SOWK 105 Social Welfare Institutions
Pre-Reqs: None
Co-Reqs: None
Hours: 3
Old Number: 101
Examines the historical development of social welfare in the United States and the values that shape social welfare institutions.
SOWK 147 Human Diversity
Hours: 3
Covers a range of diverse populations especially those historically subjected to oppression and social and economic injustice. Addresses the causes and effects of institutionalized forms of oppression.
SOWK 151 Introduction to Social Work
Pre-Reqs: Consent
Hours: 3
Overview of the social welfare field and social work profession. Emphasizes social work values and ethics.
SOWK 293 A-Z Special Topics
Pre-Reqs: Consent
Hours: 1-6 Hr.
Investigation of topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses.
SOWK 300 Social Welfare Policy and Services1
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 151
Hours: 3
Review of current and historical perspectives on the social welfare institution. Includes philosophical and ideological factors that influences U.S. social welfare policy and services.
SOWK 310 Social Welfare Policy & Services2
Pre-Reqs: SW 300
Hours: 3
Explores the social welfare policy-making process. Analyzes current social welfare programs and possible reforms, policy responses to social issues, and strategies for shaping and influencing policy and their impact on vulnerable populations.
SOWK 319 Skills Lab 1
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 151
Hours: 1
This experiential component of SOWK 320 focuses on developing communication and interviewing skills, relationship building, and problem solving.(Grading will be Pass/Fail).
SOWK 320 Social Work Methods 1
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 151
Hours: 3
Presents a broad range of generalist practice knowledge,values and skills: the problem-solving process,systems theories, developing client-worker relationships, interviewing,generalist roles, and professional values. Focuses on theories and interventions with individuals and families and introduces evaluation of practice effectiveness. Requires 30 hours of volunteer activity.
SOWK 321 Field Experience in Social Work
Hours: 1-12
Develops basic helping skills through supervised volunteer or work experience in a community agency or program.
SOWK 322 Social Work Methods 2
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 319 and SOWK 320
Hours: 3
Builds on Methods 1 by focusing on more specific thories, methods, and intervention models with groups, communities, and organizations. Introduces program evaluation.(Requires 30 hours of volunteer activity).
SOWK 330 Human Behavior in the Social Environment 1
Pre-Reqs: SW 151
Hours: 3
Provides a basic understanding of the bio-psycho-social paradigm and the dynamics of human physiology important in social work practice.
SOWK 350 Human Behavior in the Social Environment 2
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 319 and SOWK 320 and SOWK 330.
Hours: 3
Examines through an ecosystems framework, how individuals develop, function, and interact with a wide range of social systems. Applies social,biological, and behavioral sciences, and social work research and theory, to assessment and intervention.Emphasizes systemic factors that limit certain populations life opportunities and identifies practices implications.
SOWK 360 Social Work Research & Statistics
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 300
Hours: 3
Introduces and applies research and statistical methods social workers use to evaluate practice and programs, to critique research, to build knowledge for practice, and to address ethical standards of scientific inquiry.
SOWK 491 Professional Field Placement
Pre-Reqs: Consent
Hours: 1-12
Prearranged experiential learning program to be planned, supervised, and evaluated for credit by faculty and field supervisors. Involves temporory placement with public or private enterprise for professional competence development.
SOWK 493 A-Z Special Topics
Pre-Reqs: Consent
Hours: 1-6
Investigation of topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses.
SOWK 494 Seminar: Field Practice
Pre-Reqs: Consent
Hours: 1-3
Presentation and discussion of topics of mutual concern to students and faculty.
SOWK 495 Independent Study
Pre-Reqs: Consent
Hours: 1-6
Faculty supervised study of topics not available through regular course offerings.
SOWK 513 Social Work Research Methods
Pre-Reqs: Admission to the MSW program or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This course is the foundation research course required of all MSW students who are not eligible for advanced standing. The course serves as the foundation for advanced research courses required of all MSW students and, in a more general sense, for all other parts of the curriculum.
SOWK 520 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Pre-Reqs: Admission to the MSW program or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This course reviews that knowledge and the theoretical concepts underlying human behavior from the systems model, expanding the theoretical base to include the major systems in society with a primary focus on the impact of human diversity on human behavior and social interactions.
SOWK 531 Social Welfare Policy/Services
Pre-Reqs: Admission to MSW Program or permission of instructor
Hours: 3
Course Website
The primary purpose of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge base for understanding the American social welfare system, including the organization of its services and the social policies which shape it.
SOWK 540 Generalist Social Work Practice
Pre-Reqs: Admission to MSW program or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This course focuses on developing the basic framework of social work practice theory and professional values to working with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
SOWK 581 Generalist Field Experience I, II
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 513, SOWK 520, SOWK 531, SOWK 540
Hours: 3-14
Course Website
The field instruction sequence is an integral part of the total curriculum of the Division of Social Work. Its primary purpose is to engage the student in an educationally directed experience involving the application of knowledge, values, and skills studied in the classroom with consumers of social services and with systems of all sizes.
SOWK 616 Evaluation Research in Social Work
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 513 or Instructor?s Consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
The catalog description of this course is: Methods of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data on the need for implementation and effects of social interventions. Examination of the effects of political, ethical, and resource variables on the research process.
SOWK 618 Personal Practice Assessment I, II
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 513 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This is the advanced research course for students who are pursuing the direct practice track in the MSW program. SW618 builds upon the content in SW513 and emphasizes the use of single system evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of services, particularly one?s own direct practice.
SOWK 621 Human Behavior, Diversity, and Social Justice
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 520 and SOWK 540, or Advanced Standing
Hours: 3
Course Website
Catalogue Description: Advanced content on human behavior in the social environment with special emphasis on vulnerable populations and social justice issues of concern to social workers.
