Social Work Course Descriptions
SOCW 260: Introduction to Social Work (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Introduction to the social service delivery systems in the United States, with an emphasis on the social work profession: its mission, philosophy, ethics, values, diverse fields, and ethnocultural perspectives. Observations of social service agencies and guest speakers provide a career orientation to the social work profession.
SOCW 310: Social Welfare Policy and Services I (Fall)
Examination of the historical evolution of social welfare and the social work profession, with focus on the social policies which comprise the foundation of the welfare state in the United States. Present patterns of social welfare services are to be examined. Emphasis is on the historical evolution of contemporary social problems. Oppression, discrimination, social justice issues and policies, and their impact on diverse populations at risk will be explored.
SOCW 320: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (Fall)
Critical analysis of perspectives on the person and on the physical and sociocultural environment. The focus is on the fit between person and environment, with attention to biological, psychological, and social dynamics that impair or facilitate person/environment fit. There is particular concern with the process of social and cultural stratification and oppression within society, communities, institutions, organizations, and groups, and the effects of confrontation and contact between those cultures and the dominant American culture is reviewed, with special attention to social work issues. The rural environment as a context affecting biological, psychological, and social dynamics is considered.
SOCW 322: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (Spring)
Examination of development in the intertwined individual and family life cycles as a transactional process involving the material interaction of environmental, bio-psycho-social, economic, and ethnocultural factors, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and family structure. The focus is on the evolving fit between the developing individual and family and the risk and protective factors in a changing environment. Special attention is paid to how the process impacts Western Kansas populations at risk. There is particular concern with develop- mental settings, including family, school and work and the ways they impact and are impacted by developing individuals and families, concepts of diversity, values and ethical issues, and theoretical perspectives as they apply to social work practice area examined.
SOCW 360: Social Work Research Methods (Fall)
This course emphasizes foundational research concepts, designs, analysis, evaluation, and report generation necessary for students to engage in an effective culturally-competent social work research, evaluation, and inform SW practice and programs. Students will understand, develop, and apply ethical, analytic, and critical thinking skills using theoretical frameworks and systematic research methods to assess and evaluate multidimensional problems/issues. Students will develop evidence-based decision-making skills and competencies using the scientific mode of inquiry research methods, and approaches to enrich their professional behavior and development as practitioners and/or researchers. Additionally, this course aims to develop students’ competencies to be informed consumers of research displaying knowledge and skills in interpreting research data, findings, limitations, generalizability, biases, cultural issues, and the theory-building process of research-informed practice and practice-informed research. Students will be empowered with scientific knowledge and methods to engage in ethical and evidence-based clinical decision-making processes to advance human rights, dignity, well-being, social and economic justice, and understand human behavior in a social environment/context.
SOCW 365: Advanced Social Work Research Methods (Spring)
This course is the second in the series of social work research methods courses. The course introduces students to advanced quantitative and qualitative analytical concepts and methods and prepares them for the needed agency-level research knowledge, skills, and techniques for SW practice. Knowledge and skills of research methods are transferable and help social workers engage in evidence-based practice as consumers of research and carry out essential research tasks at an agency. Social workers’ involvement in an agency is wide and varied and not limited to some of the common practices such as practice evaluation, grant writing, program evaluation, data collection, data analysis, and report generation. The course also emphasizes the ethical research processes and safeguarding clients’ interests and well-being while preparing them to integrate social work values, knowledge, and competencies of generalist level with scientific rigor and methodologies for efficacious career development.
SOCW 380: Generalist Practice: Foundations of Practice (Fall)
As the first of five generalist practice courses, this foundation course provides entry-level theory, knowledge, research, values, and skills for social work practice. Self-awareness, problem-solving, interviewing, professional relationships, intervention planning and skills, and ethics are explored. This course focuses on individuals but introduces family, group, organizational, and community systems. An ethnocultural perspective with particular focus on Western Kansas urban/rural regions is emphasized. The student will complete fifteen (15) hours of non- paid service in a community agency of the student's choice, with the instructor's approval.
SOCW 381: Generalist Practice: The Helping Relationship (Spring)
As the second generalist practice course, this course provides entry-level theory, knowledge, research, values, and skills for social work practice with individuals. This course builds upon the generalist problem-solving model, interventive methods, and planning introduced in SOCW 380. An ethnocultural perspective with particular focus on Western Kansas, urban/rural regions is emphasized.
SOCW 382: Generalist Practice: Group, Organizational, and Commmunity Systems (Spring)
As the third generalist practice course, this course provides entry-level knowledge, values, and skills for social work practice with group systems. This course builds upon the generalist social work process. An ethnocultural perspective with particular focus on Western Kansas, urban/ rural regions is emphasized.
SOCW 410: Social Welfare Policy and Services II (Spring)
This is the second of two social welfare policy and services courses and builds upon SOCW 310. This course is designed to provide entry-level theory, knowledge, research, values, and skills for social welfare policy/practice. Emphasis is upon the processes and methods of designing, enacting, implementing, and evaluating social welfare policies/services at the local, state, and federal levels. Value and ethical considerations related to policy, evaluation frame- works, and research methodologies are presented. Various organizational and political processes used to implement/influence welfare policies/ services are reviewed.
SOCW 420: Human Behavior and the Social Environment III (Fall)
An analysis for social workers of causes and dynamics of problems in person-environment fit and the associated difficulties in biopsychosocial functioning. Primary focus is on substance abuse. The course also introduces a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Students are asked to consider the impact of the rural, western Kansas environment on problem dynamics and service system response.
SOCW 461: Generalist Practice: Child and Family Systems (Fall)
As the fourth generalist practice course, this course provides entry-level knowledge, values, and skills for social work practice with family systems. This course builds upon the generalist social work problem-solving model. An ethno- cultural perspective with particular focus on Western Kansas, urban/rural regions is emphasized.
