Course Listings/Descriptions SOW - Social Work

SOW 2948 Service Learning Field Study I . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Placement in community agency or other social organizational setting related to field of study. Supervision by faculty and agency. Students and faculty "customize" courses to fit a full range of services that are available in the setting. Student must be able to draw correlation between the discipline and field study. Journal and reflective experience paper are required. With the agreement of the student's faculty sponsor, a minimum of 4-6 hours per week must be done at the field site per semester hour of credit. Permission of instructor is required.

SOW 3103 Human Behavior in Social Environment . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Social personality and cognitive development, normal and abnormal, normative and non-normative crisis and gender issues with an emphasis on cultural diversity. Importance of social work intervention and treatment with individual, family, and community. Three semester hours in a course with content on human biology required prior to taking this course. Prerequisite: BSC 1xxx or BSC 2xxx, BY 1xxx or BY 2xxx, BIO 1xxx or BIO˙2xxx, ZOO 1xxx or ZOO 2xxx.

SOW 3113 Human Behavior in Organizations and Communities . . . . . 3(F,S)
Introduces the future practitioner to the concept of " change agent" within organizations, institutions, and communities. Prepares the student with academic concepts on community organization as a prelude to the practice course. Emphasis is placed on the student's ethical responsibilities to the client, organization structure of human service agencies and the elements common to them. Students will understand structural and organizational differences between profit and nonprofit agencies. Students will experience organizational obstacles to planned change. The dynamics of gender, class, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation are examined in relationship to how they are played out within the organizational context.

SOW 3203 Introduction to the Field of Social Work . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Survey of the social work profession from its roots to contemporary practice with a descriptive focus on its values, knowledge bases, skills, and fields of practice. Emphasis is on generalist social work and social policy structures which sustain society. Introduces the relationship of social problems to social policy and to social service delivery systems.

SOW 3313 Work With Individuals and Families . . . . . 3(F,S)
One of four practice courses designed to prepare the student for generalist social work. Emphasis is on the values, knowledge, and skills necessary for effective assessment and intervention on the micro level, and is reflected in several areas, including the worker/ client relationship, assessment, strategies and techniques, the social worker's use of self, the phases of the helping process, and evaluation. Using the systems approach, emphasis is placed on social, cultural, familial and environmental influences on the functioning of individuals and families. Permission is required.

SOW 3314 Case Management . . . . . 3(F,S)
Designed to help students develop a general overview of case management and how it is defined and practiced now, in a variety of settings such as juvenile justice programs, mental health programs, and non-profit community agencies.

SOW 3322 Work With Groups . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
One of a series of four courses designed to prepare a student for generalist social work practice. The student will acquire the knowledge base, values and skills necessary for working with groups at the beginning professional level. The focus will be on developing the knowledge base, values and practice skills needed to use the problem solving approach to work with diverse populations within various types of groups. Stages of groups and activities that can enhance the group process will be explored. Permission is required.

SOW 3350 Writing for Social Work . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Practice in precise, descriptive, and accurate writing techniques for practitioners in social work, psychology, and other helping professions. (Gordon Rule Course: Wrtg)

SOW 3503 Introduction to Generalist Practice . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
One of four practice courses designed to prepare the student for generalist social work. Through agency experience, classroom instruction, and introspective discussion, students develop self-awareness, beginning skills and knowledge, and a professional attitude. Students are introduced to a social agency setting, the varying needs and vulnerabilities of clients served, the problem solving process, and the development of basic knowledge and skills necessary in helping relationships with systems of various sizes. Restricted to social work majors. Permission of instructor is required. Prerequisite: SOW 3103, SOW 3203, SOW 3350.

SOW 3620 Practice with Culturally Diverse Populations . . . . . 3(F,S)
Explores the differences of experience, needs and beliefs of culturally diverse population within our society, and provides a theoretical foundation from which to develop differential assessment and intervention skills essential to culturally sensitive practice. Patterns, dynamics and consequences of discrimination, economic deprivation and oppression are discussed with special emphasis on the impact for people of color, women, gay and lesbian, and disabled populations.

SOW 3650 Introduction to Child Welfare . . . . . 3(F,S)
Prepares social workers and others to enter the field of child welfare with a better understanding of the history of this movement and the types of services and programs designed to assist children and families. Also introduces and provides information to any interested person regarding the social problems of children and the availability of services to children in need.

