| Social Work |
SW 801 - Women and Aging
Credits:
3.00
An overview of women as they age in the American culture,
with a brief international overview. Ethnic and
cross-cultural perspectives explored. Areas to be studied
include biological aging, focusing on menopause; economics
and women, including retirement issues; women in the media;
lesbian relationships; and late marriages.
SW 805 - Child Welfare: Policies, Programs, and Practice
Credits:
3.00
Major social work policy and program questions in the field
of child welfare introduced. The relationship between child
welfare and the rest of the social work profession analyzed.
Various types of child welfare services, some aspects of
social and child welfare policy studied, as well as current
research and practice issues in child welfare services.
SW #810 - Computer Utilization in Social Work
Credits:
3.00
Provides students with a basic understanding of
computerization and its application in social work. Computer
literacy is seen as a requirement for effective practice of
social work in the 21st century.
SW 812 - Social Work and Developmental Disabilities
Credits:
3.00
Analysis of the complex social contexts of people with
developmental disabilities. Explores and questions
traditional approaches and the current service system.
Examines family and community services and resources.
Special fee.
SW 814 - Introduction to Addiction: Assessment and Intervention
Credits:
3.00
Information and skills necessary to address issues of
substance abuse with individuals, families and communities.
Overview of the dynamics of addiction; the treatment and
recovery process; and the role of social work professionals
in the identification and treatment of addiction. Special
populations (women, adolescents, elderly, gay/lesbian/
bisexual/transgendered, ethnic/racial groups) discussed.
Treatment approaches explored.
SW 815 - Practice with Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Clients
Credits:
3.00
Sexual minorities constitute the minority group a counselor
most consistently encounters wherever he or she works.
Addresses the task of counseling gay, lesbian, and
bisexual people on both personal and professional
levels for the counselor. Readings include theoretical,
experimental, clinical, counseling, and personal
perspectives, as well as providing an introduction
to the gay/lesbian/bisexual subculture. Students
explore and examine their own attitudes and assumptions
regarding gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
SW 820 - Social Welfare Policy I
Credits:
3.00
The history and development of social welfare systems
in the United States. Origins and development of significant
policies, values, attitudes, and other issues related to the
social welfare system and the delivery of service. Basic
social welfare concepts studied and economic inequality
in the U.S. examined along with policy responses to this
social issue.
SW 830 - Social Work Practice I
Credits:
3.00
Basic concepts, theories, and skills of social work
practice. Lectures and discussions, readings and
written exercises, and laboratory and practice sessions.
Students use the experiential parts of the course
(laboratory and interview simulations) to apply the
conceptual and theoretical knowledge.
SW 831 - Social Work Practice II: Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations
Credits:
3.00
Continuation of Social Work Practice I with the further
aim of introducing students to social work with groups and
communities as models of social work practice.
SW 840 - Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice
Credits:
3.00
Concepts of race and oppression. Examines and explores the
social, psychological, and social-structural implications
of racism, culture, and oppression as a dynamic force
influencing social work practice. Analyzes and evaluates the
social, cultural, political, economic and interpersonal
contexts of racism that bear on our current policies and
institutions. Describes and analyzes the life experiences of
culturally different populations and sensitizes students to
the issue of racism and oppression on both cognitive and
affective levels.
SW 850 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
Credits:
3.00
Human growth and development through the life span
using systems theory and person-in-environment as a
conceptual framework. Theoretical perspectives from
biology, sociology, and social systems theory explored
as influences on developmental processes.
SW 851 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
Credits:
3.00
Continuation of the exploration of human growth and
development begun in SW 850. The key organizing
concept of this sequence of courses is the
bio-psycho-social and interactive processes evidenced
by social work's focus on person-in-environment. Information
about small and large systems including families, ethnic and
cultural groups, social groups, organizations, and
communities. Prereq: (SW 850) Human Behavior and the Social
Environment I.
SW 860 - Research Methods in Social Work
Credits:
3.00
Designed to acquaint first-year master's degree students
with the concepts and skills necessary to carry out research
in social work practice. Particular emphasis placed on
methodological issues related to research in a variety of
practice contexts. Although the skills necessary to review
research critically are examined, the primary emphasis is on
preparing the student to carry out research related to
practice.
SW 873 - Intervention with Groups
Credits:
3.00
Principles in social work practice with groups. Focus
on helping the individual within the framework of a group
setting. The purpose and usefulness of group work as a
preventative method and as an intervention tool outlined.
