| Social Work |
SW 424 - Introduction to Social Work
Credits:
4.00
Introduces the learner to the field of social work with
emphasis on the "person-in-environment" and attention to a
range of practice approaches to understanding and assisting
of the human condition. An overview of the history, values,
and ethics of the profession. Includes various fields of
practice in which social workers are employed. 20
hour/semester service learning experience at community
social service agencies required. Special fee.
SW 444 - You've Got Your Troubles, I've Got Mine
Credits:
4.00
A seminar for traditional first- or second-year students.
Examines the many personal losses typical for students
leaving home for the first time. Guest speakers from
various disciplines (e.g., social work, therapeutic
recreation, nursing, family studies). The various ways one
may find and give informal support to others dealing with
loss are explored. In addition, the personal responses
allowing one to better cope with adversity and ways of
expressing grief are explored. Group work brings the class
together as an informal support network. Students exchange
ideas in techniques used to deal with personal loss and
develop an informal support network to use after the course
has ended.
SW 525 - Social Welfare Policy: History of Social and Economic Justice
Credits:
4.00
An overview of the history and current status of social
welfare policy in the United States. Considers the
origins, development, and analysis of significant policies,
values, attitudes and other issues related to the social
welfare system and the delivery of service. Focuses on
policy analysis from a social and economic justice
perspective.
SW 550 - Human Behavior and Social Environment I
Credits:
4.00
Introduces human behavior and development as it influences
and is influenced by multiple factors in the social
environment, including individual genetic and biological
composition, race, gender, age, socioeconomic status,
ethnicity, geographic location, physical appearance, and
ability. How these factors operate throughout the life
cycle. Provides a knowledge base and perspective to
understand a client's behavior, attitude, and values in
relation to the attitudes and values of the social work
professional and the larger society.
SW 551 - Human Behavior and Social Environment II
Credits:
4.00
Agents of socialization that most significantly affect
family, group, and organizational development and behavior
within an ecosystems framework. Particular attention is
paid to the influence of class, gender, race, ethnicity,
religion, age, sexual orientation and other aspects of
diversity on development and behavior of larger systems.
SW 601 - Research Methods in Social Work
Credits:
4.00
Introduces students to practitioner-researcher role in
social work. Critical evaluation of, and introduction to
research including project design, survey and evaluative
methodologies. Introduction to statistics used in research
process. Each student completes an individual research
project. Cannot be taken for credit after SOC 601 or PSYC
502. Prereq: SW 524 and junior or senior standing or
permission. Writing intensive.
SW 622 - Social Work Practice: Interventions with Individuals and Families
Credits:
4.00
Introduces methods and practice. Basic principles, values,
and ethics, interviewing skills, problem assessment, and
contracting of social work practice with individuals and
families are studied. Skills training in lab sessions.
Prereq: SW 524 or permission of instructor. Must have
junior or senior status. Writing intensive.
SW 623 - Social Work Practice: Interventions with Groups, Organizations and Communities
Credits:
4.00
Continuation of SW 622. Delineation and study of
intervention and change strategies differentiated with
individuals, groups, and communities. Prereq: SW 622.
Special fee. Writing intensive.
SW 625 - Social Welfare Policy in a Global Context
Credits:
4.00
Builds on the curricular content covered in Introduction
to Social Welfare Policy (SW 525). Both courses view
social welfare policy as the framework from which social
work services are developed and delivered. This course
examines the macroeconomic context for policy analysis and
advocacy and integrates policy and practice through student
research and analysis of specific social problems.
Policymaking is analyzed in legislative, community,
organizational, and global environments emphasizing
advocacy in the pursuit of social and economic justice.
Prereq: SW 424, SW 525. Special fee.
SW 640 - Social Work Field Experience I
Credits:
5.00
Majors are placed in a social welfare setting for a
minimum of 225 hours; individual arrangements with faculty
coordinator. Prereq; SW 622 and permission. Coreq; SW 640A.
Special fee. (No credit toward a minor.) Cr/F.
Co-requisites:
SW 640A
SW 640A - Social Work Field Experience I: Seminar
Credits:
3.00
This weekly seminar, held concurrently with Social Welfare
Experience I, integrates the field experience with social
work theory and concepts learned throughout the curriculum
by class discussion, exercices, readings and written
assignments. Seminar I provides an opportunity for
orientation to field, an overview of field requirements,
review of the Code of Ethics, and use of small group
discussion for problem solving. Students learn to use
supervision effectively, to participate in the helping
process, and to manage their own stress. Students learn to
assess the impact of policy on the client system, agency
and worker and to use research to inform practice. Prereq:
SW 622 and permission.
Co-requisites:
SW 640
SW 641 - Social Work Field Experience II
Credits:
5.00
A continuation of SW 640 with a minimum of 225 hours.
