SW 230 TOPICS IN SOCIAL WORK1-3 Credits
Special topics in social work.
Notes: May be repeated with a change of emphasis.
SW 231 PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK3 Credits
Surveys the social work profession, including but not limited to social work leaders of the present and past, social work theories, beliefs, values, and ethics, social work fields of practice, methods, special populations, and human diversity in a rural area. Introduces systems theory, person-in-environment and U.S. political spectrum. Discusses the social work code of ethics. Students engage in personal values clarification relative to this code.
SW 251 HUMAN BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I3 Credits
Examines theories of human development from prenatal to old age using a multidimensional, multicultural perspective that includes bio-physical, psychological, social, economic, and spiritual. Students apply developmental knowledge to understand person and environment and demonstrate introductory level practice behaviors in observation and interviewing.
SW 252 HUMAN BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II3 Credits
Examines theories and perspectives on human behavior in organizations and communities, including political-economic motivations, expectation sets, joining behaviors in the rural context. Competencies for dealing with power differentials, negotiation and coalition building are addressed. Issued associated with race/ethnicity, minority status, disabilities, and economic status involving vulnerable populations or at-risk population are emphasized. Students apply developmental knowledge and multidimensional perspectives through self-reflection, observations, interviews, and written analysis.
Prerequisites: SW 251
SW 271 SOCIAL WELFARE HISTORY AND SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS3 Credits
Examines the developmental history of social welfare with a focus on political, social, cultural ideologies and systems during periods in European and American history. Explores the context for the development of social programs and the treatment of various out-groups, including persons considered poor, developmentally disabled, mentally retarded, ethnic and racial minorities, women, disabled, children, gay men and lesbian women, and religious minorities within the international community. Students analyze policy implementation of local social service delivery systems using a descriptive model of policy analysis.
SW 330 DIVERSITY IN THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT4 Credits
Examines practice competencies needed for generalist social work practice in the context of the rural setting. Social issues (poverty, isolation, transportation, and housing) and theories related to the life experience of African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans. Explores cultures and heritages of these groups along with other social groups such as women and sexual minorities in the rural context. Discusses factors of service provision with emphasis on capacity building in rural communities and issues of accommodation, acculturation, and assimilation.
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above status
Add Consent: Department Consent
SW 331 SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES3 Credits
Needs of children and families and services appropriate to satisfy these needs. Focuses on difficulties, strategies for intervention based upon a multi-cultural strengths perspective and rural practice context. Social services for children and families are identified. Practice behaviors for legal and protective intervention, court process, and a variety of treatment interventions are explored. Field trips and/or agency guest lecturers provide an opportunity for on-site observation.
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above status
SW 332 SERVICES TO ELDERLY AND DIFFERENTLY ABLED2 Credits
Practice behaviors and competencies of generalist social work practice with the geriatric population are addressed. Needs of the elderly and the physically and mentally differently abled are explored. Intervention and advocacy on behalf of these vulnerable populations is emphasized. Current services and alternatives will be considered. Rural context, myths and values will be discussed along with specific treatment modalities.
Co-requisites: SW 435 and Sophomore or above status
Notes: Professional social work program course.
SW 343 RESEARCH METHODS3 Credits
Introduces qualitative and quantitative world views, basic research methods, including developing single subject, survey and grounded theory research designs to evaluate practice. Students develop competencies with critiques of research articles and application of existing social work knowledge and empirical research to design multi-level interventions and evaluation methods with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. Students will demonstrate beginning generalist competency through individual and group projects. Professional social work program course.
Prerequisites: SW 231, SW 251, SW 252, SW 271 and MATH 232 or PSYC 242 and Sophomore or above status
Co-requisites: SW 343L
Add Consent: Department Consent
SW 343L RESEARCH METHODS LABORATORY1 Credit
Students apply knowledge of qualitative research methods generated from class instruction and discussion in SW 343, Research Methods. Students complete qualitative research assignments as assigned by instructor.
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above status
Co-requisites: SW 343
Add Consent: Department Consent
Notes: Professional Social Work course.
SW 400 INDEPENDENT STUDY OR RESEARCH1-3 Credits
Study or research in an area of special interest.
Add Consent: Instructor Consent
Notes: The number of credit hours is determined by the topic and the amount of work required.
Requirements: Permission of instructor and Dean is required.
