Offered by Department of
Criminal Justice and Social Work
College of Natural and Social Sciences
SOWK Courses
- SOWK 170GS - Introduction to Social Welfare - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
Concepts and principles in the development of social welfare. This course includes a brief
overview of the similarities, differences, and relationships between social welfare and
social work.
- SOWK 172 - Human Service Ethics and Experience - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the social work profession,
professional roles and functions, and social services delivery system. The student in
required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours at a social services agency. As volunteers,
students will have an opportunity to observe and participate in social services activities
in the community. Students will have an opportunity to explore their vocational interests
for social work practice via interactive encounters with clients and helping
professionals. Students should have completed or be enrolled in SOWK 170GS.
- SOWK 242 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 170GS
This course systematically examines social, biological, and psychological theories between
individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations, and integrates intervention
skills between systems.
- SOWK 276 - Social Welfare Policies & Services - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 170GS
Social policy development, the historical aspects, value assumptions,
social-political-economic contexts, processes, and skills required for analysis are studied.
- SOWK 330 - Fundamentals of Research in Social Welfare - 3 hours
- Prereq: STAT 235*
This course will introduce students to the concepts and
principles of social work research methodology, educate them about the ethics
and politics involved, and promote their understanding of research issues
relevant to diversity, multiculturalism, as well as social and economic
injustices.
- SOWK 342 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 170GS, SOWK 172
This course focuses on the influence of human behavior on the systems such as family, groups,
organizations, and communities. Family theories from a social work perspective are explored,
taking into consideration race, ethnicity, sexism, sexual orientation, as well as social and
economic justice issues.
- SOWK 371 - Social Work Practice I - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 172, SOWK 242*,
SOWK 276*
This course focuses on relationships, values, and skills in social work practice and
teaches general methodology from a problem-solving perspective.
- SOWK 372 - Social Work Practice II - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 371*
The course expands on the generic practice skills learned in SOWK 371 and focuses on the
small group and the family.
- SOWK 373 - Social Work Practice III - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 372*
This course focuses on social work practice in the macro area. Includes administration,
community organization, social planning, and program development.
- SOWK 377 - Aging Services - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 276* or permission of instructor
The common problems of the aged and their families are studied, knowledge of existing
services is provided, and students are exposed to the initial theory and practice of
delivering services to the aged in both the outpatient and inpatient setting.
- SOWK 401 - Social Work in Legal Settings - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 172, SOWK 242*,
SOWK 276*
An overview of social work practice, theory, and skills for working within and with legal
host agencies, and a brief examination of legal consequences of social work practice.
- SOWK 402 - School Social Work - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 172, SOWK 242*,
SOWK 276*
An overview of services provided by school social workers and the interrelationships with
other student services.
- SOWK 403 - Medical Social Work - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 242*,
SOWK 276*
An overview of social work services provided in medical and other health care settings.
The relationships to other professionals are explored in all health care settings.
Students are introduced to the specific recommendations for practice in medical and other
health care social services.
- SOWK 433 - Introduction to Mental Health Issues - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 170GS
This course enables students to develop a broader understanding of the occurrence and impact of
mental illness in society and from a social work perspective. Mental health issues across race,
class, gender, and culture will be examined with the goal of promoting practice skills and
sensitivity to future clients.
- SOWK 470 - International Social Work Experience - 1-6 hours
- Prereq: permission of program director
Undertaken in the summer. Destinations and length vary year to year. Consult current class
schedule or contact the Program Director.
- SOWK 472 - Substance Abuse and Addictions - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course provides students with the theories, interventions strategies, and social and legal implications of substances
abuse and other addictions. The biological, psychological, social, and familial contexts that contribute to addictive disorders
will be presented. Course orientation and discussion will be framed within a multicultural perspective.
- SOWK 473 - Child Welfare Services - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 172, SOWK 242*,
SOWK 276*
The common problems of children and families needing services are studied. Knowledge of
existing services is imparted, and students are exposed to the initial "how" of
doing child welfare work.
- SOWK 474 - Rural Social Work - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 172, SOWK 242*,
SOWK 276*
The course focuses on the development of generic, rural social work practice skills. These
skills are emphasized to effectively deal with the problems of poverty, ill-health,
housing, isolation, mental health, and aging.
- SOWK 475 - Child Abuse and Neglect - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 170GS
The course prepares students for child welfare practice and provides an overview of child
maltreatment. A historical perspective of child abuse is used to examine issues related to
reporting, legal response, treatment, and prevention, and intervention.
- SOWK 480 - Field Placement I - 3 hours
- Prereq: all required social work courses must be completed with the exception of
SOWK 373*, Practice III,
which can be taken prior to or concurrent with
SOWK 480*-
SOWK 481*; permission of the field coordinator
- SOWK 481 - Field Placement II - 3 hours
- Prereq: all required social work courses must be completed with the exception of
SOWK 373*, Practice III,
which can be taken prior to or concurrent with
SOWK 480*-
SOWK 481*; permission of the field coordinator
The complete practicum experience, SOWK 480 and SOWK 481, consists of 400 actual contact
hours of supervised field experience in an approved social services agency, along with
scheduled group seminar meetings with the Field Coordinator. The first 200 hours (SOWK
480) involves orientation to the agency, observing and learning the structure of the
agency, and the integration of classroom content with practicum experiences. The second
200 hours (SOWK 481) involves actual hands on participation and students are expected to
demonstrate a higher level of skills and an increased responsibility for their learning
and performance. SOWK 480 and SOWK 481 are arranged through the Field Coordinator.
- SOWK 482 - Seminar in Social Work - 3 hours
- Prereq: SOWK 372*, permission of the Field Coordinator
Coreq: SOWK 480*,
SOWK 481*
This course is designed as an integrating seminar to be taken concurrently with Field
Placement. It facilitates the transition from student to professional social worker
through the use of specific assignments focused on resume development, awareness of
continuing educational needs, issues of certification, and exposure to social work
professionals. Students should have completed all required social work courses, and be
enrolled in SOWK 480/481.
- SOWK 499 - Special Studies in Social Work - 1-3 hours
- Prereq: 6 hours of SOWK, permission of director
An in-depth study of contemporary social work practice issues. The project is supervised
by the director. This course may be repeated to a maximum of six hours.
* This course is the immediate prerequisite. Other preparation is required prior to this immediate prerequisite.
