Courses of Instruction
Social Work (SWO)
Foundation Year Courses
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Orientation and introduction to field internship, at least 240 hours of applied learning in the field, and an integrative seminar.
Critical evaluation and use of research and conducting research in one's own professional practice.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Introduction and first of two semesters of the advanced internship in a specified area of specialization
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.
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.
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.
Selection and implementation of outcome-based evaluation of practice protocols to inform intervention decisions by advanced practice social workers.
Second of two terms of the advanced internship in a specified area of specialization. This is the second part of SWO 5494.
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.
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.
Selection and implementation of outcome-based program evaluation protocols to inform intervention decisions by advanced practice social workers.