MSW Course Descriptions

500 Social Work Ethics and Professional Development (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
This course examines the issues of social work professionalism, the process of becoming a social work professional and the exploration of ethical challenges within the profession. The course focuses on acquiring and practicing the skills of ethical decision-making, including values clarification, utilization of codes of ethics and ethical analysis. Topics also include: philosophy and history of the profession, licensure, human rights and social justice.

505 Generalist Practice with Individuals (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
Course provides generalist content in the knowledge and skills for strengths-based generalist social work practice with individuals. Students will begin to acquire generalist social work practice skills and an identity with the social work profession.

506 Generalist Practice with Families and Groups (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
Course provides foundation content in the knowledge and skills for strengths-based generalist social work practice with families and groups. Family assessments and interventions and group practice issues will be examined.

510 Social Work Programs, Policy, and Analysis (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
Surveys social welfare instructions, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of programs within the context of the social problems they address. The course includes an introduction to social welfare policy analysis and the role of the social work profession in affecting change in social welfare policy. Student membership in the National Rural Social Work Caucus is required.

512 Cultural Competence for Generalist Practice (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
Students will examine the impact of culture, race and ethnicity on client/worker interactions. The course presents practice theories and interventions for culturally competent advanced generalist practice with different populations. Students will develop essential knowledge, awareness, and skills to support culturally competent social work practice. Concepts related to the promotion of social and economic justice are emphasized. Topics include power, privilege, oppression, rural myths and stereotypes, and community self-concept.

514 Social Work Research and Evidence Based Practice (3)
Prerequisite(s): SW 510, SW 518, SW 519 or Advanced Standing Status.
This course will enable the student to develop competence in the integrated use of research and information technologies in knowledge building in social work practice. Students are introduced to the components of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students will develop knowledge of evidence-based practice, including skills needed to identify, acquire and assess appropriate interventions for practice across client system levels.

516 Crisis Intervention and Trauma Management (3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to MSW program or Graduate Standing.
This course examines social work practice theories and intervention approaches and skills as they apply to practice with survivors of various forms of traumatic life events. Students will be able to apply theory to intervention techniques. Participants will learn the fundamentals of trauma and traumatic stress, and a general understanding of the implications of crisis intervention techniques to modify manage, and cope with trauma.

518 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
This course explores the basic concepts and theories that explain the development of personality and social behavior within a social systems framework. Attention is given to the impact of bio-psycho-social-cultural factors on individuals, small groups, and the family. This course examines behavior within the context of individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and cultures and the core theories that guide social work practice.

519 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3)
Prerequisite: SW 518
This course provides students with core knowledge of theory pertaining to broad social units (i.e., the work place, organizations, institutions, ideologies, the world views, etc.). The course utilizes a systems framework and emphasizes the themes of advocacy, empowerment and planned-change in exploring various theoretical orientations to the study of human behavior in organizations, communities and society.

520 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology (3)
Prerequisite: SW 505, SW 506, SW 507, or Advanced Standing Status.
This course provides a focus on a bio-psycho-social-cultural understanding of mental illness from an ecosystems perspective. Students critically examine the DSM-V and the psychopharmacological interventions for psychopathological conditions across the lifespan.

521 Social Work Practices in Rural and Non-Urban Areas (3)
Prerequisite(s): SW 505 and SW 506 or Advanced Standing Status.
This course introduces students to social work in the rural context. Presents current trends in rural social work practice and considers the most effective ways to serve rural communities. Issues related to social work practice, rural communities, rural behavior, and social welfare policy are presented. A generalist model of practice, systems and person-in-environment theories help students develop a more sophisticated understanding of general problems and concerns found in rural communities.

524 Advanced Generalist Methods with Individuals and Families (3)
Prerequisite(s): SW 505, SW 506, and SW 507 or Advanced Standing Status.
This course develops the advanced generalist practice competencies needed for intervention with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds are developed. Evidence-based theories and practice intervention strategies are applied.

525 Advanced Generalist Methods with Groups, Organizations, and Communities (3)
Prerequisite(s): SW 505, SW 506, and SW 507 or Advanced Standing Status.
This course develops the advanced generalist practice competencies needed for administrative and supervisory intervention with organizations and communities. Evidence-based theories and practice intervention strategies are applied, including the development of skills in social work leadership and administration.

528 Substance Abuse and Addictions (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
Examines the prevalence and etiology of chemical dependency and its impact on individuals, families, and society. Utilizes an advanced generalist practice modality for the development of professional social work knowledge, values and skills in the prevention and treatment of chemical dependency across multiple systems.

531 Aging, Society, and the Life Course (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
The course provides an in-depth understanding of aging issues at individual and societal levels for effective social work practice with older adults and their families. This course prepares students to conduct social work interventions with older adults and their families in rural and non-urban communities.

534 Health, Health Care, and Disabilities (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
This course provides knowledge about the contemporary organization of health care including the examination of state and federal health and disability policies and programs and modes of integrated health care. It includes analysis of the ethics and politics of inequality in the U.S. health and healthcare systems.

537 Advance Practice with Children and Adolescents (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
This course focuses on clinical social work practice with children and adolescents. Students will learn specific skills for effectively assessing and treating children and adolescents. The course examines the complexities of the interactions between children and their environment.

540 Death, Loss, and Disaster Response in Social Work Practice (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSW program
This course offers an overview of the social impact of violence, major types of violent events, and natural disasters. Students will acquire skills in community mobilization, collaborative recovery and response practices, and grief support. Special attention will be paid to evidence based crisis and trauma responses.

546 Advance Practice in Forensic Social Work (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing
This course explores the role of social work in legal processes within the criminal justice system, child welfare system, mental health system, juvenile justice system, domestic/family violence, etc. It includes the application of knowledge and skills in forensic interviewing, risk assessment, expert testimony, mediation, and victim advocacy.

555 Social Work Advocacy (3)
Prerequisite: SW 510
The course will emphasize the role of social workers in social movements and students will be able to develop an understanding of community organizing. This course is designed to provide students with further knowledge and skills in community and advocacy practice. Students will leave the course understanding how to engage in community change processes.

570 Field Practicum I (9)
Prerequisite(s): SW 505 and SW 506
Advanced field instruction in a social welfare setting under the direct supervision of a professional social worker. Focuses on the development of advanced applied skills, knowledge, and values for direct social work practice. Four hundred fifty (450) hours of agency experience and two (2) bi-weekly integrative seminar are required for the semester.

571 Field Practicum II (9)
Prerequisite(s): SW 521, SW 524, SW 525, and SW 570
Advanced field instruction in a social welfare setting under the direct supervision of a professional social worker. Focuses on the development of advanced applied skills, knowledge, and values for direct social work practice. Four hundred fifty (450) hours of agency experience and two (2) bi-weekly integrative seminar are required for the semester.