Courses
BSW Courses
- SWK-S 102 Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society (3 cr.) This course covers theories and models, which enhance understanding of our diverse society. It provides content about differences and similarities in the experiences, needs, and beliefs of selected minority groups and their relation to the majority group. These groups include, but are not limited to, people of color, women, and gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons. This course addresses self-socialization and analyses the working relationship and interrelationship of race, class, age, ethnicity, and gender and how these factors influence social values regarding economic and social justice. Course content will be integrated through student writing and experiential exercises.
- SWK-S 141 Introduction to Social Work (3 cr.) This course is an introduction to the profession of social work and the philosophical, societal, and organizational contexts within which professional social work activities are conducted. This course provides the opportunity for students to explore their interest in and potential for a career in social work. It introduces the knowledge, skills and values of social work as a profession and explores the role of social workers within the broad area of social welfare and social services. Social work practice requires extensive knowledge about the human condition, problems in living, problem solving, the delivery of human services, and the institutions that comprise today's social welfare system. Cognitive and interaction skills necessary for competent practice are introduced in this course. This course emphasizes the value base of social work practice and its commitment to social and economic justice. It assists students in assessing the congruence between their own values and those of the profession. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the accrediting body for School's of Social Work, requires Social Work Programs to demonstrate how each course in the curriculum helps students develop competencies expected of all who seek entry into the profession. Programs must document a match between course content and CSWE competencies defined in Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). This course contributes to building knowledge and skills for students to demonstrate the following CSWE competencies: EPAS 2.1.1 (identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly), EPAS 2.1.2 (values and ethics), EPAS 2.1.3 (critical thinking), EPAS 2.1.4 (engage diversity and difference in practice), EPAS 2.1.5 (advance human rights and social and economic justice), EPAS 2.1.6 (research informed practice) and EPAS 2.1.9 (respond to contexts that shape practice). Introduction to Social Work (S141) is one of seventeen social work courses required for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. Students who seek admission to the BSW degree program must complete this course prior to applying to the Indiana University School of Social Work. As this course introduces students to knowledge pertaining to the characteristics, functions, and requirements of the social work profession, it prepares those formally admitted to the BSW degree program for further study in the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for effective generalist social work practice.
- SWK-S 180 Exploring Child Welfare in Indiana (3 cr.) The analysis of issues and application of principles in specific areas of human services. Focus varies with the educational needs of special groups. An introductory level course.
- SWK-S 201 Introduction to Case Management (3 cr.) Given current changing demographics, complex social problems, human service providers will serve a more diverse and perhaps more vulnerable population. A large number of clients will find it challenging to access the maze of increasingly decentralized social services. Case management may help to address some of these issues. This course will introduce various case management models and the roles and functions of case managers. It will highlight the nature of client participation and the mutuality of the helping process. Ethics and ethical dilemmas will be addressed. Skills for client centered, culturally competent case management will be explored.
- SWK-S 202 Intro to Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (3 cr.) This course provides students with a basic overview of the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of substance abuse. Further, the course explores the effects of substance use and abuse on the body.
- SWK-S 221 Human Growth and Development in the Social Environment (3 cr.) This course assists the undergraduate social work student in building a foundation for understanding human behavior and development in diverse contexts across the life course. The course emphasizes the interdependence of dynamic interactions between a person and that individual's environment, and thus introduces students to implications for human development through a person-in-environment lens. S221 Human Growth and Development in the Social Environment explores influences of the biological, social, cultural, psychological and spiritual dimensions on individual human development and behavior. Students examine how the diverse contexts in which individuals live impact the range of human development and behavior in themselves and others. Understanding human behavior and development from a multidimensional perspective builds a strong foundation for development of skills later in the curriculum. Specifically, foundational concepts presented in this course help students apply critical thinking to an understanding of the diversity of human functioning and implications for the processes of social work assessment, evaluation and intervention. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the accrediting body for School's of Social Work, requires Social Work Programs to demonstrate how each course in the curriculum helps students develop competencies expected of all who seek entry into the profession. Programs must document a match between course content and CSWE competencies defined in Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). This course, required in the BSW curriculum, draws upon basic knowledge and understanding of our diverse society. Course content contributes to building knowledge and skills for students to demonstrate EP 2.1.2 (apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice); EP 2.1.4 (engage difference and diversity in practice); and, EP 2.1.7 (apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment. S221 Human Growth and Development in the Social Environment serves as the first of three courses in the Human Behavior in the Social Environment sequence within the curriculum. The courses should be taken in sequence or concurrently.
