Social Work

An introduction to the historical development of the social work profession including its purpose, global context, professional social work values and ethics. The course will also explore the breadth of social work practice and introduce students to the types of practice skills utilized by social workers. Students are introduced to the: department goals and competency expectations of the program, and general expectation of social work majors. This class is used as the key orientation course that introduces students to the department’s mission, curriculum, and department disposition and scholarly expectations from students. Students are also required to successfully complete the department admission requirements as outlined in the Admissions Handbook to become an official social work major. Students are required to participate in a 15-hour service learning project to familiarize themselves with social service agencies and how volunteers and social workers function within these agencies.

This course is designed to orient and prepare students for the senior field practicum experience. Students will learn about agency expectations and procedures, and complete the administrative documentation, agency and field preparation interviews, course work and a 50-hour internship (with 10 hours of service learning) necessary to enter their field agency. Students are required to do a criminal background check and purchase liability insurance. Students are responsible for transportation.

This elective course will study and analyze selected areas of human sexuality from a Christian perspective. This course will equip students with a broader understanding of the personal, social, emotional, and physical nature of this complex and sensitive area. The course will also provide insight concerning the spiritual and psychological components of sexuality. The latitude in human sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions will also be discussed. Course curriculum is designed to enhance the courtship, marriage, and family experience. Course includes societal sexuality issues that pertain to the Black diaspora. Students must have permission of the instructor for this course. Open to non-majors.

This course is the second in a series of practice courses and builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in SW 451. The course equips students with knowledge, values, and practice skills necessary for effective intervention with families and groups from diverse backgrounds. students will learn how to apply family and group behavior theories, the GIM, and social work values and ethics in order to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate families and groups. The course values the direct practice experience for knowledge and skill development of generalist social workers. Students are provided with several opportunities to develop their practice skills in group leadership dynamics, by facilitating: community-based projects that addresses a specific group issue; in-class group development and leadership scenarios and family intervention knowledge; and practice skills through the use of field-based assignments, role plays, case studies, and other classroom exercises.

The first of the two-part field education course series. This is the department’s signature pedagogy course that is designed to help students integrate into the professional role of being a social work practitioner. The course allows students to connect social work theory, knowledge, values, and skills acquired throughout the social work curriculum with actual practice within an agency setting. Along with assigned coursework, students receive supervised field practice within an approved agency selected by the department. Students are expected to demonstrate growth in their progress towards the achievement of the course competencies, which are based on the program goals. Students are required to complete 225 field practicum hours. Students are required to have liability insurance for both SW 454 and SW 455.

This course is the first in a series of practice courses. It is designed to introduce students to the General Intervention Method (GIM) of social work practice small client systems. The course will focus on the theories, principles, and skills necessary to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate individual clients within social work practice. Students are also required to demonstrate leadership initiative by participation in classroom discussions, completion of interactive assignments, role-play, and simulation activities. Students officially begin the portfolio. Collection process in this course in preparation for the senior year portfolio. 

An analysis of the nature of oppression from historical and social structural perspective.  The social and interpersonal contexts of oppression, identity formation issues, racism and discrimination, and powerlessness among diverse groups will be explored.  Implications for social work practice on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels will be examined and analyzed for effective intervention, contemporary analysis. 

The first of the two-part field education course series. This is the department’s signature pedagogy course that is designed to help students integrate into the professional role of being a social work practitioner. The course allows students to connect social work theory, knowledge, values, and skills acquired throughout the social work curriculum with actual practice within an agency setting. Along with assigned coursework, students receive supervised field practice within an approved agency selected by the department. Students are expected to show growth in their progress towards achieving the course 9 competencies, based on the program goals. Students are required to complete 225 field practicum hours, along with 15 service-learning hours.  

This course promotes a multidimensional understanding of human functioning and behavior across the lifespan. The course examines the variety of social systems that people encounter and how these encounters may enhance or impede their health and well-being. The course explores a wide breadth of developmental theories including but not limited to bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual, racial, and identify formation as the context for individual, family, and group development from infancy to adolescence. 

An analysis of the nature of oppression from historical and social structural perspective.  The social and interpersonal contexts of oppression, identity formation issues, racism and discrimination, and powerlessness among diverse groups will be explored.  Implications for social work practice on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels will be examined and analyzed for effective intervention, contemporary analysis. 

This course is the second in a series of practice courses and builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in SW 451. The course equips students with knowledge, values, and practice skills necessary for effective intervention with families and groups from diverse backgrounds. Students will learn how to apply family and group behavior theories, the GIM, and social work values and ethics to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate families and groups.  The course values the direct practice experience for knowledge and skill development of generalist social workers. Students are provided with several opportunities to develop their practice skills in group leadership dynamics, by facilitating community-based projects that address a specific group issue; in-class group development and leadership scenarios and family intervention knowledge; and practice skills through the use of field-based assignments, role plays, case studies, and other classroom exercises. 

