Social Work

MSW Course Descriptions

Program Requirement (for all entering MSW students)

SWK 609 Orientation Practicum No credit
Orientation to the social work profession and the Aurora University School of Social Work. Social work ethics, values, and underlying theoretical perspectives. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. Additional room, board and materials charge.
Foundation Curriculum:
Social Welfare:

SWK 614 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. Attention is given to the role of social agencies and methods to assure their ongoing relevance. No prerequisites.
Human Behavior and the Social Environment:

SWK 615 HBSE I: Ecological Perspective (3 semester hours.)
Study of bio-psycho-socio-cultural dimensions of human behavior in transaction with social environment. Values and ethics of the social work profession are explored. Reciprocal transactions between persons and their ecological domains are understood through the concepts of stress, coping, quality of fit and adaptation. Course lays foundation for advanced year concentration in the Group-centered Perspective. No prerequisites.

SWK 616 HBSE II: Theories of Human Development (3 semester hours.)
This course follows the person through the lifespan in interaction with the family and larger environment/systems. Research-based knowledge and theories on development are presented. No prerequisites.
Social Work Practice Theory and Methods:

SWK 637 Social Work Practice I: Generalist Principles (3 semester hours. )
First in sequence of three practice courses; Students are introduced to generalist practice with particular emphasis on social work roles, values and ethics, as well as core concepts and application across individual, family, group, and community units of attention. Course prepares for advanced year concentration in Group-centered Perspective. Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in SWK673.

SWK 638 Social Work Practice II: Individuals & Families (3 semester hours.)
Second in sequence of three foundation practice courses; course builds on generalist practice; specific theoretical and core concepts of individual and family levels of social work practice. Course presents separate modules on these two levels of attention integrating both with race, culture, gender, and ethical issues related to social work practice. Course continues to build a foundation for the advanced year concentration in Group-centered Perspective. Prerequisites: SWK637; and concurrent enrollment in SWK674.

SWK 653 SW Practice III: Families & Communities (3 semester hours.)
Final course in sequence of foundation practice courses. This course completes the examination of family as a unit of practice and introduces students to community as a unit of attention. This course concludes with specific strategies for social action in advocation for clients across all levels of intervention. At the completion of this course, students will have completed the introduction to the advanced year concentration in Group-centered Perspective. Prerequisites: SWK637, 638; and concurrent enrollment in SWK675.

SWK 639 Cross-Cultural Social Work Practice (2 semester hours.)
Exploration of historical and current economic, social, cultural, and political forces that affect minorities (e.g., Native Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans); development of ethno-sensitive practice skills through exploration of related attitudes and beliefs. No prerequisites.
Research:

SWK 625 Research I: Social Work Research Methods (2 semester hours.)
First in a sequence of four required research courses. Introduction to ethical social work research using scientific inquiry. Overview of various research methods and design elements. Course highlights creating, performing, and evaluating outcomes of practice and policies. No prerequisites.
Field Instruction:

SWK 673, 674, 675 Field Instruction I, II, III & Integrative Seminar
Sequence of three consecutive terms beginning in the Fall. Experience in practice in professional agency under instruction of qualified practitioner; 15 hours per week.

Integrative Seminar I: 2 semester hours.
Experiential group course taken as a part of the field experience serves as an ongoing support group for first year field students and emphasizes the application of Generalist Practice skills across all units of attention. Prerequisites: Concurrent with Foundation Practice course, SWK637; and concurrent with SWK673, Field Instruction.

Integrative Group Dynamics Seminar II: 2 semester hours.
Second in series; Integrative generalist approach with field experience; course taught in experiential group learning method. Prerequisites: Concurrent with Foundation Practice course, SWK638; and concurrent with SWK674, Field Instruction.

Integrative Group Dynamics Seminar III: 2 semester hours.
Final in series; Course taught using experiential group learning approach; integrative generalist approach with field experience. Prerequisites: Concurrent with Foundation Practice course, SWK653; and concurrent with SWK675, Field Instruction.

Concentration Curriculum:

SWK 650 HBSE III: Social Work Perspectives on Psychopathology (3 semester hours)
Biopsychosocial diagnostic and treatment models, including the DSM-IV, in service to vulnerable persons and families. The course emphasizes advocacy, direct service, interdisciplinary collaboration, and use of community supports. Prerequisites: SWK615, 616.

SWK 654 HBSE IV: Group-centered Perspective: Theory & Integration (3 semester hours)
Corner-stone of the advanced year concentration in Group-centered Perspective. Draws on the philosophy, theories and values that the group work movement embraced including pragmatism, contextual thought, affiliation, wholistic development, action, and experiential learning. Use of perspective to analyze and synthesize current theories and explore new knowledge undergirding social work practice. Prerequisites: Completion of foundation curriculum; Completion of SWK614, 615, 616, 637, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

Social Work Theory and Practice:

SWK 651 Advanced Social Work Practice I: Micro (3 semester hours)
Building upon the Group-centered Perspective as well as social work theory, practice, and the value base of the foundation year, this course focuses on advanced theory and individualized assessment and intervention with individuals and families. Prerequisites: Advanced curriculum course; restricted to students who have completed the foundation curriculum; Completion of SWK614, 615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 652 Advanced Social Work Practice II: Macro (3 semester hours)
This advanced practice course integrates the group-centered perspective in preparing the student to do planning, administration, and organizing in community and social agency settings. It follows a sequential series of topics that are encountered in project development or program change. Prerequisites: Advanced curriculum course; restricted to students who have completed the foundation curriculum; Completion of 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

Research:

SWK 628 Research II: Project-Design (2 semester hours)
Students plan and design a research project that will be conducted throughout the year, resulting in a publishable paper and presentation at a Research Symposium at the completion of the research sequence. In this course students select a topic in practice or policy, relate to a group-centered perspective, conduct a literature review, and design their study. Prerequisites: SWK 625, ECN/SBS 232 General Statistics.