History, underlying theory, techniques of group facilitation
and typology of treatment and task groups examined.
Students actively participate in a group simulation.
SW 880 - Field Internship I
Credits:
3.00
This two-semester requirement provides supervised learning
and practice within social work programs in a wide range of
program settings. Students spend 16 hours per week in the
field. Individual field placements arranged with each
student by the field coordinator. In order to receive
credit, students must satisfactorily complete both SW 880
and SW 881. A concurrent integrative seminar is required.
In this weekly seminar attention is given to the development
of basic social work skills and techniques, legal and
ethical issues, and the development of appropriate
professional relationships. A primary goal is to integrate
classroom learning with the field experience. Special fee.
Cr/F.
SW 881 - Field Internship II
Credits:
3.00
SW 881 is a continuation of SW 880, Field Internship I.
Students must satisfactorily complete both field experience
semesters to receive credit. Prereq: SW 880
(Field Internship I). Cr/F.
SW 885 - Comparative Social Welfare Systems
Credits:
3.00
Students in this course examine the historical development
of social welfare in another country including an analysis
of the underlying values and attitudes that dictate practice
and policy decisions. The course includes agency site
visits, lectures, themed readings and visits to important
cultural sites. Only open to first and second year MSW
students. Special fee. Cr/F.
SW 897 - Special Topics in Social Work and Social Welfare
Credits:
3.00
Seminar for graduate students. Topics may include: A)
Alcohol and Alcoholism; B) Drugs and Chemical Dependency;
C) Income Maintenance; D) Health Care; E) Child Welfare; F)
Aging; G) Mental Health; H) Developmental Disabilities. May
be repeated for different topics.
SW 900 - Advanced Standing Practice and Field Seminar
Credits:
3.00
Weekly seminar held concurrently with field placement
designed to orient and adequately prepare advanced
standing students for advanced practice and field courses.
Bridges the undergraduate and graduate curriculum and
reviews foundation year concepts, theories, and skills of
social work practice and field. Exploration of social work
identity and professional relationships with supervisors,
colleagues, and agencies. Primary focus on social work
values and ethics and the development of ethical
decision-making skills including the importance of
culturally competent practice. Only offered to advanced
standing MSW students. Special fee. Cr/F.
SW 926 - Social Welfare Policy II
Credits:
3.00
A continuation of the exploration of social policy issues
begun in SW 820. Students review various methods of
social policy analysis and apply these to issues of
concern at the state, local, and agency levels. The
course's key organizing concept is the integration of
social policy concerns with social work practice
and the promotion of client well-being.
Prereq: SW 820.
SW 932 - Direct Practice III: Clinical Assessment and Intervention
Credits:
3.00
Builds on the academic and direct practice foundations
from Practice I and II and the first-year field placement.
Deepens the process of differential assessment and
intervention with individuals, dyads, and families. Students
learn to assess clients' functioning using a variety of
theoretical frameworks and constructs which explore the
person/environment fit. Prereq: SW 831.
SW 933 - Direct Practice IV: Advanced Clinical Assessment and Intervention
Credits:
3.00
The major objective of the direct practice curriculum is
to educate practitioners to work toward restoration and
enhancement of functioning and prevention of maladaptive
functioning. Direct clinical practice reflects the mutuality
and reciprocity between individuals and systems and links
present, past, and future. Advanced assessment using
cognitive, psychodynamic, and systemic frameworks are
presented. Course emphasizes conscious, purposeful, and
differential use of self as a therapeutic or change agent.
Prereq: SW 932.
SW 936 - Community and Administrative Practice III: Community Organization and Political Strategies
Credits:
3.00
Provides students with the knowledge base and skills
necessary to engage in community planning and organizing
activities. Students learn to use political strategies to
mobilize support for human service endeavors that
enhance the well-being of underserved constituent groups.
Course is required of students in the community and
administrative practice concentration, but is also open as
an elective to any M.S.W. student who has completed
first-year practice courses.
SW 937 - Community and Administrative Practice IV: Management of Human Service Organizations
Credits:
3.00
Continuation of the exploration of macro practice issues
begun in SW 936. Preparation of students for informed
participation in public and private human service settings.
Focuses on the concepts, principles, values, and
strategies that inform administrative practice, including
policy formulation and program planning. Emphasis on the
integration of knowledge of organizational dynamics and
managerial roles. Course is required of students in the
community and administrative practice concentration
(Prereq: SW 936), but is also open as an elective to any
direct practice M.S.W. student who has completed first-year
practice courses.
