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2024-25 Academic Catalog

SWRK Course Descriptions

Table of Contents

SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the values, ethics, theory, roles, and responsibilities of social workers within generalist social work practice with a special focus on working with diverse populations. The course focuses on how students' personal experiences, evolving worldview, and self-awareness can be developed and utilized as a foundation for social work practice focused on service and justice. Special attention is given to the history of the social work profession, its response to current and historical contexts of oppression and racism, and how the social work profession empowers people to advocate and take action towards social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. This course requires volunteer work in a social work agency or with an organization serving individuals, families, or communities who identify with specific vulnerabilities. This course is required for those majoring in Social Work and must be taken prior to entrance into the social work cohort program or within the first semester following student's acceptance into the social work cohort program.

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SWRK 210 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the criminal justice system, including the historical development of our system in the United States, featuring the fundamentals of the system and legal foundations as well as the contemporary system of processing cases. We will examine different theoretical models for describing criminal behavior. The class will also cover ethical considerations for criminal justice professionals. The theory, structure, and operation of each of the principal components of the Criminal Justice System (i.e., law enforcement, courts, and corrections) will be examined in detail. Identification of issues related to social, economic, environmental, and racial justice within the criminal justice system will be discussed.

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SWRK 240 Statistical Procedures

3 credit hours

This course provides education in applied statistics for the social and behavioral sciences. Emphasis is placed on statistical logic and decision making. Prerequisite: high school algebra.

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SWRK 275 Field Experience

1-3 credit hour

Supervised experience in the discipline including internships and practica required for professional programs. This introductory experience must have an on-site supervisor and/or a departmental instructor overseeing, designing, and evaluating the content of the course. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.

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SWRK 285 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A special-interest class offered on a onetime basis addressing a subject in the field that is of general interest to the university community. Prerequisite: by permission.

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SWRK 290 Diversity Issues in Social Work

3 credit hours

This course introduces students to issues of diversity and difference in preparation for culturally competent social work practice. Students will learn about vulnerable and marginalized groups and the environmental systems which impact them. Special attention is given to issues of intersectionality, bias, discrimination, power and privilege, and oppression. Students will explore their own personal identity and how their views, beliefs, values and behaviors may support or hinder future social work practice with diverse populations. Prerequisites: Declared social work major, social welfare minor, or permission of the instructor.

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SWRK 295 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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SWRK 321 Family Violence

3 credit hours

This course provides an overview of the different types of violence that occur within family systems. Attention will be given to the intersection of diverse identities and violence, factors within society that contribute to violence, and societal responses to violence within society. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 Personhood or SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, and at least sophomore level status or instructor's permission.

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SWRK 322 Death, Loss, and Grief

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to different views of death, loss, and grief in the context of the biopsychosocial-spiritual model. Topics will include the human response to loss throughout the lifespan, societal and cultural/ethnic responses to dying and death, ethical issues related to dying and death, suicide, and advanced planning for death and dying. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 Personhood or SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, and at least sophomore level status or instructor's permission.

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SWRK 323 Trauma and Recovery

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the impact of trauma on individuals and communities. Types of trauma, including generational and racial trauma, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, and communal trauma will be covered. Topics will include how trauma affects the brain, body, relationships with others, and relationship with self. An introduction to trauma recovery and trauma-informed interventions will be included. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 Personhood or SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, at least sophomore level status or instructor’s permission.

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SWRK 324 Mental Health and Substance Abuse

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to substance abuse and mental health within diverse cultural and racial contexts. Students will learn about the major DSM-V mental health disorders and treatment for mental illness. Substance addiction, treatment, and the social impact drugs have on society will be examined. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 Personhood or SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, at least sophomore level status or instructor’s permission.

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SWRK 326 Child Welfare

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to basic principles of child welfare, with emphasis upon the services for families and children needing various types of support. Focus is on developing knowledge and understanding of child welfare and supportive services. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 Personhood or SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, at least sophomore level status or instructor’s permission.

