Frank W. Clark, Chairman

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 degree in social work is offered.

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.

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.

Requirements for the B.A. degree include course work outside the Social Work Department providing content in the social and behavioral sciences, human biology, and human diversity. Required course work includes Econ 100S; PSc 100S or 200S; Soc 110S; Psyc 100S and 240S; Biol 100N; Anth 180S or Soc 220S. No fewer than six of these seven course requirements must be completed, with a minimum grade average of 2.75, 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 completed within the preceding five calendar years. 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 departmental 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.

Social work majors who wish to explore more specialized study in such areas as aging, children, exceptional persons or the family should consider the Human and Family Development minor program, which is described elsewhere in the catalog. 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 expectations are described in the Social Work Advising Guide available from the department.

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 departmental advising guide is available to all students at the Department of Social Work office.

Suggested Course of Study

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.

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) Offfered autumn and spring. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of department. Application of classroom learning in off campus placements. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Cooperative Education Office.

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 220 Community Volunteer Service 1 cr. (R-2) Offered autumn and spring. Structured volunteer experience in a social service agency. Open to pass/not pass enrollment only.

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.

U 322S Explorations in Gerontology 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., SW 100S or Soc 110S or Psyc 100S or consent of instr. Examination of the major psychosocial theories of aging, the service system, health issues, the family, and dying and bereavement. Students learn and assist the elderly through volunteer service. The service learning component is integrated into the classroom through initial training, regular discussion, and other activities.

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 of individuals, families, small groups and communities.

U 360 Social Work Intervention Methods II 4 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., SW 350. Continuation of 350.

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

UG 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements within the business community. The student must complete a learning agreement with a faculty member, relating the placement opportunity to his or her field of study. The department will determine the number of credits to be earned for the experience based upon the activities outlined in the learning agreement. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Cooperative Education Office. The department has determined that a maximum of 3 credits can be applied to the departmental major.

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 and lower-division course in Perspective 5 or consent of instr. 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 spring. 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 422 Services to Changing Families 2 cr. Offered even-numbered years. Prereq., upper-division or graduate standing. Examination of current family forms and practices in the United States with attention to single-parent, step-parent, and two-parent working families. Family dynamics, assessment, and therapy models discussed. Social services and self-help groups discussed.

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 360 and approved application to practicum coordinator. Practicum must be taken over two consecutive semesters for a total of 10 credits. Students may register for these 10 credits in a manner proportionate to the clock hours in practicum each semester. 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. During one semester of practicum, students must enroll in SW 488. Successful completion of the field work practicum requires a passing performance on the departmentally 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 autumn and spring. 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.

Faculty

Professors

Mary Birch, M.S.W., Columbia University, 1966

Frank W. Clark, Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1969 (Chairman)

Robert L. Deaton, Ed.D., University of Nevada, Reno, 1980

Charles R. Horejsi, Ph.D., University of Denver, 1971

Thomas M. Roy, M.A., University of Chicago, 1966

John C. Spores, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1976

Associate Professor

Cynthia L. Garthwait, M.S.W., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1974

Assistant Professor

Janet Finn, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1995.

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