Social Work Degree Plan

The Social Work program is designed to provide quality educational services at a baccalaureate level that prepares competent generalist social workers to enhance the human well-being and the needs of diverse populations, with special attention on persons who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty, in the local, and global community. The program is inspired by the vision of transformation in social economic and environmental justice and advocacy for the well-being of all.

Social Work Degree Plan

Social Work Course Descriptions

SOCW 2363 - Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work (3 credit hours). This introductory course explores historical and contemporary professional social work regarding its purpose and goals, values and ethics, and its stated mission to enhance human well-being and alleviate poverty and oppression. Students will learn about the various fields of practice found within the profession (i.e., child welfare, mental health and developmental disabilities, health care, criminal justice, the workplace, human diversity, aging, housing, the homeless, etc.) through a generalist practice perspective. Special attention will be paid to understanding concepts of diversity and social justice and the impacts and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.

SOCW 3303 – Ethics and Values in the Helping Profession (3 credit hours). This course is a comprehensive study of the standards in social work, helps students recognize and reason carefully about ethical issues and dilemmas, clarify their ethical aspirations as demanded by the profession, and apply ethics in their practice. The course presents guidelines and a model for ethical decision-making in social work practice. It focuses on professional ethics and values and specifically addresses policies defined on values and on using social work ethical principles to guide professional practice. With the emphasis on principles, values, ethical issues in decision-making processes, issues unique to managed care systems.

SOCW 3308 – Methods in Social Work Research (3 credit hours). This course aims to enhance students’ knowledge and skills for applying social science research methods within general social work practice. The primary goal is to develop the students’ use and appreciation of scientific knowledge for practice. This includes studying and integrating knowledge, skills, and values in decision-making in social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, population-at-risk, human behavior, the social environment, social welfare policy and services, and social work practice. The course will build on research skills learned in Sociology 1301 and 2100. The course emphasizes identifying, selecting, and evaluating evidence-based practices for application across systems and in various situations. Specifically, it is designed to strengthen the student’s understanding and appreciation for evidence-based practice in preparation for professional competence in the field experience and eventual professional practice.

SOCW 3305 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3 credit hours). This course studies the life cycle's developmental stages, emphasizing each stage's tasks and mastery outcomes. Biological, social, psychological, and cultural systems are examined regarding human behavior and interrelationships between persons and environments are emphasized.

SOCW 3306 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3 credit hours). This course studies people's dynamic interaction with the environment and assesses social functioning concerning their interrelationships. Emphasis is placed on ecosystems and the concepts of crisis, adaptation, and development of problems of social functioning, which consider individuals and their environment as an interdependent whole

SOCW 3302 – Social Welfare Legislation and Policy (3 credit hours). The course focuses on historical, political, economic, and other social conditions influencing the United States' policy development. Specific policy areas discussed are those in which social workers play significant roles, particularly income maintenance, health, mental health, and child welfare. Other areas addressed include issues related to policies that affect majority groups and populations at risk. Additionally, this course addresses social and economic justice.

SOCW 4303– Cultural Competence (3 credit hours). This course introduces the diversity that characterizes and shapes the human experience and the formation of individual and group identities. Additionally, this course aims to enhance knowledge about intercultural competence, particularly the ability (1) to engage in diversity and difference in practice and (2) to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Furthermore, this course introduces frameworks and strategies that can be applied to varied populations, issues, and contexts and highlights cultural groups and topics that are particularly salient or relevant to today's social work practice. Finally, this course will enhance learning about diversity and social justice to reflect the cultural groups and issues pertinent to the area of specialized practice you have chosen to pursue as a professional social worker.

SOCW 3307 – Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (3 credit hours). This course introduces theories, models, and skills for social work interventions with individuals and families using a generalist model of social work practice. Topics covered include interviewing techniques; case management; the role of a social worker in an agency, the use of referrals, consultation, and supervision; Legality and ethics in social work practice; understanding social work practice with individuals and families; understanding potential barriers in the helping process based on worker’s client differences, and other topics. They are designed to run concurrently with field placement education.

SOCW 4309 – Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities (3 credit hours). This course examines the organizational context within which social services are delivered: how funding, mandate, and organizational arrangements influence service delivery and factors to consider to modify existing organizational arrangements. Materials covered in this course include the nature of culture and personal identity populations at risk and the skills to recognize diversity within and between groups. This course will discuss how assessment, planning, intervention, and research are applied to real situations. Strategies for effective practice with persons from diverse backgrounds; elements of organizational and community dynamics affecting gender and ethnic groups.

SOCW 4305 – Social Work Practice with Groups (3 credit hours). This course focuses on developing group leaders who understand group dynamics and practical leadership skills This course emphasizes understanding, affirming, and respecting groups with diverse backgrounds, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, culture, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental ability, age, and national origin. Students will know how to evaluate the effectiveness of group interventions.

