Alabama's Public Liberal Arts University

Social Work Curriculum

The Social Work Curriculum consists of 36 semester hours of required Social Work courses (26 hours in the classroom and 10 in Practicum), 21 hours of academic support courses outside the Social Work Program, and 10 semester hours of designated choices within the General Education Curriculum.  The Social Work classroom courses are primarily knowledge and skill development courses, and the Practicum courses help students apply the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom while gaining additional "first hand" knowledge of and skill at working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

 

SOCIAL WORK COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SWK 203 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL WORK (3 hours)

This course is an introduction to social welfare as a humane and stabilizing influence in US society, and to social work as the dominant profession in social welfare. 

SWK 322 HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT (3 hours)

The course examines the interrelationships between the individual, family, small groups, organizations and the community.  Special attention is given to diversity, cultural sensitivity, oppression, and discrimination.  Pre-requisite PSYC 201.  Pre-requisite or co-requisite:  PSYC 306.

SWK 350 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (3 hours)

An introductory perspective on professional social work practice as a planned, purposeful process occurring over time, involving professional judgment and based on knowledge, values, and ethics of the social work profession.  Emphasis is placed on understanding beginning generalist practice including practice with systems of all sizes. For Social Work Majors only.  Pre-requisites:  SWK 203, SWK 322, PSYC 306, SOC 230, Biology 105. GPA of 3.0 in SWK 203, SWK 322, PSYC306.  Pre or co-requisite SWK 355.

SWK 355 RESEARCH IN SOCIAL WELFARE (3 hours)

Principles, methods, and utilization of quantitative and qualitative research relating to social work practice.  Emphasis is placed on the role of research in evaluating the effectiveness of one’s own practice and of service delivery systems. Pre or co-requisite:  SWK 350, PSYC 300.

SWK 373 SOCIAL POLICY (3 hours)

An introduction to the study of social policy with emphases on 1) how social policy influences the lives of citizens and clients, 2) how social policy influences the practice of social work, and 3) the resulting responsibilities of social work to try to influence social policy.  Pre-requisite:  SWK 203, SWK 322, ECON 231, POS 200

SWK 400 SKILLS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (3 hours)

A competency based course emphasizing acquisition of skills in interviewing, inter/intra organization communication, intervention, planning and professional presentation.  Students will complete a minimum of 24 hours of pre-practicum orientation.  For Social Work Majors only.  Students must meet criteria for Admission to the Practicum to enter the course.  Pre-requisites:  SWK 350, 355; Co-requisite SWK 410.

SWK 410 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES (3 hours)

Examines social work practice with individuals and families.  The problem-solving process, social work purposes, values and ethics are examined.  Emphasis is given to the helping process.  Pre-requisite:  SWK 350, 355.  Co-requisite:  SWK 400.

SWK 420 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH SMALL GROUPS, COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS (3 hours)

Emphasis on the development of knowledge and skills for practice with small groups, communities and organizations. Pre-requisites:  SWK 350, 355

SWK 455 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM (10 hours)

The social work practicum provides an opportunity for students to have direct and continuing contact with the realities of social work practice for the purpose of developing professional social work capabilities.  The student is assigned to a social service agency five days a week and is supervised by a qualified professional practitioner employed by the agency.  GPA of 3.0 required in social work courses.  Pre-requisites:   SWK 373, SWK 400, SWK 410, SWK 420. Co-requisites:  SWK 456

SWK 456 SOCIAL WORK INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR (2 hours)

The seminar helps students incorporate previous classroom content with “real life” experiences I the practicum.  Themes that are infused throughout the total curriculum and preparation for entering social work practice are emphasized.  The course meets two hours one time per week. Co-requisite:  SWK 455

SOCIAL WORK ELECTIVES

The Social Work Program offers several electives to Social Work Majors and other Majors from across the campus.