SW 952 - HB/SE III: Adaptive and Maladaptive Functioning
Credits:
3.00
Designed to acquaint master's degree students with the
epidemiology, classification, etiology, and treatment of
the major forms of mental illness. A primary objective is to
develop the student's diagnostic skills in the field of
psychopathology and to apply the competence acquired in
direct practice settings. At course conclusion, students
have an effective working knowledge of: the biological and
psychosocial bases of the major mental disorders; the
behavioral symptomology that characterizes them; the
major modalities of treatment currently available for each
of them; and their classification according to the DSM IV
system of classification. Prereq: Social Work Practice II:
Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations
(SW 831) and Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
(SW 851).
SW 957 - Program and Resource Development in the Social Service Arena
Credits:
3.00
This course is designed to introduce students to various
approaches to fundraising in the health and human services.
Students are provided with an overview of the history of
philanthropy in the United States, important theories and
concepts, the relevance of organizational context, stages in
the donor development process, trends in giving and
volunteering. Students receive step-by-step instruction
in the techniques of grant writing. In addition, the use of
emerging technologies such as the Internet for health and
human service fundraising are explored. Ethical issues
specific to the health and human service fundraising are
examined.
SW 962 - Research II Statistics
Credits:
3.00
Social science statistics is a set of methods used to
organize and analyze data for the purpose of either
answering research questions or testing social science
theories with data. Course provides practical,
data-oriented introduction to the methods of
modern statistical analysis with a focus on understanding
and interpretation rather than the details of calculation.
Students with extensive experience may test out.
SW 965 - Research III: Program and Practice Evaluation
Credits:
3.00
A one semester course, basic introduction to evaluation
methods in the context of social work practice and
social welfare. Students develop and conduct
evaluations of practice, programs, and policies.
Course provides skills required for practice and
program evaluation. Prereq: SW 860; 962.
SW 974 - Social Work Supervision
Credits:
3.00
Prepares students for a supervisory role in social agency or
field of social work practice. Basic principles and
techniques of supervision reviewed and related to the
student's own experiences in supervision or as a supervisor.
SW 975 - Theory and Practice of Family Therapy
Credits:
3.00
Designed to provide an advanced specialist
overview of evolving viewpoints, perspectives,
values, intervention techniques, and goals of family
therapy. Views the family as a unit of attention and
target of intervention. Emphasis on the development and
enhancement of knowledge, skills, theories, and values
specific to family therapy and social work practice.
SW 979 - Social Work and the Law
Credits:
3.00
Social work practitioners routinely encounter and interact
with the legal system in their work. The course provides
knowledge of, and learning about, the differences between
the legal and social service networks, the realities of
work involving the law, and legal issues, as well as an
understanding of those aspects of the legal system most
likely to impact clients and their families.
SW 982 - Field Internship III
Credits:
4.00
This two semester requirement provides advanced practice
experience in a wide range of social work settings. Students
spend 24 hours per week in the field. Individual field
placements are arranged with each student by the
field coordinator. In order to receive course credit,
students must satisfactorily complete both semesters(SW 982
and SW 983). A concurrent integrative seminar is also
required.The goal of the weekly seminar is to assist
students in conceptualizing and integrating the multiple
theoretical issues and practice concepts of course work and
the practicum. Students are expected to take major
responsibility for the semester, using the instructor as
a resource. Special fee. Cr/F.
SW 983 - Field Internship IV
Credits:
4.00
This two semester requirement provides advanced practice
experience in a wide range of social work settings. Students
spend 24 hours per week in the field. Individual field
placements are arranged with each student by the
field coordinator. In order to receive course credit,
students must satisfactorily complete both semesters.
A concurrent integrative seminar is also required. The goal
of the weekly seminar is to assist students in
conceptualizing and integrating the multiple theoretical
issues and practice concepts of course work and the
practicum. Students are expected to take major
responsibility for the semester, using the instructor as
a resource. Cr/F.
SW 992 - Special Projects and Independent Study
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Projects, research and reading programs in areas of
concentration. Sixty days advance approval of the student's
plan of study by adviser and proposed instructor required.
Prereq: 24 cr. in M.S.W. coursework. May be repeated
to maximum of 6 credits. Special fee. Cr/F.