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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 

Prerequisites for the Major

SOC 200: Introduction to Sociology                                                  3 credits

A general introduction to the topics, methods, and theories of the discipline. The course will address basic social processes and institutions, including social solidarity, inequality, conflict, interaction, ideology, and social structure.

 PSYC 100: Introductory Psychology                                                  3 credits

An introduction to major areas of psychology, emphasizing theories, research methods, critical thinking, and communication skills, to enable students to think like psychologists.

ANTH 210, 211, 212, 213, 214: Peoples of the World                      3 credits         

Detailed study of several societies that are geographically and culturally distant. Selected societies are studied in the context of larger regional and global forces.     

ECON 200: Principles of Economics: Macro-Economics                     3 credits 

The problem of scarcity. Theory of national income and employment; policy applications to problems of employment, inflation and business fluctuations; introductions to money, banking, and monetary policy.  

PSYC 222: Biological Bases of Behavior                                            3 credits

Introduces the neural, genetic biochemical, and structural mechanisms that underline normal and abnormal human behavior. Lectures, films, and visual aids. Prerequisite: 100

10 Intern to Human Services                                                            2 credits

60 hours of supervised internship experience and a weekly seminar focus on the insights and perspectives of working with people. Opportunities to integrate and apply professional helping values in an agency setting, analyze agency contributions to the community, utilize supervision to interact with clients and agency professionals, and explore career options in human service settings. (Same as SOC 14). Two semesters.

100 Issues in the Human Services                                                  3 credits

An introduction to current issues in the human services that provides understanding of how the field of human services responds to individual human needs manifested in the context of broad social issues such as poverty, inequality,  oppression, cultural diversity, right to life/right to die, structural family changes, gender, societal violence, and physical and mental health. Values, belief systems, and ethical issues inherent in working with needy populations will be critically examined and analyzed. One semester.

240 Introduction to Social Work                                                      3 credits

Presents an overview of 1) the profession of social work and its history; 2) social work values, ethics, and principles; 3) generalist social work practice approach in varied settings with diverse client needs; and 4) process of empowerment as the challenge in working for social and economic justice. Includes self-assessment of aptitude for social work. One semester.

310 Approaches to Social Research                                                4 credits

(Same as SOC 310) One semester.

340 Social Work Practice I: Working with Individuals                 3 credits

This course is designed to provide a foundation in generalist practice knowledge, values, and skills in working with individuals and families. Students will examine the strengths, capacities, and resources of client systems, utilize culturally competent intervention, and evaluate practice effectiveness. Content includes supervision, consultation, and communication skills in providing ethical practices to a diverse range of clients. Prerequisite: SOWK 240. One semester.

343 Social Work Practice II: Groups and Families                         3 credits

This course provides theoretical and practical knowledge, values and skills needed to prepare students for entry-level, generalist practice with groups and diverse family systems. Students apply the planned change approach to working with mezz0-level client groups, including task groups, intervention groups, and diverse family systems. A framework for understanding family systems, groups, group dynamics, power relationships, decision-making approaches skills and empirical research needed to work effectively with groups and family systems will be examined. The relationship of groups and families to larger systems will be reviewed as it related to the values and responsibilities of the social work profession. Prerequisite: SOWK 240. One semester.

363 Social Work Practice III: Creating Social Change                       3 credits

Provides theoretical and practice knowledge, values, and skills needed to prepare students for entry-level social work practice with organizations and communities from a generalist perspective. Examines how the urban community as a system addresses the issues of what it means to have influence and power.  Explores how political, economic, social, and religious organizations limit and/or enhance individual functioning and freedom. Prerequisite: SOWK 240. One semester.

364 Social Welfare Policy                                                                   3 credits

Explores the history of social work, the history of current structures of social welfare services, and the role of social policy in the service delivery, social work practice, and personal/social well-being. Examines American values and principles that influence choice of social objectives in relation to social work values. Focuses on the skills of formulating, adopting, implementing, and evaluating social welfare policies and policy-related research. Analyzes social policies that influence organizational, local, state, national, and international systems. Prerequisite: ECON 200. One semester.

373 Human Behavior in the Social Environment                                3 credits

This course is designed to develop the student’s knowledge of the reciprocal relationships between human behavior and social environments. Content includes empirical theories and knowledge focused on the interactions among and between individuals, families, groups, societies, and economic systems. This includes theories of knowledge of sociological, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development across the life span. The ecological-systems perspective will be used to understand the ways in which social systems enhance or deter people in achieving health and well-being. (Related biological content is addressed in Psych 222). Prerequisites: SOC 200, PSYC 100, ANTH 210, PSYC 222 or other designated course. One semester.

385* Child Abuse and Domestic Violence                                        4 credits

Examines multi-dimensional explanations and laws pertaining to sexual and physical child maltreatment, wife/husband beating, and the battered parent syndrome. Students will explore selected issues related to these psychosocial problems by visiting and having discussions with victims and professionals in various agencies and programs who deal with these problems. January or summer.

386* The Welfare of Children                                                           3 credits

This overview of the field of contemporary child welfare will examine how social services are provided for children and young people whose parents are unable to fulfill their child-rearing responsibilities. Child welfare policies and programs will be explored through readings, field trips to agencies, and discussions with child welfare professions. January.

388* Asians in America                                                                3-4 credits

(Same as SOC 388) One semester or January.

390, 490 Current Topics of Social Work

Variable credits. Permission. May be repeated for credit.

395, 495 Directed Studies in Social Work                                               

Credit and time arranged. Permission. May be repeated for credit.

408 Integrative Seminar                                                            2 credits

Students will assess their development in relation to educational outcomes of the Social Work Program, which are consistent with current CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Writing a paper in the major will be geared to preparation for moving into social work occupational opportunities and/or graduate education. Senior standing. Only for social work majors. Permission. One semester.

412 Social Work Practicum and Seminar I                            4 credits

Internship in medical, social, correctional, and psychiatric agencies under joint College/agency planning and supervision. Helps students apply and integrate knowledge, values, and skills necessary for beginning generalist professional competence. Two full days (16 hours per week) and required seminar, 2 hours per week. Only for social work majors. Permission. Prerequisite: 240. One semester.

413 Social Work Practicum and Seminar II                           3 credits    

Advanced level internships in community agencies (usually a continuation at the same placement agency as SOWK 412). Structured learning opportunities that enable students to compare and evaluate practice experiences, integrate classroom knowledge, and engage in self-assessment of their own professional development. Two full days (16 hours per week) and required seminar, 2 hours per week. Only for social work majors. Permission. Prerequisite: 412. January.

414 Social Work Practicum and Seminar III                          4 credits

Continuation of SOWK 413. Two full days (16 hours per week) and required seminar, 2 hours per week. Only for social work majors. Permission. Prerequisite: 413. One semester.