- SWK-S 251 History and Analysis of Social Welfare Policy (3 cr.) This course is designed to provide a historical perspective on the evolution of social welfare policies and programs and allow students to develop beginning policy analysis skills so that students will be able to identify gaps in the service delivery system and inequitable or oppressive aspects of current policy delivery. Students acquire knowledge of the prevailing social, political, ideological, and economic contexts that gave rise to the various social welfare policies and programs and have influenced how programs and policies have changed over time. In addition, the students acquire knowledge of manifest and latent functions of social welfare organizations' activities, their relationship to each other. In addition, the interrelationship and sources of conflict between the evolving profession of social work and social welfare services are explored. In this class students will build critical thinking skills as they consider forces and influences that have lead to the social service delivery system that exist today which will allow them to explore practical methods to influence policy in S 352. A particular emphasis in this course is to increase students understanding of how social welfare policies impact vulnerable people and build a passion for advocating for social and economic justice. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the accrediting body for School's of Social Work, requires Social Work Programs to demonstrate how each course in the curriculum helps students develop competencies expected of all who seek entry into the profession. Programs must document a match between course content and CSWE competencies defined in Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). This course, required in the BSW curriculum, draws upon basic knowledge and understanding of our diverse society. Course content contributes to building knowledge and skills for students to demonstrate the following CSWE competencies: EP 2.1.1 Identify with the social work profession; EP 2.1.2 Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice; EP 2.1.3 Apply critical thinking; EP 2.1.4 Engage diversity and difference in practice; EP 2.1.5 Promote human rights and social justice; EP 2.1.7 Apply knowledge of human behavior; EP 2.1.8 Engage in policy practice to deliver effective social work services.
- SWK-S 305 Intro to Child Protection (3 cr.) This course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to child abuse and neglect from psychological, social, cultural, legal, and economic perspectives. Social workers in all professional work settings must know how to identify child maltreatment and family violence. Students must also be able to practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to the clients' age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. Students will learn the family dynamics and indicators of maltreatment and effective interventions at the micro, mezzo, and macro level, with an emphasis on strengths based, family-centered intervention strategies. Additionally, students will learn the extent of reported maltreatment of children, effects on children, treatment issues, the social worker's role in a multidisciplinary team approach, how to advocate for individuals and families, and will be introduced to the concept of personal accountability for outcomes. This course will also introduce to students the values and ethics of the social work profession in the child welfare arena, specifically the right of children to appropriate care, to be free of abuse and neglect, and to grow up in a safe environment. This course is available as an elective but is also the first of two specific course requirements for the child services certification available through public universities in Indiana and the Indiana Department of Child Services. These two courses include components of the Core Training curriculum for all new employees of the Department of Child Services.
- SWK-S 306 Crisis Intervention (3 cr.) This is an elective, issue-oriented course at the undergraduate level offered as part of the Certificate in Case Management. This course focuses on the increasing number of complex and painful personal, couple and family crisis situations encountered by professional social workers in the course of service delivery. Crisis events are characterized by high stress responses in one or more persons within a short period of time, usually in response to some difficult social, interpersonal, intrapsychic, medical or developmental triggering events. In some instances, stressful forces may have been present over a substantial period of time and an overt crisis has suddenly been triggered by some precipitating event (i.e., a lengthy distressed marriage that ends destructively and suddenly after the children are grown). In other instances, a crisis may be unexpectedly precipitated in the ordinary life of an individual, couple or family by an intense life stressing and/or threatening event such as a death of a loved one or catastrophic event. Students will learn the various theories and practice approaches that inform practice in crisis situations. Attention will be given to budget cuts of programs and staffing of social agencies with the resultant contraction in resources available to professionals. Since many forms of social stress are becoming increasingly compelling among the poor, ethnic, racial minorities, and gay and lesbian people the course will focus on the required competency to quickly establish an effective helping relationship and meaningful communication across these groups. Similarly, the course will address the new evolving roles of women and men in modern society and its implications intervening in crisis situations, current trends, and cultural forces. This course encourages students to use the classroom process and written assignments in conjunction with the assigned readings to develop a working, professional helping approach selected from the available theoretical formulations about crisis and therapeutic crisis intervention which appear most appropriate for their practice. Based on the nature of the crisis, the kind of agency setting, the program within which they function, and the characteristics of their "professional style" in crisis intervention.
