Ph.D. Courses : Academic Bulletin

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

SWK-S 718 Intermediate Statistics for Social Work (3 cr.) Students will learn selected parametric and non-parametric 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 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 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 analytic thinking skills, logical argument, scholarly writing for publication, and the development of 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, and 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 725 Social Work Research Internship (3 cr.) P: S 720; S 721, foundation statistics course, and at least one of the following: S 710; S 730; S 740 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 I (3 cr.) P: S720; S 721; at least one of the following: S710; S 730. Qualitative Methods I is the first of a two-course sequence designed to develop students’ knowledge and skills in design, methods, strategies, and the challenges of qualitative research. The purpose of this course is to understand the role of theory and to critically examine a variety of qualitative methods for data collection. Students will critically evaluate qualitative literature, research methods, and begin the process of framing a qualitative study.

SWK-S 727 Advanced Social Work Research: Quantitative Methods I (3 cr.) Quantitative Methods I is designed to develop knowledge and skills in research designs and methods and addresses 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 Social Work Research: Qualitative Methods (3 cr.) P: S 600 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 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 this schemata for diverse populations.

SWK-S 736 Advanced Social Work Research: Qualitative Methods II (3 cr.) P: S726. Qualitative Methods II is the second of a two-course sequence designed to develop students’ knowledge and skills in design, methods, strategies, and the challenges of qualitative research. The purpose of this course is to apply the knowledge of theory and qualitative methods to the development of a research question. Students will choose a theoretical approach for a qualitative study, a method of data collection, evaluate the appropriate literature, collect, analyze, and interpret qualitative data.

SWK-S 737 Advanced Social Work Research: Quanitative Methods II (3 cr.) P: S 727. 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.

SWK-S 790 Special Topics in Social Work Practice, Theory and Research (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 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 policies, procedures, and academic standards of the Graduate School and of the School of Social Work.

SWK-S 792 Integrative Seminar II (1.5 cr.) This course is intended to support Ph.D. students as they finish their doctoral coursework and prepare for their qualifying paper, dissertation, and subsequent professional career.

School of Social Work 2012-2013