The Core Curriculum - 48 Credits

The Social Work Major (Professional Foundation) - 45 Credits 

SW   100 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK 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 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 introduces basic concepts of the U.S. social welfare system and includes a comparative approach to other countries.  Provides an overview of governmental assistance programs and the impact of these programs on individuals and families.  Includes an historical and contemporary perspective on social welfare issues.  Presents the impact of the economic, political, educational, and religious systems on social welfare systems.  Special attention is given to social work values and practice, the strength-based approach, poverty and vulnerable populations.  Public health approach is introduced.  Students have an opportunity to do service learning at a selected community agency.  3 credit hours

 SW   306 SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND PROGRAMS further develops an understanding of contemporary social welfare policies and programs, including private, public, and combined programs.  Examines the various historical, political, economic, and societal influences on the development of social welfare policy and service delivery and/or the policy-making process.  Provides a framework to analyze and evaluate social welfare policies and programs.  Context for policy analysis includes human diversity, human rights, and social and economic justice.  Policies related to child welfare, physical and mental health, assistance to the poor, social insurance, hunger, shelter, and civil rights based on gender, race and ethnicity, and immigration will be discussed.  The importance of policy practice will be introduced and integrated through community interviews. Prerequisites: SW 100, SW 205 and a social work major with upper division status or consent of instructor.  3 credit hours

SW   310 RESEARCH METHODS I is taken concurrently with SW 326 and SW 346.  The course introduces research methodology pertinent to the evaluation of human service programs, and discusses the rationale for conduction of 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 and 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 emphasizes this methodology when conducting formative evaluations, i.e., needs assessment, program development, market research.  Prerequisites:  MATH 121, or MATH 128, and/or MATH 205, SW 100, SW 205, and social work major with upper division status.  3 credit hours

SW   326 SKILLS & METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I: STRATEGIES FOR HELPING INDIVIDUALS is taken concurrently with SW 346 and SW 310.  It is the first in a sequence of three required social work practice courses.  Practice I focuses on the development of skills and strategies for helping individuals within a variety of social work and host settings.  Key concepts of generalist practice are applied to the development of relationship building and interviewing skills. Generalist Practice is examined as a problem solving process which includes engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation.  Students learn to view clients and client systems from a strengths perspective.  Service learning is incorporated into the semester.  Prerequisites:  SW 100, SW 205, and Social Work major with upper division status.  3 credit hours      

SW   327 FIELD EDUCATION I is taken concurrently with SW 328 and SW 436.  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.  Prerequisites:  SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 310, SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426, and Social Work major with upper division status.  5 credit hours

SW   328 FIELD SEMINAR I is taken concurrently with SW 327.  A seminar format will provide for the sharing of practice experiences and practice issues that 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.  Prerequisites:  SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 310, SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW426, and Social Work major with upper division status.  1 credit hour

SW   346 HUMAN BEHAVIOR/THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I 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.  Prerequisites:  PSY 230, BIO 146, SW 100, SW 205, SW 310, SW 326, SW 346, and Social Work major with upper division status, or consent of instructor,   3 credit hours

SW   347 HUMAN BEHAVIOR/THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II is taken concurrently with SW 306 and SW 426.  This course further develops the person-in-environment concept in social work, with a specific focus on human diversity.  Provides a framework to understand and analyze the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.  Students learn how diversity shapes the human condition and how their individual position affects their interpretation of the social environment. The dimension and intersectionality of diversity is discussed and includes the factors of age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.  Students gain self-awareness and support in confronting personal biases and values in working with diverse groups.  Prerequisites:  SW 100, SW 205, SW 310, SW 326, SW 346, SW 410 and Social Work major with upper division status, or consent of instructor.  3 credit hours

SW 375 UNDERSTANDING DEATH AND DYING examines the role of family, church and other social institutions in our experiences with death and dying.  The student will study current theories and practices related to death and dying from the standpoint of developmental and learning theory, and social and cultural attitudes and practices.  Theories regarding grief and loss are included.  The student will learn social work intervention skills and methods for working with the dying and survivors.  Prerequisites: Sophomore standing.  Cross listed as SOC 375.  3 credit hours

