Social
Work (SOWK)
210—Introduction to Social Work, 3
Cr.
This course is designed to introduce
students to the profession of social work within contemporary society including
historical background and social, economic, and political conditions influencing
its development. Students will gain an understanding of the connection between
social work and social welfare policy. Social work values and ethics, including
the profession’s commitment to social justice and valuing of diversity, will be
addressed. Students will learn about the social service delivery system, the
social system’s perspective of generalist social work, fields of social work
practice, and social work roles and functions. The course will provide
information that will assist students in considering the profession as a career
choice. (Equivalent to SOCL 210.)
240—Introduction to Research and
Analytical Writing, 3 Cr.
Sophomore level writing emphasis course
that introduces students in social sciences to the research process, critical
thinking, and analytic writing using APA style. Students will learn to
critically read and evaluate sources and scholarly writing. Emphasis will be
placed on learning to write in APA style. An overview and basic understanding
of the scientific research process, with an emphasis on quantitative research
is stressed. Ethical issues in human subject research and evidence based
practice in social work are examined. This is the first course in a two-course
research sequence required for social work majors. Prerequisite: ENGL 104 or
105 or 195.
275—The Social Work Profession through
Service Learning, 3 Cr.
This course will explore the diverse
field of social work in and outside the academic classroom through exposure,
observation, and service in social service agencies. The course will focus on
the choice of social work as a profession through 30 hours of service as an
agency volunteer. Students will examine the congruence of personal values with
professional values and explore the professional use of self in generalist
social work practice utilizing a strengths perspective. Various client
populations encountered in social work will be discussed. Students will develop
an awareness of professional expectations, integration of knowledge, values and
skills, and cultural competence. Highly recommended for sophomore level social
work students. Prerequisite: 210 or SOCL 210 or concurrent enrollment.
280—Interview Skills for Social
Work, 3 Cr.
Students will learn essential
interviewing skills for an empowering and strength-based method of planned
change. The skills necessary for ethical practice at each stage in the planned
process are defined, modeled, rehearsed, and evaluated. Practice methods
sensitive to the needs of vulnerable populations are applied at each stage of
the planned change process. Through a structured lab format, recorded
interviews, and case study, social work perspectives and theories are applied
in the acquisition of interview skills. Prerequisites: 210 or SOCL 210;
admission to the social work program.
321—Social Work Practices I:
Individuals and Families, 3 Cr.
This course will provide students with
knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with individuals and
families. Social work values and ethics, as well as interviewing and practice
skills with clients of diverse racial, cultural, class, and religious
backgrounds will be addressed. The planned change process, ethical and
purposeful use of self, and use of theory to guide practice will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: 280, 331; admission to the social work program.
328—Understanding and Working with Mexicans
in the U.S., 3 Cr.
The objective of this course is to
begin to learn about the complex nature of the relationship between Mexico and
the U.S. through the lived experience of Mexican people. The focus of this course is the present day
realities of Mexican people working and living in the U.S. The course will offer knowledge, values and
skills necessary to understand and work with Mexicans in the U.S. Students will
learn about selected historical, social, cultural, political and economic
events that shape the life of today’s Mexicans as well as current policy and
political decisions that are impacting Mexicans in the U.S. The skills
necessary to communicate with and serve Mexicans will occur through 10-15 hours
of volunteer service, enhancing students’ cross-cultural practice experiences.
(Equivalent to SOCL 328.)
331—Human Behavior in the Social
Environment I, 3 Cr.
This
course focuses on theory and knowledge of individuals and families including
biological, social, psychological, spiritual, and cultural factors that impact
human development and behavior. Utilizing the generalist approach to social
work practice, a social systems perspective is applied to understand the
relationships between individuals, families and the broader social environment.
Diversity is presented in its many facets covering ethnicity, culture, race,
social class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. The impact of
discrimination and other forms of oppression on individual development and
behavior are examined. Prerequisites: 210 or SOCL 210; BIOL 203; ENGL 103, 104;
PSYC 171; SOCL 125; admission to the social work program.
332—Social Work with the Elderly, 3
Cr.
This
course surveys policies, programs, and social work services for the older
person. Students will gain an understanding of aging persons in contemporary
society, the social service delivery system, diverse needs of aging persons,
social policies and issues impacting the elderly, and social work practice with
the elderly. Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher. (Equivalent
to SOCL 332.)
333—Child Welfare, 3 Cr.
This
course surveys the field of child welfare. Students will acquire an
understanding of the issues involved in providing services to children who have
been affected by child abuse and neglect, unplanned pregnancy, foster care,
institutional care, and mental health concerns. The student will acquire
knowledge relevant to working with children, biological parents, foster
parents, adoptive parents, and other systems involved in the welfare of
children. Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher. (Equivalent
to SOCL 333.)
334—Social Work with Families, 3 Cr.
This course provides an overview of
social work practice with families. Using a family systems and family life
cycle perspective, diversity in families will be examined. The dynamics of families
experiencing a wide variety of life challenges such as divorce, remarriage,
family violence, caring for aging parents, or homosexual family life and social
work interventions with these family issues will be explored. Students will
have the opportunity to reflect on their own family for the purpose of better
understanding family dynamics from a nonjudgmental perspective. Prerequisite:
210 or PSYC 100 or 171 or SOCL 125 or 210. Restricted to students with
sophomore standing or higher.
340—Social Work Research, 3 Cr.
This course will provide an overview of
research methods appropriate for evaluating all levels of social work practice.
Students will study the logic and ethics of research designs and practice
evaluation. Selected research strategies will include single subject design,
needs assessment, and program evaluation. A key component of evaluation
includes the effect that diversity has on all phases of the research process.
