Liberal Arts Background and Prerequisite Courses:

GENED130 Individual and Society AND
BIOLGY120 Biological Foundations OR 442271 Structure & Function of the Human Body HBSE)
POLISCI141 American Government and Politics (Policy)

Required Social Work Courses:

SOCWORK102 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work
SOCWORK311 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
SOCWORK312 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
SOCWORK371 Social Work Practice I
SOCWORK372 Social Work Practice II
SOCWORK402 Social Work Research
SOCWORK462 Social Welfare Policy
SOCWORK473 Social Work Practice III
SOCWORK493 Social Work Experience

Required Social Work Course Descriptions:

SOCWORK 102 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to the history and philosophy of social welfare, to social work and other helping professions, and to social institutions so that the students may enlarge their liberal arts education, gain understanding of contemporary social welfare problems and services, and begin to evaluate their personal values and convictions about social welfare issues. A service learning experience is required of all students providing a hands-on exploration into their selected area of social services. Required for all social work majors.

SOCWORK 311/511 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the processes of bio-psycho and socio-cultural development from infancy to young adulthood. Material is also presented on the social systems (families, groups, organizations, and communities) in which individuals live.

SOCWORK 312/512 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the processes of bio-psycho and socio-cultural development from young adulthood through old age. Material is also presented on the social systems (mezzo and macro) in which individuals live.

SOCWORK 371 Social Work Practice I (3 credits)
This course presents contemporary theoretical approaches to social work practice with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities. This course uses a competency approach to assess and develop student interviewing and interpersonal skills, emphasizing social work practice with individuals.

SOCWORK 372 Social Work Practice II (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide knowledge and skills needed to engage in generalist social work practice, including further development of interviewing and interpersonal skills. The course has an emphasis on social work practice with groups and communities.

SOCWORK 402/602 Social Work Research (3 credits)
This course is designed to familiarize the student with basic concepts of social work research methodology and statistics, computer usage, to develop competence in evaluating research literature and to develop beginning skills in evaluating social work practice.

SOCWORK 462/662 Social Welfare Policy (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge about the process of social welfare policy formulation and implementation and with policy analysis skills. The effects of social welfare policies and organizations on both clients (especially the poor and minorities) and on social workers will be emphasized.

SOCWORK 473/673 Social Work Practice III (3 credits)
This course will cover advanced problem solving approaches for intervention with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The class will utilize simulated practice situations. The course has an emphasis on social work practice with families and organizations.

SOCWORK 493 Social Work Experience ("Field Placement Internship") (12 credits)
Field experience offers students the opportunity to test and demonstrate their abilities and knowledge in a supervised educational setting. Students are placed in a variety of agencies, commensurate with their expressed desires and educational needs. Grades are based upon application of knowledge, skills, performance of expected tasks, role performance, and so forth.

Three distinct options exist for field placement (all require the same number of hours in the practicum and same demonstration of skills and learning). These options are:

1. A two-semester placement with the intern spending two days (16 hours per week) at an agency and earning 6 credits/semester. Days of the week are flexible at an agency, but interns are generally encouraged to clear their schedules for placement on Tuesday and Thursday. (Total hours required: 480).
2. A block field placement in a regular semester in which an intern spends four full days at an agency, earning 12 credits that semester. (Total hours required: 480).
3. During the summer, a block field placement has been offered where an intern spends five full days at an agency for at least 12 weeks, earning 12 credits. (Total hours required: 480).

Because of the number of prerequisite courses, students enroll in field placement in their senior year in college. Students are placed at an agency within a seventy-five mile radius of this campus. Examples of agencies accepting students for field placement are:

Sequencing and Prerequisites for Social Work Courses:

Human Behavior I

1. Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work (SOCWORK102)
2. Biological Foundations (BIOLGY120) or Structure and Function of the Human Body (PEPROF271) from the HPER Dept.
3. Individual and Society: GENED130
   (You can take one and ONLY ONE of the above courses at the same time as Human Behavior I (SOCWORK311)

Human Behavior II

1. Human Behavior I

Practice I

1. Human Behavior I (which you can take also at the same time as Practice I). ALL prerequisites for Human Behavior I must be completed before Practice I may be taken.
2. A cumulative grade point average of 2.25, or 2.50 for the last two semesters, or a 2.7 GPA in the semester prior to applying, a minimum of 9 credits must be taken in these semesters. (This rule applies to all practice courses and to field placement).
3. Social Work majors only.

