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Requirements and Curriculum

Note: This information reflects the 2007-08 course catalog.

Requirements

The social welfare minor introduces students to the issues of public good both historically and in the present. It focuses on the development of social welfare and the behavior of individuals and families in the context of their social environment. The minor helps provide an understanding of the social welfare system in the United States, the values and theories behind it, and the social issues facing our nation; it does not provide the specific skills needed for actual social work practice. Graduate schools of social work examine the course work taken in approved, accredited undergraduate programs on a case-by-case basis and allow students to have advanced standing if they have taken certain courses in undergraduate social work. Though some course requirements are the same, students may not major in social work and minor in social welfare.

Requirements for a minor

Five courses are required: social work 101, 302, 303; and two additional courses selected from social work 102, 185, 304, 305, anthropology 201 or sociology 345; sociology 350, psychology 350, or equivalent course in statistics, biology 110 or 115, political science 247. A special topics course in social work approved by the department may be substituted for one of the electives. In the minor, political science 247 is not a prerequisite to social work 304.

Curriculum

101 Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare 4 hours

A survey course covering the development of the social welfare institution and the social work profession in the United States. Included is information on how social welfare and social work impact on diverse populations, populations at risk, and promotion of social and economic justice in our society. Content on social work values and ethics is interspersed throughout the course. Includes comparisons with social welfare systems in other countries and the relationship between social work and other human service professions. (HB, E)

102 Social Work Field Experience 4 hours

Full time supervised field experience as a participant-observer in a social service agency. Prerequisite: 101, or consent of instructor.

139, 239, 339, 439 Special Topics Credit arr.

Courses offered under this title are intended to introduce students in a formal way to the variety of issues, methods, and settings in social work practice. Topics may include: mental health, child welfare, aging, chemical dependency, and rural social work.

185 First-year Seminar 4 hours

A variety of seminars for first-year students offered each January term.

186 Service Learning in Crisis Intervention 1 hour

Building on the knowledge and skills learned in social work/women’s and gender studies 185 (Crisis Intervention: Interpersonal Violence), this course will provide students an opportunity to engage in a service-learning field experience and seminar. The field experience and seminar will allow students to blend their educational goals around the issues of interpersonal violence with the needs of local communities. Service-learning plans will be designed to meet the skills, abilities, and interests of the students while addressing community issues related to interpersonal violence. A minimum of 40 hours will be spent in a service-learning field placement. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will plan, prepare, implement, and evaluate their service learning. A two-hour seminar will be held every two weeks throughout the semester. (Same as women’s and gender studies 186.) Prerequisite: 185 (Crisis Intervention: Interpersonal Violence) offered only to first-year students during January term, or consent of instructor.

201 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice I 4 hours

An introduction to the generalist method of social work practice. This course provides a foundation model for social work practice which is built and expanded upon in 303 and 401. Prerequisite: 101 and 102, or consent of instructor.

301 Social Work Practice II 4 hours

Applies the generalist model learned in 201 to social work practice with families and groups. Skills for family and group work are developed through a laboratory group and an experience leading a group in the community. Prerequisite: 201.

302 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I 4 hours

This course focuses on theories of human behavior and the interaction between behavior and the social environment. The course develops a conceptual framework for social work practice by examining knowledge and theory related to the development of human behavior across the life span in relation to individuals’ emotional, spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and cultural contexts. A life cycle approach is used to understand the experience of individuals in their environment and explore theories of human behavior and responses to life cycle challenges. Human diversity, global perspectives, and an eco-systems approach to understanding human behavior are emphasized. Prerequisite: 101, bio 110 or 115, or consent. (HBSSM)

303 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II 4 hours

This course describes how organizations, communities, society and the natural environment impact individuals, families, and groups. A social justice lens will be used to understand the dynamic interaction among systems in the macro social environment. A key focus is on the interplay between human behavior and the physical, social and political environment. Special attention is given to global perspectives, issues of human diversity in a macro context, and self-examination in relation to ethical and human diversity issues. Prerequisite: 101, bio 110 or 115, or consent of instructor. (HBSSM)

304 Social Welfare Policies, Programs, and Issues 4 hours

An examination of social welfare policy from a theoretical basis to policy as a dimension of generalist social work practice. Includes a study of contemporary social welfare issues, programs and legislation. Emphasis is placed on issues relating to how social policy impacts human diversity, populations at risk, and social and economic justice in the United States. Content on social work values and ethics is interspersed throughout the course. Prerequisites:101, 201; 303 (which may be taken concurrently); political science 247, or consent of the instructor. (S)

305 Research Methods for Social Work 4 hours

An introduction to social work research designed to increase the generalist practitioner’s ability to understand, evaluate, and utilize the research literature for practice. A wide variety of social work research methods are examined with an emphasis on doing practice research. Prerequisite: 101, junior standing or consent of instructor. Soc 301 and 350 may be substituted with consent. Soc 101, psych 130, econ 130 are recommended. (HBSSM, R, W)

395 Independent Study 1, 2, or 4 hours

401 Social Work Practice III 4 hours

Application of the generalist model to working with task groups in organizations and communities and how this work impacts human diversity, populations at risk, and social and economic justice. Content on social work values and ethics is interspersed throughout the course. A knowledge base and skills for community social work will be developed. Prerequisite: 301, or consent of instructor.

402 Field Instruction in Social Work Practice 8 hours

A fourteen week (one semester) block field placement in a human service agency with professional supervision, providing educationally directed practical experience, and supplemented by an on-campus professional seminar. Taken concurrently with 403. Prerequisites: all courses required for the major and consent of instructor.

403 Professional Seminar 4 hours

Emphasis on integration of previous course content and the application of social work ethics, values, skills, and knowledge. Work-related issues of field placement are studied in preparation for generalist social work practice. Students give presentations to the class based upon their field learning. Taken concurrently with 402. Prerequisites: all courses required for the major and consent of instructor. (HBSSM)

485 Seminar Credit arr.

490 Senior Project 1, 2, or 4 hours

A continuation of learning from 301. Students write papers on the research they have conducted relevant to social work practice.

493 Senior Honors Project 4 hours

A year-long independent research project. Applications are completed on the “Honors Program” form available at the registrar’s office, requiring the signatures of a faculty supervisor, the department head, the honors program director, and the registrar. Interdisciplinary projects require the signatures of two faculty supervisors. The project must be completed by the due date for senior projects. The completed project is evaluated by a review committee consisting of the faculty supervisor, another faculty member from the major department, and a faculty member from outside the major department. All projects must be presented publicly. Only projects awarded an “A-” or “A” qualify for “department honors” designation. The honors project fulfills the all-college senior project requirement. (R, W)