College of Natural and Social Sciences

Department of
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK

Daryl Kelley, Chair

Maha Younes, Program Director

Professor: Glazier
Associate Professors:  Cook-Fong, Enns, Kelley, Wysocki, Younes
Assistant Professors: Borchard, Maughan
Lecturer: Panter

Department Objectives:

Sociology

• To seek an understanding of the changes and development processes of social life;
• To develop comprehension, insight, analytical approaches, scientific inquiry approaches, liberal arts perspectives, and information-processing capabilities;
• To address social phenomena and social problems associated with racial, ethnic and other group relations, socio-cultural change, societal institutions, population dynamics, community disorganization, social conflict, social welfare and policy, deviance, effects of technological change, and major social problems;
• To prepare those students who wish to attend graduate school.

Social Work

• To gain knowledge and skills in problem solving;
• To acquire an appreciation/understanding of human diversity through knowledge of the interrelationships between people and their environment, biologically, psychologically, and socially;
• To achieve basic skills in social research methodology;
• To acquire the basic competencies needed for entry level professional practice. A supervised field placement in a community social service agency enables students to integrate theory and practice skills in a structured environment and is required of all social work majors.

A. It is highly recommended that interested students, transfer students, or students located at campuses other than UNK contact the Social Work Program upon their decision to enter into social work as a career. As an accredited, professional program, proper sequencing of courses is required. The social work course sequencing is 5 semesters (2 1/2 years) in length on the UNK campus.

B. All social work majors must have an advisor in the Social Work Program. Students with double majors are required to have an advisor in each program.

C. Students must earn at least a "C" in each required social work course, categories A, B and C and BIOL 103. The exception is SOWK 170 in which a B or better must be earned. Any course in which a "D" or "F" is recorded must be repeated until a "C" or better is earned.

D. Social work courses must be taken in sequence as listed, and the student is responsible for meeting the prerequisites. The first required course for the program is SOWK 170-Introduction to Social Welfare. SOWK 373-Practice III can be taken prior to, concurrently with Field Placement.

E. A formal admission process must be completed before finishing SOWK 242. Admission is based on a combination of criteria including:

1) Cumulative GPA
2) a grade of B or above in SOWK 170
3) satisfactory completion of SOWK 172
4) references
5) personal statement and
6) suitability for professional social work practice.

SOCIOLOGY MAJOR

Two options are available in this major:

1. Sociology Option - Bachelor of Arts Degree or
   Sociology Option - Bachelor of Science Degree
2. Sociology 7-12 Teaching Subject Endorsement Option - Bachelor of Science in Education Degree

SOCIAL WORK COMPREHENSIVE MAJOR

One option is available in this major:

A Sociology minor is available to students pursuing majors in other disciplines or programs.

A Social Work Minor is offered by the department.

Sociology participates in the Social Science 7-12 Teaching Field Endorsement.

Courses with the prefix SOC and SOWK are offered by the department.

Sociology is the investigation of interpersonal and intergroup relationships, forms of organization in human life and consequences for humans. Sociological perspectives and competencies provide an essential basis for considering numerous career opportunities in conjunction with other UNK programs. Careers in government, business, social agencies, transportation, commerce, law, medicine, and information and data use are a few of the opportunities with this major. Further information is available through the Department offices.

The Social Work profession is concerned with the interactions between people and the institutions of society that affect the ability of people to accomplish life tasks, realize their aspirations, and alleviate stress. The Social Work Program at the University of Nebraska at Keareny arms students with advocacy, social action, and specialized practice skills that would enable them to provide direct services to individuals, families, groups, and communities. The program's focus is on preparing students for generalist entry levelsocial work practice in a variety of settings. Social work graduates use their professional training to meet licensing requirements and to pursue graduate studies.

02 Jun 2006
ugradcatalog@unk.edu