Social Work - Curriculum

General Education Courses
Click here for a complete list of curriculum requirements.

Click on the course number below to learn more about each course.

Core Courses in the Major (4 credits unless otherwise noted)

SOW 322	» Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II (16 weeks)
HBSE Part I: This foundational course, the first in a two-part sequence, focuses on the life-span approach to examine the biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual factors that influence behavior, normal development, health, and well-being from conception to adolescence. Ecological/systems theories focus the “person-in-environment” as the context for biopsychosocial assessment and exploring the impact of human diversity, oppression, social and economic inequality. (Prerequisite: BIO 101) HBSE Part II: Human Behavior and the Social Environment The second in a two-part sequence focusing on the life-span, examines the biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual factors that influence individual development, personality, and psychosocial adaptation from young adulthood to later adulthood.
SOW 323	» Generalist Practice I: Social Work Practice with Individuals
This foundational course examines the knowledge, ethics, and skills for generalist social work practice with individuals. Special emphasis is given to the person and environment construct, and the ecological framework for understanding the biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual dimensions that shape individual development and behavior.  Students will model the stages of the planned changed process focusing on the essential qualities of a professional helping relationship, beginning interviewing principles and techniques, use of self, counter transference, empathy, and related interpersonal skills.
SOW 324	» Generalist Practice II:  Social Work Practice with Families
The course introduces the generalist/strengths perspective, family life cycle, assessment factors, and various structural, strategic, theoretical and evidence-based models and interventions for culturally-competent social work practice with families and extended family/natural support systems. (Prerequisite: SOW 323)
SOW 327	» Ethical Issues in Social Work
The course introduces the value base and ethical standards of social work professional practice derived from the Code of Ethics for Social Workers (National Association of Social Workers, 1999).  Students will examine personal values and gain knowledge of the dimensions of ethical decision making, apply guidelines for ethical reasoning and resolving ethical dilemmas related to social workers’ obligations to clients, colleagues, society, social work profession, society, and the practice setting.  The course focuses on ethical practices and activities, including privacy and confidentiality, legal duties, client rights, civil rights, informed consent, professional judgment, competence, impairment, social welfare, and political action.
SOW 329	» Multicultural Issues in Social Work
This course provides a theoretical framework for understanding the dimensions of diversity, ethno cultural, socioeconomic, and social structures that shape human experience, and contribute to differences in power relations among individuals and multicultural groups in the United States.  Emphasis is given to influential societal values and mechanisms of oppression that may marginalize, stigmatize, alienate, or mediate access to privilege, power, and acclaim among individuals and vulnerable groups.  The course examines macro level change in promoting social and economic justice, human and civil rights, and empowerment concepts for eliminating poverty and discriminatory practices due to age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
SOW 370	» Research Methods in Social Work I
This course, the first of a two-course sequence, introduces the student to the basic terms, concepts, research designs, and applications of social work research methods.  Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and identification of the stages of scientific inquiry, focusing concepts, terminology and topics in problem formulation, development of research questions or hypotheses, research designs, methods of data collection, statistical tests, and data analysis.
SOW 450	» Social Welfare Policy Analysis
The course introduces the theoretical framework and models for social welfare policy analysis. Students will analyze contemporary policy structures, economic concepts, federal and state initiatives that impact social work programs, practice, planning, and social service delivery systems related to social insurance, health care, child welfare, and aging. Students will identify the leadership, collaborative, and advocacy roles engaged by social workers at the macro level, and strategies for advancing human rights, civil rights, social and economic justice.
SOW 470	» Research Methods in Social Work II
The course, the second of a two-course sequence, develops skills in analyzing research designs and evaluating social work program outcomes, including measures of practice effectiveness.  Emphasis is placed on the development of analytical writing skills and critique of published empirical studies. (Prerequisite: SOW 370)

Electives in Social work (Upper level, 4 credits unless otherwise noted)
Students without pre-professional credits in the major concentration from social work programs accredited by CSWE must enroll in SOW 101: Introduction to Social Work and SOW 425: Introduction to Social Welfare Policy and Issues. Additional electives may be accepted when appropriate to the major. Acceptable elective learning may include prior learning that meets program criteria for acceptance; general education courses (beyond those required by the program); and/or independent study arranged by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor and submitted using the learning agreement form. All additional electives must be endorsed by the faculty advisor and the dean and documented in the approved degree plan prior to registration. The Bachelor of Science major in Social Work at Union Institute & University does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

