Social Work Courses

SWK 2310 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK (3)
Introduction to social problems and social service systems designed to impact upon those problems. Introduction to social work as a profession, its ethics, values, knowledge base, skills base, and fields of practice. This course requires a service-learning component and is a prerequisite to all other social work courses except SWK 2400, 3050, 3100, 3150, 3450, 3500, 3320 and 3750.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 2400 PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND CRITICAL THINKING (3)
This course introduces students to the American Psychological Association (APA) style of writing. The ethics of writing, indicating the acceptable forms and practices of recognizing the ideas and intellectual properties of others will be explored in this course. The course will examine the concept of plagiarism. The course will address the role of the Internet and the information it provides in writing professional papers. It will also offer suggestions for using computer technology at various stages of the research process. The course will develop strong writing skills necessary for professional papers, case documentation, report writing, and agency correspondence.
Prerequisites: ENG 1010 or permission of the Department Chair
Offered: spring

SWK 2600 INTRODUCTION TO CLANDESTINE LABS (3)
This course offers an introduction to, and examination of, illegal drug production laboratories. Clandestine drug operations generate a wide variety of law enforcement, social, societal, socioeconomic, and environmental problems. This course is designed to examine these problems. The course is comprised of three modules: Module 1 covers law enforcement issues; Module 2 covers societal issues; and Module 3 covers environmental and economic issues.
Prerequisite: none
Cross-listed: JUS 2600 and ENM 2600
Offered: as needed

SWK 3000 HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I (3)
Systems theory and the ecological perspective applied to the bio-psycho-social development of the individual and the family from the pre-natal stage through early adolescence.
Prerequisites: SWK 2310, SWK 2400, SOC 1510, PSY 1010 or permission of department chair
Offered: fall

SWK 3010 INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY (3)
Aging, including historical perspectives; demographic trends; psychological and physiological processes of later life; and social role behavior in such areas as retirement, politics, religion, family life, housing, death, and dying.
Cross-listed: SOC 3010 and GRN 3010
Offered: as needed

SWK 3020 HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II (3)
This course applies systems theory and the ecological perspective of development of the individual and family from middle adulthood through later years.
Prerequisite: SWK 3000
Offered: spring

SWK 3040 FAMILY SOCIAL WORK (3)
Introduction to the family as a social system, patterns of family communication and interaction, and the concept of intervention with the family.
Prerequisite: SWK 2310
Offered: as needed

SWK 3050 DEATH AND DYING (3)
Personal and societal reaction to death with emphasis on euthanasia and suicide and the experience of the dying individual in relation to self, family, and care-providing institutions.
Prerequisite: none
Cross-listed: GRN 3050 and SOC 3050
Offered: Spring

SWK 3100 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY (3)
This course will allow students to fully understand the dynamics associated with the provision of services to those who are abusing or are addicted to drugs. This course is designed to introduce students to methods of intervention for treating those who are abusing or are addicted to alcohol or other drugs. This course will provide students the knowledge to work effectively with those who abuse substances and with the issues that are associated with addiction. The course will also examine other addictions such as gambling and eating disorders.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: as needed

SWK 3150 HELPING PROCESSES (3)
An introduction to the giving and taking of help, the communication process, the helping relationship, the problem- solving model, and various intervention concepts and theories. This is a pre-practice course open to all majors.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 3320 METHODS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH (3)
This course covers the scientific method and research design, including an introduction to quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The student will develop an original research proposal.
Prerequisites: SOC 2200, JUS 2200, MAT 2200, PSY 2500 or ECO 2160 or by permission of the department chair
Cross-listed: JUS 3320 and SOC 3320
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 3400 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK (3)
This course focuses on major issues in education and historical, philosophical, and political influences of school social work practice. A variety of social work skills, interventions, and theories applicable to the delivery of school social work services are discussed. Students will learn about working with students with challenges such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and ADHD, as well as the needs of the gifted and exceptional students.
Prerequisite: SWK 2310
Offered: as needed

SWK 3450 PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING (3)
This course will examine changes with aging in various body systems, diseases found primarily among the aging, and maintenance of health in aging, especially through nutrition and exercise programs.
Prerequisite: none
Cross-listed: GRN 3450 and SOC 3450
Offered: as needed

SWK 3500 HUMAN DIVERSITY AND POPULATIONS-AT-RISK (3)
This course focuses on the dynamics and consequences of discrimination, economic deprivation, and oppression of: women, gay and lesbian persons, people with disabilities, African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, military families, rural populations, and other populations at risk. The history of diverse groups and populations will be explored and the many myths, stereotypes, and prejudices that surround these groups will be discussed.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 3700 SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND SERVICES I (3)
Key historical, political, economic, and ideological events in relation to the social welfare system in the United States with an introduction to current welfare policies and programs.
Prerequisites: SWK 2310, SWK 2400 and PSC 1510 or permission of the department chair
Offered: fall

