Social Work

Development of the social work profession; mission; knowledge, values and skills; practice settings; client groups; helping services; career patterns; and practice methods. Developing awareness of abilities and interests for this career choice. Fall.

Origins, values, and problems encountered in program development and delivery of social welfare services in American society. Fall.

Interviewing skills, written documentation requirements, and technological competencies within the organizational setting. Fall.

Sociocultural, psychological, and biological influences within the social systems context. Focus on individual development and interactions between families, groups, organizations, and communities. Examples applied to Appalachian environments. Prerequisite: PSYC 221. Junior SEWS paper. Spring

Family grief and loss is more prevalent today due to terrorism, illness, natural disasters, or senseless tragedies, such as school shootings. This class will introduce the student to the experiences of grief and loss in their own lives and in their helping roles for clients, family, and friends. They will learn about support systems, resources, and policies that are in place to help those coping with grief and loss. Prerequisite: ENGL 102 or sophomore status. Fall.

Social issues and problems impacting children and families in urban and rural environments. Overview of the major intervention programs and social service delivery systems. Spring.

Role of human diversity in society; focus on understanding the impact of discrimination, oppression, differences and similarities in experiences, needs, beliefs, and values in working with diverse groups. Includes discussion of human rights and social/economic justice. Spring.

Medical Social Work introduces and develops the skills needed for healthcare settings: hospitals, clinics (human and animal), outpatient office settings, hospices, homecare & nursing homes. Students will learn how to utilize inter-professional collaboration, integrated and behavioral health. Skills including case management, discharge planning, crisis intervention, medical terminology, documentation, advocacy, understanding cultural diversity, individual & family interviewing and understanding psychosocial issues related to each setting. Prerequisite: ENGL 102 or sophomore status. Spring.

Introduction to knowledge, values, and skills for entry-level generalist practice with diverse individuals and families. Focus on skills needed for case management and intervention: data collection and recording, client involvement, assessment, and intervention planning. Prerequisites: SOCW 240 and Phase I Admission to Social Work program. Spring.

Scientific method and research strategies: design and methodologies for qualitative and quantitative research. Focus on development of a research proposal and application of methodologies to evaluation of social work practice and service delivery. Prerequisites: Completion of Mathematics requirement Statistics course or permission of instructor. Fall.

Analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data. Focus on skill development in data preparation using computers, basic statistical techniques, and understanding data presentation /interpretation as both producer and consumer of research. Prerequisite: SOCW 380. Spring.

Application of knowledge, values, and skills to entry-level generalist practice with groups and families. Emphasis on theory based techniques for conducting both task and interventive groups. Prerequisite: Phase II Admission to Field Experience. Corequisite: SOCW 497. Fall.

Application of knowledge, values, and skills to entry-level generalist practice with organizations and community systems. Social work administration, leadership, and community organizing skills. Prerequisite: Phase II Admission to Field Experience. Corequisite: SOCW 497. Fall.

Dynamics of social welfare policy formulation and policy-related role expectations. Emphasis on analysis and evaluation of programs and policies in the social welfare system. Prerequisites: Phase II Admission to Field Experience. Corequisite: SOCW 498. Senior SEWS paper. Spring.

Integration of generalist knowledge, values, and skills in preparation for student's transition to professional worker. A weekly seminar to accompany SOCW 497F Social Work Field Experience I (225 clock hours), a supervised work experience in an approved agency setting. Prerequisite: Phase II Admission to Internship. Corequisite: SOCW 497F Social Work Field Experience I (225 clock hours). Fall.

Integration of generalist knowledge, values, and skills in preparation for student's transition to professional worker.  A supervised work experience in an approved agency setting.  225 clock hours. Prerequisite: Phase II Admission to Internship.  Corequisite: SOCW 497 Social Work Senior Seminar I.  Fall.

Integration of generalist knowledge, values, and skills in preparation for student's transition to professional worker. A weekly seminar accompanied by a supervised work experience in an approved agency setting. Prerequisites: Phase II Admission to Field Experience; SOCW 497 and SOCW 497F. Corequisite: SOCW 498F Field Experience II (225 clock hours). Spring.

Integration of generalist knowledge, values, and skills in preparation for student's transition to professional worker.  A supervised work experience in an approved agency setting.  225 clock hours. Prerequisite: Phase II Admission to Internship and SOCW 497 and 497F.  Corequisite: SOCW 497 Social Work Senior Seminar I.  Fall.