Social Work foundation courses are required of all BSW majors.  These required courses are grouped by content areas and described below:

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Courses: 

SOCWK 230 Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Social Work 230 is the first of two required courses in the Human Behavior and Social Environment curriculum sequence. Students examine the dynamic interaction between individuals and their social environments, focusing on small groups, organizations, and communities, with special attention to culture, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and cognitive and physical ability.  An ecological and strengths perspective is introduced as a framework to assess the quality of the interactions between social systems and the individual, within a generalist practice approach.  A range of social interaction theories are critically examined, and applied to the social work assessment process.

SOCWK 330 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II

Social Work 330 is the second course in the Human Behavior and Social Environment (HBSE) sequence of the social work core curriculum.  The ecological perspective, bio-psycho-social-cultural approach and the strengths perspective are used in the HBSE sequence to provide students with a means of assessing individuals and families and their social environments using a generalist practice approach.  Utilizing content from SOCWK 230, students will build an understanding of the complex interactions between various social, cultural, spiritual, family, small group, organizational, community, biological and psychological aspects which influence human development and functioning.  The primary focus of the course content is on life span development, and secondarily integrates with the first HBSE class which focuses on macro systems and cultural aspects of human behavior.  The impact of social justice issues on human development is emphasized for vulnerable populations.

Social Welfare Policy

Courses:

SOCWK 220: Social Welfare Policy & Programs I

This course provides an overview of current social policy and programs within an historical and analytic framework. Students will examine the connections between current policy and programs and policy and programs, which have occurred in the past. They will identify continuities and discontinuities between past and current social welfare.

The implications of contemporary national and state social welfare policies and programs for social work will be an ongoing focus of the course. As a dimension of the focus on social work, professional social work's past and current involvement in influencing and shaping policy will be described and evaluated. In addition, students will discuss the vulnerability of populations that social work is committed to serve, such as women, minorities, people with disabilities, older adults, and gays/lesbians/bisexuals, to being at-risk due to reluctance of the government to take an active role in social welfare. They will, in addition, examine the response in the private sector to social welfare needs with a discussion of the relation of the public and private sectors in the development of social welfare policy and programs in the US. Throughout this discussion the role of economic assumptions and events in influencing views and decisions about social welfare policy will be an ongoing dimension of the course.

SOCWK 320 Social Welfare Policy and Programs II

Using the background information and foundation developed in Social Work 200, and 220, students in this course work with tasks, skills, and values required for social work practitioners to effectively influence policies at the organizational, community and legislative levels of generalist practice. Policy as an arena for BSW intervention is the organizing theme of the course so that students view themselves as "policy practitioners" within the context of BSW level social work. The primary teaching tool used in the course is to have students apply concepts discussed in class to practice situations they may confront as beginning level professional social workers. Using what they learned about past and present social welfare policy, students are challenged to view themselves as participants in modifying and creating future policies which will affect the ability of their clients to get their needs met.

Research

Courses:

SOCWK 340  Social Work Research I

This course focuses on the foundation content in research methods and designs that may be utilized by social work practitioners for evaluating their own practice and social work programs as well as for advancing practice knowledge.  The major aims of the course are to enable the student to develop and apply a scientific stance, to acquire a working knowledge of selected research methods, and to incorporate these elements into a broader social work practice repertoire.  The course content includes: parallels of research and social work practice; ethical issues for research with human subjects; generation of research problems and hypotheses; foundations of measurement, sampling; single subject and group designs; evaluation research and accountability; both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection; and relevant technological advances. The treatment and protection of marginalized individuals and populations of difference within research is also addressed.

This course prepares students to effectively assess and improve their own practice, to participate in practice evaluation efforts within a social service agency, and to analyze current research studies and their implications for social work practice.

SOCWK 440 Social Work Research II

Social Work Research II is the second of two courses required of all undergraduate social work majors.  The course builds upon the foundation content in research methods and designs that are utilized by social work practitioners in evaluating their own practice and programs as well as for advancing practice knowledge.  This statistical methods course is designed by the student with limited mathematical background and acquaints the student with data analysis using SPSS.  The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the basic concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics.  Emphasized are:  scientific method and measurement; descriptions of central tendency, dispersion, association and difference; inference via statistical estimation, hypothesis testing, and tests of significance.  The objectives of the course are to enable students to conceptualize, apply, and interpret statistical methods in relation to problems which confront the field of social work.  Upon completion of the course the student is able to apply, comprehend, interpret, and evaluate statistical researchers.

