SWRK 3000 - Social Welfare as a Social Institution

This course analyzes social welfare as a response to social problems and human needs. It examines the social, economic, political, and philosophical forces that have led to the historic development and institutionalization of social welfare. It encourages students to develop a critical perspective on social welfare policies and programs and stresses an understanding of the impact of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and social class upon social policy and service delivery. Corequisite: SWRK 2100.
Credits: 3 hours

This course seeks to provide students with professional interviewing skills, and enhanced understanding of verbal and non-verbal communication, listening skills, and an awareness and understanding of diverse issues related to the interviewing process. Students will develop beginning proficiency as generalist social work practitioners when interviewing clients and other professionals who may work in an interdisciplinary setting. Various approaches to practice will be introduced including observation and rapport development within the context of strengths-based social work practice. Students will begin to develop knowledge and proficiency in how to translate interview information into a written format. Professional documentation and recording skills will also be developed. Students are expected to demonstrate increased insight into their own behaviors, values, beliefs, and attitudes as they relate to professional social work practice.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: SWRK 2100 and COM 1040. Corequisite: SWRK 3330.
Credits: 3 hours

SWRK 3330 - Introduction to Culture, Ethnicity, and Institutionalized Inequality in Social Work Practice

This course focuses upon ethnic/racial groups who are among social welfare consumers and social work clientele. Individual and institutional racism are examined. Racial/cultural characteristics and group strengths, needs, priorities, and experiences in the context of social welfare and social work are also explored. The course reviews implications of ethnic factors for social work practice, social policy, and social work education.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: SOC 2000. Corequisite: SWRK 3200.
Credits: 3 hours

Human growth and behavior are studied across the life span and as social/cultural phenomena that are conditioned by economic, historical, political, geographic, and racial/ethnic diversity. Thus, human development and behavior are inseparable from the social context which affect and are affected by them and which condition their meanings. This course also examines the complex interplay between social, cultural, biological, and psychological systems and pays close attention to diversity in the human experience and to the factors and settings that create diversity.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: SWRK 2100, OT 2000, PSY 1000, SOC 2000, and completion of 55 credit hours. Corequisite: SOC 2830.
Credits: 3 hours

This course provides the student with an understanding of human behavior related to small group process, formal organizations, and community dynamics. Students are introduced to selected systems concepts. The interplay of various forces which affect the development of social groups, communities, and organizations, and the effects of these interdependent systems on the client system are examined. The impact of race, sex, and age is considered in relation to groups, organizations, and communities.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: SWRK 3500 and department admission to the Social Work undergraduate program. Corequisite: SWRK 3650.
Credits: 3 hours

This course is designed to increase students' knowledge of research as a tool for social work practice. Students will acquire the basic skill and knowledge to utilize existing social research for practice-related decision-making as well as the capacity to carry out systematic methods of inquiry in their practice setting. The implementation of these research skills will enhance service delivery and contribute to the knowledge base of the profession. The course also emphasizes program evaluation in human service organizations and offers the opportunity to integrate the content learned through experiential practice examples and applications in social work.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: Admission to the Social Work undergraduate program and ENGL 1050. Corequisites: SWRK 3510 and 4000.
Credits: 3 hours

This is the first of three practice courses. Students are prepared for the beginning phase of the helping process and develop interviewing, listening, relationship building, and assessment skills. The problem solving model is presented with an emphasis on systems theory and the ecological perspective. Students learn about generalist social work practice and problems in working with individuals, families, and groups, including how to obtain, organize, and assess information. Students proceed to determine priorities for contracting and goal setting in preparation for the intervention phase. Students study the practice implications of gender, race, and other aspects of diversity.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: ENGL 1050, SWRK 3500. Corequisites: SWRK 3510 and 3650.
Credits: 3 hours

SWRK 4010 - Social Work Practice: Intervention and Evaluation

This is the second of three practice courses. Students learn practice theories and intervention strategies for use with individuals, families, and groups, and focus on problems related to violence, substance abuse, and crisis. Emphasizing the generalist intervention model, students learn social work roles, including advocate, facilitator, case manager, and broker. Methods of practice evaluation are presented, including single-subject design. Students study the practice implications of gender, race, and other aspects of diversity.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: SWRK 4000 and completion of a minimum of 87 credit hours. Corequisite: SWRK 4100.
Credits: 3 hours

