Social Work (SCWK)

SCWK 50003. Foundations of Culturally Competent Social Work Practice. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is the acquisition and demonstration of beginning graduate-level social work values and ethics, knowledge, and skills necessary for cultural competence in work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and global contexts. A multi-systems life-course conceptual framework is used. Prerequisite: Admission to the two-year or part-time MSW program. (Typically offered: Fall)

SCWK 50103. Bridge Course: Evidenced Based Social Work. 3 Hours.

This course prepares MSW students to transition from the foundation course to the advanced concentration courses. Students will become familiar with the mission and conceptual framework underlying the advanced concentration and develop beginning knowledge of traditional and alternative approaches to client system assessment. Prerequisite: Admission into the advanced standing MSW program or completion of foundation courses. (Typically offered: Summer)

SCWK 5050V. Special Topics in Social Work. 1-6 Hour.

Comprehensive study of various topics of importance in contemporary social welfare and social work practice. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 4050V and SCWK 5050V. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for degree credit.

SCWK 50703. Social Work Research and Technology II. 3 Hours.

This course is intended to build the advanced research skills necessary to develop a research proposal and complete a thesis or capstone project. Students will plan the project, collect and analyze data and write a research report of their findings. Projects will focus on systematic evaluation of service delivery and personal professional practice. Prerequisite: Completion of year one for two-year students or summer semester for advanced standing students. (Typically offered: Fall)

SCWK 50803. Social Work With Elders. 3 Hours.

Survey of theories of gerontology, service programs and unmet needs of the aging citizen. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 41803 and SCWK 50803. (Typically offered: Irregular)

SCWK 50903. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. 3 Hours.

Provides a conceptual framework for knowledge of human behavior and the social environment with a focus on individuals. Social systems, life-course, assets, and resiliency-based approaches are presented. Special attention is given to the impact of discrimination and oppression on the ability to reach or maintain optimal health and well-being. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 40903 and SCWK 50903. Prerequisite: SPCH 10003, PSYC 20003, SOCI 10103, SCWK 21303, and SCWK 31903 and (BIOL 10103 and BIOL 10101, or ANTH 10143 and ANTH 10141). (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 51003. Human Behavior and the Social Environment II. 3 Hours.

This course applies the basic framework for creating and organizing knowledge of human behavior and the social environment acquired in HBSE I to the understanding of family, group, organizational, community, and global systems. Attention is given to discrimination, oppression, the impact of technology, and poverty at each system level. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 41003 and SCWK 51003. Prerequisite: SCWK 40903 or SCWK 50903 and SCWK 41503 or SCWK 53503. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 51603. Social Work Management, Administration and Supervision. 3 Hours.

This course develops advanced skills in management, administration, and supervision in social work organizations. Emphasis is placed on developing leadership skills in ethics, budgeting, finance, resource development, information management, evaluation, staff hiring, supervision and development, and the use of technology in organizational leadership, development, and maintenance. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. (Typically offered: Irregular)

SCWK 51703. Advanced Practice with Families and Couples. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide advanced understanding of the knowledge, skills and values needed to assess and intervene effectively with traditional and non-traditional families and couples. The course will examine social systems and life-course strengths approaches to understand how families and couples function. Students will design interventions. Prerequisite: Graduate status. (Typically offered: Irregular)

SCWK 51803. Advanced Practice with Individuals. 3 Hours.

This course develops advanced skills in social work practice on a micro level. Students learn to analyze and compare practice models. They gain skills in selecting a practice model and integrating multiple models based on client needs. Prerequisite: Graduate status. (Typically offered: Irregular)

SCWK 52103. Advanced Practice in Behavioral and Mental Health. 3 Hours.

This advanced course prepares students to identify mental disorders, plan intervention strategies with clients from a strengths perspective, and understand mental health programs through which services are delivered. Differential diagnosis and the impact of socioeconomic status, gender, race, and sexual orientation on diagnosis and treatment decisions are addressed. Prerequisite: Graduate status. (Typically offered: Irregular)

SCWK 52403. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. 3 Hours.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders course will explore the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol with an emphasis on evidence-based treatment approaches to help engage and treat chemically dependent clients. Best practices to be reviewed will include Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), harm reduction approaches, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

SCWK 52503. Spirituality and Social Work Practice. 3 Hours.

