SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM - CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN
The Core Curriculum
47.5 Credits
The Social Work Major
(Professional Foundation)
45 Credits
SW 100 Introduction to Social Work
This course is a survey course designed to provide an overview of the profession of social work, its historical roots, and its current structures and issues. The functions of the social work profession in relation to other human service professions will be discussed. Students will understand the knowledge, skill, and the value base of social work as developed and discussed in contemporary and historical literature. Key terms and concepts will be introduced as well as the role social work has played in response to social and economic justice issues, especially for populations at risk. 3 Credit Hours
SW 205 Introduction to Social Welfare
This course introduces the student to a general framework within which to understand social problems. The context is historical. Contemporary American society, with its social, economic, political, educational, and religious systems, develops laws and policies to respond to social problems. The function of the welfare institutions throughout history have sought to deal with social issues. An analytical model is used to encourage student assessment and understanding of the current welfare institutions. 3 Credit Hours
SW 306 Social Welfare Policy and Programs
This course gives the student a working knowledge of how social welfare policy is made in the political system of the United States. The course focuses on the many approaches to developing social policy and discusses social work's role in policy formulation. Historical and political case studies are used to provide a model for assessment. The student will use contemporary media to explore and analyze contemporary policy issues. Prerequisites: SW 100, SW 205 and a Social Work major with upper division status or consent of instructor. 3 Credit Hours
SW 326 Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice I
This course is taken concurrently with SW 346 and SW 410. It is the first in a sequence of three required social work practice courses. This course will introduce the student to the generalist social work practice model and to the beginning skills for practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Methods I will provide an examination of the beginning skills necessary for effective micro, mezzo, macro practice. Micro practice will focus on the development of skills required in working with individuals. Relationship building skills and interviewing skills will be examined and practiced. Mezzo practice will focus on group process skills, group dynamics, and group work skills. The typology of treatment and task groups and the roles social workers assume in groups will be studied. Macro practice will examine work with organizations and communities. The skills and social work roles necessary for effective macro practice will be highlighted. Methods I will provide the foundation of skill development from which the Generalist Intervention Model will be applied in Methods II. Prerequisite: SW 100, SW 205, SW 306 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 Credit Hours.
SW 426 Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice II
This course is taken concurrently with SW 347. It is the second in a sequence of three required social work practice courses. This course will build on the skills and knowledge acquired in Skills and Methods Practice I. It is designed to help students further develop their social work practice skills at all levels of intervention (individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities). The Generalist Intervention Model is introduced which employs a problem-solving focus geared toward solving problems which involve individuals, groups, and organizations. Each stage of the problem-solving process will be studied with applications made on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Prerequisite: SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 326, SW 346, SW 410 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 credit hours
SW 436 Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice III
This course is taken concurrently with SW 327 and SW 328. It is the third in a sequence of three required social work practice courses. This course is designed to further develop generalist social work skills at all levels of intervention - including individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The Generalist Intervention Model and the foundation of micro, mezzo, macro skills will be applied to specific content areas. Course content will focus on understanding and working with families, development of ethnically, racially, and gender sensitive social work practice; understanding social work values in relation to making ethical decisions; the role of advocacy on behalf of oppressed populations in the pursuit of social and economic justice. Prerequisite: SW 326, SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 credit hours
SW 346 Human Behavior/The Social Environment I
This course is taken concurrently with SW 326 and SW 410. This course will examine systems theory. This course develops the person-in-environment concept in social work. Individuals grow and develop within the context of families, groups, organizations, and communities. This course also examines the relationships among human biological, social, psychological, and cultural systems as they affect and are affected by human behavior within the human life span. Prerequisite: PSY 230, BIO 146, SW 205 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 Credit Hours
SW 347 Human Behavior/ Social Environment II
