Courses
Bachelors
In the following course listings, the abbreviation ‘‘P’’ refers to prerequisite and ‘‘C’’ indicates core requisite courses. This bulletin lists only prerequisite and core requisite social work courses. A list of the specific prerequisite and core requisite courses from the general and supportive area requirements needed for social work courses can be requested from the B.S.W. program office on the campus of your choice. The number of hours of credit given to a course is indicated in parentheses following the course title.
- SWK-S 100 Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society (3 cr.) Theories and models that enhance understanding of our diverse society. This course provides content about differences and similarities in the experiences, needs, and beliefs of selected minority groups and their relation to the majority group.
- SWK-S 141 Introduction to Social Work (3 cr.) Examination of characteristics, function, and requirements of social work as a profession. Emphasis on ideological perspectives of the profession and the nature of professional function and interaction.
- SWK-S 180 Exploring Child Welfare in Indiana (3 cr.) Provides a comprehensive overview of the child welfare system, with special emphasis on current child protection and child welfare services in Indiana. Students have the opportunity to explore careers working with children and families in the child welfare system. This course is a service learning course with a required component of a minimum of twenty hours of volunteer work in an identified social service agency in the child welfare system.
- SWK-S 200 Introduction to Case Management (3 cr.) Explores current models of case management. It addresses emerging case manager's functions and roles within the contemporary network of human services. This is a required course to fulfill requirements for the Certificate on Case Management. It may also be taken as an elective.
- SWK-S 221 Human Behavior and Social Environment I: Individual Functioning (3 cr.) P: S141 or consent of instructor. Understanding of human behavior and the social environment as a basis for social work practice. Focuses on understanding the interaction between person and environment. Coverage of major theories of individual functioning, life cycle development, and the family context. Exploration of inequality, discrimination, and differential access to opportunities for diverse populations.
- SWK-S 231 Generalist Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skills (3 cr.) P or C: S221. Development of a critical understanding of social work practice. It focuses on the beginning phase of the helping process and related skills. Topics include the nature of the helping relationship, NASW Code of Ethics, practice as it relates to oppressed groups, assessment, and practice evaluations.
- SWK-S 251 Emergence of Social Services (3 cr.) P: S141 or consent of the instructor. Examination of the evolution of social services in response to human needs and social problems as related to economic, political, and social conditions.
- SWK-S 280 Introduction to Field Experience (1-3 cr.) P: consent of the instructor. Introductory field experience for testing interest in a social work career. It is also required for non-social work students pursuing the Case Management Certificate.
- SWK-S 300 Computer Technology for Social Workers (3 cr.) Broad overview of computer software applications and Internet and World Wide Web, with an emphasis on their utilization in the social work profession. Ethical and social implications of computer technology for the social work profession, highlighting considerations specific to at-risk populations. Students may use this course to fulfill the computer course requirement or they may take it as an elective.
- SWK-S 300 Crisis Intervention (3 cr.) Focuses on the increasing number of complex and painful personal, couple, family, and community crisis situations human service providers encounter in the course of service delivery. This is a required course to fulfill requirements for the Certificate on Case Management. It may also be taken as an elective.
- SWK-S 300 Developmental Issues for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People (3 cr.) Gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GL&B) people constitute an important presence in American society. They are denied full participation in a wide range of social institutions including family life, religion, education, employment, recreation, the military and many others. Serious issues related to lack of legal protection, violence, and limited political representation is analyzed.
- SWK-S 300 Statistical Reasoning in Social Work Practice (3 cr.) Introductory statistics course is designed for students who wish to master some very important tools used by contemporary social work practitioners to better understand the world of practice. The primary purpose of the course is to enable students to gain an understanding of the basic principles that guide statistical reasoning, especially as they relate to making informed decisions about the quantitative aspects of their practice. Students will learn how to collect and organize data, examine it for patterns and relationships, and analyze it for purposes of drawing plausible and defensible conclusions.
- SWK-S 300 Global Society: Human, Economic, Social, and Political Issues (3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to examine a range of issues including human rights, distribution of wealth, ethnic diversity, and social development, within the context of global interdependence. Problems of global poverty, social injustice, and inequality will receive special attention. These areas will be examined utilizing empowerment, strengths, and multicultural perspectives.
