, adlerian and psychoanalytic. Attention will be given to the skilled social workers needs in order to manage certain family/parenting problems such as anger, family violence, chemical abuse, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, divorced and blended family parenting.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. SOWK 3533 and 3833, senior standing, and consent of instructor.

Integration of theory into generalist practice through placement in community social service agencies for at least 200 hours. Micro practice experience will be emphasized in this placement. Course includes a weekly seminar. Students must secure liability insurance for all field work practicums.

Prerequisite(s): Only social work students may take this course. Successful completion of Field Practicum and Seminar I and SOWK 4213.

Continuation of Field Practicum I. 200 hours per semester plus weekly seminar. Macro experiences will be included in Field II placement to enlarge the generalist practice experiences acquired in SOWK 4236.

This course utilizes the social work generalist practice approach to mental health services in communities. There is a strong emphasis on client empowerment and reducing the stigma of mental illness in our society. This is accomplished by examining society’s response to mental illness, and examining the impact of this response on people that are affected by mental illness including special populations and families. (May be taken in place of PSYC 3603).

This course will present an overall perspective on alcohol and drugs to include use, historical background, and current knowledge. The course will cover licit and illicit drugs, over-the-counter drugs, treatment, and legal issues associated with these drugs.

This course will present the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of substance abuse. Content includes aspects of family systems to include ethnocultural factors and relationships.

This course will address self-help as well as other treatment modalities including inpatient and outpatient treatment. It will also give instruction on the use of community resources as adjuncts to treatment.

This course will present the different perspectives on the families and significant others of substance abusers. It will also include ethnocultural factors as well as women’s issues.

This course addresses the role of social work, employee assistance and human counselors in the work place. The ways in which organizations assist troubled employees will be the major focus of the course. Organizational efforts to help troubled employees with family, mental health, alcohol, drug, financial, or other personal problems will be examined as to their effects on employee functioning and productivity. Laws affecting the civil rights of workers, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and Equal Employment Opportunity are covered.

Intensive study and coverage of selected topics in social work. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.