Social Work

SOWK 200 — Introduction to Social Work. 4 hours.

Offers students the opportunity to learn about Olivet's generalist social work program. It is further designed to help students make an educated decision about whether or not to pursue social work as a profession. Students will learn about the nature and mission of social work. They will also be introduced to social work's history, ethics, values, knowledge base, and skills. Students will learn about career options, licensure, diversity, populations-at-risk, and the relationship of religion and politics to social work. They will also be introduced to social work's unique person-in-environment perspective. In addition to classroom learning, students are required to perform 30 clock hours of applied learning during the course of the semester. Prerequisite: SOCY 120.

SOWK 202 — Applied Learning Experience. 1 hour.

This course is designed for transfer students who have not completed sufficient practicum hours in their introduction to social work courses. It is the same service learning component that those students enrolled in SOWK 200 take as part of their requirements for that course. It requires the student to participate in social service work for a minimum of 30 clock hours over the course of a semester, or about two hours per week. The goals of the course are to (1) enable students to participate in the actual on-site work of social services and to (2) enable students to make a more educated decision about their interest in pursuing further education in social work. Students will be exposed to diverse systems and populations where social workers are employed.

SOWK 213 — Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. 3 hours.

Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) I is designed to introduce students to ideas and theories that are fundamental to understanding human behavior. This course is the first of two sequential courses teaching life-span development using a biological, psychological, and social foundation. It uses the ecological and strengths-based perspectives to teach about human development in infants, children, adolescents, and young adults in the context of individual, family, group, organization, and community systems. The course examines the issues of diversity, discrimination, and oppression in human development. Social work ethics are applied. In addition to classroom learning, students are required to perform 10 clock hours of applied learning during the course of the semester. Prerequisites: SOCY 120, PSYC 101, and BIOL 169.

SOWK 214 — Human Behavior and Social Environment II. 3 hours.

Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) II is an extension of HBSE I. HBSE II teaches ideas and theories about human development in adults and the elderly. These stages in the life span are examined from the ecological and strengths-based perspectives across the systems of individual, family, group, organization, and community. The course also examines the issues of diversity, discrimination, and oppression in human development. Social work ethics are applied. In addition to classroom learning, students are required to perform 10 clock hours of applied learning during the course of the semester. Prerequisite: SOWK 213.

SOWK 310 — Social Work Practice I. 3 hours.

For social work majors only. It is the first in a three-course sequence of generalist social work practice courses. The course focuses on generalist social work practice with individuals. It centers on empirical and ethical applications of generalist social work practice. It includes case examples and projects that emphasize the problem-solving process: interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, termination, and follow-up. Diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, and cultural competence are integrated in the course content. A 10-hour applied learning experience in a social work practice field is required in this course. Prerequisites: SOWK 200, 213, 214. Corequisite: SOCY 331.

SOWK 311 — Social Work Practice II. 3 hours.

For Social Work majors only. It is the second in a three-course sequence of generalist social work practice courses. The focus is generalist social work practice with families and groups. It centers on empirical and ethical applications of generalist social work practice. It includes case examples and projects that emphasize the problem-solving process with families and groups, including group dynamics, processes, and roles. Diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, and cultural competence are integrated in the course content. A 10-hour applied learning experience in a social work practice field is required in this course. Prerequisites: SOWK 310, SOCY 331.

SOWK 315 — Drugs in Society. 3 hours.

Same as SOCY 315.

SOWK 330 — Social Work with the Aging. 3 hours.

Designed to assist students in developing the beginning knowledge and skills for effective social work practice with aging clients and their families. Specific areas covered in this course include demographics and attitudinal aspects of aging, social policy, assessment, case management, community services, health care, and long-term care issues. This course will assist the student in developing awareness of potential risk factor indicators within this population, including elder abuse and neglect, mental health, poverty, and substance abuse.

SOWK 340 — Topics in Social Work. 3 hours.

This course is designed to address current topics and issues in social work. A study of the historical, theoretical, political, and practical applications will be made for each topic. Course content will include addressing issues related to ethics and diversity in the context of the topic. Prerequisite: SOWK 200.