This course combines conceptual analysis and training in practice skills. It focuses on the effects of social policy and organizational context on social work practice. It examines the basic process of policy development and the relationship between policy, ideology, and values. It pays particular attention to the impact of social policy on human service organizations, analyzing the effects of specific policies on workers, clients, and organizational structure and goals. It helps students develop skills for effective functioning in the organizational environment including organizational change and utilization of organizational resources for effective service delivery.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: SWRK 4010, ECON 2010, and PSCI 2000. Corequisite: SWRK 4110.
Credits: 3 hours

This is the first of two field practice courses that entails two hundred (200) hours in a human service agency, a three-day communication lab, and 12 hours in an on-campus seminar. Students apply knowledge and develop skills in conducting interviews, problem identification, data collection, problem assessment, and goal formulation with client systems in the context of social work values. Students integrate self-awareness and appreciation of diversity into professional practice. Students develop a working knowledge of the agency's functions, structure, processes, and its service provider role within the community.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of 87 credit hours. Corequisite: SWRK 4010.
Notes: Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis.
Credits: 4 hours

This is the second of two practicum courses that entails two hundred (200) hours in a human service agency and 14 hours in an on-campus seminar. Students further integrate and apply social work knowledge, skills, and values in their field practicums, including the problem-solving process, interviewing, use of self, and understanding of diversity.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: SWRK 4010 and 4100. Corequisite: SWRK 4020.
Notes: Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis.
Credits: 4 hours

SWRK 4130 - Social Policy and Service Delivery in Selected Problem Areas

Intensive study in selected field of service specialization and social problem areas. Attention is focused on learning about the major social policy issues associated with the service or problem area. Specific topics will be announced each semester.
Credits: 3 hours

Human service professionals have a responsibility to engage in ethical behavior. They are involved in situations which are increasingly more complex with fluctuating and competing values. The purpose of this course is to help students become more effective in dealing as professional persons with ethical questions in social policy and practice situations. The course focuses on ethical issues and laws impacting employee assistance programs. It is structured to facilitate development of a greater awareness of one's personal values and the values and ethics of the profession. It is presented from a social work perspective. Ethical dilemmas are presented at different levels; client, colleague agency, community, and society. Students are introduced to moral and philosophical analysis of ethical problems and a model for ethical decision-making.
Credits: 3 hours

This course will be arranged on an individual basis to provide students the opportunity to pursue independently the study of special areas of interest. May be repeated for credit.
Credits: 1 to 4 hours

This course involves an examination of major theoretical and conceptual tenets of community practice from a social work perspective. It also involves a practical integration of theoretical and conceptual knowledge of community practice through assignments which will focus on communities that are available through field placements or other arrangements. Students will examine the contributions communities make to the functioning of individuals, families, groups, and organizations, as well as how individuals, families, groups, and organizations contribute to the functioning of communities. Students will integrate into an understanding of community practice social work's historical and contemporary emphasis on empowerment and the person-environment interface (i.e., interaction among biological, cultural, social, psychological, political, and economic aspects of human development and functioning).
Credits: 3 hours

This course aims at helping social workers understand how social movements operate and how they can effectively and uniquely contribute to the just goals of social movements. The course addresses the rich heritage of social movements' accomplishments in American history; the theories exploring how social movements begin, endure, and effectively influence society; and how social movements have impacted critical issues in our nation's history. Students will learn elements of strategy to mobilize successful nonviolent social movements. The unique and specific contributions social workers make to social movements are explored.
Credits: 3 hours

Social welfare planning and social action methods are studied as approaches for preventing and resolving aspects of social problems. Emphasis is placed on the organizing of neighborhood and consumer groups in order to increase social interaction and improve social conditions.
Credits: 3 hours

This course provides the student with information about social welfare programs, both institutional and non-institutional, which are available to our aged population. The student is introduced to different approaches to service delivery and interventive problem solving techniques utilized by professional social workers in working with minority and majority aged population. Open to social work students and students from related professional disciplines with consent of instructor.
Credits: 3 hours

Study of selected topics related to the theory and practice of social welfare activities and endeavors. Focus will be on roles of human service workers and methodologies utilized in these roles in a range of social welfare areas. Specific topics will be announced.
Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Credits: 3 hours

The course focuses on the development of educational skills for social workers through faculty-directed participation in teaching activities in a selected social work course. Specific learning objectives and expectations for apprentices are arranged with participating faculty. This course may be taken a second time (1-4 credits, or a maximum of 8 total toward degree) by a student who wishes to increase teaching skills through applied practice in another social work area.
Credits: 1 to 4 hours

Offers advanced students with good scholastic records an independent program of study, arranged in consultation with the instructor. One to four hours credit per semester.
Credits: 1 to 4 hours