• SWK-S 490 Independent Study (1-6 cr.) Intensive study of specific areas relative to social work profession and practice.

• SWK-S 102 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.

• SWK-S 204 Writing in Professional Social Work (3 cr.) This course also includes requirements to complete the informational literacy COAS-Q 110 requirements at IU South Bend. This course prepares BSW students to successfully complete scholarly writing tasks. Topics addressed include expectations and standards for scholarly writing, conducting searches of professional literature, using effective paraphrasing and summarization skills, writing logically and coherently, and appropriately citing references adhering to APA format. The course is intended to support students' efforts on writing tasks assigned in future courses.

• 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.

• 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 Introduction 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 313 Poverty in the United States (3 cr.) Working with persons experiencing poverty is a major focus of the social work profession. The primary purpose of this course is to examine the nature of poverty in the United States. We explore and examine the history of poverty, theories about poverty, and the effects of poverty on personal development.

• SWK-S 322 Small Group Theory and Practice (3 cr.) The course examines groups as context and means for social development, and as a vehicle for generalist practice. Based on systems and empowerment perspectives, S322 facilitates understanding of the impact of groups on the individual and society. It focuses on group practice, enhancing students' effectiveness as group participants and leaders.

• SWK-S 331 Generalist Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skill (3 cr.) P: Admitted to the BSW program; P or C: SWK-S 102, SWK-S 221 and ENG-W 131. C: P or C: SWK-S 102, SWK-S 221 and ENG-W 131. 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-S 331. Generalist SWK-S 251. P: or C: SWK-S 322 C: P: or C: SWK-S 322 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.) 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 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 401 Integrative Practicum Seminar I (3 cr.) This course is designed to facilitate integration of material gained from social work practice and theory courses with the realities of practice in the field as they occur in the student's practicum placement, S482 Social Work Practicum I. This course combines an exploration of social work practice with specific application to client situations. To allow students to fully explore issues and questions from the practicum experience, this course is taught in seminar format. Students are expected to share in the success of the seminar by presenting and sharing material from their practicum with seminar participants. BSW graduates are expected to demonstrate the integration and application of the ten core competencies identified by the Council on Social Work Education, the accrediting body for all social work academic programs. The content and assignments in this course are designed to provide the opportunity for demonstration of the social work core competencies and practice behaviors as well as the presentation of products produced during the concurrent practicum. This course content contributes to building knowledge and skills for students to demonstrate all ten of the EPAS competencies as students build their eportfolios. However, emphasis is given to 2.1.1 (professional identity), 2.1.2 (values and ethics), 2.1.4 (diversity), 2.1.5 (human rights and social and economic justice), 2.1.8 (social policy), 2.1.9 (organizational context) and 2.1.10 (a) and (b) (engaging and assessing practice). Students will utilize course assignments from their upper-level social work courses and products from the S481 practicum as potential evidence that demonstrates they have achieved competence. Discussion in seminar, as well as individual consultation with the faculty liaison, will provide guidance for appropriate activities and products demonstrating competence of the identified practice behaviors. Curricular emphasis is placed on 23 of the 41 practice behaviors identified by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for professional practice at the BSW level. Remaining practice behaviors are achieved in the second semester of field education in S482/S402 Social Work Practicum II and Social Work Practicum II Integrative Seminar. 