Prerequisite: admission to the social work program.
341—Social Welfare Policy I, 3 Cr.
This course will provide an overview of
the history of American social welfare programs, the assessment of
socio-economic attitudes that underlie policies related to social and economic
justice, and the process of governmental policy making. Students will be
introduced to social policy analysis. Special emphasis will be placed on
poverty, welfare programs, and welfare reform. An overview of current social
policy associated with economic support, housing, food, and immigration will be
provided. Prerequisite: POSC 120 or 121, admission to the social work program.
360—Interpersonal Violence, 3 Cr.
This course will provide
an overview of common forms of interpersonal violence (sexual assault,
relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, human trafficking, and
prostitution/pornography). Students analyze the interrelationships and
connections between these and other social problems such as poverty,
homelessness, crime, and substance abuse in the context of a sexist and racist
culture. The impact of interpersonal violence on special populations (LGBT, the
elderly, persons with disabilities) will be examined. Throughout the course
students will have the opportunity to learn about community resources and
agencies that work to combat this type of violence. Prerequisite: 210 or PSYC
100 or 171 or SOCL 125.
366—Community Based Mental Health
Services, 3 Cr.
Social
workers and other helping professionals perform critical roles in mental health
treatment teams, community support programs, and as advocates for mental health
issues. This course provides an introduction to the community based mental
health care delivery system. The strengths perspective is stressed with an
emphasis on biopsychosocial aspects of mental health, social constructionist perspective
of mental illness, and generalist practice. Psychological diagnosis for common
mental illness is introduced for the purpose of working in interdisciplinary
teams and in supportive roles with families. Evidence-based, best practice
approaches are reviewed. Prerequisite: 210 or SOCL 210; PSYC 171; SOCL 125.
Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher. (Equivalent to SOCL
366.)
421—Social Work Practice II: Groups
and Communities, 3 Cr.
This
course will further develop the knowledge and skills of generalist social work
practice by applying the planned change process to groups and communities.
Students will learn alternative intervention strategies with populations at risk,
and examine ethical conflicts in work with groups and communities.
Prerequisites: 280, 321, 431; admission to the social work program.
431—Human Behavior in the Social
Environment II, 3 Cr.
This course focuses on the theory and
knowledge needed to understand human interaction in the social environment from
a social systems perspective, including groups, communities, and organizations.
Emphasis will be placed on viewing human behavior and social problems as
multi-causal and involving intervention with multi-person client systems
utilizing the generalist approach to social work practice. Students will
develop an understanding of how human diversity impacts the functioning of
families, groups, communities, and organizations with particular focus on race,
ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Prerequisites: 331; admission to the
social work program.
441—Social Welfare Policy II, 3 Cr.
This course presents an overview of the
development, implementation, and effectiveness of current policies and programs
associated with aging, health, mental health, and disabilities and implications
for social work practice. The impact of these social policies and programs on
the well being of racial and ethnic groups and populations at risk will be
examined. Students will strengthen their skills in analyzing the adequacy,
effectiveness, and equity of these policies and learn how to influence the
course of social welfare policy. Prerequisite: POSC 120 or 121, admission to
the social work program.
456—Capstone Seminar in Gerontology, 3
Cr.
This course will apply an
interdisciplinary perspective to understand aging focusing on the topics of
quality of life, diversity in aging populations, values and ethics in working
with elders, impact of aging on the family, and preparing communities and
organizations for this growing segment of the population. The challenges of
aging will be viewed through a multidisciplinary approach applying knowledge
from various disciplines such as nursing, nutrition, sciences, humanities,
sociology, psychology, social services, criminal justice and religion. Students
will examine issues from the perspective of their own discipline and discuss
multidisciplinary perspectives to address the challenges of aging. This course
is intended to be a capstone course for the gerontology minor and should be
taken as one of the last courses in the minor sequence. Prerequisite: SOCL 244
or 344. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. (Equivalent to
SOCL 456.)
476—National Social Work Exam
Preparation, 1 Cr.
This course will help senior social
work majors prepare to take the national social work exam. Students will learn
about test construction and item format, content areas, how to review and
prepare for the exam and test taking strategies. Resources for content review
will be made available as well as group review using actual exam items.
Restricted to senior social work majors.
479—Field Education Preparation, 1
Cr.
This course provides students with an
overview of the Field Education experience and focuses on the work required to
obtain an approved Field Education placement. The course will meet for one hour
per week and cover material regarding admission to field education, agency
sites, placement process, agency interviews, field education expectations,
learning contracts, NASW Code of Ethics issues pertinent to field education,
and Senior Capstone course overview. Students will be completing many of the
course requirements outside of class. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment or
completion of social work core requirements except for 480 and 482. Restricted
to students with senior standing. Graded CR/NC.
480—Field Education, 9 Cr.
This course integrates the knowledge,
values, and skills developed throughout the social work curricula. Students
engage in structured, individualized learning opportunities in a community
agency setting. Viterbo University faculty, agency field instructors, and
students collaborate to facilitate the transition from classroom to generalist
social work practice. During the semester students will complete 30 hours per
week, for a minimum of 450 hours, in an agency setting approved by the Viterbo
University social work field director. Prerequisite: admission to social work
field placement; demonstrated readiness for social work practice. Must be taken
concurrently with 482. Graded CR/NC.
482—Senior Capstone Course, 3 Cr.
This capstone course is designed to
transition students from the classroom setting to generalist practice in their
agency field settings and assist in the integration of the social work
curricula. Emphasis will be placed on practice in the organizational/agency
setting including ethics in agency settings, use of supervision, organizational
dynamics and organizational change processes. Key social work principles
applicable to generalist social work practice will be reviewed. Must be taken
concurrently with 480.