Social Work
Outcomes
BSW Program Outcomes
The curriculum and learning goals reflect the competencies necessary for beginning social work practice and the accreditation requirements of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Upon completion of the BSW Program, graduates will be:
- Competent in the methods and skills of engagement, assessment, and intervention with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations.
- Competent in analyzing, developing and advocating for policies that serve the needs of a diverse society and vulnerable populations.
- Ready to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, with professional and community partners.
- Competent in, and committed to undertaking social work research.
- Stags for others, recognizing social inequities and intervening as leaders for social change.
Accreditation
The BSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Founded in 1952, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include over 800 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs, as well as individual social work educators, practitioners, and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development, so that social workers play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories (CSWE 2015).
SWRK 1101 Social Work Essentials I 3 Credits
This course begins with an introduction to the core values of the social work profession, including service, social justice, the worth and dignity of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Students will explore the personal qualities and attributes necessary to engage in the helping relationship and will explore the importance of caring for themselves as they learn to care for others. It also addresses common challenges that social workers encounter, such as stress, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Through intellectual curiosity, creativity, openness, and self-reflection students will be introduced to the history and foundation of professional self-care and come to understand it as a professional responsibility tied to competent practice. The exploration of aspects of their personal identity will help students to develop an understanding of themselves, both individually and in relationships with others. The course will challenge students to reflect on their own biases and to gain an understanding of the ways in which oppression, power, poverty, privilege, inequality, and other social issues affect the development of individual identities. The course will support students in the development of contemplative practices meant to enhance their ability to be present, manage stress, sustain wellbeing, access joy, and engage in self-care.
SWRK 1102 Social Work Essentials II 3 Credits
This course will explore the personal qualities and self-awareness necessary to engage in ethical social work practice. Critical self-reflection and an evaluation of the use of self as an instrument of change are as important in the development of a professional sense of self as theoretical knowledge. Because social work is an art, a science and a profession, students will be asked to contend with concepts, ideas and behaviors that reflect the nature of these dynamic practices. Students will endeavor to advance their self-awareness and empathy, as well as explore how they are called to a life of meaning and purpose, as framed through the exploration of the fundamental Jesuit questions: Who am I? Whose am I? What am I called to do? Students will also enhance their ability to engage in restorative-practice, self-compassion, and presence, and to foster resilience, through the development of mindfulness and other contemplative practice.
SWRK 2400 Social Work: An Introduction 3 Credits
This course provides an overview of the social work profession, including the knowledge, values and skills that provide the foundation for generalist social work practice. Students are introduced to the systems and ecological framework through which social workers view the complex nature of human and social problems. There is a focus on fields of practice, methods and models of intervention, and the historical mission of the profession to advance human rights, social justice and to provide services to vulnerable and oppressed populations. Crosslisted with SOCI 2400.
SWRK 2410 History of Social Welfare 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.
This course explores the evolution of social welfare in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on the social, political, legal, economic, and philosophical forces that have forged American social welfare policy and helped shape the profession of social work. In exploring historical events, social justice and ethical lenses as well as issues of class, race, ethnicity, and gender, will provide frameworks through which to view current social welfare issues, including poverty, housing, health care, food insecurity, and others. The course will provide historical context to issues by exploring the development of policies such as The Social Security Act of 1935, The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, The Civil Rights Act of 1965, The Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, among others. Crosslisted with SOCI 2410.
SWRK 3301 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): SWRK 3303.
Prerequisite(s): SWRK 2400.
The purpose of this course is to engage students in an exploration of human behavior and the impact of the environment on individuals as they develop through the lifespan. It examines the biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects of human development with a further emphasis on how factors such as poverty, discrimination, racism, culture, gender, health status, and sexual orientation, affect the developmental process. Exploration of research, case examples and self-reflection, will deepen students ability to conceptualize the processes of assessment, intervention, and the person-in-environment perspective across systems with diverse populations. This course, the first in sequence, will cover human reproduction through adolescence.
SWRK 3302 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): SWRK 3304.
Prerequisite(s): SWRK 2410.
The purpose of this course is to engage students in an exploration of human behavior and the impact of the environment on individuals as they develop through the lifespan. It examines the biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects of human development with a further emphasis on how factors such as poverty, discrimination, racism, culture, gender, health status, and sexual orientation, affect the developmental process. Exploration of research, case examples and self-reflection, will deepen students ability to conceptualize the processes of assessment, intervention, and the person-in-environment perspective across systems with diverse populations. This course, the second in sequence, will cover young adulthood through end-of-life issues.
SWRK 3303 Social Policy and Social Justice 4 Credits
The course will explore policy within the context of social, economic, and environmental justice issues including oppression, poverty, income inequality, food insecurity, immigration, healthcare disparity, pollution, criminal justice, and other issues that affect individual and social well-being. The impact of social policies and social programs on vulnerable populations will also be explored. Students will understand and identify with the role of social workers as agents of change in developing and advocating for social policies that meet the needs of clients. This course will include community-engaged learning in a community setting and will culminate in a project that will evaluate policy issues that arise throughout the semester.