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SWRK 327 Health Services with Older Adults

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the study of aging, older people, and their adaptation to a rapidly-changing world from a social work perspective. It examines a wide variety of physical, cognitive, and psycho-social changes that occur through the ages, how these factors influence interaction with social/physical environments, and how the older person is, in turn, affected by these interactions. Social work perspectives, values, and interventions with this population will be emphasized. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 Personhood or SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work, at least sophomore level status or instructor’s permission.

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SWRK 331 Human Behavior in the Social Environment

3 credit hours

This course provides and seeks to apply a basic framework for creating and organizing knowledge of human behavior during the lifespan. Social systems, human development theories, and strengths approaches are critically examined to foster understanding of individual, family, group, organizational, and community behaviors and the impact of the larger environment on these systems. Special attention is given to the impact of human diversity, discrimination, and oppression on the ability of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to reach or maintain optimal health and well-being. Prerequisite: Formal admission to the Social Work Program, declared minor in Social Welfare, or instructor permission.

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SWRK 333 Human Rights and Justice

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to practices that advance human rights and promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. Related concepts of oppression, power, privilege, and inequality will also be covered. Prerequisite: Formal admission to the Social Work Program or a declared minor in Social Welfare.

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SWRK 391 Social Work Practice I: Individuals

3 credit hours

This course provides a study of generalist social work practice with individuals. Micro-level theory, skills and interviewing techniques are applied to generalist social work with an understanding of how bias, power and privilege, and personal values and experiences affect social work practice with diverse clients. Furthermore, this course assists the students in necessary self-exploration as it relates to self-awareness and future ethical social work practice. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: SWRK 180 Introduction to Social Work; formal admission into the Social Work Program.

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SWRK 392 Social Work Practice II: Groups and Families

3 credit hours

This course provides a study of mezzo-level generalist social work practice with families and groups. Attention is given to a systems framework of generalist social work practice, with a particular focus upon assessment and development of culturally appropriate and evidenced-based intervention strategies. Prerequisites: SWRK 391 Social Work Practice I: Individuals; formal admission into the Social Work Program.

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SWRK 393 Social Work Practice III: Organizations and Communities

3 credit hours

This course provides an overview of generalist social work methods practiced with organizations and communities with focus on planning, implementing, assessing, and evaluating macro-level systems. Special attention is given to macro-level advocacy for social justice issues, including, but not limited to anti-racism, discrimination, equity, and inclusion. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: SWRK 392 Social Work Practice II: Groups and Families; formal admission into the social work program.

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SWRK 399 Cross-Cultural Experience

3 credit hours

This course offers in-depth discipline specific cross-cultural study designed to enhance the intercultural emphasis of various academic majors. The course includes class meetings in the spring followed by travel to various locations throughout the world in May. Students will use core disciplinary knowledge to serve, learn and interact with other cultures. Offered at the discretion of the department. Upper division students, by permission. Additional course fee is required.

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SWRK 420 Social Work and Diverse Populations

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to issues of diversity and difference in preparation for social work practice with cultural humility. Students will learn about vulnerable and marginalized groups and the environmental systems which impact them. Special attention is given to issues of intersectionality, bias, discrimination, power and privilege, and oppression. Students will explore their own personal identity and how their views, beliefs, values, and behaviors may support or hinder future social work practice with diverse populations. Prerequisite: SWRK 333 Human Rights and Justice and formal admission into the social work program; or a declared Criminal Justice Minor.

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SWRK 440 Social Work Research Methods

3 credit hours

This course provides basic knowledge about research methods as it applies to social work practice. Students learn how to access, critique, synthesize, articulate research findings derived from interprofessional and diverse research methods, approaches, and sources. Students learn the inherent bias in research and evaluate design, analysis, and interpretation using an anti-racist and anti-oppressive perspective to inform decisions pertaining to practice, policy, and programs. Topics specific to social work research such as agency-based research, program evaluation, outcomes evaluation and single-subject design will be emphasized. This course demonstrates the need for and encourages the use of research in social work practice. Prerequisites: SWRK 240 Statistical Procedures; formal admission into the Social Work Program.

