Course Description

Undergraduate | MSW | Ph.D

Undergraduate Courses

200. Introduction to Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Description: Social work practice, ethics, and values, in the context of social welfare policy in the United States.

310. Human Behavior and Social Environment
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 200 and SOC 100 and PSY 236) and (PSL 101 or ISB 204 or PSL 250 or ZOL 341)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: General systems and ecological theories within the context of lifespan development as applied to social work.

320. Social Work and Social Policy I
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: ( SW 200 and PLS 100 and EC 202)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: History of social work and of public policy in welfare, health and civil rights. Roles of social work professionals in policy analysis, implementation and evaluation.

340. Foundations of Social Work Practice
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 310 and SW 320)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: Ethical and philosophical basis for generalist social work practice. Interviewing skills, assessment, and problem solving within an ecological-systems and developmental framework.

420. Social Work and Social Policy II
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite:( SW 340)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: Application of social welfare policy to social work agencies. Current changes in welfare, health, and civil rights policy and their impact on social work clients. Diversity, social justice, and international policy issues.

430. Research Methods in Social Work I
Semester: Fall of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 2 4(3-2)
Prerequisite: (MTH 104 or MTH 132 or MTH 110 or MTH 201 or MTH 116 or STT 200 or MTH 124 or MTH 120 or STT 201 or MTH 152H)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Research processes employing quantitative methods in the measurement of outcomes of social work intervention.

431. Research Methods in Social Work II
Semester: Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 430)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Concepts and methodology for scientific evaluation of social work practice. Theory construction, research design, sampling, and data collection.

440. Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups(W)
Semester:Fall of every year.
Credits:Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 340 ) and completion of Tier I writing requirement.
Corequisite: SW 494A concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: Social work intervention with individuals, families, and small groups.

441. Social Work Practice with Task Groups, Organizations and Communities
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW440)
Corequisite: SW 494B concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: Planning and social intervention with task groups, organizations and communities.

470. Foreign Area Studies in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Variable from 2 to 12
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Social work issues in settings outside the continental U.S.A.

471. Child Welfare
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students.
Description: Social work practice and policy approaches to intervention. Needs and problems of children from the prenatal period through infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

472. Social Work in Health Care
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students.
Description: Psychosocial impact of illness and trauma. Social work practice in health care settings. Role of culture, values, and life style.

474. Substance Abuse and the Human Services
Semester: Spring of odd years.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students.
Description: Theories, assessment, intervention, and service delivery models.

490. Independent Study in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Variable from 1 to 4
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions :Open only to juniors or seniors. Approval of school required.
Description: Individual reading and research supervised by a Social Work faculty member.

490H. Honors Independent Study
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Variable from 1 to 12
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to Honors College juniors or seniors. Approval of school.
Description: Study of a problem, phase or field of social work

491. Special Topics in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students or approval of school.
Description: Selected topics in social work. Topics include community dynamics or practice issues.

492. Seminar in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits:Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions:Open only to juniors or seniors or graduate students in the School of Social Work or approval of school.
Description:Selected professional issues, trends, programs or methods in social work including comparative analysis of national social welfare and social work systems.

494A. Social Work Practicum I: Foundations  
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 5 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 16 5(1-16)
Prerequisite: ( SW 340 )
Corequisite: SW 440 concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: Supervised practicum in approved community agencies. Integration and application of concepts from foundation and concurrent practice courses.

494B. Social Work Practicum II: Generalist Practice
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits:Total Credits: 5 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 16 5(1-16)
Prerequisite: (SW 494A )
Corequisite: SW 441 concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to seniors in the School of Social Work.
Description: Continuation of SW 494A. Focus on writing skills for professional practice and career options.

MSW Courses

800. Introduction to Professional Social Work Practice
Semester: Fall of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2(2-0)
Description: Introduction to the social work profession and its generic practice foundation.

808. Issues in Urban Policy and Services
Semester: Spring of even years.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Description: Issues in urban public policy. Major theoretical approaches. Urban regimes, local autonomy, public and private authority, economic constraints, social welfare, service delivery, neighborhood and community development, urban educational systems. Race, gender, and ethnicity.
Interdepartmental With: Political Science
Administered By: Political Science

810. Theories of Groups, Organizations, and Communities in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 800 or concurrently )
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 812A or SW 812B
Description: Ecological and social-systems perspectives in social work. Theories of groups, formal organizations, and communities in a systems framework for social work practice. Ethical foundations of social work.

811. Social Work Perspectives in Human Development
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3 (3-0)
Prerequisite: SW 810.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 812A or SW 812B
Description: Developmental theories applied to individuals and families within an ecological perspective. Biopsychosocial factors and interactions in human development for social work assessment and intervention.