SW 431 GENERALIST METHODS LABORATORY1 Credit
Students acquire knowledge and practice behavior skill in professional use of self in various interpersonal situations, including professional interviewing, therapeutic relationships, and personal assertiveness. Students record role plays with peer evaluations, individually complete programmed learning exercises to demonstrate engagement, assessment, intervention planning with clients and evaluation of practice.
Prerequisites: SW 231, SW 251, SW 252, SW 271, and Junior or above status
Co-requisites: SW 432
Add Consent: Department Consent
Notes: Professional Social Work Program course.
SW 432 METHODS I: INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES3 Credits
Examines social work interventions with individuals and families based upon social work research and theory, particularly resilience and the strength's perspective. Examines approaches to assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Specific emphasis is given to social work practice behaviors and considerations of diversity when working with individuals and families.
Prerequisites: SW 231, SW 251, SW 252, SW 271, and Junior or above status
Co-requisites: SW 431
Add Consent: Department Consent
Notes: Professional Social Work Program course.
SW 433 METHODS II:THERAPEUTIC AND TASK GROUPS3 Credits
Examines a broad range of groups, with emphasis on group theory, the nature and uses of therapeutic and task groups, including: group development, dynamics, facilitation skills, group assessments and outcome evaluation. Students demonstrate competencies, practice behaviors, and application of critical thinking, social work ethics in simulations and role plays with emphasis on assessment, design, and interventions with multi-cultural individuals, families, organizations and communities.
Prerequisites: SW 343, SW 432, and Junior or above status
Notes: Professional social work program course.
SW 434 POLICY ANALYSIS AND ADVOCACY3 Credits
Examines theories on the development of public social welfare policy in the United States and explores the mechanisms and methods that sustain discrimination and oppression within policy processes. Competencies for advocacy including power differentials, negotiation and coalition building are addressed. Examines historical, content, process, political-economic, comparative, and constructivist models of policy analysis and applies these models to national and global social welfare issues for at-risk populations. Students demonstrate competencies through a policy analysis of a national policy with relevance to the local rural context, recommend proposed changes, and identify strategies for changing social welfare policies and practices.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Co-requisites: SW 433
Notes: Professional Social Work Program course.
SW 435 METHODS III: ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES3 Credits
SW 435 Methods III: Organizations and Communities Credit 3 hours
Explores strategies and tactics for organizational and community change using a strength's perspective with attention to changing barriers to out-group participation in society and with attention to building systems responsive to the physical, psychological, social and economic needs of minority populations. Students demonstrate competency in organizational and community assessments, identify change targets, and propose strategies and tactics for creating change. Students participate in a significant community level project.Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Co-requisites: SW 332 and SW 434
Notes: Professional social work program course.
SW 459 PRE-FIELD AND ORIENTATION1 Credit
Examines ethical dilemmas and ethical decision making. Social Work Code of Ethics, professional behavior, organizational entry, use of supervision, and field instruction policies and procedures. Field instructors and students complete written learning contracts with identified goals that will permit measurement of student attainment of practice behaviors and competencies applied in agency settings when in SW 464, Practicum.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Notes: Professional Social Work Program course.
SW 463 PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR2 Credits
Explores ethical issues and dilemmas and skills in collegial support and feedback through mutual problem-solving. Examines life long learning, job seeking, job interviewing, professional networking, state certification, state licensure and Social Work licensing boards, NASW membership, professional memberships and graduate MSW applications. Students report progress on achievement of learning tasks and demonstrate use of empirical knowledge to guide practice based assessments and interventions.
Prerequisites: SW 459 and Junior or above status
Co-requisites: SW 464
Add Consent: Department Consent
Notes: Advanced professional social work program course.
SW 464 SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICUM5-10 Credits
Provides a structured educational experience in an approved social service agency with an approved field instructor based upon a written learning contract. Students complete a variety of learning tasks that demonstrate practice behaviors and competencies of a beginning generalist social work professional. Students should enroll for 10 credit hours and expect to work 34-36 hours per week for the semester for a minimum total of 450 hours. In special situations and with the approval of the field director, a student may register for 5 credit hours in each of two consecutive spring semesters.
Prerequisites: SW 459 and Junior or above status
Co-requisites: SW 463
Add Consent: Department Consent
Notes: Professional social work program course.
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