- SWK-S 307 Grief & Loss across the Life Span (3 cr.) This is an elective web-based course that will explore the complex components of grief and loss throughout the life span from an ecological and strength based theoretical perspective. The focus of the course will be to increase understanding, knowledge and compassion related to the impact of grief and loss on individuals, families, and communities at large. In addition, the course gives students an opportunity to explore and understand their perceptions and beliefs on death and dying, and how individual cultural differences influence that experience. The course also prepares students to work with clients dealing with feelings of grief and loss. Throughout the course, students will be challenged to apply critical thinking skills related to ethical dilemmas surrounding decision making as related to advance directives. A portion of the class will investigate the issues associated with disenfranchised grief as it relates to divorce, suicide, unfinished business, and relationships not accepted by society, i.e. same sex partners or extramarital affairs. In addition the course will explore environmental aspects of grief and loss as they relate to unemployment, natural disasters and chronic illness. Societal values of this country impose a belief system that suggests one's grief should be contained within a minimal time frame. This worldview only increases a mourner's emotional turmoil, and lengthens the time in which a mourner may experience turmoil, behavioral changes, mood swings, forgetfulness, and loss of concentration. Connecting these personality changes to the events, whether psychosocial or symbolic, is often complicated by the time frame associated with the loss. Throughout the class an in-depth review of the current research as it relates to grief and loss will be examined. Examining the issues associated with unresolved or complicated grief can be an underlying force for a grieving person's current behavior. A well-trained professional's ability in making the connection between current behavior and unresolved grief is a delicate balance of understanding grief and possessing the skill to decipher the hidden challenge to a grieving person's return to emotional stability. Students will experience an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and proficiency in the area of grief and loss.
- SWK-S 311 Alcohol and Drug Use: The individual (3 cr.) P: swk-s202 C: swk-s202 This course explores theories, principles, terms, procedures, and techniques related to the biopsychosocial dynamics that contribute to and maintain addictive behaviors. Because the focus is on biopsychosocial dynamics, emphasis is on the individual. The course will include discussions on assessment, recovery, and relapse.
- SWK-S 314 Basic Counseling Skills (3 cr.) This course design introduces students to basic counseling skills and techniques. Skills such as listening, attending, interviewing and treatment planning will be discussed and practiced by students. Students will be introduced to motivational interviewing techniques. The course utilizes didactic and experiential teaching methods to enhance students' learning.
- SWK-S 322 Small Group Theory and Practice (3 cr.) This course design introduces students to basic counseling skills and techniques. Skills such as listening, attending, interviewing and treatment planning will be discussed and practiced by students. Students will be introduced to motivational interviewing techniques. The course utilizes didactic and experiential teaching methods to enhance students' learning.
- SWK-S 324 Social Systems of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (3 cr.) P: swk-s202 This course explores social systems that frame cultures of addiction and recovery. Discussions will include family, peer groups, and cultural systems as they interrelate with substance abuse and recovery.
- SWK-S 331 Generalist Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skills (3 cr.) This course focuses on the beginning phase of the problem-solving process and the application of basic generalist social work skills that demonstrate an understanding of the continuum of social work practice. The course is based on the assumption that professional practice is built on knowledge, skills, and values.
- SWK-S 332 Generalist Social Work Practice II: Theory and Skills (3 cr.) P: SWK-S331 This course examines the middle and ending phases of the helping process and focuses on the application of related generalist social work practice skills. Students learn to conduct assessment, identify interventions, apply theory, and develop and implement measurable goals and specific action steps to resolve client problems.