Prereq: SW 640 and permission. Coreq: SW 641A. (No credit
toward a minor.) Cr/F.
Co-requisites:
SW 641A
SW 641A - Social Work Field Experience II: Seminar
Credits:
3.00
This is a continuation of Social Welfare Field Experience
I: SW 640A and builds upon th concepts presented in the
student's first field practice seminar. This seminar meets
weekly for one and a half hours and is held concurrently
with the field placement. It is designed to inegrate the
field experience with social work concepts through class
discussion, reading and written assignments. Topics include
but are not limited to, understanding and using agency
structure to enhance client interactions, preparing client
assessment and other documents, enhancing the cleint-worker
therapeutic interaction, effective use of supervision,
effective use of self in practice, prevention of burn-out,
termination with clients and with agency staff, and values
and ethics. Prereq: SW 640/640A and permission.
Co-requisites:
SW 641
SW 697 - Special Topics in Social Welfare
Credits:
4.00
Seminar for advanced majors. Topics may include: A)
Alcohol and Alcoholism, B) Drugs and Chemical Dependency,
C) Income Maintenance, D) Health Care, E) Child Welfare, F)
Aging, G) Mental Health, or H) Developmental Disabilities.
May be repeated for different topics. Prereq: permission.
SW 701 - Women and Aging
Credits:
4.00
Analysis of the major theories about social conditioning
of aging women and its effects in contemporary society.
Human service response. psychosocial, biological, legal,
and economic implications. Prereq: senior status or
permission.
SW 705 - Child and Adolescent Risks and Resiliency: Program, Policy and Practice
Credits:
4.00
Examination of the major policy and program questions of
child welfare with a focus on child care and protection,
adoption and foster care, juvenile delinquency, service
delivery, and concepts of treatment in public and private
programs. Prereq: senior status or permission.
SW 711 - Understanding Mental Illness
Credits:
4.00
An overview of the public mental health system focusing on
people affected by severe and persistent mental illness.
Reviews the current service system and its history; major
mental illness, psychosocial rehabilitation, and treatment;
and community support systems. Prereq: Senior status or
permission.
SW 712 - Understanding Developmental Disabilities
Credits:
4.00
Analysis of the complex social contexts of people with
developmental disabilities. Explores and questions
traditional approaches and the current system. Examines
family and community services and resources. Prereq: Senior
status or permission. Special fee.
SW 714 - Alcohol: Use, Misuse, and Addiction
Credits:
4.00
This course examines a) historical, cultural, social
aspects of alcohol, b) impact of alcohol on body and
behavior, c) progression of drinking and the treatment and
prevention of alcoholism, d) impact of addiction on families
SW 715 - Practice with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People
Credits:
4.00
Sexual minorities constitute the minority group social
workers most consistently encounter wherever they work.
Addresses practice with gay, lesbian, and bisexual people
on both professional and personal levels for the social
worker. The readings include theoretical, experimental,
clinical, counseling, and personal perspectives, as well as
providing an introduction to the gay/lesbian/bisexual
subculture. A unit on gender minorities is included.
Students are also required to explore and examine their own
attitudes and assumptions about gays, lesbians, bisexuals,
and gender minorities. Senior status only. (Also offered as
SW 815.)
SW 785 - Study Abroad: Comparative Social Welfare Systems
Credits:
4.00
Students examine the historical development of social
welfare in another country including an analysis of the
underlying values and attitudes that dictate practice and
policy decisions. Includes agency site visits, lectures,
themed readings, and visits to important cultural sites.
Prereq: SW 424 and SW 525. Special fee.
SW 795 - Independent Study in Social Service
Credits:
1.00 to 6.00
Independent work under department faculty guidance.
Enrollment by permission only through arrangement with
specific faculty. May be repeated with a different focus to
maximum of 8 credits. Prereq: 12 hours social service
coursework; permission. Cr/F. Special fee.
SW 796 - Independent Study: Teaching Assistantship
Credits:
1.00 to 6.00
Participating students provide leadership and supervision
for small groups of social work majors in social work
practice simulations. Student teaching assistants work
closely with, and under the direction of, department
faculty. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 credits. Prereq:
senior status; 16 hours in social work; and permission. Cr/F
SW 797H - Honors Thesis
Credits:
2.00 to 4.00
Working with an assigned faculty adviser, students propose
and develop a thesis project for both oral and written
presentation before the end of the semester. Prereq for
797H: admission to the SW honors program; permission.
Prereq for 798H: satisfactory completion of 797H;
permission. 6 credit maximum for both semesters.
SW 798H - Honors Thesis
Credits:
2.00 to 4.00
Working with an assigned faculty adviser, students propose
and develop a thesis project for both oral and written
presentation before the end of the semester. Prereq for
797H: admission to the SW honors program; permission.
Prereq for 798H: satisfactory completion of 797H;
permission. 6 credit maximum for both semesters.