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School of Social Work

Ryan Tolleson Knee, Chair

Social work is a human service profession concerned with the prevention of social problems, the maintenance of satisfying social relationships and the enhancement of human development. It focuses on people and their social environment. Social workers employ a range of knowledge and skills as the basis for constructive intervention on behalf of various client populations. The Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees are offered. The Bachelor of Arts degree prepares graduates for generalist social work practice. The Master of Social Work degree prepares graduates for advanced integrated practice.

 The undergraduate major in social work is available for those who wish to prepare for: (1) professional employment in the social services; (2) entry into a graduate school of social work; (3) graduate education in other helping service professions. The graduate degree in social work prepares graduates for advanced social work practice. Students can enroll in a two year full-time program or in a part-time option. See The University of Montana Graduate Catalog for a description of the Master of Social Work program. Both the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Master of Social Work degree are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Special Degree Requirements

Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.

Thirty-seven credits in social work courses are required for the B.A. degree. The following courses must be successfully completed: SW 100S, 200, 300, 310, 350, 360, 400, 488, and 10 credits in SW 489 over two semesters.

Requirements for the B.A. degree include course work outside the School of Social Work providing content in the social and behavioral sciences, human biology, and human diversity. Required course work includes ECON 100S; PSC 100S; SOC 110S; PSYC 100S, 240S, 245; BIOL 100N; ANTH 102 or SOC 220S. No fewer than six of these eight course requirements must be completed before enrollment will be permitted in required 300-level social work courses

To enroll in required 300- and 400-level social work courses, social work majors are required to have earned and to maintain a 2.5 grade average for all college course work. In order to insure that they have complied with all course prerequisites, grade point average requirements and compliance with professional social work ethics, students must complete a formal Application to the Social Work Major for school approval prior to admission to required social work courses at the 300-level or above.

Social work majors are required to complete a two-semester practicum placement (SW 489, Field Work Practicum, 10 credits). Refer to the SW 489 course description for admission and completion requirements regarding this specific course.

The Upper-division Writing Expectation must be met by successfully completing an upper-division writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. SW 310 will satisfy this requirement. Social work majors who wish to explore more specialized study in such areas as children, exceptional persons or the family should consider the Human and Family Development minor program, which is described elsewhere in the catalog. The School of Social Work offers a Title IV-e Child Welfare Training Program for eligible B.A. and M.S.W. students interested in a career in child protective services. The Gerontology Fellows Program is available to undergraduate students pursuing a career in gerontological or intergenerational social work. The Hartford Scholars Practicum Partnership Program is available to masters students wishing to pursue a career in gerontological or intergenerational social work.

Social work majors are expected to conduct themselves according to the ethical standards of the National Association of Social Workers as well as those applicable to students of the University. Other professional expectations are described in the BSLO Student Handbook, available from the school or on web page [www.health.umt.edu/sw/bsw_pa.html].

Majors in social work are assigned a faculty advisor with whom they are required to meet at least once per semester as soon as the social work major is declared. A school advising guide is available to all students at the School of Social Work office or on web page [www.health.umt.edu/sw/default.htm]. The Master of Social Work requirements are detailed in The University of Montana Graduate online Catalog [www.umt.edu/grad/].

Suggested Course of Study

Minor in Gerontology

Students in the minor in Gerontology program will study issues of aging from an interdisciplinary perspective and come to understand the interplay between them, including health and medical as well as social and psychological needs of older persons. Although this interdisciplinary minor is housed in the School of Social Work, students in other majors may complete the minor in consultation with both the Chair of the Gerontology Minor and the students’ academic advisors in their respective departments. Students must consult with their major advisor to select electives, practicum or volunteer experiences, and integrating courses that will meet the requirements of the minor. The minor will require successful completion of four required core courses (12 credits), an integrating course with gerontological content within the student’s major (3 credits), one or two elective courses (3-6 credits), and a practicum course within the student’s major (3 credits) for a total of 21-24 credits. Core courses are:

• HS 325 Introduction to Gerontology 3 cr.
• SW 455 Social Gerontology 3 cr.
• PSYC 245 Adult Development and Aging 3cr.
• HS 430 Health Aspects of Aging 3 cr.

Students should contact the School of Social Work for a complete list of appropriate major and elective courses.

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.

Social Work (S W)

U 100S Introduction to Social Welfare 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Overview of human services, programs and problems in meeting social welfare needs, with emphasis on the complexity of social services and their historical development. Analysis of the value, attitudinal, economic and political factors that condition the provision of these services.