- SWK-S 352 Social Welfare Policy and Practice (3 cr.) P: SWK-S251 This course explores social welfare delivery systems and the impact on people through an emphasis on critical thinking, policy analysis, policy-practice skills, and social work values. Students learn how to influence social welfare policies at all levels, while centering a commitment to social, economic, and environmental justice.
- SWK-S 371 Social Work Research (3 cr.) The goal of this course is to introduce skills to conceptualize a research problem, find and integrate new and existing research literature, and derive solutions based on empirical evidence. Attainment of this goal prepares students to engage in practice-informed research as social workers.
- SWK-S 372 Statistical Reasoning in Social Work (3 cr.)
This 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. We do not "prove" in social work research, but look for relationships between variables. The basic philosophy upon which this course is grounded is the belief that statistical reasoning (i.e., thinking, meaning, and interpretation) should precede statistical methods. It is assumed that, for most beginning students, many of the concepts and principles used by statisticians are likely to be experiences as foreign and confusing. Complex computational formulas and mathematical notations have been known to intimidate many students, and when that occurs, it can interfere with learning. Therefore, the course is based on pedagogy of active learning that engages students in a problem solving process that enables them to gain an understanding of the kinds of questions in relation to which statistics can help. It emphasizes the use of statistics in the real life situations. It attempts to engender in students an understanding of basic statistical concepts and the ability to synthesize the components of their statistical efforts in ways that will enable them to communicate their results in a clear and convincing manner. It should be noted that this course meets the prerequisite requirement for students wishing to apply for admission to the IU MSW program. It is classified as a BSW elective, and as such, it may be taken as either a graded or as a pass/fail option. If this course is taken for the BSW Math/Physical Science requirement, it should be taken as a graded course.
- SWK-S 400 Special Topics in Fields of Practice (1-6 cr.) In-depth study of a special field of social work practice, such as family and child welfare, health care, mental health.
- SWK-S 403 Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Seminar (3 cr.) P: swk-s202; swk-s311; swk-s324; swk-s332 or swk-s314 This capstone course merges objectives from each of the four prerequisite courses. Students develop and complete a case study to demonstrate
- SWK-S 423 Organizational Theory and Practice (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of organizational structure, processes, culture and outcomes necessary for generalist social work practice and leadership within organizations. The theoretical foundation is informed by systems theory, the ecological and strengths perspectives, organizational change and leadership theories and the concepts of power, empowerment, and culturally competent practice.
- SWK-S 433 Community Behavior and Practice within a Generalist Perspective (3 cr.) This course helps students build a theoretical foundation for community practice and competencies needed to promote social change and mitigate socio-political and economic injustice. The course orientation is primarily based on sociological theories, the ecological and strengths perspectives and concepts of conflict, power, empowerment, corporate domination, global interconnections, and advocacy.
- SWK-S 442 Integrated Practice-Policy Seminar in Fields of Practice (3 cr.) This course focuses the student upon a specific field of social work practice in increased depth. It provides further opportunity for synthesis of student learning from previous courses, and seeks to integrate social welfare policies and policy analysis with social work practice.
- SWK-S 472 Social Work Practice Evaluation (3 cr.) This course provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate their own practice and the effectiveness of social service programs within which they work, as well as to become critical consumers of the professional literature to guide their practice.
- SWK-S 481 Social Work Practicum I (6 cr.) Field education provides the opportunity to demonstrate competency in practice, integrating knowledge, values, and skills gained in the BSW curriculum. Social Work Practicum I allows the student to develop and demonstrate beginning practice competency. Students complete 240 hours in the agency and receive weekly supervision from a field instructor.
- SWK-S 482 Social Work Practicum II (7 cr.) Social Work Practicum II allows the student to demonstrate proficiency in practice competency integrating knowledge, values, and skills gained in the BSW curriculum. Students complete 320 hours in the agency, receive weekly supervision from a field instructor, and present a Case Analysis as a capstone assignment.
