SCWK 531: Older Adult Practice and Trends    COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a review of the development of older adult practice and trends in the United States in order to provide a context for practice. Some of the current programs will be described along with populations being served. The course will identify key diversity and social justice issues. The strengths and ecosystems perspective will be used and attention given to policies and programs that increase resilience and empowerment in older adults.

SCWK 532: Health/Mental Health: Practice & Trends   COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will focus on issues of health and mental health from an ecological perspective with a focus on addiction.  It will encompass organizing factors: childhood development and resulting adaptive behavior and pathology in adulthood.  The main purpose of this course is to help students develop an understanding of the dynamics of addiction and the impact that it has on health and mental health of the individual and their family members.   Students will study the various theories of addiction and the implications of those theories for both individual and family impact as well as for social work intervention.  Strong emphasis will be placed on the interaction of cultural, environmental, interpersonal and intra-personal factors on the causes and social work intervention of addiction for individuals and within a family context.

SCWK 533:  Families & Children:  Practice & Trends COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course builds on the foundation content of the MSW program and provides an overview of current social work practice research and practice trends in child welfare.  Social Work Practice with Families and Children will be critically examined within the context of Individual & Community Empowerment Practice principles and the NASW Code of Ethics in order to identify practice strategies that are likely to produce client and community outcomes that are socially just and effective.

SCWK 521: Older Adults Policies and Services   COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a review of the development of older adult policies and services in the United States in order to provide a context for practice. Some of the current programs will be described along with populations being served. The course will identify key diversity and social justice issues. The strengths and ecosystems perspective will be used and attention given to policies and programs that increase resilience and empowerment in families and children.

SCWK 522:  Health/Mental Health Policies and Services  COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a review of the development of health care and mental health policy in the United States in order to provide a context for practice. Some of the current programs will be described along with populations being served. The course will identify key diversity and social justice issues. The strengths and ecosystems perspective will be used and attention given to policies and programs that increase resilience and empowerment in families and children.

SCWK523:  Families & Children:  Policy & Services  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course provides an overview of the history of child welfare policies and services in the United States, a critical assessment of how values influence the development of policies and the provision of services to children, and provides a framework for evaluating child welfare policies and practices within the NASW Code of Ethics framework

SCWK 601: Human Behavior in the Social Environment  COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course provides the foundation for advanced MSW practice courses. The human behavior and social environment content of this course focuses on ways systems either promote or deter growth and development among people seeking to maintain or achieve health and/or well-being. Using a holistic perspective, students will understand the reciprocal interactions (human and economic) between individuals and their environment including families, groups, communities, and the larger social environment. Bio-psycho-social theories of behavior will be presented from a strengths perspective and will be examined within the context of social work values and ethics. Examination of values and ethics are in relation to vulnerable populations including but not limited to racial and ethnic minorities, cultural diversity, age, sexual orientation, disabilities and gender differences. This course builds on the liberal arts perspective.

SCWK 602: Social Welfare Policy COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course provides the foundation for advanced MSW practice courses. The course describes the early social welfare history in England and then the developments in the American Colonial period. The shaping experiences of the 1800s are described. The course examines the challenges of the 20th century with a review of the Progressive Era, New Deal, War on Poverty and then the Reagan era. Current U.S. social welfare policies and programs are described. The course concludes with a review of major issues for social welfare and social work.  Examination of values and ethics are in relation to vulnerable populations including but not limited to racial and ethnic minorities, cultural diversity, age, sexual orientation, disabilities and gender differences. This course builds on the liberal arts perspective.

SCWK 603: Social Research    COURSE DISCRIPTION:  The course combines research methods and statistics from an ecological perspective. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, research designs for evaluation of practice in small systems and social program levels are examined. Understanding ethical issues, implication of research with vulnerable populations, and social and economic justice is central. Inferential statistics and qualitative data analysis are an intrinsic part of the course and will be discussed in relation to statistical analysis of data. 

SCWK 604   Generalist Social Work Practice I      COURSE DESCRIPTION:  The course introduces the purpose, scope and focus of social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. Topics covered include the history, structure, and values of the profession, the agency context of practice and the importance of basing practice decisions on interventions with documented effectiveness. Throughout the course, content emphasizes a generalist perspective with special attention to issues of ethical standards for practice, human diversity, oppression, and self-awareness.

SCWK 605   Interpersonal Helping Skills   COURSE DESCRIPTION: The main purpose of this course is to provide a laboratory environment where students can utilize video electronics to develop and practice effective interviewing skills and strategies.  Students will study and do experiential work with helping skills with individuals and groups such as empathetic communication skills  (empathy, genuineness, concern, respect, nonverbal communication, listening and observing, feedback) and expressive interviewing skills (exploration and clarification of roles, purpose and expectations, paraphrasing, focusing, reflecting, informing, summarizing, confronting, assuring and reassuring).

SCWK 606:  Social Work Foundation Review COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course provides incoming advanced standing students a review of the social work foundation content related to human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, social work research, generalist social work practice and interpersonal helping skills.

SCWK 610   Generalist Social Work Practice II       COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course builds on the foundation knowledge of social work practice and emphasizes the linkage between theoretical models of social work practice, assessment, intervention, and outcome in work with individuals, families, and groups. The course presents the models, methods, and processes of intervention, practice evaluation, advocacy, and case management

SCWK 611   Generalist Social Work Practice III  COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course provides a brief historical review of the development of macro practice and a discussion of the current status of the field. Practice models that include appropriate strategies and tactics for interventions that empower organizations and communities are reviewed. Students are required to analyze value conflicts and ethical dilemmas that occur in macro practice in agency, community, and political arenas.

