Courses and Descriptions
SOW 200 Social Services & Social Work 3 Credits
An overview of the historical development of social work. Emphasis on current issues in social welfare and social service programs in the United States. Among the programs explored are those in public welfare, mental health, medical services, child abuse/neglect, school social work, and care for the elderly.
SOW 222 Social Justice and Equity in Social Work 3 Credits
Social Justice & Equity in Social Work (3) Implications of social diversity, including values, lifestyles, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, culture, spirituality, and sexual orientation in the socially just social work relationship, as well as the significance of oppression in shaping the relationship.
Prerequisite(s): SOW 200.
SOW 250 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I 3 Credits
Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) is part one of a two sequence set of courses for majors in Social Work. HBSE I uses a life course perspective to explore the stages of human development and growth with a focus on adolescence, early adulthood, the middle years, and aged adults.
SOW 251 Human Behavior and Social Environment II 3 Credits
Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) is part two of a two sequence set of courses for majors in Social Work. HBSE II continues working in the systems theory and ecological model for understanding human behavior in the social work environment.
SOW 290 Advocacy and Social Action for Professional Social Workers 3 Credits
The focus of this course is to discuss relevant theories and strategies of social and political action that promote social justice within organizations, the larger community, and society. In this course students will gain an understanding of policy practice theory and skills in regard to social, economic, political, and organizational systems, and will use this knowledge to then influence, formulate, and advocate for policy changes to meet the needs of clients. They will develop the skills to create change at the client, agency, community, and/or societal level that is founded on the principles and ideals of social, distributive, political, and economic justice. Where advocacy assumes that people have rights, and those rights are enforceable, social action involves a coordinated and sustained effort to achieve institutional change to meet a need, solve a social problem, or correct an injustice to improve and/or enhance the quality of human life and individual well-being. This effort may occur at the initiative and direction of professional social workers, or it may occur through the efforts of individuals directly affected by the problem or policy change. Professional social workers must utilize their clinical skills, knowledge, and differential use of self to critically assess values, and evaluate needs and gaps in services for our constituents.
Prerequisite(s): SOW 200.
SOW 300 Social Work Practice 3 Credits
The course builds upon and reinforces the foundation of generalist social work knowledge, social work values, ethics, attitudes, and skills introduced in the Introduction to Social Work course. Students study the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and practice ethical decision-making. The course reinforces the skills necessary to implement the phases of the planned change model to social work practice with multi-level client systems (individuals, groups, families, communities, and organizations). Interviewing techniques are taught and practiced. Skills in forming and running small groups, working with community organizations, and administering social programs are emphasized. Students study how to gather pertinent psycho-social facts about clients, make an assessment, plan an intervention, and successfully complete service to the client. Students who next will take SOW 301 Field Work Experience will be placed in a social service agency by the end of the semester.
Prerequisite(s): SOW 200.
SOW 301 Field Work Experience 3 Credits
Students observe and work in a social service agency. They study the structure of the agency and the people and roles within it, and develop helping skills with clients. Approximately six to eight hours of field work a week for each three credits are required, plus class sessions during the semester.
Prerequisite(s): SOW 200, SOW 300. May be taken twice in two separate semesters for a maximum of six credits toward the total credits required for graduation.
SOW 400 Social Work Senior Seminar 3 Credits
Draws on and develops students' knowledge and understanding of combining research with field work. Students must critically analyze a social justice or human rights issue relevant to their field experiences. Topics vary. Students will be expected to contribute to seminar discussions and to complete research projects related to their field experience and the seminar theme. This seminar will prepare graduates to transition from the classroom to the workplace.