Courses of Instruction

Social Work (SWO)

Foundation Year Courses

SWO 5221  Introduction to the Profession  (2)  
Pre-requisite(s): Admission to Master of Social Work program  

History and development of the social work profession, social work values and ethics, foundations of knowledge, and fields of practice with systems of all sizes.

SWO 5561  Professional Practice with Individuals and Families  (5)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5221  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Knowledge, values, and skills needed for working with individuals and families.

SWO 5362  Professional Practice with Groups  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of B or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5561  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Knowledge, values, and skills needed for working with groups.

SWO 5463  Professional Practice with Communities and Organizations  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): A minimum grade of B or better in SWO 5561 and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5362  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Knowledge, values, and skills needed for working with communities and organizations.

SWO 5322  Social Policy For Social Work Practice  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): SWO 5221 or 5122  

Introduces the historical context of social policy and services in the United States, the analysis of current developments, and how social workers influence social welfare policy and provide social services.

SWO 5491  Foundation Internship I  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5221; and a minimum grade of B or concurrent enrollment in both SWO 5362 and SWO 5561  

Orientation and introduction to field internship, at least 240 hours of applied learning in the field, and an integrative seminar.

SWO 5381  Research for Social Work Practice  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): A minimum grade of C in SWO 5221 or a minimum grade of C in SWO 5122  

Critical evaluation and use of research and conducting research in one's own professional practice.

SWO 5V80  Advanced Special Topics  (1-3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Graduate student  

Provides advanced instruction in areas of social work knowledge, values, and/or skills that are not available in the standard social work graduate curriculum. Special topics in social work. Course may be repeated up to six times with different topic of study, not to exceed a maximum of six semester hours.

SWO 5492  Foundation Internship II  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): B or higher in SWO 5362, 5491, and 5561; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5463, 5381, and 5322  

Field internship, including at least 240 hours of applied learning in the field, and an integrative seminar. This is the second part of SWO 5491 with the addition of more sophisticated social work practice opportunities and expectations.


Specialization Year Courses

SWO 5337  Advanced Clinical Theories and Models  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Advanced Standing program or credit in SWO 5492  

Prepares students to learn and apply developmental, sociological, psychological, and therapeutic theories to the needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities. The course explores advanced clinical theories and empirically informed and emerging models for practice.

SWO 5379  Advanced Clinical Practice: Individuals, Families, and Groups  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5337  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Prepares students with specialized knowledge and skills for advanced clinical practice within a broad array of practice contexts. Uses social work knowledge, skills, and values to prepare students to assess and intervene at the levels of individual, family, and group with some discussion of organizational and community practice. The course provides an overview of major theoretical clinical practice models.

SWO 5335  Frameworks and Perspectives for Community Practice  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Pre-requisite(s): Admission to the Advanced Standing Program, or credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5492 with a grade of B or better  

Guides advanced practice social workers in the evaluation and selection of frameworks for community change. Emphasizes values, professional role, and cultural influences on how change is envisioned, enacted, and evaluated.

SWO 5375  Advanced Practice I: Community Practice  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5335  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Prepares advanced practice social workers to promote community problem-solving and development. Emphasizes community assets; leadership development; and change strategy selection, enactment, and evaluation. Focuses on congregations and religiously affiliated organizations as agents of community change.

SWO 5494  Part I Advanced Internship  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5492 with a grade of B or better, or 4492 with a grade of B or better; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5337 or 5335; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5379 or 5375  

Introduction and first of two semesters of the advanced internship in a specified area of specialization

SWO 5323  Administrative Practice in Social Work  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Pre-requisite(s): Admission to the Advanced Standing Program or credit in SWO 5322  

Administrative Practice in Social Work prepares students to perform managerial functions in public, nonprofit, and faith-based human service organizations with particular emphasis on those with programs designed to improve human wellness. Specific attention is given to the topics of leadership, human resources, fund raising, organization development, structure and governance, resource management, and efforts to link human service organizations in an integrated community-wide service delivery system.

SWO 5377  Advanced Clinical Practice: Children and Families  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): B or better in SWO 5379 or concurrent enrollment  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree, unless it is taken as elective credit. Emphasizes application of theory, models, and skills in contexts of practice with children and families. Includes instruction on models and theories and the impact of crisis and trauma on the family. Exposes students to a variety of themes in child and family practice such as grief, levels of need, strengths, and collaborative work. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree.

SWO 5378  Advanced Practice II: Community Practice  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): B or better in SWO 5375  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree. Continuation of 5375. Prepares advanced practice social workers to promote community problem-solving and development. Emphasizes community assets; leadership development; and change strategy selection, enactment, and evaluation. Focuses on congregations and religiously affiliated organizations as agents of community change. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree.

SWO 5282  Evaluation of Practice I  (2)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Advanced Standing Program or credit for 5381 and 5492  

Selection and implementation of outcome-based evaluation of practice protocols to inform intervention decisions by advanced practice social workers.

SWO 5490  Part II Advanced Internship  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): Credit in 5335 or 5337; a minimum grade of B in SWO 5494; and a minimum grade of B in SWO 5375 or 5379; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5376, 5377, or 5378; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5323  

Second of two terms of the advanced internship in a specified area of specialization. This is the second part of SWO 5494.

SWO 5376  Advanced Clinical Practice: Health Settings  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Prerequisite(s): B or better in SWO 5379 or concurrent enrollment  

A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete the requirements for the master’s degree, unless it is taken as elective credit. Prepares students with specialized application of theory, models, and skills for advanced clinical practice within health practice contexts. Uses social work knowledge, skills, and values to prepare students to assess and intervene at the levels of individual, family, and group in health care settings. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree.

SWO 5V80  Advanced Special Topics  (1-3)  
Pre-requisite(s): Graduate student  

Provides advanced instruction in areas of social work knowledge, values, and/or skills that are not available in the standard social work graduate curriculum. Special topics in social work. Course may be repeated up to six times with different topic of study, not to exceed a maximum of six semester hours.

SWO 5283  Evaluation of Practice II  (2)  
Pre-requisite(s): SWO 5282  

Selection and implementation of outcome-based program evaluation protocols to inform intervention decisions by advanced practice social workers.

SWO 5298  Capstone  (2)  
Pre-requisite(s): Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5490 or 5790, and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5283  

Integrative seminar to demonstrate readiness to practice social work at an advanced level in the student's area of specialization.