2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Social Work

Courses

SWK 201. Social Work Practice & Profession. 3 Hours

Study of the historical and theoretical underpinnings of the social work profession. Study of social work practice theory and technique.

SWK 204. Modern Social Problems. 3 Hours

Course to familiarize students with contemporary problems in society, including historical development, current status, and analysis of problems using modern social theories. Content may vary from section to section.

SWK 303. Community Practice & Research. 3 Hours

Study of the design and implementation of community research, including needs assessment and program evaluation in the social service system. Sophomore standing or higher. (Same as SOC 309). Prerequisites: sophomore standing or higher; permission of instructor.

SWK 305. Social Services in the Health Field. 3 Hours

The role of social services in health care facilities and governmental health programs. U.S. health care policies and programs; methods of social work intervention in medical settings.

SWK 307. Mental Health Services. 3 Hours

Study of historical perspectives, deinstitutionalization, the community mental health movement, inpatient care, and innovative approaches. Policy and practice implications are examined. This course is normally taken in the Junior or Senior year.

SWK 310. Law & Human Services. 3 Hours

Orientation to the legal system as it affects the provision of human services and the profession; social legislation and court decisions as they affect child welfare, public assistance, mental health, housing, and probation and parole services.

SWK 325. Child Abuse. 3 Hours

Comprehensive study of child abuse: its history, scope, causal factors, indicators for detection, treatment resources and modalities, and community responsibility.

SWK 330. Perspectives on Aging. 3 Hours

An introduction to the field of gerontology. Focus on the major physical, psychological, and social dynamics of aging. Selected issues will be highlighted. This course is normally taken in the Junior or Senior year(Same as SOC 330.).

SWK 331. Death, Dying and Suicide. 3 Hours

Applied study of the phenomena of death and dying. The role and responsibility of the professional in working with the dying and their survivors. Study of suicide in contemporary U.S. society. This course is normally taken in the Junior or Senior year.

SWK 335. Social Work & Environmental Justice. 3 Hours

Study of the impact of environmental degradation upon individuals and communities and the role of social work in advocating for environmental justice. Topics include health, disasters, environmental degradation, human rights, and advocacy.

SWK 360. International Social Work. 3 Hours

Study of the role of social workers in international contexts. Topics include migration, globalization, development, conflict, and the ethical implications of social workers practicing internationally.

SWK 370. Advocacy Practice in Social Work. 3 Hours

Study of advocacy as social work practice and the social welfare policies on which social workers often advocate. Topics covered include advocacy and professional ethics; anti-oppression and social justice; and advocacy tactics and skills. Social welfare policies discussed include those related to cash assistance, public health care programs, food programs, housing, and others. Topics and policies are analyzed with attention to power dynamics of gender, race, social class, and marginalized groups. Sophomore standing or higher.

SWK 380. Health and Inequality. 3 Hours

Exploration of various theories of the link between health and inequality, as well as how these theories can be applied to promote health equity and social justice. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or higher.

SWK 392. Special Topics. 1-3 Hours

Exploration of special topics related to the field of human services. Assessment of appropriate literature and research. May be repeated as topics change.

SWK 401. Community Field Experience. 5 Hours

Supervised field experience for students working in a micro or macro practice setting. Concurrent seminar includes intensive basic communication and interviewing skill development. Students spend 150 hours in the agency. Prerequisite(s): SWK 201; permission of instructor.

SWK 465. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours

Individual research, study, and readings on specific topics and/or projects of importance to social work. Under individual faculty direction. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

SWK 477. Honors Thesis Project. 3 Hours

First of two courses leading to the selection, design, investigation, and completion of an independent, original Honors Thesis project under the guidance of a faculty research advisor. Restricted to students in the University Honors Program with permission of the program director and department chairperson. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis topic may register for three semester hours each in two separate disciplines in consultation with department chairpersons. Prerequisite(s): Approval of University Honors Program.

SWK 478. Honors Thesis Project. 3 Hours

Second of two courses leading to the selection, design, investigation, and completion of an independent, original Honors Thesis project under the guidance of a faculty research advisor. Restricted to students in the University Honors Program with permission of the program director and department chairperson. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis topic may register for three semester hours each in two separate disciplines in consultation with department chairpersons. Prerequisite(s): Approved 477; approval of University Honors Program.

SWK 497. Service Learning Experience. 1 Hour

Supervised community research or service experience that complements a specific upper division course in Social Work. Repeatable up to three semester hours. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Corequisite(s): A 300-400 level Social Work course.