• SWK-S 402 Integrative Practicum Seminar II (3 cr.) This second semester of field seminar provides a continuing forum for the integration of academic learning with agency-based field placement. Taken as a co-requisite with S482 Field Practicum II, this course provides students with educational and administrative support to synthesize knowledge from all previous social work courses and the experiential learning from field, increases communication between student, liaison, agency, and provides opportunities critical thinking in problem-solving practice challenges, utilizing collaborative conferencing with peers, and transitioning from student to social work practitioner. The seminar includes discussions on selected topics and issues related to the learning experiences in the field (both instructor- and student-initiated) with emphasis on student demonstration of core competencies for generalist social work practice. Through facilitated discussion, students learn about social work practice in various settings and assist each other in seeing the similarities and differences in applying generalist social work practice, knowledge, and skills across service delivery systems and practice methods. BSW graduates are expected to demonstrate the integration and application of the ten core competencies identified by the Council on Social Work Education, the accrediting body for all social work academic programs. The content and assignments in this course are designed to introduce, reinforce and/or emphasize selected practice behaviors associated with this course, and to assist students in developing the social work core competencies. These competencies are evidenced by corresponding practice behaviors. This course content contributes to building knowledge and skills for students to demonstrate all ten of the EPAS competencies as students complete their eportfolio and as such, serves as a capstone experience for the BSW curriculum. However, emphasis is given to 2.1.2 (values and ethics), 2.1.3 (critical thinking), 2.1.6 (research), 2.1.7 (human behavior and the social environment), 2.1.9 (community context) and 2.1.10 (c) and (d) (intervening and evaluating practice). This course serves as a capstone experience for the BSW curriculum where students gather and organize products that demonstrate their competence in their electronic portfolio. 

• 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 Intermediate Practice-Policy Seminar in Selected Fields of Practice (3 cr.) P: Admitted to the BSW program; all 300-level courses. C: SWK-S 481. This course focuses the student upon a specific field of social work practice in increased depth, 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.   Repeatable for credit.

• SWK-S 472 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 (2-7 cr.) P: admitted to the BSW program; all 300-level courses. P or C: SWK-S 442 S-F grading. 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 (2-7 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.

• SWK-S 501 Professional Social Work at the Master's Level: An Immersion (3 cr.) An overview of social work providing basic orientation to available resources and expectations of graduate education in the Master of Social Work program. The overview also includes the definition, scope, history, ethics, and values of the profession.

• SWK-S 502 Research I (3 cr.) Introduces students to the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate their own practice and the effectiveness of social service programs within which they work. I

• SWK-S 503 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3 cr.) Focuses on individual development and functioning at all system levels with particular emphasis on the interplay of individual, family, and group system needs and resources over time. Special attention is given to issues of values and ethics and to the impact of inequality, discrimination, and differential access to opportunity within society on the development and functioning of both the individual and the family systems. I

• SWK-S 504 Professional Practice Skills I (3 cr.) Introduces students to knowledge, values, and skills for generalist social work practice. The course prepares students to enhance the well-being of people and to ameliorate environmental conditions that affect them adversely. Includes laboratory experiences to provide opportunities for students to develop basic social work skills through experiential and simulation activities. Focus is on core interactional skills of social work practitioner differentially applied at all system levels and with diverse populations. II

• SWK-S 505 Social Policy Analysis and Practice (3 cr.) Examines the political and legislative processes as these influence the development of social policy and services. Included are legislative and political processes, models of policy analysis, service delivery, and policy implementation. The effects of these on people are considered from global, political, economic, and social policy perspectives. I

• SWK-S 513 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3 cr.) Presents theoretical frameworks for understanding organizations, communities, and society as both targets and instruments of change, focusing on the ways that organizational, community, and societal structures and processes enhance or inhibit the well-being of people. Course content includes selected social problems. Special attention is given to the impact of inequality, discrimination, and differential access to opportunity on the larger systems, as well as on individuals and groups within them. S

• SWK-S 514 Practice with Individuals and Families I (3 cr.) Focuses on generalist social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. I

• SWK-S 516 Social Work Practice II: Organizations, Communities, Society (3 cr.) This course is concerned with helping communities and other social units empower themselves and eradicate oppressive situations and practices through networking, political participation, leadership development, mobilization, utilization of resources, and other strategies and techniques. II

• SWK-S 517 Assessment in Mental Health and Addictions (3 cr.) Recognizing the social, political, legal, and ethical implications of assessment. Students critically examine various conceptual frameworks, apply bio-psychosocial and strengths perspectives to understand its multidimensional aspects. I