Practice II

1. Practice I
2. Human Behavior II (which you can take at the same time as Practice II).
3. Social Work majors only.

Research

1. Practice I

Policy

1. Practice I
2. Political Science 141
3. Policy and Practice I CANNOT be taken concurrently.

Practice III

1. Practice II
2. Social Work majors only.

Social Work Experience

1. Successful completion of all required social work courses.
2. Consent of instructor.
3. Social Work majors only.

Overview of the Design of the Social Work Curriculum

The Social Work Department notes the social work courses are built upon, and integrated with, the liberal arts content. In addition, the department emphasizes the interrelationships among human behavior, social policy, research, practice, and field placement content. The basic thrust of the curriculum is to prepare students for generalist practice. Grafton Hull, Jr.* has defined generalist social work practice as follows:

"The basic principle of generalist practice is that baccalaureate social workers are able to utilize the problem solving process to intervene with various size systems including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The generalist operates within a systems and person-in-the-environment framework (sometimes referred to as an ecological model). The generalist expects that many problems will require intervention with more than one system (e.g., individual work with [a] delinquent adolescent plus work with the family or school) and that single explanations of problems situations are frequently unhelpful. The generalist may play several roles simultaneously or sequentially depending upon the needs of the client (e.g.: facilitator, advocate, educator, broker, enabler, case manager, and/or mediator). They may serve as leaders/facilitators of task groups, socialization groups, information groups, and self-help groups. They are capable of conducting needs assessments and evaluating their own practice and the programs with which they are associated. They make referrals when client problems so dictate and know when to utilize supervision from more experienced staff. Generalists operate within the ethical guidelines prescribed by the NASW Code of Ethics and must be able to work with clients, co-workers, and colleagues from different ethnic, cultural, and professional orientations. The knowledge and skills of the generalist are transferable from one setting to another and from one problem to another.

_______________

Hull, G.H. 1990. Social Work Internship Manual. Eau Claire: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Department of Social Work, p. 7.

In order to further this preparation for generalist practice and to provide the appropriate knowledge and skill base for social work, a specific curriculum has been developed. The curriculum is composed of several core areas and includes both courses outside the major as well as social work offerings. The background for social work practice requires broad exposure to a number of liberal arts disciplines including political science, psychology, sociology, English, biology, and speech. Courses in these areas complement and support the social work major which itself draws from other fields. Thus, the curriculum and supporting courses can be viewed as a total package designed to produce the desired outcomes.

The curriculum has been conceived as representing the core areas of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Social Work Practice, Research, Social Welfare Policy and Service, Field Work, and electives. It is possible to categorize most social work courses under one of these areas, although there is always overlap. Other, non-environment in the areas indicated.

Although this listing provides a shorthand way of viewing the program, it is important to recognize that preparation for practice, by its very nature, requires an integration of curriculum content, somewhat blurring the distinction between areas. For example, the field experience portion of the curriculum is expected to integrate all of the areas. The ability to write and speak competently is required in all areas since these skills are important in all areas of social work practice. Ethical considerations are also applicable to all social work courses including research and social policy. Of course, research cannot be divided from theory or practice, and policy and practice are likewise related. In addition, practice is dependent upon knowledge of human behavior in the social and physical environment and so it goes. As you can see, the dividing lines are not as sharp as one might suppose. As your course work progresses, many of these relationships will become clearer and your comprehension of the integrative nature of social work education will improve.

It should also be noted, consistent with the accreditation requirements of the Council on Social Work Education, every required social work course in the major has content on the following curriculum areas:

• Social Work Values and Ethics
• Diversity
• Promotion of Social and Economic Justice
• Populations-at-Risk

Linkages Between Program Objectives and Curriculum Objectives

The social work program at UWW has determined that the program objectives (specified earlier) shall be linked with course objectives according to the following format:

1. HBSE I and II; Practice I, II, & III; Policy; Research; Field
2. All required courses
3. Practice I, II, & III; Field
4. All required courses
5. Intro; Policy; and Field
6. HBSE I; Practice I, II, & III; Policy; Field
7. HBSE I & II
8. HBSE I & II; Policy; Field
9. Practice I, II, & III; Policy; Research; Field
10. Practice I, II, & III; Field
11. Practice III; Field
12. Practice III; Policy; Field

These program objectives are specified in the course objectives section of the respective course syllabi. In addition the course outlines in the syllabi list topical content related to the program and curriculum objectives. Finally, evaluative mechanisms (such as exams, written assignments, role plays, and class exercises) have been developed for each course to ascertain the extent to which students have mastered the program and curriculum objectives.