U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 Internship Variable cr. (R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instructor. Application of classroom learning in off campus internship placements. Prior approval must be obtained from the School of Social Work practicum coordinator and from the Center for Work-Based Learning. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 398,) may count toward graduation.

U 200 Introduction to Social Work Practice 4 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 100S, sophomore standing. Introduction to social work as a profession, including an examination of goals, guiding philosophy and basic assumptions. Emphasis on a generalist framework of social work practice and the development of beginning analytical and practice skills.

U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG 300 Human Behavior and Social Environment 4 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 200. Prereq. or coreq., PSYC 240S, junior standing. Using the ecological-social systems framework, the integration of knowledge and concepts from the social and behavioral sciences for analysis and assessment of problems and issues relevant to professional social work practice.

UG 310 Social Welfare Policy and Services 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 200. Social welfare history, program planning and analysis with review of selected policies on the national level. Includes international comparisons. Upper-division writing course.

U 323 Women and Social Action in the Americas 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., one of SW 100S, SOC 110S, or ANTH 101H or consent of instr. Same as WS 323. Focus on women’s experiences of and contributions to social change in North, South and Central America in the midto late-20th century. Through case studies, testimonials, discussions with activists and Internet connections examine social constructions of gender, compare forms of social action in diverse cultural, political and historical contexts, link practice to theories of social participation, and reflect on lessons learned from women’s experiences.

U 324 Gender and the Politics of Welfare 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., SW 100S or consent of instr. Same as WS 324. Exploration of the relationship between gender ideologies and the development of social welfare policies. Examination of historic and contemporary social welfare policies, practices and debates in the United States through a gender lens.

UG 350 Social Work Intervention Methods I 4 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 200; coreq., SW 300. The study and application of the generalist model of social work practice and related techniques and procedures for the assessment, intervention and prevention of problems in social functioning. Emphasis on individuals and families.

UG 360 Social Work Intervention Methods II 4 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 350. The study and application of the generalist model of social work practice and related techniques and procedures for the assessment, intervention and prevention of problems in social functioning. Emphasis on groups and communities.

U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG 398 Internship Variable cr. (R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Application of classroom learning in off campus internship placements. Prior approval must be obtained from the School of Social Work practicum coordinator and the Center for Work-Based Learning. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 398) may count toward graduation.

UG 400 Social Work Research 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 360. Utilization of social research findings in social work practice. Techniques for the collection and analysis of clinical data. Special emphasis on research methodology for the assessment of practitioner and program effectiveness.

UG 410E Ethics and the Helping Professions 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., completion of twelve credits in social work or a related discipline or consent of instructor. Analysis of specific ethical dilemmas from personal, professional and policy perspectives. Focus on ethical issues common to the helping professions and utilizing codes of ethics as guides to decision-making. The relationship between professional ethical issues and the development of social policy.

UG 420S Child Abuse and Child Welfare 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Signs and symptoms of physical and sexual abuse and neglect, family dynamics in abuse and neglect, the legal context, programs of prevention and intervention, foster care, special needs adoptions and related issues in child welfare.

UG 423 Addiction Studies 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as PSYC and SOC 423. Examination of chemical dependency and behavioral compulsions, including alcohol and other drugs, gambling, eating disorders, sexual addictions. Ecosystems perspective on etiology, treatment, prevention, family dynamics, community response, and societal contributors. Students engage in a service learning community project which is integrated into the classroom through initial training, regular reflection, and other activities.

UG 430 Health Aspects of Aging 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as HHP and HS 430. Overview of the health aspects of aging in the United States including biological theories of aging, normal physiological changes associated with aging systems, common pathological problems associated with aging, cultural and ethnic differences in the health of elders, health promotion and healthy aging, and the health care continuum of care for older persons.

UG 434 Social Work and the Law 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing. Contemporary implication of social work practice in a judicial arena.

UG 450 Children and Youth at Risk 3 cr. Offered autumn or spring. Focus on the aspects of society that pose a threat to today’s youth and the ramification of those threats on youth development and behavior. Resilience and protective factors for youth at risk and strategies to work with those youth. Attention to related systems in Missoula and Montana, including juvenile justice, mental health, child protection, substance abuse, and education.