This course prepares students to respond competently and ethically to diverse spiritual and religious perspectives. Utilizing social work ethics and values as a guide, students will develop a comparative, critically reflective approach to practice. Prerequisite: Graduate status. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 52603. Impact of Policy on Addiction. 3 Hours.

The Drug Policy course will explore the history of drug policy within the United States, focusing on the relationship between people, drugs, and the criminalization of certain substances. This course will also examine how the War on Drugs has led to the collateral consequences of mass incarceration, racial discrimination in policy development and sentencing laws, and a treatment system that exists almost exclusively within the criminal justice system. Finally, this course will explore how other countries have developed and utilized harm reduction and decriminalization approaches and policies in order to shift treatment and financial resources from supply and enforcement to demand and treatment. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

SCWK 52703. Social Work Research and Technology I. 3 Hours.

An overview of forms and sources of social work research including existing social data, techniques for collecting original social data, and techniques of organization, interpretation, and presentation of data. Students will also become proficient in the use of current technology for social work research and practice. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 40703 and SCWK 52703. Prerequisite: SCWK 40903 or SCWK 50903 and SCWK 41503 or SCWK 53503. Pre- or Corequisite: One of the following: MATH 21003, SOCI 33003 and SOCI 33001, PSYC 20103, or ESRM 24003. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 53303. Social Work Practice I. 3 Hours.

This is the first in the sequence of practice courses introducing students to the generalist approach to micro social work. This course focuses on developing a solid foundation for practice with individuals, including learning basic communication and helping skills, values, principles, and the connection of theory to practice. Prerequisite: SCWK 40903 or SCWK 50903 and SCWK 41503 or SCWK 53503. Pre- or Corequisite: SCWK 41003 or SCWK 51003. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 53403. Advanced Practice with Groups. 3 Hours.

This course provides advanced knowledge, skills, and values needed to assess and intervene effectively with populations seen in the social work practice of group therapy. This course examines group dynamics, life-course and strengths perspectives, and client-centered assessment of needs and their application in agency settings. Prerequisite: Graduate status. (Typically offered: Irregular)

SCWK 53503. Social Welfare Policy. 3 Hours.

Describes and analyzes the policies and services rendered by local, state, regional, national, and international agencies as well as the policy implications for social work practice. Students prepare to advocate social policy changes designed to improve social conditions, promote social and economic justice, and to empower at-risk populations. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 41503 and SCWK 53503. Prerequisite: SPCH 10003, PLSC 20003, SCWK 21303, and SCWK 31903. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 54102. Foundation Field Seminar. 2 Hours.

A required course for MSW students without an accredited undergraduate degree in social work. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to integrate classroom content with experiences in the field, to learn peer supervision and consultation, and to learn from the experiences of other students in the field. Corequisite: SCWK 54304. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

SCWK 54304. Foundation Field Internship. 4 Hours.

This course is required of all graduate students entering the MSW program without an accredited undergraduate degree in social work. Minimum of 330 clock hours of agency-based professional social work practicum experience, supervised by a licensed MSW, is required. Corequisite: SCWK 54102. Prerequisite: SCWK 50003, SCWK 53303, SCWK 52703, SCWK 50903, and SCWK 53503. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

SCWK 55203. Ethics and Aging. 3 Hours.

Explores the complexities of aging and ethical decision making with older adult clients. Identifies ethical dilemmas and develops structured ethical decision making skills. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

SCWK 55403. Social Work Practice II. 3 Hours.

This is the second course in the social work practice sequence, emphasizing theories, models, and techniques related to generalist practice with families and groups. The course elaborates on system theory as it impacts groups and families, and use of experiential teaching methods. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 43403 and SCWK 55403. Prerequisite: SCWK 43303 or SCWK 53303. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 56403. Child Advocacy Studies IV: Global Issues in Child Welfare. 3 Hours.