SOW  101	» Introduction to Social Work
This course introduces the history, evolution, and purpose of the social work profession, and examines professional values, knowledge base, and skills for culturally competent, generalist social work practice.  Emphasis is given to the ecological framework for understanding the scope of social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
SOW  425	» Introduction to Social Welfare Policy & Issues
This course introduces the historical and theoretical foundations of social welfare policy and social programs in the United States.  Emphasis is given to the concepts, principles, competing values, ideas, beliefs, including mechanisms of oppression, that shape policy development and influence the decision-making, implementation, and financing of social welfare systems.  The course examines the dual nature of social workers’ roles and professional obligations, both as contributors to social welfare policy development and as change agents, in promoting social justice, equality, community and individual well-being.
SOW 100 / 200 / 300 / 400	» SOW Independent Studies(1-4 credits). Each may be taken up to two times.
Independent Study.
SOW 190 / 290 / 390 / 490	» SOW Special Topics(1-4 credits). Each may be taken up to two times.
Special Topics.

Culminating Graduation Requirement (CGR)

Social Work Field Practicum

The student will demonstrate the core competencies through completion of a minimum of 400 hours of field education and participate in SOW 489: Field Integrative Seminar. The field practicum complies with CSWE accreditation standards for baccalaureate programs and includes the following courses:

SOW 487	» Social  Work Field Practicum I (2 credits)
This course, Part I of a two-course sequence, integrates the theoretical and conceptual foundation of classroom instruction with practice methods, training, and skills for generalist social work practice.  Students will demonstrate the core components through placement within a qualified practice setting, and complete a minimum of 200 practicum hours under the supervision of a licensed social worker with an advanced degree in social work.
SOW 488	» Social  Work Field Practicum II (2 credits)
Part II of the two-course Field Practicum requirement. This course integrates the theoretical and conceptual foundation of the classroom instruction with practice methods, training, and skills for generalist social work. Students will complete a minimum of 200 practicum hours. This course places primary emphasis on evaluation of the student’s professional effectiveness, mastery of the core competencies, and readiness to engage in evidence-informed practice.
SOW 489	» Social Work Field Integrative Seminar (2-4 credits)
The Social Work Field Integrative Seminar is designed to guide the student’s engagement and integration of social work theory with field instruction for beginning generalist social work practice. Through an interactive group process, the seminar offers a confidential setting for discussing current experiences in the practicum, information-sharing, problem-solving, and evaluating professional effectiveness, values, ethical and work adjustment issues, interviewing, and communication skills. Students are required to maintain participation in the field seminar for the entire period of enrollment in SOW 487 and SOW 488.

The culminating graduation requirement may be met by satisfactory completion of one of the following options:

• Students may complete the field practicum courses, SOW 487 and SOW 488, within a single semester (sixteen weeks), attend their field placement assignment for a minimum of 25 hours per week, and maintain concurrent enrollment in SOW 489.

OR

• Students may enroll in the field practicum courses during two consecutive semesters, participate in field placement for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week, and enroll in SOW 489 for two consecutive semesters.

NOTE: Upper-level prior learning examinations and certified learning credits are not accepted toward social work major course requirements.

Social Work Licensure
All students are required to maintain concurrent enrollment in the Field Integrative Seminar during the field practicum. Working through an interactive group process, the seminar fosters a learning community for sharing confidential field experiences and case presentations. Students are encouraged to rotate leadership in presenting issues related to the professional effectiveness and competency.

Students must apply to their respective state counselor, social worker and marriage and family therapist board for “pre-approval” to sit for the bachelor examination.

In Ohio, the UI&U Bachelor of Science degree in the social work major fulfills the educational requirements for the “pre-approval” application.  To qualify for licensure, students must pass the Association of Social Worker Boards (ASWB) “Bachelor” Examination.

For information about social work certification and licensing:

Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
http://www.cswmft.ohio.gov/swlicen.stm

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/index.html

Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board
http://www.in.gov/pla/social.htm

Kentucky Board of Social Work
http://finance.ky.gov/ourcabinet/caboff/OAS/op/socwkbd/swbdappfor.htm

North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board (NCSWCLB)
http://70.61.113.172/certification.asp

Michigan Board of Social Work
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-27417_27529_27554-70397--,00.html

Texas Board of Social Worker Examiners
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/SocialWork/sw_checklist.doc