Social Work Undergraduate Courses

SWK 195 Special Topics (1-5)
Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for freshmen. Students may enroll in 195 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

SWK 200 Contemporary Gender Issues (3)
The course is an elective that examines topics related to gender discrimination, and the traditional as well as the non-traditional roles assigned to females and males. Differences in communication patterns among women and men are also examined in terms of their expressions of emotions, closeness, intimacy, and autonomy. The course provides an opportunity for students to critically evaluate evidence for and against society's long held beliefs about acceptable behaviors and choices based on gender. More specifically, the variations in gender roles amount Asian-American, Hispanic, Native American and African-American women and men are examined. A variety of writing assignment are included. Students complete weekly summaries of readings, critically evaluate contrasting perspectives on gender issues, and make presentations using handouts and overheads to convey their ideas about differences in values, coping styles, and communication patterns among female and males.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

SWK 201 Social Work Practice and AIDS (3)
This course is an elective that examines topics related to understanding the psychosocial issues associated with HIV/AIDS and the various roles human service professionals assume for the delivery of services. The course provides an opportunity for students to explore personal and societal values related to HIV/AIDS and to gain a beginning knowledge of the types of assistance available to persons living with the illness. Particular attention is given to the impact of HIV/AIDS upon families and care givers in the context of coping strategies and the human service delivery system's response to their needs.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

SWK 202 Adoptive Family Systems (3)
The course explores the strengths and challenges of adoptive family life from a systems perspective and introduces current theory and research that informs social work practice in the field of adoption. The course addresses from a developmental perspective the life long impact of adoption on the adoption triad: birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children. Topics discussed include emotional processes involved with infertility and the decision to adopt, adoption and developmental stages, issues related to open adoption, and transracial adoptions.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

SWK 203 The Field of Social Work (3)
This course is an introduction to the profession of social work. It is the required first course for social work majors and is also open to students exploring the field of social work as a possible career. The course traces the historical development of the social work profession within the context of the social welfare system, introduces the generalist model of social work practice, surveys the major field of practice and populations served by social workers, and addresses the role of evaluation and research in the profession. Guest speakers from the community and field trips to community agencies provide exposure to programs and services and the roles of social workers.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

SWK 265 Child Welfare (3)
This course introduces the student to the fields of child welfare with an emphasis on child maltreatment. It looks at child abuse and neglect in all its forms (physical, sexual, emotional) in an ecological context (individual, familial, social, and cultural forces that interact with one another to cause abuse). Students are introduced to the historical context of child maltreatment, the current social policies that are in place that affect the protection of children, and the role of the social worker in child protection. Also covered are the procedures for child abuse investigation and reporting, interviewing the child and family, and the role of the court system. Controversial issues and opposing viewpoints are considered such as imprisonment of abusers, effectiveness of prevention programs, foster care, and proposed policy changes designed to reduce violence and harm to children.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

SWK 267 Alcohol and Drug Addictions: Intervention Strategies (3)
This course prepares the student in one of the helping professions to understand the primary issues related to the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs, including narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and marijuana. The impact of drug use on the individual, the family, and society will be examined, including the psychological ramifications of children of alcoholics and drug abusers. Emphasis will be on the development of intervention skills and identifying the person who is abusing chemicals. Knowledge of community resources and programs, with attention given to accessibility to deaf substance abusers, will be covered.

SWK 295 Special Topics (1-5)
Special Topics in the discipline, designed primarily for sophomores. Students may enroll in 295 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

SWK 304 Development of the American Social Welfare System (3)
This course explores the history and values of the social work profession in relation to the development of the social welfare system as well as traditional American values involved in the evolution of the current system. It also considers various conceptions of social welfare, their application in social welfare programs, and their implications in practice. Issues and policies that affect diverse populations who have experienced oppression and discrimination are examined.

Prerequisite: SWK 203.
Prerequisites or Co-requisites: ECO 205; GOV 101,102 or HIS 111, 112.

SWK 307 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3)
The course examines human behavior from conception through very old age. Throughout the course, the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth of individuals and families (micro systems) are studied. Each aspect of development is examined in the context of the environment's influence upon optimal growth. Additionally, attention is given to the interplay among culture, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity upon human behavior through the life course.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the department.

SWK 308 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3)
The course explores human behavior in communities, organizations and groups (macro systems). An overarching ecosystems perspective is emphasized for understanding how each macro system can enhance people's optimal health and well-being. Aspects of diversity are incorporated throughout the course in the form of issues that affect human behavior. Throughout the course, content about the macro social environment is directly related to generalist social work practice using case material.

Prerequisite: SWK 307; Junior standing or permission of the department.