SWK 629 Research III: Project-Data Collection & Analysis (2 semester hours)
Second in sequence; Human Subjects review procedures are discussed and implemented; data collection and analysis (quantitative or qualitative) are the major foci of this course. Students participate in seminars and individual consultation with professors. Prerequisites: SWK625; SWK628.

SWK 619 Research IV: Presentation of Findings (1 semester hour)
Final segment of the research series. Students integrate social work knowledge with findings of data analysis and professionally present the results of their project at the Research Symposium held during Spring Term. Entire project is presented in format of a publishable paper. Prerequisites: SWK625, 628, 629.

Advanced Field Instruction:

SWK 676, 677, 678 Field Instruction IV, V, VI & Integrative Seminar
Sequence of three consecutive terms beginning in the Fall. Experience in practice in professional agency under the instruction of a qualified practitioner; 20 hours per week.

Integrative Seminar IV: 3 semester hours
First in a series of three advanced field courses required as part of the field experience. Integration with student field experiences; emphasis on vulnerable and high risk populations; interventions and conditions promoting resilience and coping. Application of Group-centered Perspective, focused on consumer perspective, professional collaboration, and working partnerships. Prerequisites: SWK673, 674, 675; and concurrent enrollment in SWK676, Field Instruction.

Integrative Seminar V: 3 semester hours.
Second in series of advanced field courses; integration with field experiences, professional social work career preparation, applies Group-centered Perspective. Prerequisites: SWK673, 674, 675, 676; and concurrent enrollment in SWK677, Field Instruction.

Integrative Seminar VI: 3 semester hours.
Third in a series of advanced field courses; course is an integrative capstone seminar in which the advanced student will critically analyze social work literature, practice, and policy content based upon learning from all MSW course work to date and grounded in Group-centered Perspective. Prerequisites: SWK673, 674, 675, 676, 677; and concurrent enrollment in SWK678, Field Instruction.

Electives:

SWK 570 Theory & Practice of Social Work with Women (2 semester hours.)
Economic, legal, and other social factors affecting the position and roles of women; psychodynamic knowledge relating to women; issues and implications for social work practice. No prerequisites.

SWK 571 Child Welfare Services (2 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.

SWK 574 Family Violence: Issues and Intervention (2 semester hours.)
This course provides a socio-cultural analysis of victimization in the family, with particular focus on the problems of battering and sexual abuse. The course will address, 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.

SWK 575 Substance Abuse (2 semester hours.)
Basic information regarding substance abuse and its psychological and physiological impact. Roles and dynamics are examined in families where substance use is problematic. Intervention and the range of techniques used to address substance abuse are also examined. No prerequisites.

SWK 577 Social Work with Older Adults (2 semester hours.)
Study of major theories of aging and their implications for social work practice. Focuses on community services for the aged and examines current issues and trends related to the service delivery system. No prerequisites.

SWK 578 Computer Applications in Social Work (2 semester hours.)
Computer applications for social work practice. Emphasis on electronic communication, acquiring, using, and critically evaluating web based information, and web site design for human service agencies. Exploration of ethical issues related to the use of information technology. No prerequisites.

SWK 581 Selected Topics (2 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. (Courses offered in the past as SWK581s have included: Child Sexual Abuse; Trauma in the Lives of Children; Not-for-Profit Management). No prerequisites.

SWK 603 Bereavement Counseling (2 semester hours.)
Theoretical framework for working with bereaved individuals; examination of cultural attitudes toward death, other life losses, and what effect these attitudes have on individual grief reactions. Therapeutic skills when working with the bereaved. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses. Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 604 Social Work and Spirituality (2 semester hours.)
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. Prerequisites: SWK639.

SWK 643 School Social Work Certification Course (3 semester hours.)
This course is offered to post-graduate students to fulfill, in part, their Type 73 certification requirements. Policy and practice knowledge and skills needed to provide school social work services in the public school setting. Prerequisites: Post-graduate students or consent of instructor.

SWK 644 Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (2 semester hours.)
Theory and interventions for working with individuals; course includes object relations theory. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses; Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 645 Advanced Social Work Practice with Families (2 semester hours.)
Content builds on foundation knowledge in assessing family functioning and the ability to plan and implement an intervention from a generalist/problem-solving systems perspective. Selected theories of family therapy. Emphasis on understanding families and helping them to act constructively on behalf of children and future generations. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses; Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 646 Advanced Social Work Practice with Couples (2 semester hours.)
Theory, methods, and skills related to marital treatment using a social learning approach. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses; Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 647 Advanced Social Work Practice with Children (2 semester hours.)
Diagnosis, phases of treatment, communication skills, and techniques when working with children, and adolescents. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses; Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 648 Advanced SW Practice with Adolescents (2 semester hours.)
Assessment of adolescent disorders using person-environment framework; assessment; beginning, middle and ending phases of treatment; social delivery systems. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses; Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 649 Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups (2 semester hours.)
Development and differentiation of social work roles and skills related to a variety of group purposes, including mutual aid groups, empowerment groups, educational groups, and treatment groups. Prerequisites: Advanced elective; restricted to students taking advanced curriculum courses; Completion of SWK615, 616, 637, 638, 639, 653, 673, 674, 675.

SWK 667 Field Instruction: Post Masters School
Social Work 3 semester hours.
Instruction limited to Post-Master students. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.

SWK 668 Practicum Planning and Design (2 semester hours.)
Participation in the design, implementation, and leadership of Practicum for entering MSW students. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.

SWK 681 Selected Topics (2 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.

SWK 683 Directed Study

SWK 698 Independent Study