SWK-235 Child Welfare (3 cr.)
This course looks at child welfare in a global, national, state and local context. Students will explore predictors of child well being and services designed to promote child welfare. Emphasis will be placed on explanation and interventions for family situations involving violence, child abuse and neglect. Diversity arising from race, ethnicity, social class and social change will be examined. Twenty hours of community work at an assigned setting will be required.

(Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-240 Populations At Risk & Social Justice (3 cr.)
This course introduces students to concepts and processes of social and economic oppression and to strategies for promoting social justice. Content is grounded in an understanding of distributive justice, human and civil rights, and the global interconnections of oppression. It offers a framework and strategies for addressing the unique needs of populations that may be at risk for discrimination, oppression and economic deprivation as a result of conditions related to age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, martial status, national origin, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-241 Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare (3 cr.)

An overview of the profession of social work and the American Social Welfare Institution, examining the history of the American social welfare system and the contemporary structure of services as well as the role of policy in service delivery, social work practice, and attainment of individual and social well-being. The history, mission and philosophy of the social work profession are also presented with an emphasis on the generalist model of social work practice. Students test their interest in social work through completion of 30 hours of service learning in a social welfare agency.

(Fall and Spring Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-299 Introduction to Research in Social Work (1-3 cr.)
Open to freshmen and sophomores who have an interest in social work and social welfare and who would like to work individually with a faculty member on a project involving research on an issue of social work practice or social welfare and social justice. In conjunction with a faculty member, the student will formulate and execute a research project at an intermediate level of complexity. The project will require a culminating experience involving a written report and/or a public presentation of its purpose, process and outcomes. A research proposal form completed by the student and the faculty mentor is required for registration. May be repeated for credit for a total of six semester hours. Prerequisites: SWK-241.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-302 / CORE 406 Social Welfare Policy from a Human Rights Perspective (3 cr.)
Course content provides an examination of the ideologies and perspectives that have shaped social welfare policy in the United States and in other societies around the world.  Using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other international covenants as a lens, the course will examine the resulting social welfare policies and the intentional and unintentional impacts these policies have on vulnerable and oppressed populations.

(Fall and Alternate Summers, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-304 Generalist Practice With Individuals (3 cr.)
This course is the first in a three-course generalist practice sequence that focuses on strengths, capacities and resources of client systems in relation to their broader environment. The course prepares students to engage individuals in an appropriate working relationship; identify issues, problems, needs, resources, and assets; collect and assess information; and plan for service delivery. It also includes identifying, analyzing and implementing empirically based interventions designed to achieve client goals and promote social and economic justice. Open to social work majors only. Prerequisites: SWK-241 and SWK-307 or SWK-308.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-305 Generalist Practice With Families (3 cr.)
This course is the second in a three-course generalist practice sequence that focuses on strengths, capacities and resources of client systems in relation to their broader environment. The course prepares students to engage families and groups in an appropriate working relationship; identify issues, problems, needs, resources and assets; collect and assess information; and plan for service delivery. It also includes identifying, analyzing and implementing empirically based interventions designed to achieve client goals and promote social and economic justice. Open to social work majors only. Prerequisites: SWK-241, SWK-304 and SWK-307 or SWK-308.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-307 Human Behavior for Social Work Practice: Birth – Adolescence (3 cr.)
Provides content on the reciprocal relationships between human behavior and social environments. Content includes empirically based theories and knowledge that focus on the interactions between and among individuals, groups, societies and economic systems. The course focuses on theories and knowledge of biological, sociological, cultural, psychological and spiritual development that address the stages of the life span from conception through adolescence. Also addressed is the range of social systems in which people live (individual, family, group, organizational and community); and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Prerequisites: BIO-101, PSY-100, SOC-230. Prerequisite or co-requisite: SWK-241.