SWK/SOC 260 FAMILY AND CHILD ISSUES AND SERVICES (3 hours)

Focuses on issues affecting children and families in American society.  Emphasis is placed on child abuse and neglect, developmentally chal­lenged children, homeless children and families, chronically ill and physically challenged children, and services available to these families and children.  Policy issues related to the provision of adequate service and resources will be addressed.  Approved as and Institutions and Issues Course 

SWK/SOC 380  MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SERVICES (3 hours)

A study of the development of mental health services in the U.S. including changing conceptions of mental illness/mental health and associated programs and practices.  Special emphasis is given to the development of the philosophy, policies and implementation of community mental health, and current issues such as deinstitutionalization and homelessness.

SWK/PSYC/SOC 311 SUBSTANCE ABUSE (3 hours)

Examines the evolution of alcohol and drug abuse/dependence in the US and selected other countries and models used to treat substance abuse.  Content includes the affects of drugs, including alcohol, on the body as well as how the disease of dependence affects every area of life and the lives of family members.

 

ACADEMIC SUPPORT AREA

The Social Work curriculum is closely interrelated with the liberal arts curriculum at the University of Montevallo and is sequentially organized to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for competent, entry level practice in contemporary society. The liberal arts courses listed below provide a breadth of knowledge and understanding that is essential in the education of generalist social workers and in the development of skills for critical thinking.  All Social Work Majors must complete the following courses:   

ECONOMICS 231 INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS (3 hours)

Basic economic concepts, aggregate income, employment and output, money and banking, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, and interna­tional economics and compar­ative systems. (Pre-requisite to SWK 373)

PSYCHOLOGY 300 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS (3 hours)

Choice, preparation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistical techniques in the behavioral sciences, including data tabulation, frequency, distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, standard scores, correlation, and computer data processing.  Prerequisites:  PSYC 201, and 3 hours of Mathematics. (Pre or co-requisite to SWK 355)

PSYCHOLOGY 306 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 hours)

Behavior throughout the human life span from conception to death; biological and environmental factors influencing physical, intellectual, perceptual, social, personality, emotional and verbal development; theories and methodology of the scientific study of development. (Pre or co-requisite to SWK 322)

PSYCHOLOGY 310  PSYCHOPATHOLOGY (3 hours)

Definitions of abnormal behavior, theoretical models, diagnostic categories, and types of therapy.

POLITICAL SCIENCE 200 AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (3 hours)

Constitutional background and development of our national government including the machinery, problems and practical working of the national government. (Pre or co-requisite to SWK 373)

POLITICAL SCIENCE 250 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (3 hours)

An introduction to the governmental structure and politics of state and local government, with emphasis on Alabama.

One course (3 hours) of the from the following electives:

ANTHROPOLOGY 310 INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY (3 hours)

The study of human variation, biological and behavioral, in the present as well as the past.  This course explores the varied solutions of different peoples to the same basic problems: survival, social relationships, and the comprehension of the world in which they live.  Prerequisite: SOC 230

SOCIOLOGY 324 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION (3 hours)

Theories and systems of caste and class, with specific consideration given to status, occupation, income, education, and other elements in contemporary American stratification.  Prerequisite: SOC 230.

GEOGRAPHY 231 WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY (3 hours)

The nature and characteristics of places as affected by human activity.  Emphases on the historical, political, economic, and social attributes of the world’s regions in relation to current world events.

GEOGRAPHY 331 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (3 hours)

The major organizing concepts of economic and cultural geography.  Man’s geographic behavior in terms of spatial organization of the earth’s surface and his development of regional, urban, and political systems.

OTHER REQUIRED GENERAL EDUCATION SUPPORT COURSES

SOCIOLOGY 230 INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY (3 hrs.)

Culture patterns of modern society, including social behavior in terms of culture, group relationships, social organization and social stratification. (Pre-requisite to SWK 203 and SWK 322)

PSYCHOLOGY 201 FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY (3 hrs.)