SWK 3720 SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND SERVICES II (3)
Current social welfare policy of the U.S., approaches to social welfare in other Western nations, and values reflected in policy options are explored and analyzed. The impact of social welfare policy upon social work practice is studied.
Prerequisite: SWK 3700
Offered: spring

SWK 3750 CHILD WELFARE (3)
Policies, programs, and issues relating to the child welfare system are examined, including protective services, out- of-home placements, adoption, day care, and public-school programs.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: as needed

SWK 3800 SOCIAL WORK WITH OLDER ADULTS (3)
This course provides foundation knowledge and skills for working with older individuals, their families, and the community. Skills in helping such as interviewing, assessment and planning, intervention and evaluation, are presented and practiced as applicable to older adults. Systems providing services to older adults such as income maintenance, health care, nutrition, housing, mental health, social and institutional care are presented. Students learn strategies to act as advocates and change agents on behalf of older adults.
Prerequisites: SWK 2310 and GRN 3010.
Cross-listed: GRN 3800
Offered: as needed

SWK 3850-3950 SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIAL WORK (1-3)
A subject in social work not covered in depth in the regular curriculum. Topics vary. Can be repeated for credits with a different topic.
Prerequisite: SWK 2310
Offered: as needed

SWK 4200 PRACTICE METHODS I (3)
Introduction to social work practice methods with micro and mezzo client populations. It includes the development of skills in interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, termination and evaluation of practice. This course requires a service learning component. Students who do not receive a grade of C or better may repeat this course one time only. Refer to the Methodist University Social Work Program Field Practicum Handbook for exceptions and requirements of students enrolled in Field Practicum. SWK 4200 and 4240 are taken during the same semester.
Prerequisites: SWK 2310, 2400, 3000, 3150, 3320, 3500, 3700, or permission of Department Chair and admission to the Social Work Program
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 4240 PRACTICE METHODS II (3)
This course provides an overview of theories, concepts, and practice skills, including evaluation, relating to work with groups, organizations, and community based program planning. Entry-level generalist social work practitioners work not only with individuals and families, but also with groups, organizations and communities. It is important to develop a wide range of skills and strategies for interventions with diverse and oppressed populations including women, minorities of color, gays, and lesbians, the poor, military and rural populations. This course has a community engagement component. Students who do not receive a grade of C or better may repeat this course one time only. Refer to the Methodist University Social Work Program Field Practicum Handbook for exceptions and requirements of students enrolled in Field Practicum. SWK 4200 and 4240 are taken during the same semester.
Prerequisites: SWK 2310, 2400, 3000, 3150, 3320, 3500, and 3700 or permission of the department chair and admission to the Social Work Program
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 4750 FIELD EDUCATION SEMINAR (9)
The student is placed in an approved social welfare agency for supervised learning experience of no less than 400 contact hours. Requires a weekly seminar.
Prerequisites: 2.0 overall GPA, 2.5 major GPA, if enrolled at MU Spring 2013 or earlier; 2.25 overall GPA, 2.75 major GPA if enrolled in MU Fall 2013 or later; senior class standing; admission to the social work program; approval of Field Coordinator; acceptance by agency; SWK 2310, SWK 2400, 3000, 3020, 3150, 3320, 3500, 3700, 3720, 4200, 4240; SOC 1510; PSY 1010; PSC 1510; PSY 3410; and a course in statistics Offered: fall and spring

SWK 4800 SOCIAL WORK CAPSTONE SEMINAR (3)
The Social Work Capstone Seminar runs concurrently with the Field Education component of the Social Work curriculum. It meets for 2.5 hours weekly at a designated time. It is an academic course in Social Work Education which is focused on the synthesis of knowledge, values, and skills from earlier courses.
Prerequisites: 2.0 GPA overall, 2.5 GPA in the major, if enrolled at MU Spring 2013 or earlier; 2.25 overall GPA, 2.75 major GPA if enrolled in MU Fall 2013 or later; senior class standing; admission to the Social Work program; approval of Field Coordinator, acceptance by agency; SWK 2310, SWK 2400, SWK 3000, 3020, 3150, 3320, 3500, 3700, 3720, 4200, 4240, SOC 1510, PSY 1010, PSC 1510, PSY 3410 and a course in statistics
Offered: fall and spring

SWK 4990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SOCIAL WORK (1-3)
An opportunity for a well-qualified, upper-division student to engage in special research in his/her major. Prerequisites: approval by the faculty advisor, the supervising professor, the department chair, and the college dean before approval by Provost. Credits to be determined.