Social Work (Undergraduate)

Survey of the field of professional social work, including the roles, philosophy, values, skills, and knowledge base needed. Areas of practice and career expectations are explained.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

The purpose of the course is to assist students in discovering and strengthening personal and professional identities around: shame and vulnerability; healthy relationships and boundary setting; wholehearted living including courage, compassion, and connection; loss and grief; mindfulness; exploring passion to help understand purpose; and joyful living.

This course focuses on the work of Dr. Brene Brown centered on courage, compassion, and connection; and how to be deliberate in thoughts and behaviors, how to be inspired to make new and different choices, and incorporating vulnerability into everyday living. It will also distinguish death from tangible and intangible losses, and define types of grief and how to move through toward healing. Conversations about healthy relationships and boundary setting will be included, while discussions of strengths, resiliency, and happiness will occur throughout the course. Finally, the work of Dr. Elisha Goldstein and his strategies to mindful moments and living will be addressed and implemented.

A topical course designed to investigate relevant subject matter not included in any standard courses. The title and the content will be determined by current mutual interests of students and faculty. This course may be offered to meet a requirement for a major only by approval of the department chair.

This is a research course. The student initially meets with the department chair to select a study topic and review research methods. At this time the student will be assigned a faculty resource person to guide his or her work and assist in an advisory capacity. A copy of the student's work is filed in the archives for the department. Independent study may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing or permission of the department chair.

Supervised individual projects for students on topics selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. Special Projects may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

This course studies the historical development of social welfare policies, services, and institutions and addresses contemporary policy and service delivery. The social, political, and value systems that create policies are studied. A systems perspective focuses on the relationship between policy, services, and institutions at the local, state, and federal levels. International perspectives on social policy are discussed for comparative purposes. Primary areas of focus are public welfare, aging, and mental health. Policy implementation and change are discussed.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

A course to synthesize and examine the body of knowledge concerning how the individual, group, family, and community systems interrelate with each other and the larger social context from the lifespan stages of birth through adolescence. Content will be drawn from the biological, psychological, sociological, eco-political, and cultural-environmental systems. The importance of professional ethics in the assessment process is also examined.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

A course to synthesize and examine the body of knowledge concerning how the individual, group, family, and community systems interrelate with each other and the larger social context from the lifespan stages of early adulthood through aging and death. Content will be drawn from the biological, psychological, sociological, eco-political, and cultural-environmental systems. The importance of professional ethics in the assessment process is also examined.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This course will expose students to the various types of violence experienced by individuals and families across their lifespan. An introduction to various theories used in working with survivors of abuse will be presented and students will learn about bruises and fractures associated with child abuse. The influence of societal "isms", culture, gender, and sexual orientation related to violence will be incorporated into the material being discussed.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This course will focus on helping participants identify the numerous losses suffered in their own lives and in the lives of others. We will address the relevant methods, theories and skill base needed to provide social work intervention to the bereaved. The assessment of grief reactions and social work roles and tasks in facilitating mourning will be presented. The concepts of companioning and hospice care will be addressed. Finally, students will increase their competency with death and demonstrate increased sensitivity, awareness, and skills in coping with grief and death.

A course designed to treat subject matter not covered in other departmental courses or to provide study of subject matter introduced in other courses. The title, content, and credit hours will be determined by current mutual interests of faculty and students.

This is a research course. The student initially meets with the department chair to select a study topic and review research methods. At this time the student will be assigned a faculty resource person to guide his or her work and assist in an advisory capacity. A copy of the student's work is filed in the archives for the department. Independent study may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing or permission of the department chair.

Supervised individual projects for students on topics selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. Special Projects may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Emphasis on social work theory and practice skills. Study of communication patterns, empathic response and assessment of client situations. Experiential learning through role playing, observation, and discussion.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work or permission of the social work program director.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

This course provides an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings as well as the practical applications of group work as a vehicle for social work. It also explores how and why groups function and develop skills and techniques of membership and leadership.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work or permission of the social work program director. (Normally offered each spring semester.)

An introductory course to the administration and planning of social service organizations. Major emphasis upon community, organization, and legislative analysis; management skills; program planning; and evaluation. A practice-oriented course including simulations, in-class projects, volunteer experience, and personal introspection.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work and SOCWK 2200 Social Welfare Policy, Services, and Delivery Systems or permission of the social work program director.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of strengths perspective theory, assessment, and intervention with individuals, families, and communities. Students are also introduced to concepts from related solution-oriented intervention approaches. Strategies and techniques for structuring the helping process in a way that maximizes client self-determination and the probability of successful goal attainments will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work and junior standing or permission of the social work program director.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

This course will study the importance of understanding the experience of children who are exposed to conditions that cause psychological trauma. The course will cover early childhood relationships, beginning with an overview of learning about the pioneers of the field and their contributions to our current understanding of trauma and its effects on children. Students will be provided with information on attachment theory, trauma theory, and a general discussion of trauma and its effects on neurological development in children. The course will also provide an understanding of how to intervene on behalf of traumatized children as a generalist social work practitioner.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work.

The course surveys the field of social work in the health care arena. A generalist social work perspective will be used to address the social work roles of assessment, intervention, advocacy, and policy analysis in the health care environment. Social work roles at the individual, group, and organizational/community levels will be addressed.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work and junior standing or permission of the social work program director.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

A topical course designed to investigate relevant subject matter not included in any of the standard courses. The title and content will be determined by current mutual interests of students and faculty. This course may be offered to meet a requirement for a major only by approval of the department chair.

Intensive readings in the discipline.

An opportunity for students to learn from direct experience and personal interaction guided by lectures in the field and selected readings. Students will be guided to formulate and carry out specific research and/or establish constructive relationships with the subjects.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology and ANTHR 1150 Cultural Anthropology or approval of the instructor.
Cross-listed with ANTHR 3930 Field Studies: Native American Life

See department for course description.

Supervised individual projects in conjunction with departmental research, community services and student interest. Special Projects may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Approval of the social work program director.

An introduction and overview of research methods used in generalist social work practice. Course content includes both quantitative and qualitative methods and emphasizes critiquing research, program evaluation, methods of data collection and analysis, single-subject design, ethical considerations, and the application of evidence-based practice to improve policy and social service delivery.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 1150 Introduction to Social Work; SOC 2910 Social Statistics or PSYCH 2100 Psychological Statistics or ECON 2100 Business and Economic Statistics or BUSAD 2100 Business and Economic Statistics; and junior standing.
(Normally offered each semester.)

A topical course designed to investigate relevant subject matter not included in any standard courses. The title and the content will be determined by current mutual interests of students and faculty. This course may be offered to meet a requirement for a major only by approval of the department chair.

An opportunity for students, under the supervision of a faculty member, to pursue study of literature not covered in other coursework.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

This is a research course. The student initially meets with the department chair to select a study topic and review research methods. At this time the student will be assigned a faculty resource person to guide his or her work and assist in an advisory capacity. A copy of the student's work is filed in the archives for the department. Independent study may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing or permission of the department chair.

Supervised individual projects for students on topics selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. Special Projects may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Supervised learning experiences in selected social work agencies. The experience introduces a variety of social work practice roles and enables the student to apply social work knowledge, skills, and values in a real practice situation. May be taken as block placement for 9 credit hours or as a concurrent placement over two semesters for a total of 9 credit hours.
Prerequisite(s): SOCWK 3080 Micro Practice, SOCWK 3090 Group Practice, and SOCWK 3100 Macro Practice, with grades of "B-" or better, and approved Pre-Field Placement Consultation.

A research seminar in which students conducting their research to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement meet regularly to share insights, progress, and problems encountered along the way.