SOW 3948 Service Learning Field Study II . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Placement in community agency or other social organizational setting related to field of study. Supervision by faculty and agency. Students and faculty "customize" courses to fit a full range of services that are available in the setting. Student must be able to draw correlation between the discipline and field study. Journal and reflective experience paper are required. With the agreement of the student's faculty sponsor, a minimum of 4-6 hours per week must be done at the field site per semester hour of credit. Permission of instructor is required.

SOW 3949 Cooperative Education . . . . . 2(F,S,SS)
Alternating full-time or consecutive parallel terms of practical experience in the intended field. Reinforcing academic preparation; confirming educational and career goals; personal and professional development; early start in career; earnings toward self-support; improved employability. (See program description under Cooperative Education). Graded on satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis only. Permission of director of Cooperative Education is required.

SOW 4XXX Substance Abuse and the Elderly . . . . . 3(CALL DEPT)
Designed to provide students with the basic understanding of the myriad issues associated with substance abuse dependency among the elderly. The value, theory, and practice bases will be examined. Various intervention strategies at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels will be evaluated for appropriateness and effectiveness. Offered concurrently with SOW 5XXX; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 4111 Adolescents At Risk . . . . . 3(F)
Explores environmental and societal factors that contribute to risky behaviors of adolescents such as substance use, delinquency, sexual activity, and violent behavior, and others. Characteristics of high risk and low risk youth are discussed including the relationship of these characteristics to adolescent development. Prevention, intervention, and treatment approaches are discussed.

SOW 4232 Analysis of Social Service Policy . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Examines social work as a policy-based profession and social welfare policy as a central concern to the profession. Addresses policy practice roles such as planner, administrator, policy analyst, and program evaluator. Includes improvement of human services delivery systems through the application of problem solving, critical thinking, and other necessary skills. Prerequisite: SOW 4403.

SOW 4233 Seminar in Social Justice, Social Action, and Social Policies . . . . . 3(F,S,SS)
Examination of social thought, social values, oppression, and theoretical foundations as influences on the development of social policies. Integrates the key elements of the profession of social work of social work through the filter/lens of social and economic justice, including: history and philosophical foundations of social welfare, community organization and social action, cultural and group differences and oppression, economic systems, social policies, and the impact of these key areas on professional practice. Skills in problem-solving and critical thinking will be applied to the analysis of contemporary issues in debates and through a social action campaign. Prerequisite: SOW 4403 or equivalent, SOW 4332, and SOW 4232.

SOW 4242 Families and Family Treatment . . . . . 3(S)
Designed to define and understand contemporary family forms and family functions, both normative and in crisis, and introduces modalities for assisting troubled families. Addresses such issues as: the impact of the family life cycle, strategies and goals of family treatment, single parent families, gay and lesbian couples and families, and families with chronically and terminally ill members. Offered concurrently with SOW 5243; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 4332 Strategies for Community Change . . . . . 3(F,S)
Development of skills and knowledge in working with communities and agencies to bring about social and economic change. Major emphasis placed on developmental change in agencies, community groups, and total society through program/grant proposal and social action. Permission of instructor is required. Prerequisite: SOW 4403.

SOW 4403 Research Design in Social Work . . . . . 3(F,S)
Introduction to scientific strategies used to evaluate social work practice and theory. Different strategies covered range from participant and observational techniques to controlled experimentation. Ethical/value dilemmas involved in social science research are also covered. Provides the foundation for research based generalist practice and is a prerequisite for and provides the curriculum linkage for SOW 4332, which requires the development of program plan and grant proposal, SOW˙4232, which requires the analysis and evaluation of social service policy/program and SOW 4510/SOW 4522, Field Instruction, which involves in part the evaluation of individual practice.

SOW 4510 Social Work Field Instruction . . . . . 8(F,S,SS)
Field education experience in social service agency with a qualified professional supervisor. A minimum of 400 hours is required. Restricted to social work majors. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis only. Eighteen semester hours of required social work courses, 2.5 GPA in major, and permission of instructor are required. Prerequisite: SOW 3103, 3203, 3313, 3322, 3503 and 4332. Corequisite: SOW 4522.

SOW 4522 Senior Seminar . . . . . 1(F,S,SS)
Designed to integrate previously learned beginning generalist practice concepts, values, knowledge, attitudes and skills with practice. Eighteen semester hours of required social work courses, 2.5 GPA in major, and permission of instructor are required. Prerequisite: SOW 3103, 3203, 3313, 3322, 3503 and 4332. Corequisite: SOW 4510.

