SOCW 501 Generalist Practice: Individuals and Families (3 credit hours)
This course focuses on generalist social work processes with individuals, families, and groups beginning with the way helping relationships are developed with voluntary and involuntary clients. Special attention is devoted to gender, age, race, and class. Throughout the course, students will examine social values and ethics. Generalist practice methods are linked to the restoration, maintenance, and enhancement of social functioning. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program.
SOCW 502 Generalist Practice: Neighborhoods, Organizations, and Communities (3 credit hours)
This course continues the preparation of students for generalist social work practice by focusing on theories of practice and communications skills with neighborhoods, organizations, and communities. Special attention will focus on the needs of urban and rural communities, and on the needs of diverse groups in these setting. Prerequisite: SOCW 501.
SOCW 504 Policy and Service Delivery in Social Welfare (3 credit hours)
This course introduces students to the history of social policy, and focuses on relationships among social problems, public policies, and private actions. Issues of poverty, racism, and sexism are addressed as they relate to social justice. The course examines the complex structure of the social welfare delivery system by analyzing histories, values, and ideologies associated with social work and social welfare. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program.
SOCW 507 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3 credit hours)
This course combines a social-systems framework with a social constructionist framework to provide two perspectives on human development across the life span. Emphasis is placed on understanding how culture and biology interact to influence individual adaptation and coping at particular life stages within various social settings. Special attention is given to investigating relationships among life stages, life's conditions and events, and human functioning. Finally, symbols and representations are viewed to understand the effects of labeling on diverse groups of people as they develop. Prerequisites: Admission to the MSW Program.
SOCW 511 Area Development (3 credit hours)
Students examine the social reform sector of social work practice and apply that knowledge to developing strategies aimed at enhancing the well-being of poor and oppressed classes in southwestern Illinois. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 514: Descriptive Statistics for Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
This course prepares students to understand and use basic descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing for social work practice. SPSS statistical package is a major component of this course. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program.
SOCW 515 Research and Evaluation for Social Work Practice(3 credit hours)
This course uses evaluation and research methods as a part of direct practice for the assessment of clients, client situations, or client groups. Research tools for monitoring the delivery and outcome of interventions and assessing client change through interventions are examined. Special emphasis is also placed on practice evaluation. Prerequisite: SOCW 514 or Special Permission of the Director of MSW Program.
SOCW 517 Diversity (3 credit hours)
This course explores the origins and development of social variables that characterize racial, ethnic, and social groups. A multi-dimensional framework is used to examine such concepts as ethnicity, racism, sexism, homophobia, handicapism, prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination. The course examines the implications of dual and multiple value systems for social work practice within the context of societal structures and institutions. Prerequisite: Admission to MSW Program .
SOCW 520 Advanced Practice with Children and Families (3 credit hours)
This course focuses on family-centered approaches to practice with emphasis on in-depth examination of theories, models, and strategies for change. Various modes of intervention are studied in terms of their usefulness for solving problems in the context of separation, divorce, unemployment, and poverty. Special attention is also drawn to socially and culturally diverse and vulnerable children and families. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 524 Human Behavior: Families, Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities (3 credit hours)
This course studies major theoretical perspectives on human behavior and the social environment. Developmental issues that place people at risk and that require social work intervention are addressed. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of theories and principles to problems associated with gender, race, and socioeconomic status. Prerequisite: SOCW 507 or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 526 Field Instruction-I (3 credit hours)
The internship experience consists of a minimum of 225 hours of directed practicum in an approved social service setting with individuals, families, groups, formal organizations and communities. SOCW 526 is one of two foundation courses that comprise the field experience. Prerequisite: SOCW 501.
SOCW 527 Field Instruction-II (3 credit hours)
This courseis the second of two foundation courses that require a minimum of 225 hours of directed practicum experience. See SOCW 526. Prerequisite: SOCW 526.
SOCW 528 Advanced Field Instruction-III (3 credit hours)
This course is one of two concentration courses that provide an internship experience consisting of a minimum of 225 hours of directed practicum in settings representative of student areas of concentration in communities with diverse populations. Prerequisites: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 529 Advanced Field Instruction-IV (3 credit hours)
This course is the second of two concentration courses in which the student will enroll for a practicum experience. See SOCW 528. Prerequisites: SOCW 528.
SOCW 530 Advanced Social Policy with Children and Families (3 credit hours)
This course represents a study of the impact of policy development on children and families. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to analyze policy developments, policy implementation, and policy practice. Special attention is given to promoting policies that are consumer driven and that are responsive to cultural, ethnic, gender, and age difference. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 533 Social Work Practice in Schools (2 credit hours)
This course examines the history of school social work, the legal mandates, and institutional policies that impact social work practice in public schools. Prerequisite: Admission to MSW school social work program and SPE 400.