812A. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2(2-0)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 810 or SW 811
Description: Ecological concepts of communities, groups, families, and individuals. Biopsychosocial factors and life span perspectives as a framework for social work practice.

812B. Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2(2-0)
Prerequisite: SW 812A.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 810 or SW 811
Description: Continuation of SW 812A.

813. Maladaptive Behavior and Psychosocial Disorders
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 800 )
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Social work perspective of person-in-environment as related to maladaptive behavior and psychosocial disorders. Cultural, gender, and racial diversity.

820. Social Welfare Policy and Services
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 800 or concurrently )
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students. Not open to students with credit in: SW 821
Description: Policy analysis in historical and philosophical context. The social work profession and social welfare policy. Gender, minority, social class, and international policy issues.

821. Social Welfare Policy and Service Delivery Systems
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2(2-0)
Corequisite: SW 812A concurrently, SW 842A concurrently, SW 893A concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 820
Description: Professional, social, organizational, international, and political context of social welfare policy. Impact on the poor, women, and minorities. Service delivery systems.

822A. Social Welfare Policy and Services: Children, Youth and Families
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: SW 820 or SW 821.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Development and consequences of specific policies. Multicultural and gender issues.

822B. Social Welfare Policy and Services: Adults
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: SW 820 or SW 821.)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of School of Social Work.)
Description: Development and consequences of policies and programs for adults, especially women, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.

822C Social Welfare Policy and Services: Aging
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0))
Prerequisite: SW 820 or SW 821.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.)
Description: Development and consequences of policies and programs, especially for women and minority elders

830. Applied Social Work Research: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0))
Prerequisite: (SW 800 or concurrently )
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work. One introductory research methods course and one introductory data analysis course. Not open to students with credit in: SW 831
Description: Evaluation of social work programs and practice. Measurement and evaluation processes. Experimental, quasi-experimental, and single-system designs. Sampling processes. Data analysis and computer applications in social work.

831. Applied Social Work Research: Design and Evaluation
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2(2-0)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work. One introductory research methods course and one introductory data analysis course. Not open to students with credit in: SW 830
Description: Measurement and evaluation processes. Experimental, quasi-experimental, and single-subject design. Data analysis and computer applications in social work.

832. Applied Social Work Research: Survey and Field Designs
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 830 or SW 831)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Evaluation of social work processes and outcomes. Scales of measurement. Survey, field, and qualitative research methods. Sampling strategies. Computer technologies in social work evaluation. Data analysis and dissemination of findings.

840. Social Work Practice: Generalist Methods
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 800 or concurrently and SW 810 or concurrently and SW 820 or concurrently )
Corequisite: SW 894A concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work. One introductory research methods course and one introductory data analysis course. Not open to students with credit in: SW 842A or SW 842B
Description: Conceptual framework for generalist social work practice. Ethical and philosophical basis for professional practice and accountability. Social work roles and methods with micro-and-macro client systems.

841. Social Work Practice: Intervention Models
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3 (3-0)
Prerequisite: SW 811 or concurrently. SW 840.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 842A or SW 842B
Description: Assessment and intervention by developmental stage and type of client system. Models of social work practice.

842A. Practice Methods and Evaluative Research I
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2 (2-0)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 840 or SW 841
Description: Selection, implementation, and evaluation of models of social work intervention.

842B. Practice Methods and Evaluative Research II
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2 2(2-0)
Prerequisite: SW 842A.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 840 or SW 841
Description: Continuation of SW 842A.

845. Administrative Skills for Social Work Practice
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 800 )
Description: This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of how social agencies function as organizational entities, and to introduce a number of skills required for effective social work practice within organizations, including budgeting, grant writing and supervision.

850. Clinical Social Work Practice: Individual and Family Systems
Semester: Fall of every year
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 841 or SW 842B) and (SW 893B or SW 894B) and (SW 845 or concurrently )
Corequisite: SW 894D concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Conceptual frameworks for clinical social work practice with individuals, couples, and families. Intervention strategies, techniques, and practice issues.

851. Clinical Social Work Practice: Treatment Groups
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 850 and SW 894D and SW 845)
Corequisite: SW 894E concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work.
Description: Conceptual frameworks for clinical social work practice with small groups. Intervention strategies, techniques, research, and practice issues in prevention and treatment groups.

862. Advanced Social Work Practice: Planning and Evaluation of Social Programs
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 845 or concurrently ) and (SW 841 or SW 842B)
Corequisite: SW 894F concurrently
Description: Advanced social work skills in program planning, program implementation, and program evaluation in the context of social work agencies.

863. Advanced Social Work Practice: Community Organization and Community Practice
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: (SW 845 and SW 862)
Corequisite: SW 894G concurrently
Description: Theoretical frameworks and skills for advanced community-based social work practice, and theories of social change.