SWK 318 Human Diversity (3)
This course provides students an opportunity for examination of personal attitudes, stereotypes, biases, and misconceptions that affect ethnic-competent professional practice. Attention is given to increasing students' knowledge, understanding, appreciation, and sensitivity to diversity, oppression, and racism, and the implications of each for social work and other human services. While the course addresses the cognitive and conceptual aspects of learning, primary emphasis is on the affective process. In addition to learning about racism, discrimination, power/powerlessness, and ethnocentrism, students participate in experiential groups and role play. These exercises provide opportunities to explore new ways of thinking, feeling, and responding to people who experience discrimination or oppression because of their race, ethnic background, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation, or because they are deaf or hard of hearing.

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

SWK 335 Social Work Practice I: Individuals (3)
This is the first course in the social work practice sequence and emphasizes the generalist model as the framework for all social work practice using a problem-solving approach. A major focus of the course is on the development of skills for practice with individuals within the context of social work values and ethics. Cross-cultural considerations and other differences between social worker and client are addressed throughout the semester. The course includes a weekly lab that provides opportunities for learning interviewing skills through the use of videotapes and role play.

Prerequisites or Co-requisites: SWK 203, 307; open to social work majors only.

SWK 337 Case Management (3)
Case Management is a required course in the practice sequence. It introduces students to case management and the various methods of intervention used with the process. Among the case management processes discussed are assessment, intake interviews, and documentation. Specialized practice skills used by case managers are also discussed. Students are taught methods for determining benefit eligibility, learn the rules and principles for referral making, and acquire knowledge related to the major income and maintenance and support programs. Ethical and legal issues surrounding case management in the context of client autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality are discussed and applied to case material. The course includes a pre-field experience that requires weekly visits to a human services organization for the purpose of observing the case management process. The course is open to social work majors only.

Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SWK 203,307,335.

SWK 395 Special Topics (1-5)
Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for juniors. Students may enroll in 395 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

SWK 436 Social Work Practice II: Families and Groups (3)
This course focuses on the development of knowledge and skills for social work practice with families and groups. Particular attention is given to families in which one or more members is deaf or hard of hearing, to other minority families, and to practice issues with groups of deaf people and groups of other minority people.

Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SWK 335, 337.
Co-requisite: SWK 484.

SWK 441 Research Methods in Social Work I (3)
The focus of this course is on the development of knowledge and skills for systematically monitoring and evaluating social work practice. The course covers quantitative and qualitative methods, ethical issues in research, special considerations in cross-cultural research, the value of single subject designs for evaluation of practice, critical analysis of research studies, and use of research findings in professional practice.

Prerequisite: SWK 335.

SWK 442 Research Methods in Social Work II-Data Analysis (3)
This course focuses on statistical and qualitative methods of data analysis that provide tools for social workers to evaluate their own practice and programs. Included are descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, content analysis of case studies, and inductive analysis of informant interviews and focus groups. The course also introduces students to the use of the computer in data analysis and provides hands-on experience with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and with the Ethnograph software package for qualitative data analysis.

Prerequisite: SWK 441.

SWK 482 Social Work Practice III: Organizations and Communities (3)
This course focuses on the development of skills for planned change in organizations and communities. The problem-solving process learned in previous social work practice courses is applied to problem analysis, goal formulation, and implementation of change within organizations and communities. Field practicum agencies, human service organizations, and other programs and services in the community are assessed, needs and problems are identified, and strategies for planned change are developed. Specific attention is given to strategies for change that will benefit traditionally underserved populations such as deaf and hard of hearing people, racial and ethnic minorities, women, people with disabilities, gays and lesbians, and older people.

Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SWK 436.

SWK 484 Social Work Practicum I:Internship (4)
This course is part of a sequence with SWK486. During this course, students spend two full days (16 hours) per week within a practicum agency carefully selected to provide educationally sound experiences supervised by professional social workers. During the internship, students develop skills working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students have approximately 250 hours of practicum during this first semester.

Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SWK 335, 337.
Co-requisite: SWK 436 and permission of the department.

SWK 486 Social Work Practicum II: Internship (4)
During this second semester, students remain in the same practicum agency to ensure that there is sufficient time to develop plans and implement interventions at all levels in the attainment of skills for generalist social work practice. There are again approximately 250 hours of internship.

Prerequisite: SWK 484; Grade of C or better in SWK 436.

SWK 494 Senior Seminar (3)
This course taken in the final semester of the major focuses on furthering the process of integrating social work knowledge, values, and skills. Students draw upon and apply knowledge of generalist social work practice and the specific knowledge, values, and skills required for work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The objective of this course is to enhance the students' ability to practice social work in the internship and to be prepared as beginning professional level generalist social workers upon completion of the program.

Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SWK 436 and SWK 484.
Co-requisite: SWK 486.

SWK 495 Special Topics (1-5)
Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for seniors who are majors or minors. Students may enroll in 495 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

SWK 499 Independent Study (1-3)
Intensive supervised study and research on topics of the student's selection.

Prerequisite: Independent study form, permission of the department.