Social Work (SWO)
New student experience course designed to help students acclimate to college life with a specific focus on vocational calling and social justice as defined within the social work profession.
Through this course, students will consider barriers to human flourishing in contemporary society through experiential learning opportunities in both residential and community contexts. Students will draw on the connections between leadership, social change, and human flourishing; seeking to develop a deeper understanding of self and their vocation interests in a global context.
This course creates opportunities to increase understanding of diversity and difference, power and privilege, and oppression—as well as an understanding of oneself. Students will look at diversities within religion, ability, age, sexual orientation in addition to race/ethnicity, class, gender. This is an essential foundation for culturally competent leadership in any professional or volunteer setting.
An introduction to the profession of social work and the institution of social welfare. Emphasis is on common human needs and problems, and the development and functioning of social welfare as an institution of society. Course content includes history, knowledge base, values, and skills of professional social work as well as contexts for practice and career opportunities.
Provides instruction in areas of social work knowledge, values, and/or skills that are not available in the standard social work baccalaureate or graduate curricula. Course may be repeated up to six times with different topics of study, not to exceed a maximum of six semester hours.
See SOC 3305 for course information.
Human development across the life course with emphasis on the effects of the social and physical environment on maturation. Special attention given to gender issues, experiences of racial and ethnic minorities, and other special populations.
The environmental contexts for human behavior with a special emphasis on groups, organizations and communities. Issues of human diversity, social and economic justice, and environments of populations at risk are emphasized.
The Generalist Model of social work practice, including theoretical frameworks, problem-solving method, values and ethics, and practice with special populations. Thirty hours of service learning work required.
The basic purpose, methods and techniques of social research, evaluation of professional social work practice, and social program evaluation.
Apply basic statistical tools to describe, analyze, and evaluate research issues in professional social work practice.
Examines theories and practices of social justice as related to oppressed groups in a multicultural society utilizing religious and nonreligious perspectives. Addresses issues of power, inequality, and privilege, and the diverse experiences of oppressed groups in framing strategies to promote social justice.
Specialized knowledge and skills for loss and grief and therapeutic interventions for the bereaved, including bereaved children. Preparation for work with loss of relationship and health across the lifespan. Emphasis on religious faith and grief, and the response of faith communities and religiously affiliated providers to suicide, divorce, loss of parental rights, and other disenfranchised grief.
This course is designed to help students gain a better understanding of contemporary human trafficking and modern day slavery. The roles that entities such as government, the media, faith-based organizations, organized crime, and culture play in this complex human rights and social (in)justice issue will also be explored.
Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 4305 and 4491. Non-majors must have consent of instructor. Historical and current patterns of provision of social welfare services, the effect of social policy on people gaining optimal health and well-being, and the effect of social policy on social work practice.
Knowledge and skills appropriate to social work intervention with small treatment and task groups representing different backgrounds, building on the skills learned in SWO 3371 with individuals and families.
Knowledge, skills and strategies appropriate to work with organizations, neighborhoods, and communities to foster social and economic justice.
Impact of aging upon individuals and society, as well as the reactions of individuals and society to aging. Social gerontology is the principal focus of attention of the course.
Mental health needs and related problems of aging individuals with considerable discussion of approved mental health treatments for such persons.
Apply basic statistical tools to describe, analyze, and evaluate research issues in professional social work practice.
First semester of Field internship requiring 240 hours of Social Work practice with supervision by a professional social worker within a local setting and a weekly integrative seminar. Requires integration of liberal arts background and social work knowledge, skills, values, and ethics within the structure of the agency, demonstrating beginning competence around each of the program's educational objectives and competencies.
Second semester of Field internship requiring integration of liberal arts background and Social Work knowledge, skills, values, and ethics through two hundred forty hours of supervised practice in a community agency and a weekly integrative seminar. Student must demonstrate competence around each of the program's educational objectives and competencies.
Course for students who wish to study an area of social work not covered by a formal course. May be repeated for up to a total of six hours credit when the subject matter varies.
Provides instruction in areas of social work knowledge, values, and/or skills that are not available in the standard social work baccalaureate or graduate curricula. Course may be repeated up to six times with different topic of study, not to exceed a maximum of six semester hours.