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Course Descriptions — Master of Social Work
Foundation Curriculum
Concentration Curriculum
School Social Work Concentration
Post-M.S.W. Type 73 School Social Work Courses
Foundation Curriculum
Social Welfare
SWK6140 Social Welfare Policy and Institutions (3 semester hours)
Major social welfare programs are reviewed within an overall policy analysis framework. Forces that impact on social policy such as American individualism and issues such as poverty, racism, and gender inequity are addressed. Historical forces which have contributed to the development of current social services are reviewed.
No prerequisites.
Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SWK6150 HBSE I: Theories of Human Development I (3 semester hours)
This course, based in an ecological systems perspective, follows human development from infancy to adolescence in the context of family and larger environments. The course includes research-based knowledge about physical, socio-emotional and cognitive development. This course emphasizes both knowledge and application of human development theories to social work assessment and practice.
No prerequisites.
SWK6160 HBSE II: Theories of Human Development II (3 semester hours)
This course, based in an ecological systems perspective, follows human development throughout the entire adult lifespan in the context of family and larger environments. The course includes research-based knowledge about physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development. This course emphasizes both knowledge and application of human development theories to social work assessment and practice.
No prerequisites.
Social Work Practice Theory and Methods
SWK6370 Social Work Practice I (3 semester hours)
This course is the first in a sequence of five practice courses covering the foundation and concentration years in the MSW program. In Social Work Practice I, students are introduced to specific theoretical and skills-based core concepts of generalist, individual, family and couples social work direct practice.
No prerequisites.
SWK6381 Social Work Practice II: Group Work (1.5 semester hours)
The course examines social work practice from a macro perspective introducing group work practice skills.
Prerequisite: SWK6370.
SWK6382 Social Work Practice II: Community (1.5 semester hours)
The course examines social work practice from a macro perspective introducing community direct practice skills.
Prerequisite: SWK6370.
SWK6390 Cross-Cultural Social Work Practice (3 semester hours)
This course is an exploration of historical and current economic, social, cultural and political forces that affect a wide range of minorities. Focus is on development of ethnic-sensitive, culturally competent practice skills. Self-awareness and attitudes towards self, others and differences are explored.
No prerequisites.
SWK6500 Social Work Perspectives on Psychopathology (3 semester hours)
This course presents psychopathology through a distinctly social work perspective. The course includes bio-psycho-social assessment and treatment models, including the use of DSM-IV-R. The course emphasizes assessment, advocacy, direct service, interdisciplinary collaboration, and use of community resources and supports. The person is not defined by diagnosis or condition. Mental illness is seen through a strengths perspective and within a social context. Persons are viewed holistically, as participating members of their families and communities.
No prerequisites.
Research
SWK6250 Research I: Methodology (3 semester hours)
This course is the first in a sequence of two required research courses. Students are introduced to ethical social work research using scientific inquiry. Class material provides an overview of various research methods and design elements. The course highlights creating, performing, and evaluating outcomes of practice and policies.
Prerequisite: Statistics with a grade of "C" or better.
Field Instruction
SWK6730, 6740 Field Instruction I, II (3 semester hours each)
Sequence of two consecutive semesters beginning in the Fall. Experience in practice in professional agency under instruction of qualified practitioner; a minimum of 450 hours over two semesters.
No prerequisites.
Concentration Curriculum
Social Work Practice and Policy
SWK6511 Social Work Practice III: Clinical Concentration I (3 semester hours)
This course builds upon the generalist practice knowledge and skills acquired in the foundation year. Required of students in the Clinical Concentration, the course will focus on the major clinical theories and methods essential to working in all clinical arenas of the social work practice field.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6512 Social Work Practice III: Leadership and Community Practice Concentration I (3 semester hours)
This course builds upon the generalist practice knowledge and skills acquired in the Foundation Year. Required of students in the Leadership and Community Practice Concentration, the course will focus on management and administration in the human services. Includes decision-making and leadership styles. Basic tasks, roles, skills of managers; management processes such as financial and human resource management. Use of the competing values framework (a meta-theoretical model) to integrate management skills of boundary-spanning, human relations, coordinating, and directing.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6521 Social Work Practice IV: Clinical Concentration II (3 semester hours)
A continuation of SWK6511, this course will further enhance and expand the clinical concentration student's knowledge and skill in clinical social work practice with diverse clientele in all types of clinical settings and focuses on an integrative approach to clinical social work practice.
