The social work program offers a major in social work leading to a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. A liberal arts foundation is an integral part of an undergraduate social work education and provides an essential context for understanding human behavior. The B.S.W. prepares students for entry level generalist social work practice as well as graduate education in social work and related fields. Bachelor level social workers are employed in all areas of human services and health care. They are also eligible for advanced standing in graduate programs in social work.

Students who are interested in pursuing a social work major may declare a social work major at any time by completing the major declaration form available from the University Registrar or on-line. Social work majors must also apply for 12-credit field placement completed during the senior year. This process is required to help ensure that students possess both the academic ability and personal maturity necessary for beginning social work practice. To apply for admission to the field placement, students be at least a first semester junior, have an overall GPA of 2.25 and a C- or higher in all social work courses. Specifics of the application process may be obtained from any member of the social work faculty.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior Competency
2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice Competency
3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice Competency
4. Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice Competency
5. Engage in Policy Practice Competency
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Curriculum

+Major Requirements

PSY101	General Psychology An introduction to the scientific study of behavior with an emphasis on the origins of behavior, learning, social influences, physiological factors, individual differences, personality, and adjustment and maladjustment.	3
PSY314W	Foundations of Behavioral Research This course examines the scientific method employed by social scientists. Topics include types of variables, validity and reliability, research ethics, experimentation, and field research. Students will conduct research and write scientific papers in areas of social science. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: PSY213 Statistics and Research Design	3
SWK101	Introduction to Sociology This course introduces students to the basic sociological concepts, including sociological imagination, socialization, social institutions, social stratification, and social inequality. Emphasis is placed on conceptual tools necessary for the analysis of the influence of social structures on human behavior and life chances.	3
SWK102	Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues This course examines selected social issues as well as related social welfare policies and programs. It introduces the profession of social work, key aspects of the professional knowledge base, fields of practice, and populations served by social workers. This course is appropriate for students who are considering social work as a profession and as well as for those with an interest in related fields such as psychology, counseling, and public policy.	3
SWK201W	Human Behavior in the Social Environment I This course examines the development of individuals, couples, and families from birth to death within the framework of relevant biological, psychological, sociological, and social work research and theory. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: PSY101 General Psychology	3
SWK321	Social Welfare and Social Justice This course examines the history, development, context, and current status of the American social welfare system. The American system is compared with policies and programs in other countries. The specifics of major welfare programs such as Social Security and Temporary Aid to Needy Families are explored.	3
SWK322W	Social Welfare: Women and Policy This course is designed to examine current issues and policies that impact the lives of women and to explore methods of creating or modifying policies. This course will utilize a comparative policy framework to explore the strengths and weaknesses of current interventions regarding their promotion of social and economic justice.	3
SWK351	Interviewing and Assessment with Individuals This course introduces generalist social work practice, including its philosophy, domains, and values. The role of the practitioner and an overview of the helping process provide the foundation for the study and practice of basic interviewing skills. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
SWK352	Interventions with Individuals and Families Building on the knowledge and skills acquired in Social Work 351, this course focuses on direct practice with individuals and families, including the assessment, middle, and termination phases of social work practice. Skills for working with diverse populations will be illustrated and practiced using videos and role playing. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
SWK354	Working with Groups This course examines the essential components of generalist social work practice with groups. Topics include group typology, formation, development, and processes. Strategies for effective leadership with small and large groups are explored using both didactic and experiential methods. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
SWK355	Working with Organizations and Communities The focus of this course is generalist social work practice as applied to macro practice activities. It introduces students to generalist social work practice intended to bring changes to organizations, communities, and institutions with the goal of advancing the achievement of individual and collective social and economic justice. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
SWK490	Integrative Capstone The integrative capstone, undertaken by the student during the senior year, is an extended project that helps the student complete their transition from an undergraduate student to a world-ready professional. The study usually centers on the student’s major and may be conducted, at least in part, in the context of a group experience. Such programs are crafted to meet the unique needs of each major, and could include, for example, fieldwork, theater production, creative work in the arts, independent research, or independent readings. The integrative capstone in an interdisciplinary major must have the approval of both academic programs. Pre-requisites Complete all 2 of the following courses: PSY213 Statistics and Research Design PSY314W Foundations of Behavioral Research	3
12 credits of field placement from the following:
SWK451A	Field Placement I Students participate in a practice experience with the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, ethics, and practice skills. Students work closely with their field instructors, as well as meeting weekly with social work faculty. Students must complete a total of 12 credits of field placement. Pre-requisites Complete all 3 of the following courses: SWK352 Interventions with Individuals and Families SWK354 Working with Groups SWK355 Working with Organizations and Communities	1
SWK451B	Field Placement II Students participate in a practice experience with the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, ethics, and practice skills. Students work closely with their field instructors, as well as meeting weekly with social work faculty. Students must complete a total of 12 credits of field placement. Pre-requisites Complete all 3 of the following courses: SWK352 Interventions with Individuals and Families SWK354 Working with Groups SWK355 Working with Organizations and Communities	2
SWK451C	Field Placement III Students participate in a practice experience with the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, ethics, and practice skills. Students work closely with their field instructors, as well as meeting weekly with social work faculty. Students must complete a total of 12 credits of field placement. Pre-requisites Complete all 3 of the following courses: SWK352 Interventions with Individuals and Families SWK354 Working with Groups SWK355 Working with Organizations and Communities	3
SWK451D	Field Placement IV Students participate in a practice experience with the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, ethics, and practice skills. Students work closely with their field instructors, as well as meeting weekly with social work faculty. Students must complete a total of 12 credits of field placement. Pre-requisites Complete all 3 of the following courses: SWK352 Interventions with Individuals and Families SWK354 Working with Groups SWK355 Working with Organizations and Communities	4
SWK451E	Field Placement V Students participate in a practice experience with the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, ethics, and practice skills. Students work closely with their field instructors, as well as meeting weekly with social work faculty. Students must complete a total of 12 credits of field placement. Pre-requisites Complete all 3 of the following courses: SWK352 Interventions with Individuals and Families SWK354 Working with Groups SWK355 Working with Organizations and Communities	5