SOWK 633 Social Policy Analysis, Advocacy, and Deliberation
Pre-Reqs: SW 531 or permission
Hours: 3
Old Number: 333
Course Website
Primary attention in this course will be on the implications for social work of current debates over political philosophy and social policy in the wake of the collapse of social liberal/welfare state hegemony and on the need for dialogue and advocacy on social policy issues among citizens.
SOWK 641 Social Work with Groups
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This advanced elective is a methods course designed to teach skills for practice with therapy and task groups in various settings and is appropriate for students in both the direct practice and COSA tracks.
SOWK 643 Psychopathology and Social Work Practice
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 540 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This is the first required practice course for students in the direct practice track. The course fulfills the requirement for a graduate level course in psychopathology for West Virginia social workers who aspire eventually to be licensed at the level of independent practice of clinical social work (LICSW).
SOWK 645 Supervision in Social Work
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
Social Work 645 is an elective for students in both the COSA and Direct Practice Tracks. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required for effective supervision in human service agencies that is consistent with social work values and ethics. The course will examine the roles, functions, and processes of supervision within the agency context, as well as the unique challenges faced by supervisors in rural environments.
SOWK 649 Advanced Practice with Individuals and Families
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 520 and 540, or advanced standing, or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This is the first practice methods course in the direct practice track. The course is designed to advance the student?s knowledge in the direct practice area beyond foundation social work practice methods. Course content will include individual and family assessment, model analysis, and intervention techniques.
SOWK 651 Social Work Practice: Rural Communities
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 540 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
The purpose of this course, one of the two required advanced practice courses for the COSA track, is to provide students with the opportunity to identify and understand the social problems often faced by small towns and rural areas, especially in West Virginia.
SOWK 654 Social Agency and Program Administration
Hours: 3
Course Website
This course provides students with the knowledge base required for agency and program administration, including its application in a manner consistent with social work values and ethics. The course will provide an intensive examination of the concepts, principles, and skills of agency and program administration, with particular emphasis on multi-funded nonprofit settings providing services to socially dependent populations.
SOWK 655 Nonprofit Mgt. and the Third Sector
Pre-Reqs: None
Hours: 3
Old Number: 693N
Course Website
Course Description and Place in the Curriculum This course is the first required offering in the 15-hour Nonprofit Graduate Certificate program offered by the School of Applied Social Sciences, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University. It is intended for any graduate student with an interest in nonprofit management and the third (also known as the nonprofit, voluntary or nongovernmental) sector. Note on prerequisites: There are no established course prerequisites for this course. However, it is a graduate course and will be
SOWK 656 Nonprofit Financial Management
Pre-Reqs: None
Co-Reqs: None
Hours: 3
Old Number: 693J
Course Website
Course Description and place in the Curriculum This course offers an intensive examination of the current state of the art of nonprofit financial management, with attention to accountability, budgeting, cost measurement, and related topics. It is an offering in the Nonprofit Management Certificate curriculum but may also be taken independently or, with your advisor?s approval, as part of a graduate program of study.
SOWK 674 Community Mental Health (New Name- SW in Behavioral Health)
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 and [643 and 649] or [651 and 654]
Hours: 3
Course Website
Social Work in Behavioral Health is a field of practice course designed to support and conceptually integrate the classroom experience with the practicum experience for students who elect the behavioral health field of practice, such as state mental health agencies, inpatient psychiatric treatment centers, or child and family treatment centers.
SOWK 677 Social Work with Children and Families
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 and (SOWK 643 & SOWK 649) or (SOWK 651 & SOWK 654)
Hours: 3
Course Website
This is a required course for students in both the COSA and Direct Practice Tracks, who elect Children and Families as a field of practice. The course will provide students with opportunities to examine Social Work theories, practice modalities and ethical standards from an advanced practice perspective and within the children and families field of practice.
SOWK 679 Social Work with Couples and Families
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
The goal of this course is to provide students with a concentrated examination of how to intervene with couples and families. In this course, several of the family therapy theories and bodies of technique which guide social work practice with couples and families are explored.
SOWK 680 Child Welfare Continuum
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 OR CONSENT
Hours: 3
Old Number: 693C
Course Website
This advanced elective is a field of practice course designed to teach information and skills for practice in the field of child welfare. Either recent experience in a child welfare setting or in field placement is strongly recommended.
SOWK 681 Social Work in Aging and Health Care
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 and (643 and 649) or (651 and 654)
Hours: 3
Course Website
Aging and Health Care is a required course for students who elect Health and Aging as their field of practice and is designed to conceptually integrate the classroom experience with the practicum experience. This course is intended to build on the skills and knowledge achieved in the advanced core.
SOWK 682 Advanced Field Instruction
Course Website
The advanced internship builds on the foundation and advanced courses and the previous generalist field experience. It gives students the opportunity to address advanced knowledge and practice skills in the direct practice track or the community organization, social administration track, the field of practice (mental health, health and aging, and children and family) of their choice. Students have a significant degree of input into the selection of the internship site, so that they can match it with career interests.
SOWK 693A Brief Therapy
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 or consent
Hours: 3
Course Website
This course is a practice elective included in the advanced curriculum, and is intended for students in the direct practice concentration who are interested in mental health and family service settings. The goal of this course is to provide students with a concentrated examination of how to intervene with individuals, couples and families using a time limited model of treatment.
SOWK 693E Social Work and Substance Abuse
Pre-Reqs: SOWK 621 or consent
Course Website
This course is an elective course in the advanced practice sequence. It is intended to introduce students to issues in responding to substance abuse issues from the Social Work Perspective. The class will review the historical perspective, policy perspectives and current treatment of substance abuse.
SOWK 695 Independent Study
Hours: 1-6