SOCW 463: Practicum Preparation (Fall)
This course prepares students for the required field practicum in the final semester of the social work program. Interviewing, stress and time management, court testimony, documentation, career objectives, and practicum site selection are specific goals of this course. Students learn a theoretical context upon which to base the practicum.
SOCW 467: Social Work Professional Seminar (Spring)
A capstone seminar that accompanies the field practicum and enables social work majors to integrate theory, values, skills, ethics, and ethnocultural competence. Emphasis is on self- analysis and evaluating one's own practice.
SOCW 468: Field Practicum (Spring)
A field experience that provides social work majors with supervised learning experiences within selected social welfare agencies. A capstone seminar accompanies this practicum in order to enable students to integrate and apply classroom learning in a field setting. An ethnocultural practice perspective is emphasized. The field practicum prep course, Practicum Preparation, is taken the semester immediately preceding the practicum. Four hundred (400) hours of field practicum experience are required.
SOCIAL WORK ELECTIVES
SOCW 620 VA (Available Spring, Summer, Fall): Spirituality & Aging--The Empowering Relationship
Students will learn a multicultural approach to concepts of spirituality, aging, and empowerment in American society. The course will also examine the role of social workers and gerontology professionals in relationship to the impact of chronic illness on the psychosocial, economic and spiritual contexts of aging adults in our society.
SOCW 670 VA (Available Spring, Summer, Fall): Introduction to Addictions
Substance use problems can occur throughout every socio-economic level. Their presence has a direct impact on practice in the helping professions. In order for professionals to be effective, they must possess a working knowledge of this wide spread problem and its impact on individuals, families and communities. Addictions are complex brain disorders that are often interrelated with other social and psychological problems and have a profound impact on individuals, families, and broad social systems. People can become addicted to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as to processes such as compulsive gambling, eating, etc. Given its ubiquitous impact, it is important for all social helping professionals to be familiar with the various addiction-related issues.
This course will provide a theoretical framework for viewing human behavior as it relates to individuals who problematically use substances and the resulting consequences that can accompany that behavior. The theoretical framework will include the issues of identification of most abused substances, the physiological, psychological and sociological impact of drug abuse, governmental and social policies that affect approaches to drug use and treatment. We will also examine current treatment methods, including mutual-help help groups. The issues of substance abuse and treatment needs within special populations and underserved groups will also be explored.
SOCW 670 VB (Fall Only): Individual Counseling in Addictions
Individual Counseling will cover the competencies put forth in SAMHSA's Technical Assistance Publication Series #21 (TAP 21). The course will specifically focus on competencies 75-87. The competencies will be covered in the context of the counseling process, from Chemical Dependency Evaluation through relapse prevention and termination.
SOCW 670 VC (Fall Only): Families in Addiction
The content of this course provides an understanding of the effects of substance use on family dynamics. This course examines the emotional system, including symbiosis, triangulation, self-differentiation, developmental factors, detachment and disengagement and the multigenerational transmission process. The course examines functional and dysfunctional family organization structure and development. Critical issues in families struggling with substance use are addressed. Students will also learn to assess the issues unique to each family. They include the stages of addiction and dependency, emotional abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, abandonment and physical or mental illness. The course will examine the class will examine the course of family treatment, counselor roles in treatment and difficulties in working with addicted families. Lastly, students will learn of the recovery process of the family, including the developmental model of recovery and the intervention process.
SOCW 670 VD (Fall Only): Pharmacology and High Risk Medical Issues
This course involves an examination of the major categories of drugs and primarily the specific drugs of abuse. Many drugs used in clinical and medical areas will also be considered. Some specific areas that will be covered in the course include the history of psychopharmacology, the nervous system and neural processes in drug action with drugs of abuse, mechanisms of tolerance and dependence, classifications and characteristics of types of drugs, and uses and abuses of the various drugs. The intent is to provide instruction for students seeking to be professional addiction counselors. This course is designed to assist the student in preparing to meet minimum standards for AAPS licensed treatment facilities in the State of Kansas and the requirements for Registered Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
SOCW 670 VB (Spring Only): Ethics in Addictions
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a background of knowledge in ethics and ethical issues in addiction counseling. Students will learn the importance of ethical codes, the difference between moral and legal obligations, how to apply ethical codes in decision making. Students will evaluate case studies of ethical situations and learn to apply ethical decision making to situations that may occur in their professional endeavors.
SOCW 670 VC (Spring Only): Psychopathology and Addictions
Psychopathology in Addictions will cover the competencies put forth in SAMHSA's Technical Assistance Publication Series #21 (TAP 21). The course will specifically focus on competencies 24-36. The competencies will be covered in the context of familiarizing oneself specifically with the DSM 5 and psychopathology in general. Additional information found in SAMHSA's Technical Improvement Protocol #42 (TIP 42) may also be utilized.
SOCW 670VD (Spring Only): Group Counseling with Addictions Populations
The content of this course introduces the student to the basic dynamics and theories of group counseling. The course will also assist the student in developing appropriate skills necessary to facilitate addiction counseling groups. In addition, the overall purpose of the course is to assist the student to integrate theory and skills into a working foundation. Through the content of the course, the student will have an opportunity to explore and understand the evolution of the dynamics and processes of addiction counseling groups.
SOCW 670 VF (Spring Only): Client Management Procedures
Client Management Procedures will cover competencies put forth by SAMHSA. The focus of the class will be on developing the competencies necessary for effective Screening, Assessment, Treatment Planning, and Record Management. This class will be experiential in nature. You can work ahead at any time and you are encouraged to do so. The Assignments will be posted from the beginning of class and therefore, you can begin working on them immediately.