UG 455S Social Gerontology 3 cr. Offered autumn. Examination of the field of social gerontology, including an examination of the major bio/psycho/social/cultural/spiritual theories of aging, the service system, social and health issues, family and care giving dynamics, social policy, and end of life concerns.

UG 460 Domestic Violence 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Examination of domestic violence in relation to its societal context, with attention to sex role socialization, interpersonal dynamics, and family consequences. Emphasis on etiology, treatment, intervention and prevention.

UG 465 Social Work in a Global Context 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., upper-division or graduate standing. Examination of globalization, human rights, poverty, international aid, and gender issues; their relationship to social work and social justice, and strategies for action.

UG 470 Mental Health Practice in Rural Settings 2 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., upper-division or graduate standing. Examination of rural settings and how state and federal policy influence the quality and accessibility of mental health care programs and services.

UG 475 Death, Dying and Grief 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Examination of death, dying and grief from an ecological perspective, focusing on the processes of dying and theories of grief. Emphasis on physical, social, psychological, spiritual, and cultural influences that surround death and grief. Consideration of cultural norms, attitudes toward death, medical, legal and ethical issues of dying. Focus on normal and complicated grief.

UG 480 Professional Development in Child Welfare 1 cr. Prereq., junior standing. Offered intermittently. Exploration of diverse issues related to child welfare. Designed to help students and youth workers develop an integrated knowledge base and practice skills for working with youth.

U 485 Counseling Theories in Context 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PSYC 100. Same as COUN 485 and PSYC 485. This course introduces students to the primary theories that constitute the intellectual foundation for common counseling and psychotherapy techniques, with a special focus on gender, interpersonal influence strategies, and diversity issues.

U 488 Field Work Practicum Seminar 2 cr. Offered every term. Coreq., SW 489. Consideration and discussion of practicum-related matters, professional development, and issues confronting the profession.

UG 489 Field Work Practicum Variable cr. (R-10) Offered every term. Prereq., SW 350 and 360 and approved application to practicum coordinator. Coreq., SW 488. Practicum must be taken over two consecutive semesters for a total of 10 credits. Minimum of one credit per semester. Cumulative grade average of 2.75 or above in SW 100S, 200, 300, 350 and 360 and a 3.0 grade average for SW 200, 350 and 360 are required. Supervised field work in public and private agencies and institutions. Successful completion of the field work practicum requires a passing performance on the school administered professional social work competency examination.

U 493 Omnibus Variable cr. (R-10) Offered intermittently. Prereq., 10 credits in social work. Independent work under the University omnibus option. See index.

UG 494 Seminar Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., 9 credits in social work.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instr.

G 500 Orientation 1 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program. Seminar introducing M.S.W. students to program philosophy and social work’s theory and value base.

G 505 Foundations of Social Work Practice 2 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program. Introductory practice course that examines generalist social work practice, dominant theoretical influences, and forces shaping social work over time.

G 510 Human Behavior and Social Environment I 3 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program. Introduction to and critical consideration of social work perspectives on human behavior as influenced by the social environment. Particular attention is paid to biological, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual influences.

G 511 Human Behavior and Social Environment II: Difference, Diversity and Oppression 3 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program and SW 510 or consent of instr. Advanced course on human behavior and social environment that addresses difference and diversity, histories and mechanisms of discrimination and oppression, and frameworks for thought and practice that recognize diversity and promote social justice.

G 515 Practice with Individuals and Families in a Community Context 4 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Practice-oriented course building on students’ developing knowledge of engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation and the application to practice with individuals and families in context of community.

G 520 Social Work Research Methods 3 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Introduction to principles, methodologies, technologies, and statistical approaches of human service research. Emphasis on beginning capabilities in evaluation of social work practice and skill development regarding use of published research.

G 521 Advanced Research and Program Evaluation 3 cr. Prereq., SW 515. The use of research within the integrated practice model of social work through evaluation of practice and program evaluation. Advanced statistical concepts are applied to direct practice and five types of program evaluation.

G 525 Practice with Groups and Communities 4 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Practiceoriented course addressing theories, frameworks, principles, and skills of group and community work. Dynamics of group work and examination of modalities such as mutual aid and social action groups.

G 530 History of Social Policy, Justice and Change 3 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Foundation in social welfare policy and services; examination of relationship between history social welfare policy and emergence of social work profession. Introduction to frameworks for policy analysis.

G 531 Methods of Social Policy Analysis 3 cr. Prereq., SW 530. Focus on the analysis of existing or proposed policies specific to oppressed populations, rural areas and isolated communities.