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SWRK 460 Social Policy

3 credit hours

This course provides an in-depth analysis of how human needs and values are translated into social policy on community, state, national and international levels. Special attention is given to the ways in which values and power interests influence the creation of social policy. Emphasis is placed on the history of social welfare and related policies, the process of policy formation and analysis, and impact of policy on vulnerable populations. The course includes a critique of historical and current social policy and the systems related to social policy to provide a foundation for policy practice that is rights-based, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist. Implications for generalist social work practice and services will be explored through a variety of class activities. Prerequisites: SWRK 333 Human Rights and Justice, SWRK 420 Social Work with Diverse Populations; formal admission into the Social Work Program or a declared Social Welfare Minor.

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SWRK 475 Field Experience

1-10 credit hou

Supervised experience in the discipline including internships and practica required for professional programs. This introductory experience must have an on-site supervisor and/or a departmental instructor overseeing, designing, and evaluating the content of the course. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.

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SWRK 476 Social Work Internship and Seminar I

6 credit hours

This course provides a beginning level of supervised social work internship experience in a social service agency where students begin applying generalist practice skills of working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This is the first course in the internship experience/instruction sequence. Students integrate and apply concepts from social work practice courses focused on professionalism, ethics, policy, research, diversity, human rights and justice, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion and the generalist social work perspective. Additionally, students attend a one-hour seminar each week that addresses the integration of classroom concepts and experiences at the agency. (225 clock-hours with the agency) Prerequisites: SWRK 391 Social Work Practice I: Individuals, SWRK 392 Social Work Practice II: Groups and Families; formal admission into the Social Work Program.

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SWRK 477 Social Work Internship and Seminar II

6 credit hours

This course provides further depth and integration of theory, classroom learning, and experience within the student's internship experience/instruction, building on concepts developed in SWRK 476. This is the second course in the internship experience/instruction sequence. Ideally, SWRK 476 and 477 will occur in a full-year practicum during the student's final year. Macro-practice concepts will be emphasized and topics will include work with agency boards, communities, governmental systems; implementation of a research project in the agency; community analysis; termination with clients and the agency; addressing social inequities in the student's field experience/practicum; engage in Anti-racism, Diversity , Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) in practice; policy issues; and ethical conduct/NASW Code of Ethics. Required for majors. Additionally, students attend a one-hour seminar each week that addresses the integration of classroom concepts and experiences at the agency. (225 clock-hours with the agency) Prerequisites: SWRK 391 Social Work Practice I: Individuals, SWRK 392 Social Work Practice II: Groups and Families, SWRK 476 Social Work Internship and Seminar I; formal admission into the Social Work Program.

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SWRK 485 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A special-interest class that addresses a relevant subject in the helping professions. Previous and projected subjects include, but are not limited to, administration and community planning; cognitive and behavioral theories; crisis and trauma recovery; current issues in social work; medical and mental health services; systemic and ecological theories; social policy; and treating addictive behaviors. Prerequisites: PSYC 150 General Psychology or SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology and at least sophomore level status or instructor permission.

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SWRK 490 Senior Seminar

3 credit hours

This course provides an opportunity for students to consolidate substantive knowledge regarding the CSWE Competencies found in the CSWE EPAS. Students apply knowledge and skills gained across their BSW courses to the social work profession, including ethical social work practice, advocacy for human rights and justice, generalist social work practice across the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Students develop a framework for their social work practice focused on theory, self-awareness, ethics and professionalism, and the integration of spirituality and religion in social work practice. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: SWRK 440 Social Work Research Methods, SWRK 460 Social Policy and SWRK 476 Social Work Internship and Seminar I; formal admission into the Social Work Program.

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SWRK 495 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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