Practice

Courses:

SOCWK 100 Introduction to Social Work

This is the first course social work students take as an introduction to the social work profession.  A social problems approach is used to help students understand how client systems, populations at risk and society are affected by problems such as poverty, child abuse, mental illness, substance abuse, racism, discrimination, and other social and economic issues.  Through reading and classroom activities, students are introduced to the profession's historical development, its underlying values as well as an overview of the social work knowledge base. The generalist approach to social work practice is outlined and provides a framework for looking at social work roles in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in various practice settings.  

SOCWK 200 Social Work Practice I

Social Work Practice I is the first social work practice class and is designed to help students learn fundamental communication and relational skills used by the entry-level generalist social work practitioner.  The course builds on SOCWK 100 Introduction to Social Work and engages students in exploring basic communication skills in the context of a helping relationship.  Students become familiar with the phases of the helping process and develop beginning interviewing skills relevant to work with individuals, families, and small groups. 

Students are introduced to an ecological framework and the strengths perspective. Ethical issues related to professional relationships are stressed as is cultural competence in working with clients from diverse backgrounds.  The role age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, gender identity marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation on the helping process are explored. Throughout the course, the transactions between people and their environments are stressed with a special emphasis upon social and economic justice issues.

During the semester students spend 2-3 hours each week volunteering in a social service or related type of agency where they have an opportunity to apply the practice skills discussed in class, and to reflect upon and assess their professional development.

SOCWK 300 Social Work Practice II

Social Work Practice II is designed to prepare students for beginning level generalist practice with organizations and communities.  Students apply organizational and community theories in assessing these larger systems, and learn practice skills and techniques to effect macro level change.  Aspects of macro practice are examined using a systems framework and an ecological perspective. 

Emphasis is placed upon the development of beginning level leadership and communication skills needed for macro practice such as developing mutual and collaborative relationships and the management of differences.   Practice methods of assessment, planning, goal setting, intervention and evaluation are taught.  Skills and methods required for practice with diverse populations based on age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation are emphasized through class assignments and case illustrations.  Students are required to evaluate their own professional development by assessing their skills and ability to operationalize social work values and apply the NASW Code of Ethics to practice

SOCWK 400 Social Work Practice III

Social Work Practice III prepares students for beginning level generalist practice with small groups focusing on individual and social change.  Content on group dynamics and group practice theory is covered relating to assessment and intervention planning with treatment and task groups. Students develop group practice and leadership skills for direct practice with groups and to effectively participate in multidisciplinary teams in agency settings and in community planning groups.  The course emphasizes the implementation of social work values and ethics in working with groups.  Consideration is also given to human diversity in group work practice and the profession's commitment to alleviate oppression and advance social and economic justice is stressed.

SOCWK 410 Social Work Practice IV

This course is designed to prepare students for beginning level generalist practice with individuals, and families. Students will learn to use an ecological systems framework to assess the person-in-environment situation, determining appropriate targets of direct service intervention.  The course also focuses on learning skills to implement such intervention. 

Class assignments and case illustrations emphasize practice methods and skills considering, without bias, the following: age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.  Further, the profession's commitment to the alleviation of oppression and the advancement of social and economic justice are stressed.  Finally students are required to evaluate their professional development, skill level and ability to apply social work values and ethics to practice.

Field Practicum (Internship)

Courses:       

SOCWK 460 Field Practicum

Social Work 460 Field Practicum is one of the two final courses taken by social work majors.  The course consists of an intensive field experience in which students integrate content from previously required courses in the social work curriculum.  The practicum experience takes place in an approved human services agency under the supervision of a qualified field supervisor in conjunction with an assigned faculty liaison.  Micro, mezzo and macro practice experiences in the field agency are educationally structured and supervised through a learning contract, and include direct work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, as well as participation in agency staff activities. The focus of the learning integration process is on the competencies required of baccalaureate level social workers, and on professional development strategies expected of beginning practitioners. 

The practicum course consists of a minimum of 400 hours in the field full time block placement and is taken concurrently with SOCWK 462 Field Seminar.  The field experience provides students with the opportunity to master beginning level generalist social work practice skills.

SOCWK 462 Field Seminar

Taken concurrently with SOCWK 460 Field Practicum, the Field Seminar course assists students in integrating current field experiences with previous learning from courses required in the social work curriculum.  Through assignments and small group discussions facilitated by the Faculty Liaisons students expand their learning beyond the scope of their particular practicum setting. Seminar sessions focus upon refining analytical and critical thinking skills, applying social work values and ethics, and self reflection emphasizing professional development.