Designed to prepare students to identify, assess, and respond to the various historical and contemporary factors impacting the welfare of children around the world. Focuses on factors such as health, maltreatment, culture, policy, education, and social advocacy. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

SCWK 57303. Social Work Practice III. 3 Hours.

Students acquire and practice the skills, knowledge, and values necessary for culturally competent generalist social work practice with organizations and communities. Special attention is given to the implications of discrimination and oppression for attaining social and economic justice. Graduate degree credit will not be given for both SCWK 47303 and SCWK 57303. Prerequisite: SCWK 43303 or SCWK 53303. Pre- or Corequisite: SCWK 41003 or SCWK 51003 and SCWK 43403 or SCWK 55403. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 57503. Grant Writing. 3 Hours.

Develops skills to plan and design programs and write grant proposals. Emphasis on program planning, understanding program performance and accountability, identifying funders, responding to requests for proposals and persuasively writing a grant to secure needed financial resources. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

SCWK 58503. Introduction to Integrated Behavioral Health. 3 Hours.

Defines and explores the Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) model of care, which blends care for medical conditions with related behavioral health factors that affect health and well-being, in a clinic setting. Introduces the IBH model and skills required to practice in an integrated healthcare setting. Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Social Work program. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

SCWK 5960V. Independent Study. 1-6 Hour.

Independent study designed to meet the particular needs of individual graduate students. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

SCWK 60000. Thesis Laboratory. 0 Hours.

This laboratory is required for completion of the thesis, which is developed through components of the graduate Research & Technology sequence. Other courses in the graduate curriculum provide support for the conceptualization and development of the thesis. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

SCWK 60103. Advanced Social Work Practice Using the MSLC Perspective. 3 Hours.

Advanced Social Work Practice Using the Multi-Systems Life Course (MSLC) perspective teaches advanced practice behaviors with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This course focuses on integrating the arenas of advanced theory, research, policy practice, direct practice, required competencies and advanced practice behaviors using the MSLC perspective. Prerequisite: Admission into the advanced standing MSW program or completion of foundation courses. (Typically offered: Fall)

SCWK 62303. Advanced Social Work Practice With Children And Youth Using the MSLC Perspective. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the development, revision, and impact of practice with children and youth from a Multi-Systems Life Course (MSLC) perspective. Historical trends as well as current practices will be examined with a focus on learning and improving social work practice skills. Prerequisite: SCWK 60103. (Typically offered: Spring)

SCWK 62403. Advanced Social Work Practice With Adults Using the MSLC Perspective. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the development, revision, and impact of practice with adults from a Multi-Systems Life Course (MSLC) perspective. Historical trends as well as current practices will be examined with a focus on learning and improving social work practice skills. Prerequisite: SCWK 60103. (Typically offered: Spring)

SCWK 64402. Advanced Field Seminar I. 2 Hours.

The first of two advanced field seminars required of all students in the MSW program. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to integrate classroom content with experiences in the field, to practice peer supervision and consultation, and to learn from the experiences of other students in the field. Corequisite: SCWK 64434. Prerequisite: SCWK 54102. (Typically offered: Fall)

SCWK 64434. Advanced Field Internship I. 4 Hours.

This is the first of two advanced field internships required of all graduate students in the MSW program. A minimum of 330 clock hours of agency-based professional social work practicum experience, supervised by a licensed MSW, is required. Corequisite: SCWK 64402. Prerequisite: SCWK 54304. (Typically offered: Fall)

SCWK 64502. Advanced Field Seminar II. 2 Hours.

This is the second of two advanced field seminars required of all students in the MSW program. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to integrate classroom content with experiences in the field, to demonstrate peer supervision and consultation, and to learn from the experiences of other students in the field. Corequisite: SCWK 64504. Prerequisite: SCWK 64402. (Typically offered: Spring)

SCWK 64504. Advanced Field Internship II. 4 Hours.

This is the second of two advanced Field Internship courses required of all graduate students in the MSW program. A minimum of 330 clock hours of agency-based professional social work practicum experience supervised by a licensed MSW is required. Corequisite: SCWK 64502. Prerequisite: SCWK 64402. (Typically offered: Spring)