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SOCIAL WORK

DEPARTMENT

Social Work Courses

SOWK100 INTRODUCTION TO

SOCIAL WORK

3 sem. hrs.

This course introduces the institution of social wel-

fare and the profession of social work. Students will

look at some common human needs, and the services

which meet them. Values and issues related to the

profession of social work, and roles assumed by

social workers and related helping professionals in

the social service delivery system, will be explored.

This course also serves as a beginning career testing

opportunity.

SOWK115

HUMAN DIVERSITY

3 sem. hrs.

This course celebrates human differences, developing

an appreciation of diversity and multiculturalism.

Students will learn the histories and cultures of many

U.S. subcultures, including African-Americans,

Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native-Americans,

women, people with disabilities, sexual minorities

and others. No prerequisites. It can be taken as a free

elective and part of the Women's Studies curriculum.

SOWK205

HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

3 sem. hrs.

The course reviews significant concepts of systems

theory. This review orients the student's frame of ref-

erence in a way that promotes understanding and

explanation of the subtle and complex relationship

between human behavior and the social environment.

The course examines factors that shape behavior and

the implications of these interactions for social work

practice. Prerequisites: BIOL101, SOC100,

PSYC101 and SOWK100.

SOWK250

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL

WELFARE POLICY

3 sem. hrs.

This second of three courses in the Services-Policy

sequence for the Bachelor of Social Work introduces

social policy and explains how policy decisions at all

levels affect social services, its clients, and the per-

formance of social workers. Prerequisite: SOWK100

and SOWK115 or permission of the instructor.

SOWK300

SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY

3 sem. hrs.

This course provides to the student an opportunity to

examine critically and analytically the social welfare

institution and its relationship to other institutions in

our society. Societal attitudes and views toward

dependency and deviance, and the way these attitudes

translate into social welfare policy and programs will

be a unifying theme for the course. The role of the

social worker as broker, enabler, therapist, social

planner, and advocate will be explored. The necessity

for the system to provide linkages between people

and resources and to maximize choices and options

for people will be a theme throughout. Prerequisite:

SOWK100.

SOWK310 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I

3 sem. hrs.

This course presents the common core of knowledge,

skills, and values essential to generalist social work

practice. It has a three hour per week required field

component. Prerequisites: SOWK100, SOWK115,

SOWK205, SOWK250.

SOWK312

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II

3 sem. hrs.

This course focuses on social work practice in the

organizational and community contexts. Students will

learn methods of assessment, engagement, and inter-

vention within organizations and communities, meth-

ods of promoting effective and humane operation of

these systems, and methods of modifying them to be

more equitable, just, and responsive. Prerequisite:

SOWK310.

SOWK315

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL

WORK RESEARCH

3 sem. hrs.

This course provides an introduction to research in

social work and its use in policy and practice. The stu-

dent will be exposed to the historical and ethical bases

of social work research. The student will be made

aware of the language of research and how to inter-

pret, evaluate and disseminate research findings.

Prerequisites: SOWK205, PSYC225 or permission

of the instructor.

SOWK375

MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK

3 sem. hrs.

This course provides the student with knowledge

about human service delivery in the hospital setting.

Emphasis is on counseling techniques and roles

which social workers and nurses assume in the med-

ical settings. Optional field experience will be avail-

able. Prerequisite: PSYC101.

SOWK380

CHILD WELFARE

3 sem. hrs.

This course is designed to familiarize the student with

the field of child welfare, its historical roots, the serv-

ices provided to children in their own homes and else-

where, the roles of child welfare workers in a variety

of settings, and some of the problems and policy

issues in our current child welfare system. The issue

of children's rights will be raised. Films, readings,

lectures, class discussions and exercises, student proj-

ects and presentations, agency visits, and speakers

will be among the learning experiences. This course

is designed to flexibly meet student needs, and will

allow for individually tailored assignments. No pre-

requisites.

SOWK385

HUMAN SERVICE

ADMINISTRATION AND

PLANNING

3 sem. hrs.

The purpose of this course is to provide education and

experience regarding the unique structure and philos-

ophy of public and private human service organiza-

tions. The vital elements of effective human service

administration will be emphasized. The significance

of planning and sufficient information is also under-

scored. Current issues in social administration will

also be explored.

SOWK390

AGING AND HUMAN SERVICES

3 sem. hrs.

This course will study the social services which are

available for the aging in the United States in general

and Pennsylvania in particular. It will examine some

of the special problems of the aged, while also focus-

ing on the variability of the aging population. Service

availability and various unique factors in service

delivery to the aged will also be explored.

SOWK410

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE III

3 sem. hrs.

This course builds upon SOWK310 and SOWK312

indeveloping professional knowledge, values, and

skills in working with individuals, families, and small

groups. It allows students opportunity to focus on a

number of specific practice models, and to develop

skills in particular social work roles. This course has

a three hour per week required field component.

Prerequisites: SOWK310 and SOWK312.

SOWK490 INDEPENDENT STUDY

2-5 sem. hrs.

The Independent Study program aims to serve those

students whose scholarly bent seems most clearly

adapted to independent work. Students are permitted

to resolve problems and to earn credit for work per-

formed outside the classroom requirement of any spe-

cific course in the curriculum.

SOWK495

INTERNSHIP: SENIOR FIELD

WORK

12 sem. hrs.

This course is a four day per week internship, in an

approved agency, under professional supervision. The

Field Manual details course goals and objectives,

placement criteria and procedures, and evaluation cri-

teria. Prerequisites: All other required social work

courses except SOWK496, which MUST be taken

concurrently.

SOWK496 SENIOR SEMINAR

3 sem. hrs.

In the seminar students discuss placements, integrate

theory and practice, and deal with professional issues,

including involvement in professional organizations,

professional graduate education, personnel and social

welfare policies, and professional ethics.

Prerequisites: All required Social Work courses

except SOWK495, which MUST be taken concur-

rently with this course.

220/Course Descriptions