SOCW 545 Administration (3 credit hours)
This course explores organizational and management theory in the administration of social-service agencies. Professional values and ethics are applied to areas of human-services administration and management skills: planning, organizing, directing, budgeting, marketing, and evaluation. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 556 Child Welfare Services (3 credit hours)
Content in this course gives the student a comprehensive study of the principal public and private child welfare services by tracing their developmental history and exploring the current socioeconomic climate in which they operate. Various models and strategies of prevention, intervention, and treatment are explored. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 565 Integrative Project (3 credit hours)
This capstone experience requires the student to integrate content from the graduate curriculum and practicum experiences, through research of a specific social welfare topic, or practice issue or problem. Critical analysis of a topic will require the student to incorporate skills in policy analysis, knowledge of practice skills, human behavior and the social environment, and research methods. Although students select the topic, their issue must reflect the program's emphasis on the needs of under-served and vulnerable populations in southwestern Illinois, and an understanding of the principles of social and economic justice into a final written research project. A substantive paper is the final product of the integrative project. Prerequisite: Completion of all course work except concurrent enrollment in SOCW 545 and SOCW 529 and consent of instructior and MSW program Director.
SOCW 567 Seminar in School Social Work (2 credit hours)
This advanced seminar in school social work integrates MSW practice, knowledge, and skills with school field practicum experience. Prerequisite: Admission to MSW school social work program and SOCW 533.
SOCW 568 Advanced Field III School Social Work (4 credit hours)
Advanced level directed internship in approved school setting in which student develops and demonstrates competence for social work practice in schools. Minimum 300 hours. Prerequisite: Admission to MSW school social work program and SPE 400.
SOCW 569 Advanced Field IV School Social Work (4 credit hours)
The second of two advanced level directed internships in approved school setting in which student develops and demonstrates competence for social work practice in school. Minimum 300 hours. Prerequisite: SOCW 568.
SOCW 580 Advanced Social Policy in Health, Mental Health & Disabilities (3 credit hours)
This course represents a study of the impact of health, mental health, and disability studies and services on policy development. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to analyze policy developments, policy implementation, and policy practice. Special attention is given to promoting policies that are responsive to cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, ability, and age differences. The ethics of serving culturally devalued groups is also considered. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 583 Advanced Practice in Health (3 credit hours)
A critical review of social work practice in health care delivery from organizational, political, economic, and ideological perspectives with an examination of the future practice directions of health services. Emphasis in placed on culturally diverse and at-risk clients in the health care system. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 584 Advanced Practice in Mental Health (3 credit hours)
This course examines the origins and development of nonconforming human behavior, particularly those applicable to diagnosis and practice in social work. Theories of mental disorders and social deviance are examined. Modes of organizational and professional interventions and the place of ethics in practice are addressed. The impact of labeling on practice is explored. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 585 Advanced Practice in Disabilities (3 credit hours)
Students examine social work practice in disability services with special consideration to consumer-driven services. The effects of labeling in practice are considered. The relationship between professional social work practice and the self-advocacy movement is explored. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
Elective Courses (Additional electives may develop latter)
SOCW 537 Psychopathology (3 credit hours)
This elective provides knowledge and skills about the practice of social work that includes content on DSM-IV. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 555 Women, Work, and Family (3 credit hours)
Gender-specific social policies and practice interventions are examined for women in the work place and in the family. The course places emphasis on the multiple and different situations among women based on race, ethnicity, class, age, and sexual orientation. Developing theoretical perspectives and inter-disciplinary feminist scholarship will be applied to social work practice with women. Prerequisite: Completion of the Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 557 Substance Abuse (3 credit hours)
Three major areas relating to substance abuse are studied: problems and questions on prevention; issues on the establishment and administration of rehabilitation facilities and community response; and treatment approaches and controversies about their use and effectiveness. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 562 Legal Issues in Social Work (3 credit hours)
Civil, criminal, and administrative laws affecting human services clientele are examined. Course content provides a study of the court system and alternative decision-making structures, such as mediation, negotiation, and arbitration. Special attention is given to the roles of affirmative action, civil rights, and political rights in their application to under-served populations. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 570 Policy/Practice with Oppressed Populations (3 credit hours)
A study of oppression related to ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation in specific populations and the implications for policy practice assessment and intervention. The appropriateness of various treatment models is explored. Coping patterns and environmental interactions are studied, and personal values and behaviors are examined for their influence on the client relationship. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 590 Social Work Practice with African-American Families (3 credit hours)
This course presents a multi-systems approach to family therapy and social policy from the perspective of the African-American experience. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 591 AIDS: Issues for Social Work (3 credit hours)
This course explores practice and policy issues in working with HIV-positive clients, persons living with AIDS, their companions, and family. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Curriculum or Advanced Standing.
SOCW 596 Readings in Social Work (3 credit hours)
Supervised readings in selected subjects. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and MSW Director.