• SWK-S 501 Professional Social Work at the Master’s Level: An Im­mersion (3 cr.) This foundation course provides an overview of social work, including the definition, scope, history, ethics, and values of the profession. This course will provide basic orienta­tion to the available resources and expectations of graduate education in general, and the M.S.W. program in particular, all within the framework of the adult learner model. Students will develop basic communication, self-assessment, and reflection skills necessary for success in the M.S.W. program. Students will have an opportunity to survey various fields of practice and will begin to identify personal learning goals for their M.S.W. educa­tion as well as develop a commitment to lifelong learning as a part of professional practice.

• SWK-S 503 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3 cr.) This course provides content on the reciprocal relationships between human behavior and social environments. It includes empirically based theories and knowledge that focus on the interactions between and within diverse populations of indi­viduals, groups, families, organizations, communities, societal institutions, and global systems. Knowledge of biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual development across the lifespan is included. Students learn to analyze criti­cally micro and macro theories and explore ways in which theo­ries can be used to structure professional activities. Concepts such as person-in-environment are used to examine the ways in which social systems promote or deter human well-being and social and economic justice.

• SWK-S 505 Social Policy Analysis and Practice (3 cr.) This founda­tion policy course will focus on using several policy analysis frameworks to analyze current social policies and programs both at the state and federal levels and to develop policies that increase social and economic justice. Students will be expected to develop a range of policy practice skills to influence policy development within legislative, administrative, community, political, and economic arenas.

• SWK-S 513 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3 cr.) (variable title) This course builds upon S503 and focuses on developing further knowledge of human behavior theories and their application to practice. Students will link course content to the concentration that the student has selected.

• SWK-S 600 Seminar in Social Work (1-10 cr.) P: Second-year stand­ing or permission of School. Intensive study of specific areas in social work.

• SWK-S 663 Leveraging Organizations, Communities, and Politi­cal Systems (3 cr.) This course focuses on the knowledge and skills essential for understanding, analyzing, and application in organizations, communities, and political arenas. Such knowl­edge and skills include, but are not limited to: organizational theories, structures, and processes; examination and applica­tion of rural, urban, and virtual community models, themes, and practices; and understanding and involvement in political, social action, and social change interventions and empower­ment practices.

• SWK-S 665 Designing Transformational Programs (3 cr.) This course focuses on alternative, transformational models of strategic, community, and program planning. Featured development models center on collaboration, cultural competence, empow­erment, and social justice. The course will address advanced grant writing, identification of funding and other resources, and philanthropic trends within a variety of social service delivery systems. It will move beyond a focus on the technology of program development, to examine planning as a vehicle for designing organizational, community, and social change.

• SWK-S 682 Assessment in Mental Health and Addictions (3 cr.) Rec­ognizing the social, political, legal, and ethical implications of assessment, students enrolled in this course critically examine various conceptual frameworks and apply biopsychosocial and strengths perspectives to understand its multidimensional aspects. Students learn to conduct sophisticated mental status and lethality risk interviews, engage in strengths and assets discovery, and apply the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association and other classification schemes in formulating assessment hypotheses. They gain an understanding of the application of several relevant assessment instruments and learn to evaluate their relevance for service to at-risk populations, including persons affected by mental health and addictions issues. Students learn to collaborate with a di­verse range of consumers and other professionals in developing meaningful assessments upon which to plan goals, intervention strategies, and means for evaluation.

• SWK-S 710 Social Work Theories of Human and Social Behavior (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 720 Philosophy of Science and Social Work (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 721 Preparing to Publish: Seminar in Advanced Scholarship Skills (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 724 Theory, Practice, and Assessment of Social Work Teaching (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 726 Advanced Social Work Research: Qualitative Methods (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 727 Advanced Social Work Research: Quantitative Methods I (3 cr.) P: S720 and foundation statistics course. Quantitative Methods I is designed to develop knowledge and skills in research designs and methods and address problems encountered in behavioral and social research.  Students will critically evaluate quantitative research and ethics of scientific inquiry, develop a theoretically-motivated research question, and design a data collection strategy appropriate for that question.

• SWK-S 728 Advanced Statistics for Social Work (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 730 Proseminar on Social Work Policy Analysis (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 740 Social Work Practice: Theory and Research (3 cr.)

• SWK-S 790 Independent Study (1-3 cr.)

Ph.D. Social Work

In addition to the required courses listed below, all students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours outside the School of Social Work related to their area of specialization. An advanced course in measurement and statistics is also required and is typically taken as part of the student’s area of specializa­tion. All students must enroll for 6 elective credits, which may be taken within or outside the School of Social Work with the approval of the student’s advisory committee.

• SWK-S 710 Social Work Theories of Human and Social Behavior (3 cr.) This seminar focuses on the converging forces that have shaped the development, dissemination, and utilization of the human-behavior knowledge base of social work. It specifically examines the social and behavioral science theory and research that provide the foundation for social work practice across a variety of system levels.

• SWK-S 720 Philosophy of Science and Social Work (3 cr.) This course examines the nature and sources of social work knowledge and considers a range of epistemological issues involved in the selection, development, evaluation, and use of knowledge for social work.

