SOCW - Social Work

Beginning social welfare policy course focusing on the history of social welfare issues, policies, and practices beginning in the 1600s through the 20th century. The experience of vulnerable populations including ethnic, racial and sexual minorities is featured. Advanced Status required.

A survey of the child welfare field of practice. Emphasis is on services provided to children and their families and the local, national, and state policies that guide them.

The first of four sequenced social work practice courses in which students learn generalist social work practice theory and method. In-depth presentation and study of the foundation layers of knowledge needed to implement generalist problem-solving within and between micro, mezzo and macro systems. Advanced status required.

Introduces theory and knowledge used in the person-in-environment perspective to prepare a foundation on which to build generalist practice skills. A focus on systems theory approach will lead to an understanding of how the biological, psychological, and social systems are interrelated and affect human development throughout the lifespan. Advanced status required.

Builds on the knowledge and theory learned in Human Behavior in Social Environment I. A combination of social systems and life span theoretical frameworks will continue to be utilized to provide a foundation for understanding human behavior from middle adulthood through late adulthood.

This course emphasizes the systematic nature of oppression and the responsibility of the social work profession to advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice. Emerging professional social workers' self-awareness is integral to the capacity to engage diverse service participants, colleagues and constituents in practice. Students will explore their own personal values, beliefs, and behavior that may impede their ability to practice social work ethically with people of diverse backgrounds. Students should leave this course with a better understanding of themselves, of diverse groups they will be working with in practice, and the capacity to engage in practices that advance human rights via the promotion of social and economic justice.

Second course in the social work course practice sequence builds on SOCW 325. Focus is on the skills needed to implement the generalist problem solving method within and between micro, mezzo and macro systems.

This elective course provides knowledge and skills essential for competent social work practice in an integrated health care setting, such as a hospital, primary care clinic or nursing home. Topics include health behavior theory, health care policy, research-informed practice in health care, and intervention in health care social work

The third practice methods course challenges the students to increase their generalist problem-solving, communication, assessment, and intervention skills with multiple systems. The Monitoring and Evaluation stage of generalist problem solving is highlighted.

Variable-content course; topic will be announced in the online Course Offerings each semester offered.

This final course in the practice sequence builds on all the preceding practice courses with a specific focus on indirect practice. The content and activities are designed toward mastery of the skills, values and knowledge competencies needed to work with, and in, organizations, communities, political institutions and global contexts.

This course allows students in the Sociology major to conduct a research project, with the mentorship and supervision of a faculty member. Students will engage in the entirety of the research process, including reviewing the academic research on their chosen topic, designing a research project, applying for human-subjects review approval, carrying out their approved project, and constructing a journal-article style manuscript. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

In-depth exploration of a social work topic under the direction of a social work department faculty member, who is willing to sponsor the student. Students should have specific topics in mind before approaching an instructor and are expected to complete a research project and present his or her findings to the professor on the agreed upon topic. Once an Independent Study has been arranged and prior to the semester beginning, the student must complete the Independent Study Contract with the sponsoring faculty member.

The first semester of a professionally supervised 450 total hour placement in a human services agency. Students are expected to complete 225 hours of direct service to individuals, families, groups or communities and/or other duties expected of a beginning-level social worker during the semester. Students are expected to apply social work theory, knowledge and method to actual cases, identify areas of professional growth, process their experiences, and begin assessing their practice using standard research methods. Social Work majors only.

An extension of SOCW 480: Field Practicum I allowing for the sectioning of practicum students into small peer groups for weekly group meetings. Students are divided into sections and assigned faculty field liaisons who assist students develop and implement an individualized professional learning contract for their practicum placements. Weekly meetings are held to analyze issues discovered through the practicum experience. Faculty liaisons monitor and evaluate student performance for the entire practicum experience (SOCW 480 and 485).

The continuation of the student's experiential learning at the same agency in which the student was placed in during SOCW 480. Students need to complete 225 or more hours of direct service practice and/or other duties expected of the beginning level social worker.

An extension of SOCW 490: Field Practicum II which allows for the sectioning of practicum students into small peer groups for weekly group meetings. Expectations for student performance increase and new Learning Contracts are constructed and implemented. Weekly meetings focus on the critical assessment of the student's use of skill, knowledge, and theory in their practicum placement. Faculty field liaisons facilitate group meetings and monitor the practicum experience, evaluating student performance for both SOCW 490 and 495.