School of Social Work

Course Descriptions

Social Work

• S W 100 - Intro Soc Welfare

  Credits: 3. 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.

• S W 198 - Internship

  Credits: 1 TO 3. (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.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• S W 200 - Intro Soc Wrk Pract

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 100, 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.

• S W 291 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• S W 300 - Hum Behav & Soc Environ

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 100 and 200, and junior standing in Social Work. 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.

  Course Attributes:

  • Writing Course-Advanced

• S W 310 - S W Policy & Services

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 200; Social Work major. Social welfare history, program planning and analysis with review of selected policies on the national level. Includes international comparisons. Upper-division writing course.

  Course Attributes:

  • Writing Course-Advanced

• S W 323 - Women & Soc Action Amer

  Credits: 3. Offered intermittently. Prereq., one of SW 100, SOCI 101S, or ANTY 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 mid to 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.

• S W 325 - Introduction to Gerontology

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. An interdisciplinary discussion of the health and social issues of older persons, utilizing didactic presentations, clinical demonstrations, and curricular modules.

• S W 350 - S W Interven Meth I

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 200; Social Work major. 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.

• S W 360 - S W Interven Meth II

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Social Work major. 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 team meetings.

• S W 391 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 12. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• S W 398 - Internship

  Credits: 1 TO 3. (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.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• S W 400 - Social Work Research

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 360; Social Work major. 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.

• S W 410E - Social Work Ethics

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 200, admission into the BSW program. 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.

  Course Attributes:

  • Ethical & Human Values Course

• S W 420 - Child Abuse/Child Welfare

  Credits: 3. 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.

• S W 423 - Addiction Studies

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Same as PSYX 441 and SOCI 433. 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.

• S W 434 - Social Work and the Law

  Credits: 3. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., junior standing. Contemporary implication of social work practice in a judicial arena.

• S W 440 - Psychosoc Illness Disabil

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Same as HS 440. Prereq., PSYX 245. ?A review of the psychosocial aspects of illness and disability in older persons to include societal impact of these illnesses, responses of the individual, family, and support network to the stress of illness and disability, caregiver issues, cultural implications, and the impact of the health care system on these psychosocial aspects.

• S W 450 - Children and Youth at Risk

  Credits: 3. 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.

• S W 455 - Social Gerontology

  Credits: 3. 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.

• S W 465 - Social Work Global Context

  Credits: 3. 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.

• S W 472 - Relational Development

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. This course covers strategies to help children whose early experiences deprived them of the nurturing needed to develop the essential capacity to connect with others. Emphasis is on significant discoveries in the fields of neuroscience, childhood trauma, grief and loss, child development, and family systems that have fueled the evolution of the Attachment Treatment philosophy to a broader method of caring for emotionally distress children, the Relational Development treatment approach.

• S W 475 - Death, Dying and Grief

  Credits: 3. 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.

• S W 485 - Counseling Theories

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., PSYX 100S. Same as COUN 485 and PSYX 442. 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.

• S W 487 - Advanced Practice I

  Credits: 2. Offered every term. Concurrent SW 495; admission to the practicum program. Consideration and discussion of practicum-related matters, professional development, and issues confronting the profession.

• S W 488 - Advanced Practice II

  Credits: 2. Concurrent with SW 495; admission to the practicum program. Consideration and discussion of practicum-related matters, professional development, and issues confronting the profession.

• S W 491 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• S W 492 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 10. (R 10) Offered intermittently. Prereq., 10 credits in social work. Independent work under the University omnibus option. See index.

  Course Attributes:

  • Omnibus Course

• S W 495 - Field Work Practicum

  Credits: 5. (R-10) Offered every term. Prereq., SW 350 and 360 and approved application to practicum coordinator. 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 100, 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.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• S W 500 - Orientation

  Credits: 1. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program. Seminar introducing M.S.W. students to program philosophy and social work’s theory and value base. Level: Graduate

• S W 505 - Found Social Work Pract

  Credits: 2. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 510 - Hum Behav Soc Envt I

  Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 511 - Hum Behav Soc Invt II

  Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 515 - Pract W Indiv & Families

  Credits: 4. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 520 - SW Research Methods

  Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 521 - Advanced Research

  Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 525 - Pract Groups & Communities

  Credits: 4. Prereq., admission to M.S.W. program or consent of instr. Practice oriented 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 530 - History of Social Policy

  Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 531 - Social Policy Analysis

  Credits: 3. Prereq., SW 530. Focus on the analysis of existing or proposed policies specific to oppressed populations, rural areas and isolated communities. Level: Graduate

• S W 535 - Advanced Practice

  Credits: 4. Prereq., consent of instr. Builds on the skills, knowledge, and values of the foundation generalist and practice courses. Level: Graduate

• S W 545 - Organizational Leadership

  Credits: 3. Prereq., consent of instr. Advanced training in professional leadership and how to effectively conceive, plan, design, implement, manage, assess, and change contemporary organizations. Level: Graduate

• S W 551 - Couples and Family Therapy

  Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate

• S W 552 - Psychopathology & S W

  Credits: 3. Prereq., admission to the MSW program, SW 505, 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; and an understanding of how social injustice, oppression and poverty impacts healthy growth and development across the life span. Level: Graduate

• S W 553 - Social Work Addictions

  Credits: 3. Offered spring semester.  Prereq., admission to MSW program or by permission of instructor. The course examines historical and contemporary models of direct practice, and current ideological, political, policy and systemic challenges to the practice of social work in the addictions. Level: Graduate

• S W 554 - Suicide Prev/Intervention

  Credits: 1. Offered winter. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instructor.  This course investigates the biological, psychological and social forces that directly impact suicidal behaviors.  Current program services and resources are critically analyzed. Level: Graduate

• S W 555 - Leader in Uncertain Times

  Credits: 1. Offered winter. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instructor.  This course is designed to give participants a clearer picture of their leadership competencies and greater self knowledge so that they are more effective in providing the needed situational leadership in the organizations they run, work in, or participate in. Level: Graduate

• S W 576 - Found Integrative Sem I

  Credits: 1. Prereq., admission to MSW program, SW 505, 587. Seminar accompanying first semester foundation practicum in which students discuss experience with goal of integrating theory and practice. Level: Graduate

• S W 577 - Found Integrative Sem II

  Credits: 1. Prereq., admission to MSW program, SW 505, 587. Seminar accompanying second semester foundation practicum in which students discuss experience with goal of integrating theory and practice. Level: Graduate

• S W 578 - Advanced Seminar I

  Credits: 1. Prereq., SW 587. Critical analysis of how predominant social work theories and professional values and skills are being incorporated into the practicum. Level: Graduate

• S W 579 - Advanced Seminar II

  Credits: 1. Prereq., SW 578. Critical analysis of how predominant social work theories and professional values and skills are being incorporated into the practicum. Advanced portfolio development. Level: Graduate

• S W 586 - Found Practicum I

  Credits: 2. Prereq., admission to MSW program. First semester foundation field practicum experience in a supervised setting designed to provide opportunities to integrate classroom learning and field experiences. Level: Graduate

• S W 587 - Found Practicum II

  Credits: 2. Prereq., admission to MSW program, SW 505, 587. Second semester foundation field practicum experience in a supervised setting designed to provide opportunities to integrate classroom learning and field experiences. Level: Graduate

• S W 588 - Concentration Practicum I

  Credits: 3. Prereq., SW 587, 589. Advanced supervised field work in public and private agencies and institutions. Level: Graduate

• S W 589 - Concentration Practicum II

  Credits: 3. Prereq., SW 588. Advanced supervised field work in public and private agencies and institutions. Level: Graduate

• S W 593 - Professional Portfolio

  Credits: 1. Prereq., foundation courses. Summative and in-depth written analysis of course work and practicum experience. Level: Graduate

• S W 594 - Graduate Seminar

  Credits: 3. (R-9) Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instr. In-depth analysis of a current social work issue. Level: Graduate

• S W 595 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instr. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Graduate

• S W 596 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instr. Work on selected problems by individual students under direct faculty supervision. Level: Graduate

• S W 597 - Research

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., admission to MSW program or consent of instr. Directed individual graduate research and study appropriate to background and objectives of the student. Level: Graduate