This course is taken concurrently with SW 306 and SW 426. This course further develops the person-in-environment concept in social work. Individuals grow and develop within the context of families, groups, organizations, and communities. This course examines the relationships among human biological, social, psychological, and cultural systems as they affect and are affected by human behavior within the human life span. Prerequisite: SW 326, SW 346, SW 410 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 Credit Hours
SW 327 Field Education I
This course is taken concurrently with SW 328. This course engages the student in the practice of beginning social work skills and tasks within an agency setting over a period of one semester (15 weeks). It is designed for the senior level student and requires an average of 16 hours per week in the agency for a minimum of 240 hours. Prerequisite: SW 306, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426 and Social Work major with upper division status. 5 Credit Hours
SW 427 Field Education II
This course is taken concurrently with SW 428 and SW 490. This course is designed for the senior level student and engages the student in supervised direct service activities within an agency setting. This course provides practical experiences in the application of theory and skills acquired in the social work curriculum. The placement requires an average of 16 hours per week in an agency for a minimum of 240 hours. Prerequisite: SW 327, SW 328 and Social Work major with upper division status. 5 Credit Hours
SW 328 Field Seminar I
This course is taken concurrently with SW 327. A seminar format will provide for the sharing of practice experiences and practice issues which occur during field practicum. Discussion topics will focus on agency orientation, self-awareness issues, weekly journal entries, and field learning contract assignments. The seminar will provide for the integration of field experience with classroom learning through discussion and assignments. Prerequisite: SW 306, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426 and Social Work major with upper division status. 1 Credit Hour
SW 428 Field Seminar II
This course is taken concurrently with SW 427. A seminar format will provide a continuing forum for the integration of field experience with classroom learning through discussion and assignments. Discussion topics will focus on the professional use of self, the use of supervision in practice, on agency-specific policy analysis, and agency provision of service. Prerequisite: SW 327, SW 328 and Social Work major with upper division status. 1 Credit Hour
SW 310 Research Methods I
The course introduces research methodology pertinent to the evaluation of human service programs, and discusses the rationale for conducting such evaluations. Among the topics discussed are the relationship of evaluative efforts to program design and implementation, threats to validity of program evaluation, constructing a measurement plan, and designs for program evaluation. Program evaluation knowledge, skills, and techniques, such as needs assessment, operationalization of variables, levels of measurement, statistical significance, efficiency, and outcome evaluation are introduced. This course will emphasize this methodology when conducting formative evaluations i.e.: need assessment, program development, and market research (satisfaction surveys, interest in new program). Prerequisites: MATH 121 or 128 depending upon student's need and ability, SW 326, SW 346, and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 Credit Hours
SW 410 Research Methods II
The course introduces research methodology pertinent to the evaluation of human service programs, and discusses the rationale for conduction such evaluations. Among the topics discussed are the relationship of evaluative efforts to program design and implementation, threats to validity of program evaluation, constructing a measurement plan and designs for program evaluation. Program evaluation knowledge, skills and techniques, such as needs assessment, operationalization of variables, levels of measurement, statistical significance, efficiency and outcome evaluation are introduced. This course will focus on outcome evaluation of existing programs and personal practice. Prerequisites: MATH 121 or 128 depending on student's need, SW 310, SW 326, SW 346, and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 Credit Hours
SW 490 Senior Integrative Seminar
This course provides the student with the opportunity to integrate classroom and practicum experience for application in their entry level professional practice. The student is required to prepare a comprehensive paper addressing the practice, policy and research dimension of a generalist practice issue. The paper is presented and defended for its relevance, scholarship, and critical thinking. This course is the culminating integrative process for baccalaureate generalist practice social workers to prepare for the job market. Collateral activities include reflection upon their professional development, completion of their academic portfolio with a resume, and beginning a job search. This course is a self-directed readings, critical inquiry, and discussion seminar. Prerequisites: SW 436, SW 327, SW 328, taken concurrently with SW 427, SW 428 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 Credit Hours
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCIAL SCIENCE MINOR
18 CREDITS
REQUIRED:
- PSY 101 Psychology - 3 crs. or SOC 101 Sociology - 3 crs.
and ECON 222 Macroeconomics - 3 crs. or POLS 101 Political Science - 3 crs.
- PSY 230 Life Span Development - 3 crs.
- PSY 301 Interpersonal Communications - 3 crs.
- SW 375 Understanding Death & Dying - 3 crs.
- SOC 406 Group Dynamics - 3 crs.
ELECTIVES:
Choices Include: Sociology, Psychology, Justice And Public Policy, Theology
18 Credits