SW   392 AGING AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT investigates the processes of human aging within the social environment.  Social gerontology is concerned with the nonphysical aspects of aging.  Particular emphasis is placed on its social, psychological, and spiritual aspects, although attention is given to the impact of aging on biological functioning.  Group processes, ageism, and social forces that affect the aging process are examined.  Prerequisites:  SOC 101 or PSYCH 101, PSYCH 230, or consent of instructor.  Cross listed as SOC 392.  3 credit hours

SW   410 RESEARCH METHODS II is taken concurrently with SW 306, SW 347, and SW 426.  The course introduces research methodology pertinent to the evaluation of human service programs, and discusses the rationale for conduction of 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 continued.  This course focuses on outcome evaluation of existing programs and personal practice. Prerequisites:  MATH 121 or MATH 128, and/or Math 205, SW 310, SW 326, SW 346, and Social Work major with upper division status.  3 credit hours

SW   426 SKILLS AND METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II:  HELPING GROUPS & FAMILIES is designed to help students further develop their social work practice skills for helping groups and families.  Students learn how group work is utilized as a method in social work practice.  Various types of groups are examined including task groups, interdisciplinary team meetings, and treatment groups. Students learn skills for forming and conducting groups with different client groups.  Generalist practice often requires viewing client situations from a family perspective.  Students learn to apply concepts from systems theory to understanding the interpersonal dynamics of family functioning. Working with families and groups utilizes a professional problem solving process to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate practice with groups.   Prerequisites: SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 310, SW 326, SW 346, and Social Work major with upper division status.  3 credit hours

SW   427 FIELD EDUCATION II 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.  Prerequisites:  SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 326, SW 327, SW 310, SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426, SW 436 and Social Work major with upper division status.  5 credit hours

SW   428 FIELD SEMINAR II is taken concurrently with SW 427 and SW 490.  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 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 310, SW 326, SW 327, SW 328, SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426, SW 436, and Social Work major with upper division status.  1 credit hour

SW   436 SKILLS & METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE III: ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY CHANGE is taken concurrently with SW 327 and SW 328.  Focus is on developing understanding and skills directed toward larger systems work and change (macro practice) within the context of generalist social work. Includes review of various theoretical and historical perspectives on injustice and oppression, within the context of social change strategies.  Examines traditional and nontraditional social action strategies, including community organization and development. Students learn agency and legislative advocacy skills with a specific focus on human rights and social and economic justice.  Social work values and ethical perspectives related to social change are analyzed.  Prerequisite:  SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 310, SW 326, SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW 426 and Social Work major with upper division status. 3 credit hours

SW   490 SENIOR INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR provides the student with the opportunity to integrate classroom and practicum experience for application in their entry level professional practice.  This course is the culminating integrative process for baccalaureate generalist practice social work student to further develop and refine communication and problem solving skills; to exercise peer support and evaluation skills; to increase self awareness through group interaction, values clarification and discussion and analysis of major policy and practice issues in the context of social work values and experience, developing a resume and strategies for a job search, examination of fields of practice and related professional issues, and an examination of policy and research.  This course is a self-directed readings, critical inquiry, and discussion seminar.  Prerequisites: SW 100, SW 205, SW 306, SW 310 SW 346, SW 347, SW 410, SW 326, SW 426, SW 436, SW 327, SW 328; taken concurrently with SW 427 and SW 428; and Social Work major with upper division status.  3 credit hours

Revised May 2009

SOCIAL SCIENCE MINOR

27 credits, however, 9 credits count toward the common core.

PSY 101 General Psychology

SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology

ECON Macroeconomics or ECON 200 Principles of Economics

POL 101 or 210 or 285 Political Science

COMM 201/PSY 201 Interpersonal Communications

PSY 230 Life Span Development

SOC 300 Group Dynamics

SW 375 Understanding Death and Dying