| 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 and Adolescent Risks and Resiliency: Program, Policy 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 812 - Understanding 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, Bisexual, and Transgender People
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 - Study Abroad: 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. Special fee for course
trip.
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: Mental Health Practice and Policy
Credits:
3.00
Designed to acquaint master's degree students with the
epidemiology, classification, and etiology of the major
mental illnesses; with a primary objective to develop the
student's diagnostic skills in the field of
psychopathology. Students become familiar with historical
and current mental health policy issues. At course
conclusion students have an effective working knowledge of
the bio-psycho-social basis of the major mental disorders,
the behavioral symptomology that characterizes them, the
use of psychotropic medication in treatment, and their
classification according to the current DSM system. Prereq:
SW 831 and 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.