Social Work Courses

SOW200 - Introduction to Helping Relationships and Services (fall, spring) 4 credits
Human need as experienced and expressed in diverse cultural perspectives (especially in oppressed and vulnerable populations) and of patterns involved in providing services to enhance the meeting of those needs. Practice settings, roles, and a variety of value issues to increase self-awareness, explore value differences, and probe the dynamics of understanding a different reality system. Opportunity to consider social work as a possible career choice. Includes off-campus lab hours. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; an introductory course in the social and behavioral sciences.

SOW227E(U) - Social Relations: Issues of Power and Privilege in the U.S. (spring) 3 credits

Using minority/majority as sociological concepts to analyze individual behavior and group relationships, the distribution of power and privilege between minority and majority groups is studied. Issues of ethnicity, race, gender, faith perspective, physical and mental attributes, and social class are examined. Includes social justice theories and applications.

SOW250 - Social Welfare in America (spring) 3 credits
Development of the welfare state in America from colonial period to the present with a brief examination of European roots and influences. Historical context, reform movements, and resultant legislation, including that which emphasizes the roles of minorities and women. (Carries cross-credit in history.)

SOW304 - Social Work Practice I & Human Behavior in the Social Environment (fall) 4 credits
Generalist social work practice theory within an HBSE, social systems, and problem-solving context in preparation for service to individuals, families, groups, and communities. Includes relationship development, data collection, assessment, intervention planning, and termination. Practice issues pertaining to minorities, women, and other historically vulnerable populations. Prerequisites: Junior standing; major in social work; SOW200; PSY203 Lifespan Development; BIO103D Human Biology.

SOW305 - Social Policy Change Strategies (spring) 4 credits
Interrelationship of social problems, social welfare policies, and resultant social welfare services from historical, ideological, political, and programmatic perspectives. Social systems and HBSE content of special relevance to social welfare policy analysis. Includes community-based projects. Prerequisites: SOW200, SOW250; ECO200 Economics of Public Policy Analysis; POS100 Contemporary American Politics. (Nonmajors may take course only with consent of instructor.)

SOW313 - Social Work Practice II (fall) 3 credits
Generalist social work practice with an emphasis on skill development essential for professional practice, including effective communication skills with individuals, groups, and families. Includes relationship development, evaluation, assessment, intervention planning, and termination. Community-based projects are required. Must be taken concurrently with SOW304. Prerequisites: Junior standing; major in social work.

SOW334 - Social Work Field Experience (spring) 3 credits
Placement in a field agency under social work supervision, plus a weekly integrative (group supervision) seminar. Students are in the field a minimum of 120 hours, averaging 10 hours per week for 14 weeks. Increased readiness for senior-level field instruction is a primary course objective. Must be taken concurrently with SOW305. Prerequisites: SOW304, SOW313; major in social work; admission into the social work program.

SOW351 - Methods of Applied Social Research and Statistics (fall) 4 credits
Social research methods, including an emphasis on becoming proficient and critical consumers of research-based data, for the purposes of knowledge advancement, informed practice, and program and practice effectiveness evaluation. Prerequisites: Mathematics (M) course; an introductory course in the social and behavioral sciences.

SOW405 - Social Work Practice III & Human Behavior in the Social Environment (fall) 4 credits
Continuation of SOW304 and SOW313 in providing a generalist orientation to social work practice. Application of HBSE knowledge to social work practice, intervention skills in working with individuals, groups, families, and communities. Making referrals, applied research, and professional teamwork. Must be taken concurrently with SOW432. Prerequisite: All 300 level social work required courses; acceptance into the social work program.

SOW432 - Social Work Field Instruction I (fall, spring) 3 credits
Placement in an agency setting under the tutelage of an agency-based social work field instructor. Engagement in a variety of professional roles and activities to achieve beginning-level social work practice skill. An on-campus, weekly integrative seminar. Time involvement must total a minimum of 135 clock hours in the field. Must be taken concurrently with SOW405. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the social work program.

SOW433 - Social Work Field Instruction II (fall, spring) 3 credits
A continuation of SOW432. Time involvement must total a minimum of 135 clock hours in the field. Must be taken concurrently with SOW499. Prerequisite: SOW432.

SOW434 - Social Work Field Instruction III (fall, spring) 3 credits
A continuation of SOW432. Time involvement must total a minimum of 135 clock hours in the field. Must be taken concurrently with SOW499. Prerequisite: SOW433.

SOW499 - Senior Integrative Seminar (spring) 3 credits
A synthesizing experience whereby students bring together the various threads of the social work practice generalist model through research, professional writing and presentations, and networking with other professionals. The culminating activity requires research presented in the form of a journal article or a grant proposal related to the field practice setting. Must be taken concurrently with SOW433 and 434. Prerequisites: SOW351, SOW405, SOW432.