Social Work

This course introduces students to the profession of social work and the United States social welfare system. Students learn about the values and ethics of the social work profession and its advocacy for change in social, economic, political, historical, and cultural injustices. The history, mission and philosophy of the social work profession, with an emphasis on the generalist method of social work practice, are covered. Students explore social work as a career path through completion of 20 hours of service learning in a local social service agency.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

This course focuses on the diversity of the population of the United States with an emphasis on North Carolina. Students are introduced to the concepts of prejudice, discrimination, oppression and social and economic injustice and to the processes by which these are imposed upon some populations based on age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, marital status, national origin, race, religion, gender, sex, and/or sexual orientation. Methods to combat prejudice, discrimination, and oppression and to restore social justice will be considered.

Provides content on the reciprocal relationships between human behavior an 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, organization, and community); and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. 

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. 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, organizational, and community); and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. 

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

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.

Trauma & Crisis Intervention will provide foundational understanding of the impact of psychological trauma including the neurophysiological alterations associated with trauma with a special attention and focus on Trauma Informed Care (TIC). The ABC Model of Crisis Intervention will serve as the framework for introducing foundational knowledge & skills required to intervene with individuals who are experiencing psychological crises. 

This course introduces students to Substance Use Disorders and Addiction treatments by examining co-occurring psychiatric disorders as the norm with substance use disorders and addictions. With DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, the 2014 ACA code of ethics, and 2016 CACREP standards integrated throughout the course, students will gain a foundation of understanding and explore treatment options in the field. Students will conceptualize treatment of substance use disorders, build knowledge of common clinical work integrated in addictions counseling, and ascertain ethical and advocacy related challenges encountered by social work professionals.

Play Therapy & Play- Based Intervention is a course designed to introduce students to play therapy and play-based interventions. Through an ecological theoretical lens, students will learn the requisite knowledge required to intervene with children (and families) facing a variety of complex life challenges. This course will not certify any student to practice as a therapist of any sort. However, students will gain the most basic knowledge to intervene with children in human services settings. 

This course introduces students to both domestic and international social welfare policy. It emphasizes the social work profession's core value of social justice, human and civil rights, and the ideologies that have shaped the United States' and other nations' efforts to provide for their citizens. Frameworks for social policy analysis will be presented. 

The course will introduce students to social work research methods. Students will explore how to formulate problem statements, develop hypotheses, utilize measures and scales, design research studies and interpret results. The course will focus on identifying evidence-based practices to meet the needs of specific target populations. Guidance will be offered on identifying relevant research and evaluating its scientific rigor. The course will also highlight ethical issues in conducting social work research. 

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

This course is the first of three professional practice courses designed to focus on the strengths, capacities, and resources of client systems. The course prepares majors to engage individuals in appropriate working relationships by identifying issues, needs, strengths, and resources; by collecting and assessing information; by planning interventions; and by delivering services.

This course is the second in a three-course generalist practice sequence that focuses on strengths, capacities, and resources of client systems in relations 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.

This course is one of three professional practice courses designed to focus on strengths, capacities, and resources of client systems. The course prepares majors to engage macro systems, such as organizations, neighborhoods, communities, and governments, in appropriate working relationships by identifying issues, needs, strengths, and resources; by collecting and assessing information; by planning interventions; and by delivering services.

This course prepares students for the practicum learning experience. Students will be assisted in the selection of a social work field placement and in the completion of the application and interview process. Students review social work knowledge, skills, and values, related to generalist social work practice in a field agency setting.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

The Social Work Field Experience is the integral component of social work education and is anchored in the mission, goals, and objectives of the social work program. A minimum of 430 hours of entry level generalist social work 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.

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.

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.

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.