With a focus on inter-professional practice, students will gain an understanding of long living individuals in contemporary society and learn the diverse needs of aging adults and appreciate the issues impacting gerontological practice. Students will gain elder assessment skills and learn tools to screen for spiritual needs, depression, substance abuse, suicide and physical abuse or neglect. Students will learn how to practice in multi-disciplinary teams to serve older adults in a wide range of settings, from hospitals to community centers. Prerequisite: 210 or SOCL 125 or PSYC 171.

This course surveys the field of child welfare. Students will acquire an understanding of the issues that impact the welfare of children in our society, including poverty, substance abuse, violence, and mental health concerns, the relationship between these issues and child abuse and neglect. Students will examine the issues involved in providing services to children affected by child abuse and neglect, unplanned pregnancy, foster care, and institutional care.

This course explores issues that impact families in todays society such as resiliency, trauma, family violence, mental illness, poverty, hunger, homelessness, autism, and bullying. Evidence based methods for prevention and intervention will be explored in relation to these issues with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches. Prerequisite: 210 or PSYC 171 or SOCL 125. Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher.

This course provides students with an understanding of basic, universal human rights and social welfare policy as a potential instrument to advance social justice. The historical, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and global influences on social welfare are examined. Students will learn about the major social welfare programs that address financial and basic human needs, civil rights, aging, health, mental health and child welfare. Knowledge of and skills in policy formulation, analysis, and advocacy will be developed.

This course introduces students to the profession of social work within contemporary society including the historical, social, economic, and political context of social work practice. Students develop an understanding of the connection between social work practice and social welfare policy. Social work values and ethics, including the professions commitment to social justice and valuing of diversity, will be emphasized. Students are introduced to the social service delivery system, the person-in-environment perspective, and generalist social work practice.

This sophomore level writing emphasis course introduces social work students to the research process, critical thinking, and analytic writing. Students will learn to critically read and evaluate sources and scholarly writing. Emphasis will be placed on learning to write in APA style. An overview and basic understanding of the scientific research process, with an emphasis on quantitative research is stressed. Ethical issues in human subject research and evidence based practice in social work are examined.

This one credit course allows students to experience social work populations and organizations outside the classroom. Students complete 25 hours of service in an approved setting that facilitates interactions with clients and staff. Assignments support the integration of generalist social work models with the experience. Students examine the congruence of personal values with professional values, study social work ethics and learn about professional boundaries. Diversity and underserved client populations encountered in social work are discussed. Prerequisite: 210 or concurrent.

Students will learn essential interviewing skills for empowering and strengths-based social work practice. Motivational and solution-focused skills necessary for ethical practice in using the planned change process are defined, modeled, rehearsed, and evaluated. Emphasis is placed in developing cross-cultural practice skills sensitive to the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations. The course includes a structured lab with recorded interviews, instructor, and peer evaluations. Prerequisites: 210, admission to the social work program.