SOCW 4301 – Evidence-Based Practice (3 credit hours). This practice course prepares students to conduct assessments of clients at the individual, group, family, organizational, and community levels. Utilizing a strengths perspective; it focuses on the collaborative nature of assessment and the design and implementation of assessments that include evidence-based strategies. Material includes evidence-based methods/theories; individual, group, family, organization, community, self-assessment; and assessment tools.

SOCW 4330 Social Work Seminar of Helping I (3 credit hours). This course is the foundational seminar for the integration of the social work coursework to practice. It provides students the opportunity to actively reflect on the connection between classroom theory and agency application. This course requires concurrent enrollment with the SOCW 4601, Field Instruction I.

SOCW 4601 – Field Instruction I (6 credit hours). Students enrolled in this course participate in an educationally directed field practice experience under the supervision of a social service agency. Field I students must complete 210 clock hours of fieldwork in the field agency. Students must attend a weekly college-instructed seminar on campus designed to help students process and understand field experiences. Prerequisites: SOCW 3305 and 3306. Concurrent enrollment in SOCW 4305 and permission from the instructor are required. This course is restricted to Social Work majors.

SOCW 4622 – Field Instruction II (6 credit hours). The advanced field practicum course enhances the SOCW 4601 Field Instruction I and is taken concurrently with SOCW 4331 Seminar in Helping. The real-world training is designed to give you professional on-site instruction and social work experience under the close direction of an on-site field instructor. The goal is to gain insight into and commit to advanced generalist practice delivery of services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and/or organizations while enrolled in the accompanying practice education seminar course. As you complete your practicum, you will be continually evaluated and given appropriate learning experiences to ensure that social work theories, conceptual frameworks, knowledge, values, and skills are well understood and effectively implemented. This course is taken concurrently with SOCW 4601 (Field Instruction I). It integrates the social work curriculum with "real" client systems in a practice setting. The course allows students to reflect on the connection between classroom theories and agency application actively. Prerequisite: SOCW 4601 Field Instruction I, SOCW 4330 Seminar in Helping I, and all core social work courses, except SOCW Electives. II.

SOCW 4333 – Social Work Seminar in Helping II (3 credit hours). This course introduces theories, models, and skills for social work interventions with individuals and families using a generalist model of social work practice. Designed to run concurrently with the field placement education. Topics covered include interviewing techniques; case management; the role of the social worker in an agency, the use of referrals, consultation, and supervision; Legality and ethics in social work practice; understanding social work practice with individuals and families; understanding potential barriers in the helping process based on worker's client differences, and other topics. This seminar assists students in integrating practicum experiences with classroom work. It allows the opportunity for collaborative problem-solving and consultation.

SOCW 4307 – Social Work in Healthcare (3 credit hours). This course is focused on exploring social work practice in health care. It is an introduction to medical social work, sometimes referred to as a health care social worker. Students will become knowledgeable of the roles and scope of practice of social workers in a health care setting. Students will learn about the application of a biopsychosocial model to direct social work practice in the healthcare care system and develop skills for engagement, assessment, and intervention for work with diverse populations presenting with healthcare settings and medical issues.

SOCW 4308 – Introduction to Human Trafficking (3 credit hours). Human Trafficking is an upper-level undergraduate course designed to help students understand contemporary human trafficking and modern- day slavery. This course introduces the public health approach to human trafficking, which requires a nuanced understanding of its root causes. It applies a historical lens to human trafficking for expert resources for the healthcare professionals. During this course, you will learn important terminology in this field, the diverse types of human trafficking, and an understanding of the scope of the problem, both domestically and globally. You will also learn about the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual trauma experienced by victims of human trafficking and the methods used to recruit and control them.

SOCW 4302 – Services to Children and Youth in Institutional Settings (3 credit hours). This course introduces theories, models, and skills for social work interventions with individuals and families using a generalist model of social work practice. This course explores the dynamics, functions, policies, and ethics associated with the management of private and public child welfare services and examines the provision of services for children aged zero through eighteen, with a particular focus on the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to lead organizations and manage programs providing such services successfully.

*GOVT 2305 – United States National Government (3 credit hours). Examines the fundamental principles of the American constitutional system of government. Some key topics to be studied include major institutions of the United States Government, the American political party system, American political ideas and ideologies, civil rights and civil liberties, public opinion interest groups, and taxation and spending policies.

*GOVT 2306 – State and Local Government (3 credit hours). This course deals with the nature and operation of state and local governments within the context of the American Federalist system of government. The Texas Constitution and its governmental institutions and processes are the focal point of the course. Fulfills requirements for teacher certification.

*General Education Courses Offered by the Division