SOWK 240 • Socioeconomic & Justice Issues 3 Credits

Equips students with knowledge and skills for understanding and critically evaluating how market economies operate, their broad socioeconomic consequences, and their impact on the lives of socially disadvantaged people.
Fulfills: CAPS Goal Area 5.

SOWK 250 • Social Welfare History 2 Credits

Historical and critical examination of the social and political movements that have shaped the emergence, resistance and commitment to social activism. Evaluation of significant turning points and their legacies in society with a view to gain appreciation of the linkages and contexts that inextricably interconnect past, present, and future social welfare reform efforts. Identification of strengths and weaknesses of the American welfare state and its impact on the delivery of social services. Fulfills: CAPS Goal Area 5.

SOWK 270 • Social Perspective 3 Credits

Examines historical and current societal conditions and their impact on individuals and communities. Culture, power, oppression, exclusion, and the impact of diverse realities in the U.S. are explored, incorporating faith perspectives. Comparative examination by synthesizing contemporary writings, social theory, and diverse voices. Experiential learning and dialogue promote understanding, justice-seeking strategies, and social action.
Fulfills: CAPS Goal Area 5.

SOWK 300 • Intro to Social Work 4 Credits

Understanding of social work mission, core values, history, and field of practice overview. Recognition of the dimensions of diversity, cultures, and structures that may oppress and marginalize people groups. Communication and collaboration with diverse individuals with community-based, cross-cultural service learning. Consideration of social work as career choice.
$20 course fee.

SOWK 310 • Human Behavior I 2 Credits

Analysis of individuals, families, and groups utilizing systems theory, learning theories and psychosocial frameworks as part of human behavior in the social environment perspective. Appraisal of important lifespan milestones and the influence of social environment on human development. Application of information and theories consistent with social work values and the promotion of social justice.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300.

SOWK 315 • Human Behavior II 2 Credits

Analysis of individuals, families, and groups utilizing systems theory, learning theories and psychosocial frameworks as part of human behavior in the social environment perspective. Appraisal of important lifespan milestones and the influence of social environment on human development. Application of information and theories consistent with social work values and the promotion of social justice.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 310.

SOWK 320 • Experience in Anti-Racism and Justice Informed Social Work Practice 2 Credits

Integration of anti-racism and anti-oppressive and justice-informed theories and practice to social work experience. Understanding of how one’s own cultural identity impacts engagement and assessment with individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities. Application of interpersonal skills within a multi-service community based agency setting.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 310, SOWK 315. Fees: $195 EXAAT fee and $15 ICD Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory.

SOWK 325 • Social Work Field Experience I 2 Credits

Apply and integrate beginning knowledge, values, skills, and ethics for social work practice with an emphasis on diversity, human rights and justice, and professional generalist practice. Weekly field seminar supports integration while students work a minimum of 100 hours in field setting under agency supervision.
Prerequisites: SOWK 320. $15 FPPAI Fee.

SOWK 330 • Social Work Practice I 3 Credits

Description of how cultural structures and values affect privilege and power. Identification of practices that ensure that rights and responsibilities are distributed equitably. Analysis of strength-based assets and community empowerment. Application of self-awareness and self-regulation, relationship building and inter-professional collaboration strategies, multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks and intervention strategies based on assessment, research, values, and preferences of clients.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300.

SOWK 335 • Social Work Practice II 3 Credits

Generalist social work theory and practice with individuals and families. Beginning professional development, critical thinking, effective communication, Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE), ethical and evidenced-based practice. Simulated case assignments for development of knowledge and skills of social work practice: engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 330.

SOWK 340 • Perspectives in Social Work 2 Credits

This course will examine the inequitable distribution of environmental risks and implications of policies established to address such risks. This course will acknowledge the contributions of diverse populations in addressing environmental and health injustices and lead to understanding of strategies to reduce these injustices.

SOWK 350 • Social Policy Practice 3 Credits

Interrelationship of social problems, social welfare policies, and service delivery from historical, economic, political, and program perspectives. Social systems content applied to social policy analysis. Students develop, analyze, advocate, and provide leadership for policy and service delivery that promote economic and social justice through community-based projects.
Prerequisites: SOWK 250, SOWK 300.

SOWK 370 • Social Work Research I 2 Credits

Social research methods, including an emphasis on becoming proficient and critical consumers of research-based data, for the purposes of knowledge advancement, informed practice, and program and practice effectiveness evaluation.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 320.

SOWK 380 • Social Work Research II 2 Credits

Social research methods, including an emphasis on becoming proficient and critical consumers of research-based data, for the purposes of knowledge advancement, informed practice, and program and practice effectiveness evaluation.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 320, SOWK 370.

SOWK 420 • Soc. Work Field Experience II 2 Credits

Field practicum in which students perform the role of a professional social worker under supervision of a qualified field instructor. Weekly field seminar supports integration of theory with social work practice. Minimum of 135 hours in the field. A structured learning contract applies social work knowledge, values, and skills.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 320, SOWK 325. Corequisites: SOWK 430.

SOWK 425 • Soc. Work Field Experience III 2 Credits

A continuation of SOWK 420. Time involvement must total a minimum of 135 hours in the field. Satisfactory progress must be made toward competence in professional social work practice.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 320, SOWK 325, SOWK 420. $15 FPPAI fee.

SOWK 430 • Social Work Practice III 3 Credits

Generalist social work theory applied to integrated practice within client systems. Emphasis is on families and groups and on the planned change process. Student development of a group work project and case study review promote application of critical thinking, research-informed practice and culture competence.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 320, SOWK 325, SOWK 330, SOWK 335. Corequisites: SOWK 420.

SOWK 450 • Abuse,Trauma and Mental Health in Social Work Practice 3 Credits

Students will be presented with the characteristics and consequences of family violence, intimate partner abuse and child and elder abuse. Theoretical frameworks for assessment and intervention with survivors will be presented. Special consideration will be given to understanding the role of racism and oppression in addressing abuse and trauma.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 310, SOWK 315, SOWK 330.

SOWK 490H • Integrative Seminar 4 Credits

Integration of generalist social work knowledge, values, and skills through ethics-based case studies and completion of practice/program evaluation research applied to field practicum setting. Critical thinking, leadership, and scholarship emphasized. Understand ethical integration of a Christian worldview into social work practice.
Prerequisites: SOWK 300, SOWK 320, SOWK 325, SOWK 330, SOWK 335, SOWK 420, SOWK 425, SOWK 430. Fulfills: CAPS Goal Area 6 General Education Category H. Total fees: $100 ($30 specialized trainings, $25 practice exam, $5 FCAI post test, exit SWEAP $5, $35 poster presentation).