• SWK-S 555 Social Work Practicum I (3 cr.) This course is an educationally directed practice experience in social work practice settings with approved field instructors. II

• SWK-S 600 Seminar in Social Work (1-10 cr.) These courses are chosen from electives offered by the Social Work department on various subjects, or taken at a graduate-level in a related field, as approved by the program director. (elective)

• SWK-S 613 Specialized Instruction and Support Services for Diverse Student Populations (3 cr.) This course introduces students to the school social worker's role as a specialized instructional support personnel (SISP), whose task is to enhance the ability of every school child to learn to his or her capacity.  Through the study of research, practice, and policy issues facing school children, especially those with exceptionalities, students in this course will learn to promote educational services and expand educational success for children with exceptionalities, their families, schools, and communities.  Students will learn the imperative for multidisciplinary collaboration that advances student well-being and supportive school environments.  Recognizing the influence of historical and cultural contexts, diversity and oppression as well as social and economic forces shaping educational experiences are examined, specifically focusing on the occurrence of educational disparities and academic outcomes. 

• SWK-S 614 School Social Work Practice with Children, Adolescents, and Families (3 cr.) Pending Final Approval. This course is designed to build individual and family practice skills for school social work with children, adolescents, and families, with an emphasis on the impact of traumatic life events, including poverty, homelessness, child physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and/or family violence. Students will learn how to engage with community partners and various child-serving systems to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and families. A primary focus of the course will be acquiring knowledge and skills for culturally responsive practice, including assessment, interviewing, and engagement with children, adolescents and families in a school-based context.

• SWK-S  616 Social Work Practice in Schools (3 cr.) This advanced level practice course is designed to provide students with an overview of contemporary social work practice in school settings.  Specific topical areas include the historical and contemporary contexts of social work service in school settings, legal mandates for social work practice in schools, social policies and trends in education affecting school settings and social work practice in schools, preventive and intervention methods and roles applicable to diverse populations in school settings, research issues and practice effectiveness, and multiculturalism and diversity issues in social work practice in schools.

• SWK-S 618 Social Policy and Services (3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to provide intensive study of a specific service delivery system and to provide an opportunity for synthesis and application of learning and practice of policy in that system.

• SWK-S 623 Practice Research Integrative Seminar (3 cr.) Provides content from various research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative designs, to support advanced interpersonal social work practice. I

• SWK-S 651 Social Work Practicum II (4 cr.) Practicum must be in a school setting. C: Concurrent with SWK-S 643, SWK-S 644, or SWK-S 645. Agency-based field experience for interpersonal practice concentration students. 257 clock hours. I

• SWK-S 652 Social Work Practicum III (1-5 cr.) Practicum must be in a school setting. C: Concurrent with SWK-S 643, SWK-S 644, or SWK-S 645. Agency-based field experience for interpersonal practice concentration students. 386 clock hours. II

• SWK-S 661 Executive Leadership Practice (3 cr.) Addresses administrative, management, leadership, and supervisory skills necessary for leadership practice. S

• SWK-S 683 Community-Based Practice in Mental Health and Addiction (3 cr.) Provides knowledge and skills relevant to various aspects of social work practice in revention, intervention, and treatment of selected addictions.

• SWK-S 685 Mental Health and Addiction Practice with Individuals and Families (3 cr.) Students enrolled in this course develop knowledge, values and ethics, skills, and judgment necessary for competent application of selected evidence based, best practice, approaches for service to and for children, youth, adults, and families affected by mental health and addiction issues. II

• SWK-S 687 Mental Health and Addiction Practice with Groups (3 cr.) Students enrolled in this course develop professional knowledge and skills for group work services to and for persons affected by mental health and addictions issues. The phases of group development and intervention during the various group work stages provide a conceptual framework for the course. S

Labor Studies