Mission
To prepare generalist social workers who seek to ethically integrate faith and practice within diverse settings, as social change agents and empowering leaders, with a commitment to enhance the quality of life of all people and communities.
Graduates are prepared for graduate-level education and entry-level social work positions and for employment in mental health, health care, corrections, child welfare, schools addiction programs and community service organizations.
Students must be formally admitted to the Social Work program by completing Introduction to Social Work and Sophomore seminar and attain a cumulative GPA minimum of 2.5. The comprehensive major requires a minimum final grade of at least C- for all Social Work courses. Further details are found in the Social Work Handbook, available from the Department Office.
The Bachelor of Social work degree (BSW) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; the curriculum is designed to meet Council standards.
Social Work Educational Goals
The goals of the Social Work program are to prepare generalist social workers who:
Introduces the social work profession and a variety of fields of social work practice. Topics include the philosophy, historical development and core concepts of social work along with an overview of the integration of faith and practice.
Discusses the basic conceptual framework for creating and organizing theories and knowledge about human behavior and social environments. Topics include biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual variables to examine human growth and development across the lifespan; how human behavior and social environments inform social work practice with various populations, including those at risk; the impact of diversity, discrimination, and oppression on development.
Permission of the program coordinator and/ or department chair.
Examines the core communication skills essential to helping relationships. Topics include basic listening and action-oriented skills within the context of professional values and a multi-disciplinary theory base, including issues related to working with diverse populations. Includes experiential role-playing and practice on non-verbal expression, active listening, exploration, constructive confrontation, conflict resolution, and other interviewing skills essential to a professional helper.
Junior or senior standing.
SWK 333 Laboratory.
SOCI 111.
Explores the generalist model of social work practice as applied to individuals, families, communities, and organizations. Topics include planned change processes and strengths perspective; values and ethics; and roles and cultural competency. First in a sequence of three social work practice courses.
SOCI 111.
Explores the American social welfare system and related fields of practice. Topics include major social welfare policies from various perspectives considering current political and economic trends; social work values and ethics related to the social welfare system with a focus on at-risk populations and the impact of social economic justice issues; and the role of the church within the social welfare system.
Junior standing.
Continues discussions from SWK 354. Topics include systematic analysis and evaluation of social problems using a policy perspective while assessing the effect of policy on social work practice; use of influence and advocacy to address policies and programs.
SWK 233 and SWK 272.
Continues discussions from SWK 271. Topics include biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual perspective to understand human behavior within families, groups, organizations, and communities; integration of social work and faith-based values and ethics related to cultural diversity, social and economic justice, and at-risk populations.
Utilizes the Generalist problem-solving model for intervention with individuals and families with a focus on diverse client systems. Second in a sequence of three social work practice courses.
Utilizes the Generalist problem-solving model for intervention with groups, communities, and organizations. This course includes a capstone macro-community project with a leadership focus.
Explores the philosophy of science, research methodology, and ethical issues related to research. Topics include empirically based knowledge; theory and practice issues related to sound research design and implementation; interpretation of professional research and the formulation of individual student research projects.
Cross-listed with SOCI 480.
Available as needed.
Permission of the supervising professor, program coordinator, and department chair.
Senior standing, permission of the supervising professor, program coordinator, and department chair.
Provides students the opportunity to engage in guided research areas of current concern within practicum agencies. Students implement a research project designed in SWK 480 and make both a written and oral presentation of their findings.
Provides outstanding students the opportunity to apply for the limited number of internships in the Social Work program. Students work closely with selected professors and community partners in professional settings to enhance their knowledge and experience in social work.
Junior or senior standing major selected by the Social Work program director.
Provides students the opportunity to integrate curriculum content through supervised field placements with diverse client systems. Students participate in practicum for a minimum of 9 cr. hours (450 clock hours= 50 clock hours/cr. hour). Four credit hours are completed in the fall and five credit hours are completed in the spring. Failure to achieve a grade of C- or higher in either semester results in the student repeating the hours for that semester. Professional liability insurance is required for enrollment in this course.
SWK 499.
Provides integration of a Generalist perspective of theory, methods, skills, and values of practice from prior and current social work courses with knowledge and experience gained in the student's field placement. Provides students an opportunity to discuss practice concerns and learning contract/program objectives. This is the capstone course for the social work program.
SWK 233, SWK 354, SWK 372, SWK 333, SWK 343, and SWK 355.
SWK 498.
