500

This course examines human behavior and the social environment as it relates to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual theories are reviewed to gain a holistic perspective. Developmental dynamics across the lifespan are examined. Students explore systems of injustice and oppression at local and global levels.

This course addresses the history and current systems of social welfare and policy. Historical, cultural, economic, global, environmental, and social dimensions are examined. Six traditional arenas of policy are explored, including child and family services, health and mental health, poverty and inequality, housing and community development, crime and violence, and aging. Christian roots and perspectives on the social work profession are highlighted.

This course provides fundamental knowledge about research methods as they apply to social work practice and research. This course will give students the research and practical tools to critically think about and apply research concepts to help them be more effective social workers. More specifically, this course covers all phases of the research process, including formulating social work research question and hypothesis, selecting a research design, selecting a sampling method, selecting the appropriate instrument to measure client problems and progress, and collecting and analyzing client data. Students will learn to apply the steps for examining evidence-based practice, including using the best available evidence when working with clients in the field of social work. Students will learn about the importance of ethical and cultural issues in social work practice during every phase of the research process. Finally, students will be able to synthesize all the aforementioned information into a written research proposal.

This course prepares students for culturally sensitive advanced generalist social work practice with and on behalf of individual client systems. Students demonstrate ethical and professional behavior as they engage diversity and difference in social work practice. Students develop an understanding of the application of ecosystems, strengths, and empowerment perspectives. Students gain skills in constructing professional relationships, assessing client situations, planning and implementing change, and evaluating outcomes.

This course prepares students for culturally-sensitive generalist social work practice with and on behalf of families and groups. Ecosystems, strengths, resiliency, and empowerment perspectives are developed and applied. Students gain skills for engaging, assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating mezzo systems.

This course emphasizes theories and strategies and prepares students for ethical generalist social work practice with communities and organizations. Students examine diverse macro level systems and integrate principles of social, economic, and environmental justice and cultural humility. Students explore the historical development of institutional structures. Cycles of oppression and marginalization are identified. The social work role of advocacy in the arena of human rights is addressed. Connections among social welfare policies, delivery of social services, and accessibility to services for diverse client systems are assessed.

This course is a generalist social work field placement in a social service agency accompanied by a seminar designed to apply learning to practical social work experience. Placement in an agency is arranged collaboratively with the field director. Synchronous seminars provide opportunities for students to discuss and demonstrate application of knowledge, values, skills, critical thinking, and management of emotions in the context of generalist social work practice. Students learn about fields of practice and provide a support system for one another. Required time spent in the agency is an average of 12.5 hours per week for 8 weeks. The generalist field experience requires a total of 400 hours accumulated over the course of four field and seminar courses. A minimum of 100 hours must be completed in this first generalist field placement course. Exceptions must be approved by the Director of Field Experiences. In addition to course work, students must also pass an evaluation of professional behavior as completed by the field instructor to pass this course. Prerequisites: Completion of Application and all required field documents, acceptance into MSW Field Program. Completion of SWK-542, SWK-543, SWK-555, & SWK-556

This course is a continuation of the generalist social work field placement and the seminar (SWK-560). Synchronous seminars provide opportunities for students to discuss and demonstrate application of knowledge, values and ethics, skills, critical thinking, and management of emotions, with particular emphasis on diversity & difference in the context of generalist social work practice. Students learn about fields of practice and provide a support system. Required time spent in the agency is an average of 12.5 hours per week for 8 weeks. The generalist field experience requires a total of 400 hours accumulated over the course of four field and seminar courses. A minimum of 100 hours must be completed in this second generalist field placement course. Exceptions must be approved by the Director of Field Experiences. In addition to course work, students must also pass the mid practicum evaluation as completed by the field instructor to pass this course. Prerequisite: SWK-560

This course is a continuation of the generalist social work field placement (SWK-561) accompanied by a seminar. Synchronous seminars provide opportunities for students to discuss and demonstrate application of knowledge, values, skills, critical thinking, and management of emotions, with particular emphasis on human rights, social, economic, and environmental justice in the context of generalist social work practice. Students learn about fields of practice and provide a support system. Required time spent in the agency is 12.5 hours per week for 8 weeks. The generalist field experience requires a total of 400 hours accumulated over the course of four field and seminar courses. A minimum of 100 hours must be completed in this third generalist field placement course. Exceptions must be approved by the Director of Field Experiences. In addition to course work, students must also pass an evaluation of professional behavior as completed by the field instructor to pass this course. Prerequisite: SWK-561

This course is a continuation of the generalist social work field placement accompanied by a seminar (SWK-562). Synchronous seminars provide opportunities for students to discuss and demonstrate application of knowledge, values, skills, critical thinking, and management of emotions, with particular emphasis on the planned change process in the context of generalist social work practice. Since this culminates the Field Placement for Generalist Social Work Practice, evaluations of the entire field experience are completed. In addition to course work, students must pass the final practicum evaluation as completed by the field instructor to pass this course. Students learn about fields of practice and provide a support system for facilitating a good ending. Required time spent in the agency is an average of 12.5 hours per week for 8 weeks. The generalist field experience requires a total of 400 hours accumulated over the course of four field and seminar courses. As this is the final field course, the total 400 hours must be completed by the end of the course. Prerequisite: SWK-562