SOWK 360 — Child Welfare Services. 3 hours.

Designed to provide students with an overview of child welfare services from a historical, theoretical, and practice perspective. Child welfare services are examined through ethical, empirical, political, and practical applications. Issues of poverty, discrimination, oppression, and social and economic justice are explored in the context of child welfare services. Students will learn basic child welfare competencies and how to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being for children. Prerequisite: SOWK 200 or permission of the instructor.

SOWK 365 — Crisis Intervention. 3 hours.

Designed to provide a framework for intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities in crisis. Ethical, theoretical and practical skills necessary for crisis assessment and resolution will be examined. Specific attention is given to populations-at-risk, including women, ethnic and racial minorities, and persons with disabilities. In addition, issues related to mental and physical health, life transitions, and global matters are studied. Research and evaluation in crisis intervention settings are also presented.

SOWK 370 — Mental Health Issues in Social Work. 3 hours.

This course is designed to provide an introductory knowledge of mental health issues affecting the delivery of services to clients in social work practice. Content will include assessment, service plans, treatment options, appropriate interventions, referrals, and multi-disciplinary teams. Issues related to legalities, ethics, diversity, service delivery, and professional collaborations will be addressed. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, SOWK 200, 213, and 214.

SOWK 390 — Socio-Emotional Response and Recovery to Disaster. 3 hours.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of appropriate social and emotional responses to the recovery efforts following disaster and tragedy. Using the strengths-based and ecological perspectives, this course will help learners understand how to respond appropriately to the socio-emotional needs of victims. Content will include collaboration with Emergency Management Teams, social and emotional assessments, and the coordination, implementation, and delivery of services.

SOWK 394 — Juvenile Justice. 3 hours.

Same as CJUS 394.

SOWK 400 — Field Placement. 10 hours.

This course must be taken during the senior year after all other social work courses have been successfully completed. All students enrolling in this course are required to complete SOWK 401 in the semester prior to the planned placement. Special attention is given to placing students in areas of their interest and with agencies where professional supervision and experiences covering a broad spectrum of generalist practice are available. Agencies offering supervision by a professional possessing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree are preferred. The Social Work Field Coordinator reserves the right to affirm or deny specific placements.

SOWK 401 — Social Work Field Seminar. 1 hour.

Designed to prepare the senior social work student for the social work field placement program (SOWK 400) in the following semester. Orientation to field placement, selection of field agencies, interviewing, professional ethics, resumé-writing, and applying for field placement are all part of this preparatory course. Students will meet weekly for one hour. Prerequisite: Senior status in social work program.

SOWK 405 — Social Work Field Seminar II. 2 hours.

A practice seminar for senior social work majors to be taken concurrently with Social Work Field Placement (SOWK 400). The knowledge, skills, values, and ethics of social work will be discussed in the context of agency policy and practice. The course uses critical thinking skills to integrate theory and practice. Students in this course will meet bi-weekly for three hours.

SOWK 412 — Social Work Practice III. 3 hours.

For social work majors only. It is the third in a three-course sequence of generalist social work practice courses. It is about generalist social work practice with organizations and communities. It centers on empirical and ethical applications of generalist social work practice. This course will assist the student in building a cognitive framework to identify systems in need of change, the type of change needed, and strategies for bringing about change. This course reviews the social worker in the role of administrator, supervisor, committee participant, program developer, and program evaluator. The social work role in community systems regarding needs assessments, client advocacy, and encouraging consumer participation will be presented. Diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, and cultural competence are integrated in the course content. An 8-hour applied learning experience in a social work practice field is required in this course. Prerequisite: SOWK 311.

SOWK 420 — Social Policy Analysis. 3 hours.

This class examines the origins of the American welfare state, the making of government policy, issues in social service delivery, the voluntary and corporate sector, income maintenance, health care, mental health, housing policy, employment policy, and international perspectives. Past and present social policy will be examined with a view toward the development of future social policy. Students are presented a format for thinking critically about political and social systems as arenas for culturally competent and ethical social work practice. A 2-hour applied learning experience in a social work practice field is required in this course. Corequisite: SOWK 412.