With a focus on inter-professional practice, students will gain an understanding of long living individuals in contemporary society and learn the diverse needs of aging adults and appreciate the issues impacting gerontological practice. Students will gain elder assessment skills and learn tools to screen for spiritual needs, depression, substance abuse, suicide and physical abuse or neglect. Students will learn how to practice in multi-disciplinary teams to serve older adults in a wide range of settings, from hospitals to community centers. Prerequisite: 210 or SOCL 125 or PSYC 171.

This course surveys the field of child welfare. Students will acquire an understanding of the issues that impact the welfare of children in our society, including poverty, substance abuse, violence, and mental health concerns, the relationship between these issues and child abuse and neglect. Students will examine the issues involved in providing services to children affected by child abuse and neglect, unplanned pregnancy, foster care, and institutional care.

This course explores issues that impact families in today's society such as resiliency, trauma, family violence, mental illness, poverty, hunger, homelessness, autism, and bullying. Evidence based methods for prevention and intervention will be explored in relation to these issues with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches. Prerequisite: 210 or PSYC 171 or SOCL 125. Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher.

This course provides students with an understanding of basic, universal human rights and social welfare policy as a potential instrument to advance social justice. The historical, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and global influences on social welfare are examined. Students will learn about the major social welfare programs that address financial and basic human needs, civil rights, aging, health, mental health and child welfare. Knowledge of and skills in policy formulation, analysis, and advocacy will be developed.

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.

This course focuses on the theory, practice skills, and knowledge needed for social work practice with groups, and communities. Emphasis is on executing the planned change process with multiple system levels in generalist practice. Inclusion and diversity issues are examined in mezzo and macro system change efforts. Theory provides a basis for understanding social issues in communities and groups and underpinning for intervention models. Students examine ethical conflicts in community and group work. Prerequisite: admission to the social work program, 321, 331.

This course prepares students for the field education experience, focusing on the work required to obtain an approved education placement. Content and procedures regarding admission to field education, placement process, and agency interviews are covered, cumulating in an approved field placement. Course content includes an overview of field education, expectations of field education, the field learning contract, and the Senior Capstone course.

In this agency-based practicum students practice with the knowledge, values, and skills developed throughout the social work curricula. Students engage in a structured, individualized, educational experience in a community agency setting. Viterbo University faculty liaisons, agency instructors and students collaborate to facilitate the transition from classroom to generalist social work practice. During the semester student provide social work services 30 hours per week, for a minimum of 450 hours, in an agency setting approved by the Viterbo University social work field director.

The capstone course supports students in their transition from academia to generalist social work practice in the agency setting. Course outcomes emphasize the connection between theory and practice. Course content includes organizational theory, ethics in agency settings, supervision, organizational functions and client systems. Information on credentialing, licensure and career development further the students' identification as a professional social worker. Must be taken concurrently with 480. Prerequisite: 366 or PSYC 340, MATH 130 or PSYC 223 or SOCL 223.

Courses on topics of interest to social work students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by instructor. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.