SCWK 612   Field Instruction I  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course provides students the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, values, and skills taught in the foundation courses for Generalist Practice and required by the Council on Social Work Education.  Students will be placed for a minimum of 240 hours in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in generalist social work practice.   

SCWK 614   Advanced Social Welfare Policy    COURSE DESCRIPTION:  The course begins with teaching students the mechanics of performing policy analysis. The course then moves on to the social welfare policy analysis challenge. The course then looks at policy analysis issues in several areas of concern to social work and involves completion of a policy analysis project performed by the student. The final portion of the course involves developing an understanding of social work policy practice and the development of policy practice skills.

SCWK 621   Advanced Social Theory                  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  The course provides an understanding of several theories relevant to social work practice. The theories provide the underlying knowledge base that drives social work in a variety of areas, including but not limited to assessment, intervention, evaluation, social and economic justice, and research. The focus will be on understanding and critically analyzing the strengths, limitations, and diversity of theories. This knowledge will enable students to gain more knowledge useful in investigation of problems that occur within an individual (their own personal difficulty); as a product of environmental stresses; and as the result of the interaction between the person and their environment. The course also examines the fit of theory with social work values and ethics, the implications for application of theory on diversity, culture, and vulnerable populations, and the distinction between evidence and non-evidence based theory.

SCWK 622   Field Instruction II COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course provides students the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, values, and skills taught in the advanced practice courses that focus on Individual & Community Empowerment Practice and required by the Council on Social Work Education.  Students will be placed in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in advanced Individual & Community Empowerment Practice. This is the second of three practicum courses.  This course requires students to work a minimum of 360 hours in a social work practice setting under the supervision of an MSW trained social work practitioner.  During the practicum, students will apply knowledge and skills they learned in previous courses and in their first field practicum.

SCWK 623   Advanced Social Work Intervention   COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This is an advanced social work intervention course that teaches Individual & Community Empowerment Practice. It includes content about using a theoretical framework and evidence-based practice research to guide the selection of interventions and practice strategies that promote resilience and empowerment in clients.  Content about developing and implementing culturally appropriate individualized intervention approaches to facilitate the change process and about developing and implementing plans to evaluate one’s own practice are also included.

SCWK 631   Advanced Discrimination & Inequality   COURSE DESCRIPTION:  The basic thrust of this course is the study of the impact of discrimination and inequality on every aspect of human life, including but not limited to person-hood, family life, social and economic status, physical and mental well-being, and inter-group relationships. Areas covered will include: the historical origins of discrimination and inequality, theoretical concepts related to discrimination and inequality, class stratification, racism, poverty, homophobia, sexism, ageism and discrimination and inequality in social work. In each case the course will review social work's response to the problem areas under study.

SCWK 633   Advanced Social Work Research   COURSE DESCRIPTION:             The course is designed to provide MSW students with an advanced understanding of social work research. The course helps students integrate knowledge gained in other social work courses and understand the application of research methods to practice. Critical thinking skills will be augmented in order to determine selection, development, and employment of knowledge that fosters the use of best practices, with clients, based on current research. Steps in advanced levels of conducting social work research and variations in these steps through the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches are emphasized.  Data analysis is a component of this course. The course draws on knowledge of statistical procedures, thus students are expected to have completed a statistics course before enrolling in this course. SPSS will be utilized and brief tutorials will take place in the Thurmond Computer lab.

SCWK 641:  Advanced Practice with Older Adults    COURSE DESCRIPTION:  The course introduces current evidence-based intervention modalities recommended for use with older adults within the Individual & Community Empowerment model. Theoretical perspectives relevant to the aging process will be critically evaluated within the NASW Cod of Ethics. Biological, physiological, social, economic, and social justice concerns of the well and vulnerable elderly, marginalized populations will be examined. Selected intervention strategies to meet those needs will be studied. The continuum of social work practice with older adults, from individual treatment through group and community practice will be covered.

SCWK 642:  Advanced Practice in Health/Mental Health  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course includes a literature survey of best practice strategies with clients in health/mental health settings and critically examines those strategies using Individual & Community Empowerment Practice principles and the application of a strengths and ecosystems perspective as a framework for creating and implementing best practice standards that increase resilience and empowerment in clients in health and mental health settings.   

SCWK 643:  Advanced Practice with Families and Children  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course focuses on the conceptualization and use of best practice Individual & Community Empowerment Practice strategies with families and children.  The application of the strengths and ecosystems perspectives are used within the context of Individual & Community Empowerment Practice principles for creating and implementing best practice standards that increase resilience and empowerment in families and children. 

SCWK 632   Field Instruction III    COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course provides students the opportunity to apply social work knowledge, values, and skills taught in the advanced Individual & Community Empowerment Practice courses and required by the Council on Social Work Education.  Students will be placed in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in advanced Individual & Community Empowerment Practice in a field of practice of the student’s choice if possible (older adults, families & children, or health/mental health).  This is the third of three practicum courses.  This course requires students to work a minimum of 360 hours in a social work practice setting under the supervision of an MSW trained social work practitioner.  During the practicum, students will apply knowledge and skills they learned in previous courses and in their first and second field practica.