870. Advanced Clinical Social Work with Individual Adults
Semester: Spring of odd years.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: SW 850.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work.
Description: Interventions with individual adults. Case problem solving in empirically-based practice.

871. Advanced Clinical Social Work with Families
Semester: Spring of even years.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Prerequisite: SW 850.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work.
Description: Family intervention skills. Case problem solving in empirically-based practice.

890. Independent Study
Semester: Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits: Variable from 1 to 4
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Approval of school.
Description: Independent reading and research supervised by a faculty member.

891. Special Topics in Graduate Social Work (MTC)
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work.
Description: Topics in social welfare, social policy, service delivery, research, theory, and practice.

891C. Social Work in Educational Settings
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Laws and values for the school system, its personnel, students, and parents. Multi-systems, multi-modal approach to practice.

892. Graduate Seminars in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in School of Social Work.
Description: Selected professional issues, trends, programs, research, or methods in social work.

893A. Social Work Field Instruction: Integration of Practice Methods I  
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lab Hours: 8 2(0-8)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 894A or SW 894B
Description: Application of social work foundation concepts in a campus-based experience. Professionally supervised application in selected social service agencies.

893B. Social Work Field Instruction: Integration of Practice Methods II
Semester: Summer of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lab Hours: 8 2(0-8)
Prerequisite: SW 893A.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 894A or SW 894B
Description: Continuation of SW 893A.

894A. Social Work Field Instruction: Foundations of Applied Social Work Practice
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lab Hours: 16 4(0-16)
Prerequisite: SW 810 or concurrently; SW 820 or concurrently.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 893A or SW 893B
Description: Foundation components of social work practice. Professionally supervised application in a campus based experience and in selected social service agencies. QA: SW 835, SW 836.

894B. Social Work Field Instruction: Models of Intervention
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lab Hours: 16 4(0-16)
Prerequisite: SW 894A, SW 840.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work. Not open to students with credit in: SW 893A or SW 893B
Description: Professionally supervised application of theories of developmental stages, types of client systems, and models of practice in approved agencies.

894D. Social Work Field Instruction: Clinical Intervention, Individuals and Families
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lab Hours: 16 4(0-16)
Prerequisite: SW 841 or SW 842B; SW 893B or SW 894B.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Professionally supervised development of skills for practice with individuals, couples, and family systems in approved agencies.

894E. Social Work Field Instruction: Clinical Intervention with Groups
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lab Hours: 16 4(0-16)
Prerequisite: SW 894D.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work.
Description: Professionally supervised development of skills for practice with groups in approved agencies.

894F. Social Work Field Instruction: Planning and Evaluation of Social Programs
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lab Hours: 16 4(0-16)
Prerequisite: (SW 893B or SW 894B)
Corequisite: SW 862 concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the School of Social Work.
Description: Professionally supervised application of social work concepts, principles, and methods to program planning, implementation and evaluation in approved agencies.

894G. SW 894G Social Work Field Instruction: Community Organization and Community Practice
Semester: Spring of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 4 Lab Hours: 16 4(0-16)
Prerequisite: (SW 894F )
Corequisite: SW 863 concurrently
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Social Work.
Description: Professionally supervised application of social work concepts, principles, and methods to community social work practice in approved agencies.

Ph.D Courses

900. Doctoral Proseminar in Social Work
Semester: Fall of every year.
Credits: Total Credits: 1 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 1 1(1-0).
Restrictions: Open only to doctoral students in Social Science and Social Work.
Description: Major issues in social work practice, theory, and research. Social work and the social science disciplines.

901. Knowledge Construction in Social Work
Semester: Fall of even years.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Restrictions: Open only to doctoral students in Social Science and Social Work.
Description: Historical evolution and contemporary status of social work knowledge. Epistemological and ethical issues in the construction of social work theory and knowledge.

910. Social Problems and Social Policy
Semester: Spring of even years.
Credits: Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0)
Restrictions: Open only to doctoral students in Social Science and Social Work.
Description: Impact of public policies on social problems, social welfare, social programs, and social work practice. Application of analytical frameworks to selected areas of social welfare.

920. Evaluation of Social Work Services and Practice
Semester:Spring of odd years.
Credits:Total Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 3 3(3-0).
Restrictions:Open only to doctoral students in Social Science and Social Work.
Description:Evaluation of social service organizations, service delivery, and practice outcomes. Evaluation models, design issues, and professional roles in planning and implementing evaluation studies of social work practice.

990. Independent Study
Semester:Fall of every year. Spring of every year. Summer of every year.
Credits:Variable from 1 to 4
Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions:Open only to doctoral students in Social Science-Social Work. Approval of school.
Description:Individual study of theoretical or applied problem in social work.