This course is designed to enable students to learn and develop critical thinking skills required in scientific inquiry.  Students are expected to utilize principles of logic, scientific inquiry, social work ethics, and judgment to distinguish and appraise problems; utilize scholarly literature to understand and direct their study; devise and employ an appropriate research strategy; organize, evaluate, and integrate relevant research data; and develop relevant resolutions to presented problems for the client systems being studied. The course curriculum includes an overview of the basic social research methodologies utilized within the social sciences.  Students are required to complete research projects with systems of varying sizes.  Students will also be better able to recognize the impact that diversity (i.e., race, culture, gender etc.) has on the research process as well as identify the rationale for advancing human rights and social economic justice within their practice based on their own research observations. 

This foundational course provides students with opportunities to learn about macro practice. This course is the third and final segment of a three-part series of practice courses. The course utilizes the GIM, theories, principles, skills, and techniques necessary to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate effectiveness in working with organizations and communities. Students are expected to engage in a variety of macro level projects that are designed to demonstrate their understanding of macro practice; exhibit leadership and competence in initiating positive change at the macro level of practice using evidence-based interventions; and demonstrate how their intervention can promote social and economic justice within diverse population groups. The course may include community needs assessment and community development proposals, writing a grant proposal, completing an advocacy project, creating a community development project and engaging with diverse communities. Students will also engage in resource development skill activities. 

An introduction to the study of social welfare policy including its purpose and how policy is formulated and implemented, and its impact at the local, state, federal, and global levels. The course will examine the link between welfare policy and social work practice with individuals, groups, families, and communities. The course will review relationships between social policies, human rights, and issues of social and economic justice. The course will also provide students with an opportunity for mock policy development, critical analysis, and a class trip to meet with policy makers. Finally, this course will promote the development of the leadership skills needed to be proactive in the design and implementation of policies within various systems. 

A continuation of SW 454, the department’s signature pedagogy course designed to aid students’ integration into the role of professional generalist practitioner.  The course allows students to connect social work theory, knowledge, values, and skills learned within the classroom environment with actual practice within an agency setting.  Students will continue to receive supervised field practice within their approved agency.  Students are expected to show achievement of the course competencies, based on the departmental goals.  Students are required to complete 225 field practicum hours.

In this course, the student will learn about common mental disorders and their etiology, course, treatment, and diagnostic procedures. Learning activities include lectures, student presentations, and group discussions. 

This advanced course provides an in-depth study of several theories of personality and behavior, and of therapeutic approaches derived from the theories. The major focus is on therapy with individuals across the life span, but application to family systems is also considered, as well as the fit of each theory within the broader social systems framework. 

The primary purpose of the Advanced Practicum is to educate students to apply advanced social work services.  Students use professional social work field instruction to advance learning and apply knowledge and social work ethics and values to their practice with clients and communities that enhance social well-being.

Building on principles of empirically based social work, social scientific inquiry, and basic research methodologies, this course will reinforce and extend understanding of a scientific, analytic approach to building knowledge for strengthening practice and evaluating service delivery. Students are expected to draw on previously acquired knowledge about theory, problem formulation, measurement, and research design as they learn to formulate and analyze research questions using methodologies relevant to clinical practice. 

Advanced practice with family systems, with emphasis on systems-analytical perspective, includes environing systems and internal dynamics of the family system. Differential use of the major theoretical approaches in family therapy. Emphasis on a social work framework and on such traditional family social work techniques as advocacy, brokerage, and provision of concrete services. 

This course addresses the neurobiological bases of major psychoactive drugs used in treatment of psychological and behavioral disorders in both a behavioral and primary care medical setting. Theoretical and practical approaches to treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficit, psychosis, and trauma-related stress disorders are examined with the goal of advancing students’ knowledge of best practices that complement current evidence-based interventions. Social work students will be prepared to facilitate clients’ needs in an interdisciplinary system that supplies a range of interventions within a biopsychosocial framework. Key tenets of this framework involve neurobiology, psychiatric disorders, mental wellness, and psychosocial advocacy. Students learn to identify these concerns along with the risk and benefits associated with psychotropic medications. Students will learn about laboratory testing and disease markers in the context of evidencebased medical models and evidence-based psychosocial intervention models. Students will increase their awareness and understanding of other disciplines while navigating services for clients in an inpatient or outpatient medical setting. Special consideration is given to the integration of psychotropic drugs, evidence- based therapies, the identification of drug–drug interactions, and empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychotropic drug therapies. This is achieved through the lens of social work with emphasis on the effectiveness of an interprofessional approach in patient care and case management.

The primary purpose of the Advanced Practicum is to educate students to apply advanced social work services.  Students use professional social work field instruction to advance learning and apply knowledge and social work ethics and values to their practice with clients and communities that enhance social well-being. 

This course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for a professional career in social work. The course incorporates strategies that will prepare students for: professional networking, job searching skills, interviewing skills, social work licensure and employment skills. Students are required to develop a professional career plan, timeline, and a plan for pursuing life-long learning. Students must also demonstrate how self-evaluation has improved their demeanor, behavior, appearance, and communication skills. The course includes a review of social work career options available in faith-based institutions and afro-centric agencies.