+Minor Requirements

This minor is intended for students who are interested in exploring the field of social work for further study. It does not prepare a student for professional social work practice. Instead, it can be used to understand the field of social work and explore professional careers within the field. 18 credits

SWK102	Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues This course examines selected social issues as well as related social welfare policies and programs. It introduces the profession of social work, key aspects of the professional knowledge base, fields of practice, and populations served by social workers. This course is appropriate for students who are considering social work as a profession and as well as for those with an interest in related fields such as psychology, counseling, and public policy.	3
SWK201W	Human Behavior in the Social Environment I This course examines the development of individuals, couples, and families from birth to death within the framework of relevant biological, psychological, sociological, and social work research and theory. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: PSY101 General Psychology	3
OR
SWK202	Human Behavior in the Social Environment II This course is a continuation of SWK 201W. It examines the development of individuals, couples, and families from adolescence to death within social work research and theory. Also explored are systems that influence gender, race, ethnicity, social, and economic influences within the context of families, groups, organizations, institutions, and communities. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK201W Human Behavior in the Social Environment I	3
SWK321	Social Welfare and Social Justice This course examines the history, development, context, and current status of the American social welfare system. The American system is compared with policies and programs in other countries. The specifics of major welfare programs such as Social Security and Temporary Aid to Needy Families are explored.	3
OR
SWK322W	Social Welfare: Women and Policy This course is designed to examine current issues and policies that impact the lives of women and to explore methods of creating or modifying policies. This course will utilize a comparative policy framework to explore the strengths and weaknesses of current interventions regarding their promotion of social and economic justice.	3
SWK351	Interviewing and Assessment with Individuals This course introduces generalist social work practice, including its philosophy, domains, and values. The role of the practitioner and an overview of the helping process provide the foundation for the study and practice of basic interviewing skills. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
SWK352	Interventions with Individuals and Families Building on the knowledge and skills acquired in Social Work 351, this course focuses on direct practice with individuals and families, including the assessment, middle, and termination phases of social work practice. Skills for working with diverse populations will be illustrated and practiced using videos and role playing. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
OR
SWK354	Working with Groups This course examines the essential components of generalist social work practice with groups. Topics include group typology, formation, development, and processes. Strategies for effective leadership with small and large groups are explored using both didactic and experiential methods. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
OR
SWK355	Working with Organizations and Communities The focus of this course is generalist social work practice as applied to macro practice activities. It introduces students to generalist social work practice intended to bring changes to organizations, communities, and institutions with the goal of advancing the achievement of individual and collective social and economic justice. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: SWK102 Introduction to Social Work, Social Justice and Social Issues	3
Elective social work (SWK) course at the 200 or 300 level