SOW 4610 Family Intervention . . . . . 3(CALL DEPT)
Family changes and conflict are examined. Methodology for working with families toward adjustment is presented. Emphasis is on the need for family intervention in substance abuse and addiction treatments. Designed for students who anticipate working in human services, and it presupposes that either a basic helping methods course or appropriate experience has preceded it.

SOW 4643 Aging in Today's Society . . . . . 3(F)
Develops a psychosocial systems perspective for working with the elderly. Examines interventive strategies for working with individuals, groups, institutions or organizations, and examines issues and policies which enhance or impede the welfare of the elderly. Designed to provide a basic foundation of the aging process and the aged population.

SOW 4647 Treatment and Care of the Elderly . . . . . 3(S)
Focuses primarily on intervention strategies to provide services to an older client population. Special attention will focus on active, vital aging, without losing sight of the potential problems associated with the aging process. Students will examine various strategies and techniques to meet the psychosocial needs of a clientele ranging from the well- elderly to the frail-elderly. In addition, serves as an interdisciplinary approach to prepare helping professionals to optimally meet the needs of an elderly population in numerous, diverse settings. Offered concurrently with SOW 5641; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 4682 Dimensions of Death and Dying: Special Issues . . . . . 3(SS)
Assists the student, both personally and as a professional helping others, to approach death and dying with enhanced knowledge, sensitivity, and less dread and denial. Examines historical, social, legal, cultural, and interpersonal aspects of death and bereavement within the context of professional practice. Offered concurrently with SOW 5687; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 4700 Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment: Special Issues . . . . . 3(F,SS)
Historical, legal, ethical, and social issues relating to drug abuse prevention and treatment. The family unit will serve as a basic focus for the area of prevention. Various treatment approaches will be covered from outpatient counseling to therapeutic communities. Offered concurrently with SOW 5710; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 4949 Cooperative Education . . . . . 0(F,S,SS)
Alternating full-time or consecutive parallel terms of practical experience in the intended field. Reinforcing academic preparation; confirming educational and career goals; personal and professional development; early start in career; earnings toward self-support; improved employability. (See program description under Cooperative Education). Graded on satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis only. Master level student and permission of director of Cooperative Education is required.

SOW 5XXX Substance Abuse and the Elderly . . . . . 3(CALL DEPT)
Designed to provide students with the basic understanding of the myriad issues associated with substance abuse dependency among the elderly. The value, theory, and practice bases will be examined. Various intervention strategies at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels will be evaluated for appropriateness and effectiveness. Offered concurrently with SOW 4XXX; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 5243 Families and Family Treatment . . . . . 3(S)
Designed to define and understand contemporary family forms and family functions, both normative and in crisis, and introduces modalities for assisting troubled families. Addresses such issues as: the impact of the family life cycle, strategies and goals of family treatment, single parent families, gay and lesbian couples and families, and families with chronically and terminally ill members. Offered concurrently with SOW 4242; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 5641 Treatment and Care of the Elderly . . . . . 3(S)
Focuses primarily on intervention strategies to provide services to an older client population. Special attention will focus on active, vital aging, without losing sight of the potential problems associated with the aging process. Students will examine various strategies and techniques to meet the psychosocial needs of a clientele ranging from the well- elderly to the frail-elderly. In addition, serves as an interdisciplinary approach to prepare helping professionals to optimally meet the needs of an elderly population in numerous, diverse settings. Offered concurrently with SOW 4647; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 5687 Dimensions of Death and Dying: Special Issues . . . . . 3(SS)
Assists the student, both personally and as a professional helping others, to approach death and dying with enhanced knowledge, sensitivity, and less dread and denial. Examines historical, social, legal, cultural, and interpersonal aspects of death and bereavement within the context of professional practice. Offered concurrently with SOW 4682; graduate students will be assigned additional work.

SOW 5710 Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment: Special Issues . . . . . 3(F,SS)
Historical, legal, ethical, and social issues relating to drug abuse prevention and treatment. The family unit will serve as a basic focus for the area of prevention. Various treatment approaches will be covered from outpatient counseling to therapeutic communities. Offered concurrently with SOW 4700; graduate students will be assigned additional work.