Prerequisite: SWK6511.
SWK6522 Social Work Practice IV: Leadership and Community Practice Concentration II (3 semester hours)
A continuation of SWK6512, this course will prepare the student to do planning, administration, and organizing in social service agencies. This is a practice course that focuses on a broad range of material related to macro practice. Students will be exposed to many of the practice tasks that administrators must deal with to perform their roles effectively.
Prerequisite: SWK6512.
SWK6531 Advanced Social Policy: Clinical Concentration (3 semester hours)
This course will emphasize an examination of policies relevant to clinical practice in social work. Students will also examine agency-level policy within the context of state- and federal-level policy. Students will utilize a policy practice model to complete policy research projects relevant to the practice of clinical social work.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6532 Advanced Social Policy: Leadership and Community Practice Concentration (3 semester hours)
Examination of policies relevant to the management and administration of social work and human service organizations. Human resource management policies; funding of human services; and agency-level policy within the context of state- and Federal-level policy. Students will utilize a policy practice model to complete policy research projects relevant to management, administration, and community practice.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
Research
SWK6281 Research II: Single Subject Design (3 semester hours)
Required of students in the Clinical Concentration. Course emphasizes use of single-system design studies in practice to evaluate social work interventions. Students will plan, design and conduct a single system study including data collection, analysis of data and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisite: SWK6250.
SWK6282 Research II: Program Evaluation (3 semester hours)
Required of students in the Leadership and Community Practice Concentration. Course emphasizes use of program evaluation studies to evaluate social work programs. Students will design, plan and conduct a program evaluation including data collection, analysis of data and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisite: SWK6250.
Advanced Field Instruction
SWK6750, 6760 Field Instruction III, IV (3 semester hours each)
Sequence of two consecutive semesters beginning in the Fall. Experience in practice in professional agency under the instruction of a qualified practitioner; a minimum of 600 hours over two semesters.
Prerequisites: Completion of the foundation curriculum, SWK6730 and SWK6740.
School Social Work Concentration
The following courses are required for those who plan to be a school social worker. The courses are taken in place of the electives for those not pursuing school social work.
SWK5610 Social Work Practice with the Exceptional Child (3 semester hours)
This course examines major causes and characteristics of students in the public school setting evidencing exceptionality. The psychology, identification, and methods of serving exceptional individuals and their families will be considered. While the focus of this course is an understanding of the various exceptionalities and how that impacts a student's education, the course will provide a social work perspective for practice related to prevention, intervention and evaluation.
No prerequisites.
SWK6410 School Social Work Policy and Practice I (3 semester hours)
This is the first of a two-course sequence for students doing their internships in the public school setting leading to state certification as school social worker. This course focuses on practice. It prepares students to provide school social work services to individuals, groups, families, the school system, and the community. This course covers the roles of the school social worker and the skills needed to perform the various roles. Special attention is given to assessment, prevention, and intervention across systems on behalf of school children and their families.
Prerequisites: Foundation curriculum and SWK5610.
SWK6420 School Social Work Policy and Practice II (3 semester hours)
This is the second of a two-course sequence for students doing their internships in the public school setting leading to state certification as a school social worker. This course focuses on policy and legal issues related to providing school social work services to individuals, groups, families, the school system, and the community. This course covers state and federal special education mandates and other laws and policies related to public school children and their families. Special attention is given to ethical and legal implications of these laws and policies and their effect on the education of children.
Prerequisite: SWK6410.
Social Work Electives
SWK5710 Child Welfare Services (3 semester hours)
Theory, principles, issues, and trends in social work with children and youth; common and special needs. Case management, treatment planning, case monitoring. Exploration of authority-helper role and problems of working with non-voluntary clients.
No prerequisites.
SWK5740 Family Violence: Issues and Intervention (3 semester hours)
Socio-cultural analysis of victimization in the family, with particular focus on the problems of battering and sexual abuse. The course addresses, through the examination of various theoretical perspectives, the question of violence against women, child physical abuse/neglect/sexual abuse; and the problem of elder abuse.