G 535 Advanced Integrated Practice 4 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Builds on the skills, knowledge, and values of the foundation generalist and practice courses.

G 545 Practice of Organizational Leadership 4 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Advanced training in professional leadership and how to effectively conceive, plan, design, implement, manage, assess, and change contemporary organizations.

G 550 Counseling Techniques and Strategies 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instr. Practice-oriented course addressing strategies of clinical intervention, case studies, and philosophy of care.

G 551 Couples and Family Therapy 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the MSW program, SW 505, or consent of instructor. Course explores family-centered methods of clinical social work interventions with couples and families that can be applied in a variety of settings.

G 552 Psychopathology and Assessment for Social Work 3 cr. Prereq., admission to the MSW program, SW505, or permission of instructor. Focus on current problems of children, adolescents, and adults of all ages that can be classified as a mental disorder under the DSM of the system. Includes information on theories within the bio-psycho-social paradigm of causality of disorders/conditions; on methods of assessment, including DSM-IV; and an understanding of how social injustice, oppression and poverty impacts healthy growth and development across the life span.

G 576 Foundation Integrative Seminar I 1 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program, SW 505, 587; coreq., SW 589. Seminar accompanying first semester foundation practicum in which students discuss experience with goal of integrating theory and practice.

G 577 Foundation Integrative Seminar II 1 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program, SW 505, 587; coreq., SW 589. Seminar accompanying second semester foundation practicum in which students discuss experience with goal of integrating theory and practice.

G 578 Advanced Integrative Seminar I 1 cr. Prereq., SW 586; coreq., SW 588. Critical analysis of how predominant social work theories and professional values and skills are being incorporated into the practicum.

G 579 Advanced Integrative Seminar II 1 cr. Prereq., SW 578; coreq., SW 589. Critical analysis of how predominant social work theories and professional values and skills are being incorporated into the practicum. Advanced portfolio development.

G 586 Foundation Practicum I 2 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program; coreq., SW 586. First semester foundation field practicum experience in a supervised setting designed to provide opportunities to integrate classroom learning and field experiences.

G 587 Foundation Practicum II 2 cr. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program, SW 505, 587; coreq., SW 588. Second semester foundation field practicum experience in a supervised setting designed to provide opportunities to integrate classroom learning and field experiences.

G 588 Concentration Practicum I 2 cr. Prereq., SW 587, 589; coreq., SW 578. Advanced supervised field work in public and private agencies and institutions.

G 589 Concentration Practicum II 2 cr. Prereq., SW 588; coreq., SW 579. Advanced supervised field work in public and private agencies and institutions.

G 593 Professional Portfolio 1 cr. (R-2) Prereq., foundation courses. Summative and in-depth written analysis of course work and practicum experience.

G 594 Graduate Seminar 3 cr. (R-9) Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. In-depth analysis of a current social work issue.

G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Work on selected problems by individual students under direct faculty supervision.

G 597 Research Variable cr. (R-9) Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Directed individual graduate research and study appropriate to background and objectives of the student.

Faculty

Professors

• Cynthia Garthwait, M.S.S.W., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1974 (Chair)
• Janet Finn, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1995

Associate Professors

• Ryan Tolleson Knee, Ph.D., University of Denver, 1999

Assistant Professors

• Timothy Conley, Ph.D., Boston College, 2001
• Jim Caringi, Ph.D., University of New York

Adjunct Assistant Professors

• Doreen Antenor, J.D., The University of Montana, 1996
• Tondy Baumgartner, M.S.W., Walla Walla College, 1998
• Michaela Conway, M.S.W., San Diego State University, 1978
• Kerrie Ghenie, M.S.W., Walla Walla College, 2000
• Diane Haddon, M.S.W., Michigan State University, 1977
• Michael Perry, M.S.W., Eastern Washington University, 1991
• Tamara Tolleson Knee, M.S.W., University of Denver, 1994
• Jennifer Walrod, M.P.A., The University of Montana, 2002
• Charlie Wellenstein, M.S.W., Eastern Washington University, 1991

Instructors

• Cathryn O’Day, M.S.W., A.B.D., Colorado State University

Emeritus Professors

• Mary Birch, M.S.W., Columbia University, 1966
• Frank Clark, Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1969
• Robert Deaton, Ed.D., University of Nevada, Reno, 1980
• Charles Horejsi, Ph.D., University of Denver, 1971
• John Spores, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1976