(Fall, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-308 Human Behavior for Social Work Practice: Adulthood Through Death (3 cr.)
Provides content on the reciprocal relationship between human behavior and social environments. Content includes empirically based theories and knowledge that focus on the interactions between and among individuals, groups, societies and economic systems. It focuses on theories and knowledge of biological, sociological, cultural, psychological and spiritual development that address the stages of the life span from young adulthood through death. Also addressed is the range of social systems in which people live (individual, family, group, organization and community); and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Prerequisites: BIO-101, PSY-100, SOC-230. Prerequisite or co-requisite: SWK-241.

(Spring, Even-Numbered Years Only)

SWK-309 Research Methods for Social Work (3 cr.)
This course prepares students to develop, use and effectively communicate empirically based knowledge, including evidence-based interventions. Qualitative and quantitative research content provides understanding of a scientific, analytic and ethical approach to building knowledge for practice. The course prepares students to provide high-quality services; to initiate change; to improve practice, policy and social service delivery; and to evaluate their own practice. Prerequisite: PSY-200.

(Fall, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-311 Preparation for Social Work Field Placement (3 cr.)
Students will be assisted in the selection of a social work field placement and in the completion of the application and interview process. The professional values, knowledge and skills necessary for a successful field experience will be revealed. Prerequisite: SWK-304. Co-requisites: SWK-305, SWK-401. Pass/fail grading only.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-401 Generalist Practice With Communities and Organizations (3 cr.)
This course is the third in a three-course generalist practice sequence that focuses on strengths, capacities and resources of client systems in relation to their broader environment. The course prepares students to engage organizations and communities in an appropriate working relationship; identify issues, problems, needs, resources and assets; collect and assess information; and plan for service delivery. It also includes identifying, analyzing and implementing empirically based interventions designed to achieve client goals and promote social and economic justice. Open to social work majors only. Prerequisites: SWK-241, SWK-304, SWK-307 or SWK-308.  View photos of the Cornerstone Holiday Dinner.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-402 Social Work Field Experience (12 cr.)
The social work field experience is an integral component of social work education and is anchored in the mission, goals and objectives of the social work program. A minimum of 450 hours of beginning level generalist social work practice experience under the supervision of a professional social worker in an appropriate social agency is required. This experience will reinforce the student’s identification with the purposes, values and ethics of the profession; foster the integration of empirical and practice-based knowledge; and promote the development of professional competence. Open to social work majors only. All social work major courses must be completed prior to enrollment in SWK-402 or SWK-403, which are co-requisites. Also requires approval of Director of Field Education. Fee: $300.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-403 Field Instruction Seminar (3 cr.)
Students meet weekly for a 3-hour integrative field seminar designed to assist them in applying empirically based social work theory, knowledge and professional ethics in a social work practice setting and provide a capstone experience. Students complete an evaluation of practice research project in which they apply in their field settings research skills obtained through the social work curriculum. Written assignments are provided to demonstrate integration of knowledge and practice. Open to social work majors only. All social work major courses must be completed prior to enrollment in SWK-402 and SWK-403, which are co-requisites. Also requires approval of the Director of Field Education.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-405 Selected Topics in Social Work (3 cr.)
Topics relevant to social work practice are offered as needed based on student requests and faculty availability. Topics offered include social work in education, social work in criminal justice, social work and the law, social work in health care, child welfare, geriatric social work, gender issues in social work, and social work in mental health settings.

(Offered as Needed-Contact Department Head)

SWK-498 Honors Thesis in Social Work (3 cr.)
In conjunction with a social work faculty mentor, the student will formulate and execute a research project at an advanced level of complexity that will culminate in a paper and presentation. The project must meet Honors Program thesis requirements as well as the expectations of social work faculty. A research proposal form completed by the student, faculty mentor and Honors Program director is required for registration. Open to seniors who are members of the Honors and/or Teaching Fellows Programs.

Prerequisite: SWK-309.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)

SWK-499 Research in Social Work (1-3 cr.)
In conjunction with a social work faculty mentor, the student will formulate and execute a research project at an advanced level of complexity that will culminate in a paper and presentation. A research proposal form completed by the student and faculty mentor is required for registration. Open to junior and senior majors and others by permission. May be repeated for credit for a total of six semester hours. Prerequisites: SWK-309.

(Fall and Spring, Course Offered Every Year)