- SWK-S 300 Working with Families (3 cr.) Exploration of family relationships and roles in the twenty-first century. Examination of challenges encountered by families across the family life cycle. This is a required course to fulfill requirements for the Certificate in Family Life Education. It may also be taken as an elective. Also available online at IUPUI.
- SWK-S 300 Family Life Education (3 cr.) An understanding of the general philosophy and broad principles of family life education in conjunction with the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate such educational programs. This is a required course to fulfill requirements for the Certificate in Family Life Education. It may also be taken as an elective.
- SWK-S 322 Human Behavior and Social Environment II: Small Group Functioning (3 cr.) P: S221. Examination of the significance of the small group as context and means for social development of individuals and as agent of change in the social environment. Discussion of the individual as a member of a variety of groups, including the family. The course considers the formal organization as a composite of groups.
- SWK-S 323 Organization Behavior and Practice within a Generalist Perspective (3 cr.) P or C: S322. This course provides a theoretical and conceptual foundation on community and formal organizations necessary to social work practice. Topics include conceptual approaches for understanding communities and organizations; community research; institutional discrimination; distribution of community resources; and power and control as they relate to oppressed groups.
- SWK-S 332 Generalist Social Work Practice II: Theory and Skills (3 cr.) P: S231and S251; P or C: S352; C: S381. Examination of middle and ending phases of the helping process and related skills. Topics include the helping relationship with various client system sizes; impact of agency policies and procedures upon practice and resolution of clients' problems; and practice evaluation.
- SWK-S 352 Social Service Delivery Systems (3 cr.) P: S251. Examination of policies, structures, and programs of service delivery systems at local, regional, and national levels with emphasis on relations among such systems as formal organizations. Students acquire knowledge of the policy development process, which helps them establish beginning capacity for policy analysis and policy practice.
- SWK-S 371 Social Work Research (3 cr.) P: junior standing. Examination of basic research methods in social work, the relevance of research for social work practice, and the selection of knowledge for use in social work.
- SWK-S 381 Social Work Practicum I (4 cr.) P: S231 and S251; P or C: S352; C: S332. Guided field practice experience (12 hours per week) for application of generalist practice concepts and principles and the development of basic practice skills. Students are to intern in a human service organization for a minimum of 240 clock hours, which includes a bimonthly seminar.
- SWK-S 400 Developmental Issues for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People (3 cr.) Gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GL&B) people constitute an important presence in American society. They are denied full participation in a wide range of social institutions including family life, religion, education, employment, recreation, the military and many others. Serious issues related to lack of legal protection, violence, and limited political representation is analyzed.
- SWK-S 400 Global Society: Human, Economic, Social, and Political Issues (3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to examine a range of issues including human rights, distribution of wealth, ethnic diversity, and social development, within the context of global interdependence. Problems of global poverty, social injustice, and inequality will receive special attention. These areas will be examined utilizing empowerment, strengths, and multicultural perspectives.
- SWK-S 400 Family Life Education (3 cr.) An understanding of the general philosophy and broad principles of family life education in conjunction with the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate such educational programs. This is a required course to fulfill requirements for the Certificate in Family Life Education. It may also be taken as an elective.
- SWK-S 400 Practicum Seminar (1 cr.) P: all junior-level social work courses. C: S433, S472, and S482. Discussion of practice issues as experienced in S482.
- SWK-S 433 Community Behavior and Practice within a Generalist Perspective (3 cr.) P: all junior-level social work courses. C: S400, S472, and S482. This course provides the theoretical foundation about community functioning and behavior and the knowledge and skills of community interventions geared to mitigate social, political, and economic injustice and bring social change.
- SWK-S 442 Practice-Policy Seminar in Fields of Practice (3 cr.) 2 courses required P: S433, S472, and S482. Addresses practice and policy issues in specific fields of practice such as child and family, aging, addictions, and developmental disabilities.
- SWK-S 472 Practice Evaluation (3 cr.) P: S371 and all other junior-level social work courses. C: S433 and S482. Develops the knowledge and skills necessary for students to evaluate their own practice with individuals, groups, communities, and organizations. The use of selected software is explored.
- SWK-S 482 Social Work Practicum II (5 cr.) P: all junior-level social work courses. C: S433 and S472. Guided field practice experience (20 hours per week) for application of concepts and principles and development of skills for generalist practice with selected social systems. Students are to practice in a human service organization for a minimum of 320 clock hours.