No prerequisites.
SWK5750 Substance Abuse (3 semester hours)
Presented from an ecological and family systems perspective, this course provides current information that will enhance the student's ability to work effectively with individuals and families who are both directly and indirectly affected by substance abuse. Emphasis is placed on current research. Relevant social policies and societal attitudes are considered.
No prerequisites.
SWK5770 Social Work with Older Adults (3 semester hours)
This course consists of the study of major theories of aging and their implications for social work practice. Focus is on community services for the aged and an examination of current issues and trends related to the service delivery system.
No prerequisites.
SWK5810 Selected Topics (3 semester hours)
Selected topics that support foundation social work courses and are of interest to students but are not a regular part of the curriculum.
SWK6030 Bereavement Counseling (3 semester hours)
This course presents the theoretical framework for working with bereaved individuals and an examination of cultural attitudes toward death, other life losses, and what effect these attitudes have on individual grief reactions. This course highlights the therapeutic skills needed when working with the bereaved.
No prerequisites.
SWK6040 Social Work and Spirituality (3 semester hours)
This course presents the knowledge and skills needed to provide social services to persons with spiritual needs and dilemmas. A person-in-environment perspective is used in understanding the meaning of spirituality for clients and appropriate methods to utilize in responding to them.
No prerequisites.
SWK6440 Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 semester hours)
This advanced social work practice elective focuses on contemporary approaches to directed social work practice with individual client systems.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6450 Advanced Social Work Practice with Families (3 semester hours)
This advanced social work practice elective emphasizes the ability to assess and engage families and to plan and implement effective interventions with a wide variety of families.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6460 Advanced Social Work Practice with Couples (3 semester hours)
This advanced social work practice elective will focus on a variety of theories and approaches to social work practice with couples.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6470 Advanced Social Work Practice with Children (3 semester hours)
This advanced social work practice elective will encompass the theory, methods and skills necessary for understanding and working with children on all levels of social work practice.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6480 Advanced Social Work Practice with Adolescents (3 semester hours)
This advanced social work practice elective will examine a variety of theoretical and practical approaches to working with adolescents and their environment.
Prerequisite: Foundation curriculum.
SWK6810 Selected Topics (3 semester hours)
Selected topics that support advanced social work practice courses and are of interest to students but are not a part of the regular curriculum.
No prerequisites.
SWK6830 Directed Study
SWK6980 Independent Study
Post-M.S.W. Type 73 School Social Work Courses
SWK5610 Social Work Practice with the Exceptional Child (3 semester hours)
This course examines major causes and characteristics of students in the public school setting evidencing exceptionality. The psychology, identification, and methods of serving exceptional individuals and their families will be considered. While the focus of this course is an understanding of the various exceptionalities and how that impacts a student's education, the course will provide a social work perspective for practice related to prevention, intervention and evaluation.
No prerequisites.
SWK6430 School Social Work Certification Course (3 semester hours)
This course is designed for post-M.S.W. graduate students seeking school social work certification from the Illinois State Board of Education. It provides an orientation to social work practice in the public school setting. It covers important historical, legal, and political developments that affect the modern day roles and functions of the practitioner in the school setting. The course provides a basic understanding of the types of students served, resources and knowledge needed to deliver services and an overview of the public school system. This course is a requirement for state certification as a school social worker.
Prerequisites: M.S.W. post-graduate and approval by School Social Work Coordinator.
SWK6670 Field Instruction: Post-Master's School Social Work (3 semester hours)
This course is designed for students in the post-graduate program leading to state certification for school social work. This field course is designed to integrate the prior professional experiences of students who have practiced social work outside of the public school setting with the unique knowledge and skills required by this setting. Students, in conjunction with the school of social work and their field instructors, design a unique learning experience that allows them to transfer skills developed in other settings to the public school arena and to learn addition knowledge and skills necessary for providing school social work services. Instruction limited to post-master's students.
Prerequisite: Consent of School Social Work Coordinator.
Academic information on departmental Web sites reflects the university's most current curriculum. The print version of the catalog, which is also posted online, may differ from this information.