SWRK 3304 Research in Social Work Practice 4 Credits
Scientific inquiry which tests theory and supports the evidence base of social work intervention is a critical component of social work education. The research course introduces students to all aspects of the research process, including forming hypotheses, framing research questions, conceptualizing, and conducting a literature review, identifying variables, quantitative and qualitative measurement, sampling, data collection, coding, data analysis, and communication of results. Students will also learn to include and be sensitive to ethical guidelines in social work research and the importance of a culturally competent approach to research. This course will include community engaged learning. (*indicates concurrency allowed)
SWRK 3311 Leadership for Interdisciplinary Health Professionals 3 Credits
This course is designed to expose students in the fields of public health and social work to conceptual frameworks through which to view leadership. Students will explore the key values and personal attributes that guide the leadership process. Students will engage in dynamic exercises and collaborative work to better understand leadership principles and work to apply these concepts to communities in their fields of study. The students will have the opportunity to reflect on leadership qualities relevant to their profession as well as personal leadership qualities that guide the relationship with vulnerable populations. Cross-listed with PUBH 4301.
SWRK 4305 Generalist Social Work Practice I 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): SWRK 4307.
This is the first of two courses in the generalist practice and methods curriculum. This course immerses students in the fundamental values, ethics, skills, and knowledge that are the foundation of generalist social work practice. The course will cover the NASW Code of Ethics and Standards with a strong focus on cultural competence and a strengths-based approach to practice with individuals and families. Students will be encouraged to explore the profession while developing direct practice skills, such as developing the helping relationship, assessment, conceptualizing problems, assessing strengths, using research to inform practice, setting goals and contracting, choosing and evaluating intervention strategies, and evaluating practice. Students are expected to apply knowledge of human behavior, social policy, research, and practice with diverse and vulnerable populations into the practice situation.
SWRK 4306 Generalist Social Work Practice II 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): SWRK 4308.
Prerequisite(s): SWRK 4305.
This is the second of two courses in the generalist practice and methods curriculum. This course further immerses students in the fundamental values, ethics, skills, and knowledge that are the foundation of generalist social work practice. There will be a focus on increasing students understanding of the helping process and the development of generalist practice knowledge and skills. There will be emphasis on the importance of applying theoretical and empirical knowledge when choosing intervention strategies. Students will continue to engage in an ongoing and reflective process of exploring and evaluating their own practice and will also reflect on their "use of self" with clients and in the supervisory process. It is expected that students will integrate prior learning from previous courses and in current fieldwork concerning human behavior, social policy, research, service delivery, and practice with diverse and vulnerable populations across systems with specific focus on group work and community practice.
SWRK 4307 Integrative Field Practicum Seminar I 3 Credits
The course is the first of two field seminar courses and is taken in conjunction with Field Practicum I. The purpose of this course is to acclimate students to field work and to prepare them for social work practice with diverse and vulnerable populations. The course will focus on the knowledge, values, and skills required to identify as a professional social worker and to practice in the field with competence, including the professional use of self, the application of social work values and ethics in social work practice, the use of communication skills, engaging in the supervisory process, social worker roles in community practice, understanding the organizational context of practice, exploring research to inform evidence-based practice, understanding and protecting clients confidentiality, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The seminar is designed to support students learning and integration of knowledge as they build practice skills. Students are supported through the use of small group process oriented interactions, self-reflection, role-play, case discussion, and experiential exercises. Students are also encouraged to share questions, concerns, and learning needs in regards to their field experience.
SWRK 4308 Integrative Field Practicum Seminar II 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): SWRK 4307.
This second seminar course is process-oriented and is designed to provide students the opportunity to discuss, analyze, and integrate theory within their field and coursework learning while demonstrating their ability to apply multiple sources of knowledge and skills to generalist social work practice. The seminar provides the opportunity for further learning and consolidation of knowledge and skills, through self-reflection, case discussion, process recordings, presentations, experiential exercises.
SWRK 4951 Field Practicum I 4 Credits
As the "signature pedagogy" in the education of professional social workers, field learning is integral to the program and needs to instill in students the ability "to think, to perform, and to act with integrity" (Shulman). The Field Practicum is designed to provide students with a generalist perspective for social work practice, through supervised experience with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Provided in collaboration with human and social service agencies, the field practicum will preparation students for professional practice in social work.
SWRK 4952 Field Practicum II 4 Credits
As the "signature pedagogy" in the education of professional social workers, field learning is integral to the program and needs to instill in students the ability "to think, to perform, and to act with integrity" (Shulman). The Field Practicum is designed to provide students with a generalist perspective for social work practice, through supervised experience with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Provided in collaboration with human and social service agencies, the field practicum will preparation students for professional practice in social work.
SWRK 4990 Independent Study 1-3 Credits