Social Work, BSW

This course introduces psychology as a science and emphasizes the interaction of social, cognitive, emotional, motivational, and organizational approaches to understanding human behavior. All students participate in a service learning experience in which they apply course concepts in real world situations and organizations. Discussions within this class include Christian perspectives on current issues in human behavior, cognition, and motivation. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement.

A basic course introducing the student to the concepts, theories, and methods employed in an objective scientific analysis of society, culture, social institutions and organizations, social control, deviancy, and social factors involved in personality development. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement. (Offered every semester.)

This course critically examines, from both historical and current perspectives, the U.S. social policies with a focus on the disproportionate social, economic and political implications for marginalized populations. The course also considers the parallel historical development of the profession of social work, including the ways in which it responded to social problems across key periods of social policy development. Students learn to use policy analysis tools to understand both how policy influences social work practice, and how social workers can influence social policy and negotiate policy changes. Prerequisite: SOCI 101 or consent of the instructor (Offered spring semester every year.)

Students examine the role of research in addressing social and criminal justice issues. Students build skills in problem formulation, research design, writing literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, and writing of research reports. As a result, students will be better equipped for evidence-based practice within the fields of criminal justice and social work. This course includes the design and implementation of an empirical research project and a publication-ready research paper. Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SCWK 202 or PSYC 202, SCWK 205 or CRJS 203 (Offered spring semester) Corequisites: SCWK 210L

This course will acquaint students with the major themes, theories and theorists in the field of human lifespan developmental psychology. Lifespan development is the scientific study of human development from conception to death. This course focuses on biological, cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, and religious aspects of human development, and aims to help students gain an understanding of human development across the lifespan. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.

The nature, functions, and values of social work are explored. Social work is presented as a problem solving process with wide applicability in the arena of human services; thus, social work is studied within a wide spectrum of situations and institutions. Corequisite: SOC101. Offered: Fall semester.

This course combines the theories of social work practice with the learning of social work practice skills using common models and theoretical frameworks. This course presents ecological models, the strength-based, problem-solving process, dominant brief therapies, and cultural competence as approaches to practice in social work. This course presents and provides structured practice of the fundamental interpersonal skills required for effective social work practice. The course teaches interviewing skills and critical thinking about the interview processes, (from intake through termination and evaluation) and focuses primarily on using those skills with individuals. The models, theories, and processes learned in this course serve as the foundation for generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Prerequisite: SCWK 205 and PSYC 212. (Offered fall semester)

Explores the work of cultural competence, diversity & inclusion, and expansion. Historical contexts are presented to describe present-day injustices and inequalities. Definitions of race, ethnicity, minority, equity and oppression are provided as background for exploring present issues surrounding race, gender and religious minorities. (Offered spring semester.)

Each student must successfully complete a minimum practicum experience totalling ten to twelve semester hours, where 40 clock hours on location equals one hour of credit. Ideally, each practicum should be based at a social work agency or similar organization such as a school, church, health clinic, etc. which specializes in human services. Ideally an on-site supervisor with an MSW degree or LCSW license will supervise the student's practicum. Prerequisite: SOCI 101, SCWK 202, SCWK 210, SCWK 205 and upper division status.

This course builds on the knowledge and skills learned from the course SCWK 310, Practice I: Individuals, and the principles of the NASW Code of Ethics. The class focuses on the mezzo level of generalist social work practice, meaning practice with families and groups. Students will learn models and theories relevant for understanding and working with groups, children, and adults in families. Students will further develop the generalist social work practice skills of engagement, relationship building, assessment, intervention planning and evaluation. Prerequisite: SCWK 310

This course examines contemporary social issues that often involve the redistribution of power and privilege, a signature aspect of social work education and practice. Students are challenged to enact macro level advocacy, informed by key orientations and perspectives and grounded in timely and relevant examples and causes. The models, theories, and processes learned in this course serve as the foundation for generalist practice with organizations and communities. Prerequisite: SCWK 312 Corequisite: SCWK 405

This course integrates social work values and ethical principles, and human rights as foundation of social work practice and social justice. Students will examine how their personal values and beliefs influence their decision making, and build skills to address ethics case studies in alignment with the values and ethical standards set forth by the National Association of Social Workers. Students will interact with ethical dilemmas in practice situations, including diverse and oppressed populations they might encounter during the course of their social work career. Prerequisites: SOCI 101 and SCWK 205

Field Placement is described as the "Signature Pedagogy of Social Work Education," by the Council on social Work Education (CSWE). In this class students complete the required field work under the supervision of the Director of Field with feedback from their peers. In this course students propose and design a capstone project that integrates the Christian faith with classroom knowledge and practicum experience. Completion of the class is intended to prepare the student for professional social work experience. Prerequisite: SCWK 312; Corequisites: SCWK 314 and SCWK 405.

Field Placement is described as the "Signature Pedagogy of Social Work Education" by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). In this course, students complete their required field work, under the supervision of the Director of Field and with the support of their peers. This class integrates the Christian faith with classroom knowledge as faith as students complete the capstone project they proposed in Field Seminar and their Capstone I class. This class is intended to prepare students for professional social work beyond supervised field experience. Prerequisite: SCWK410 Corequisite:SCWK405

A course designed to investigate delinquency, including juvenile deviancy and juvenile crime. Applicable theories and models of delinquency will be investigated, as will social construction of delinquency. The course is appropriate for students focusing on criminal justice generally, as well as social work. Professional implications will also be examined. Cross listed with CRJS 351. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101.

Develops student awareness of practice contexts where social workers may be employed, including schools, military, corrections, hospital, mental health, addictions, and other settings. Prerequisite: SCWK 205. (Offered spring semester every third year.)

This course will cover basic skills of working with individuals who require interventions because of a mental health diagnosis. Students will become familiar with mental health diagnoses as they exist in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association; issues regarding clients who are prescribed psychotropic medications to treat those diagnoses; and roles of social workers and counselors in providing services to those clients and their families. Cross-listed with PSYC 340. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SCWK 205.

This course introduces the student to the basic services available under the auspices of child welfare. The major emphasis is on services as offered within the United States; however, brief attention is given to a comparison with other countries. A historical overview of the field is also provided. Prerequisite: SCWK 205. (Offered spring semester of odd calendar years.)

A study of intimate relationships, marriage, family and contributing support systems. Includes historical overview and contemporary presentations. Emphasis is placed on multifactor understanding of relational/family health. Combines theoretical perspectives from sociology, psychology, anthropology and theology. Parenting, financial pressures, intra-family communication and family formation are examined. Prerequisites: SOCI 101, 112, or PSYC 101. (Offered spring semester.)

Historical, biological, sociological, cultural, and psychological impacts on gender issues, both male and female. Significant emphasis on the effects on the individual, family, workplace, community, and society. Breaking stereotypes and barriers. Prerequisite SOCI 101. Meets the general education global foundations course.

Course content focuses upon basic concepts and operations in descriptive and inferential statistics. The areas of study will include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, correlation and regression analysis, parametric (t-tests and ANOVA) and non-parametric (chi-square) tests of significance. A basic introduction to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software is provided. Cross listed with SCWK 202. Meets the general education quantitative reasoning requirement.

Course content focuses upon basic concepts and operations in descriptive and inferential statistics. The areas of study will include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, correlation and regression analysis, parametric (t-tests and ANOVA) and non-parametric (chi-square) tests of significance. A basic introduction to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software is provided. Cross listed with PSYC 202. Meets the general education quantitative reasoning requirement. (Offered every semester.)