Minor in Social Work

This introductory course examines historical and contemporary efforts to address human needs, in American society. Students will participate in open discussions to explore the conservative, liberal and radical political ideologies that underpin social policies today. Discussion topics will include human diversity, religion, poverty, child welfare, criminal justice, health care, mental health, developmental disabilities, housing, homelessness, community development and aging. Students will have the opportunity to learn about and interact with professional social workers, through class activities, guest speakers and job shadowing experiences. Guest speakers will also include multidisciplinary professionals, such as attorneys, educators, law enforcement officers and medical personnel, who partner with social workers in meeting human needs.

This course serves as a foundation course for our social work program and is the first in our practice series (practice I). The course focuses on the core communication skills essential to beginning Social Work practice and the problem-solving process. Students are introduced to the generalist practice model and gain experience to basic listening and assessment skills within the context of social work values and knowledge and ethics. The generalist perspective along with exposure to cultural diversity and populations at risk are emphasized throughout the course as well. Students videotape various role play scenarios to gain practice skills engagement, assessment, goal planning, intervention, evaluation and termination.

This course provides a framework for the Generalist Model for social work practice with individuals and families. Emphasis is on learning to develop professional relationships that are characterized by mutuality, collaboration, and respect for the client. Content focuses on examination of client strengths and problems in the interactions among individuals and between people and their environments as well as social work knowledge, values, and skills that are employed to enhance the well-being of people and to help ameliorate the environmental conditions that affect people adversely. The problem solving methods is also a major component of the course as well as learning the skills for practice with clients from differing social, cultural, racial, religious, spiritual, and class backgrounds. Prerequisite: SWK316

Birth-Adolescence. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I and II are taught in a two part course format and serves as foundation sequence in the Social Work Program. SWK316, Human Behavior and the Social Environment I is a review of the biopsychosocial theories of development from birth to adolescence, while SKW317, Human Behavior in the Social Environment II covers theories of biopsychosocial development of adolescence through end of life. This course sequence is based upon the philosophy that human behavior is shaped by many interacting factors and specific theories from the biological, psychological, social and cultural theory base are presented in order to address the complexity of human functioning. At the same time, human behavior is conceptualized as following a developmental sequence with age-specific characteristics and needs. In order to present this knowledge base, selected theories are applied to each life cycle stage. In each state, special attention is given to the impact of oppression, discrimination, privilege, and the consequences of gender, socioeconomic status and minority group membership. These dimensions are viewed as interactional influences on individual behavior and the person as a member of a small group, community and of the large society and culture. This course uses general systems theory with an ecological focus to provide the organizing base to explore lifespan development.

This course continues the study of human behavior with an emphasis on psychosocial development and ethnic sensitive social work perspectives. Attention is given to the interaction and influences of the psychological and sociocultural dimensions of human behavior. These dimensions are viewed as interactional influences on individual behavior and the person as a member of a small group, community and of the large society and culture. Part II also emphasizes the multicultural component that is significant in social work practice.