• SWK-S 725 Social Work Research Internship (3 cr.) P: S720, S726, S727, or a foundation statistics course, and at least one of the following: S710, S730, or S740. This supervised field internship provides practical experience in conducting research relevant to social work practice. Students participate in a new or ongo­ing, faculty-supervised research project involving the design and implementation of a study, including the collection and analysis of data, and the development of appropriate research reports. Internship may be registered for up to three times.

• SWK-S 726 Advanced Social Work Research: Qualitative Methods (3 cr.) P: S720 and foundation statistics course. This course pro­vides an opportunity for students to initiate a research project using qualitative research methods. Topics covered will include developing the research question, exploring the literature, writ­ing an interview guide, interviewing, analyzing data, computer analysis, writing reports, subjectivity and bias, ethics, role of theory, trustworthiness, and audits.

• SWK-S 727 Advanced Social Work Research: Quantitative Methods (3 cr.) P: S720 and foundation statistics course. This advanced quantitative research methods course prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively engage in independent research, including: literature review, theory de­velopment, hypothesis testing, research design, data analysis, and report writing. It includes related computer applications and use of online data sources.

• SWK-S 730 Proseminar on Social Work Policy Analysis (3 cr.) This seminar focuses on the development and application of analyti­cal tools necessary to critically examine and evaluate social policy theory and research germane to social work, includ­ing the values and ideologies that undergird social problem construction, social policy creation, and social program design. Specific attention is devoted to the application of these sche­mata for diverse populations.

• SWK-S 740 Social Work Practice: Theory and Research (3 cr.) This seminar provides an in-depth orientation to the place of research in social work. It focuses on epistemological, meth­odological, practical, and ethical issues which affect the way in which research relevant to the profession of social work is conducted and used.

• SWK-S 791 Integrative Seminar I (1.5 cr.) This course acquaints incoming doctoral students with campus resources for gradu­ate students and with the expectations for doctoral education, including the policies, procedures, and academic standards of the Graduate School and of the School of Social Work. Students register for this seminar in their first semester.

• SWK-S 792 Integrative Seminar II (1.5 cr.) This course is intended to support Ph.D. students as they finish up doctoral coursework and prepare for their qualifying paper, dissertation, and subse­quent professional career. Students register for this seminar in their last semester of coursework.

• SWK-S 800 Dissertation Research (1-12 cr.)

• SWK-S 712 International Social Development in a Global Context (3 cr.) This course is an advanced seminar for graduate students interested in developing an in-depth understanding of complex social problems in a global world. Students will have the op­portunity to learn theories of development; critically analyze international agreements; and to explore and appropriately use social development models.

• SWK-S 718 Intermediate Statistics for Social Workers (3 cr.) Students will learn selected parametric and nonparametric statistics to examine research problems. Included in the learning process are hand computations of statistics development of skills in us­ing a comprehensive computer statistics package and selection of statistical techniques based on levels of measurement and analyses of the assumptions of statistics.

• SWK-S 721 Preparing to Publish: Seminar in Advanced Scholarship Skills (3 cr.) This course prepares doctoral students for academ­ic scholarship. Topics include expectations and standards for scholarly discourse, critical and analytical thinking skills, logical argument, scholarly writing and publication, and developing a research agenda. Web-based peer and instructor review of suc­cessive drafts of writing assignments culminate in a synthesized review of literature.

• SWK-S 724 Theory, Practice, and Assessment of Social Work Teach­ing (3 cr.) This course prepares doctoral students to effectively and competently teach social work courses. Content includes teaching philosophies; curriculum and syllabus development; teaching methods; technology related to teaching; assessment, testing, evaluation of students; and research related to teach­ing. Students will learn accreditation standards for bachelor’s and master’s social work education. Course goals will be ac­complished using readings, written assignments, guest speak­ers, demonstrations of teaching, and class discussion.

• SWK-S 728 Advanced Statistics for Social Work (3 cr.) P: S600 Inter­mediate Statistics for Social Work. Students in this course learn how to evaluate statistical assumptions and select, compute, and substantively interpret a variety of multivariate statistics, using SPSS to analyze actual social work research data. Online resources, Web-based materials, and model applications of the statistics support students’ learning.

• SWK-S 790 Special Topics in Social Work Practice, Theory, and Research Independent Studies (1-3 cr.) P: Approval by appropriate instructor. This course provides students with an opportunity to engage in focused study of a substantive area of social work practice di­rectly related to the student’s identified area of theoretical and research interest. It is completed with the approval and under the guidance of a member of the Ph.D. faculty.

• SWK-S 805 Select Topics in Social Work (1-5 cr.)

• SWK-S 737 Advanced Social Work Research: Quantitative Methods II (3 cr.) P: S727. Quantitative Methods II is the second course in the research sequence designed to further develop students’ knowledge, skills, and application of research methods.  Based on their research proposal developed in the first sequence class, students will conduct their own research project and learn data collection and management, statistical analysis, interpretation of data, and writing a research report. Their learning will be facilitated through demonstrations and hands-on sessions in the computer lab as well as careful examination of application of research procedures in their own project.