- Apply
- Visit
- Request Info
- Give
Substantial completion of the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum (LAC) is expected by the end of the junior year. All liberal arts foundation and professional foundation courses must be completed prior to admission to senior year practice and seminar courses.
SWK 200 Introduction to Social Work
An overview of the social services and the profession of social work introducing students to the history of the field; knowledge, values and skills necessary for social work practice; and the variety of social service programs and agencies characterizing the field today. Human rights principles are explored. The student must complete a 20-hour volunteer experience at a social services program.
SWK 311 Social Environment and the Human Behavior
The Social Environment and the Human Behavior course provides students with a knowledge base for understanding human behavior utilizing a multidimensional approach. In this course students gain knowledge of various theories related to the influence of the eight dimensions of the social environment on human behavior: physical environment, culture, social institutions and social structures, families, organizations, communities and social movements with attention to influences of oppressive systems. Through the critical examination of various theories students gain an appreciation for the inherent strengths, complexities, and variations in the human experience. The experiential approach to the presentation of knowledge utilized in this course assists students in examining and sharing their own views as well as gaining a better sense of self-awareness. The application of this HBSE foundation knowledge to the process of assessment in social work will be illustrated.
SWK 312 Human Behavior and the Life Cycle
This course is one of three junior-level courses that is an intermediate level writing intensive class. This course offers an overview of micro-level theoretical perspectives for understanding human behavior across the life cycle including the biological, psychological, and social factors which shape our lives and make us the people we become. Included in the course will be discussion of individual growth and development and the face to face social systems (families, groups) in which individuals interact. The course emphasizes critical thinking and practical application of theory for generalist social work practice based on the strength perspective. The experiential approach to the presentation of knowledge utilized in this course assists students in examining and sharing their own views as well as gaining a better sense of self- awareness.
SWK 325 Social Welfare Policy - 3 credits
PSC 110 must be completed prior to, or concurrently with enrollment in SWK 325
Exploration of the use of social policy for meeting human needs and achieving social ideals. Introduction to the process of policy making and implementation emphasizing the impact of the political, economic, and cultural climate on social welfare policy and the roles of the public and private sectors in the delivery of social welfare services.
SWK 330 Research for Social Work 1 - 3 credits
Note: Open only to social work majors
Introduction to research methods in social work, with particular emphasis on the ethics of social work research, single system design, experimental design, surveys, program evaluation, and professional writing. A research proposal for studying an aspect of community practice is developed. To be carried out the following semester in SWK 333.
SWK 312 Human Behavior and the Social Environment - 3 credits
PSY 100 and BIO 202 must be completed prior to, or concurrently with SWK 312
An overview of micro-level empirical and theoretical perspectives for understanding human behavior across the life cycle including the biological, psychological, and social factors which shape human lives. Includes discussion of individual, family, and group systems and evaluation and practical application of theory for generalist social work practice.
SWK 300 Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations - 3 credits
Prerequisites: SWK 325, SWK 311
Co-requisite: SWK 333
Note: Open to social work majors only
Generalist social work knowledge for practice with communities and organizations is integrated with professional values and skills. The skills of assessment, goal setting, intervention, termination, and evaluation are taught. Major themes include social justice, social change, and empowerment. Includes a forty-hour macro practice field experience.
SWK 333 Research for Social Work II - 4 credits
Prerequisites: SWK 330
Co-requisite: SWK 300
Note: Open only to social work majors
This course is a continuation of SWK 330 and is designed to give students practical, supervised experience in social work research. In this course, students will carry out research projects in a field setting using the proposals developed in SWK 330. Students will be introduced to SPSS and other data management and analysis techniques.
SWK 335 Understanding Social Work Theory - 3 credits
Note: Open only to social work majors
SWK 320 Generalist Practice with Individuals and Families - 3 credits
Prerequisites: SWK 200, SWK 312, SWK 300, SWK 333
Co-requisite: SWK 350
Note: Open to social work majors only
Generalist social work knowledge for practice with individuals, couples, and families is integrated with professional values and skills. The skills of assessment, goal setting, intervention, termination, and evaluation are taught. Major themes include the strengths perspective and cultural competence.
SWK 350 Social Work Internship and Seminar I - 6 credits
Co-requisite: SWK 320
Note: Open only to social work majors
Provides a minimum of 200 hours of generalist practice experience under the supervision of a social work professional. Weekly seminar sessions integrate knowledge, values, and skills gained from classroom instruction and the field experience.
SWK 475 Social Work Senior Seminar - 3 credits
Prerequisite: SWK 300
Co-requisite or Prerequisite: SWK 320, SWK 350
Note: Open only to social work majors. Fills writing-intensive course requirement.
Capstone seminar for social work students. Promotes critical thinking, the development of professional identity, and the integration of the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work curriculum. Content is related to central social work perspectives, systems change, human rights, the role of social work in the United States and the world, and emerging issues in the profession.
SWK 420 Generalist Practice with Groups and Organizations - 3 credits
Prerequisites: SWK 320, SWK 350
Co-requisite: SWK 450
Note: Open to social work majors only
Generalist social work knowledge for practice with groups and organizations integrated with professional values and skills. The skills of group development, assessment, goal setting, intervention, termination, and evaluation are taught. Emphasizes the power of the group as a mutual aid system and the use of task groups in organizational settings.
SWK 450 Social Work Internship and Seminar II - 6 credits
Prerequisite: SWK 350
Co-requisites: SWK 420
Note: Open to social work majors only
Provides an additional minimum of 200 hours of generalist practice experience under social work supervision. Students are expected to build on their SWK 350 experience by assuming new responsibilities and challenges. Weekly seminar sessions integrate knowledge, values, and skills gained from classroom instruction and the field experience.
SWK 245 Social Gerontology - 3 credits
Social, cultural, and physical factors which influence the process of aging. Special emphasis is given aspects of society which tend to improve or lessen the quality of life experienced by elderly people.
SWK 344 Substance Abuse - 3 credits
Covers the causes, medical aspects, family dynamics, cross-cultural issues, and treatment modalities of drug and alcohol abuse. The course is designed with both undergraduate students and human service professionals in mind.
SWK 369 Working with Gambling Problems - 3 credits
Covers the fundamentals for understanding gambling problems in the U.S. including an overview of the public policies for the treatment and control of gambling, an examination of the epidemiology of gambling across diverse groups, theoretical frameworks for assessing and intervention with problem gambling, and an understanding of the available research.
SWK 365 Special Topics in Social Work - 3 credits
Note: Enrollment in some offerings may require consent of the instructor. One time offerings of social work elective courses. SWK 365 may be repeated for credit with a topic change.