Facts, principles, and theories of psychology  with which every educated person should be familiar.  (Pre-requisite to SWK 203 and SWK 322)

BIOLOGY 105 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I (4 hours)

Introduction to biology emphasizing molecular aspects of cells, genetics, and physiology.  (Pre-requisite to SWK 322)The following table presents the way most students move through the curriculum.  While not all students take all the courses in a tier at the same time, all are required to meet the pre- and co-requisites for individual courses.

Tier

Social Work Course

Pre- (P) or Co-Requisite (C)

1

SWK 203

PSYC 201(P), PSYC 306 (P/C)

SWK 322

PSYC 201(P), PSYC 306 (P/C)

2

SWK 350

SWK 203 (P), SWK 322 (P), SOC 230 (P), BIO 105 (P), PSCY 306 (P)

SWK 355

SWK 203 (P), SWK 322 (P), PSYC 300 (P/C)

SWK 373

SWK 203 (P), SWK 322 (P), POS 200 (P), EC 231 (P)

3

SWK 400

SWK 350 (P), SWK 355 (P), SWK 410 (C)

SWK 410

SWK 350 (P), SWK 355 (P)

SWK 420

SWK 350 (P), SWK 355 (P)

4

SWK 455

SWK 203 (P), SWK 322 (P), SWK 350 (P), SWK 355 (P), SWK 373 (P), SWK 400 (P), SWK 410 (P), SWK 420 (P), SWK 456 (C)

SWK 456

SWK 203 (P), SWK 322 (P), SWK 350 (P), SWK 355 (P), SWK 373 (P), SWK 400 (P), SWK 410 (P), SWK 420 (P), SWK 455 (C)

 

Suggested Progression through Social Work Curriculum by Degree Type

 

Bachelor of Arts: To complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, a Social Work Major must have six to twelve hours of Foreign Language. The Writing Reinforcement (WR) requirements include six hours (English 231,232) in sophomore year, three 3 hours in the junior year (SWK 350) and three hours in the senior year (SWK 420).  A total number of 130 hours are needed for graduation.

Courses

Credit Hours

                             Freshman Year

HIS 101, 102

6

ENG 101,102

6

Two Foreign Language courses

6

PSYC 201

3

KNES 117      

2

COMS 101

3

Computer Course

3

Total

29

                            Sophomore Year

MATH 147

3

ENG 231,232

6

Two Foreign Language courses

6

BIO 105

4

Humanities or Fine Arts course

3

PSYC 300,306

6

SOC 230

3

KNES Activity

1

Total

32

                              Junior Year

SWK 203, 322, 350,355, 373

15

POS 200, 250

6

ECON 231     

3

One Science Course

4

PYSC 310

3

Humanities or Fine Arts course

3

Total

34

                            Senior Year

SWK 400, 410, 420

9

SWK 455, 456

12

ANTH 310, GEOG 331,231, or SOC 324

3

Electives

14

Total

35

Overall Total

130

 

Bachelor of Science: To complete a Bachelor of Science (BS), a Social Work Major must take eighteen hours of math and science including Math 147 and two sciences from different fields.  The Writing Reinforcement (WR) requirements include six hours (English 231,232) in sophomore year, three 3 hours in the junior year (SWK 350) and three hours in the senior year (SWK 420).  A total number of 130 hours are needed for graduation.

Courses

Credit Hours

                             Freshman Year

HIS 101, 102

6

ENG101,102

6

SOC 230

3

PSYC 201

3

KNES 117      

2

COMS 101

3

Humanities or Fine Arts course

3

Computer Course

3

ECON 231

3

Total

32

                            Sophomore Year

MATH 147

3

ENG 231,232

6

One Science Course

4

BIO 105

4

POS 200, 250

6

PSYC 300,306, 310

9

Total

32

                              Junior Year

SWK 203, 322, 350,355, 373

15

Math/Science Courses

7

ANTH 310, GEOG 331,231, or SOC 324

3

Two Humanities or Fine Arts course

6

Total

31

                              Senior Year

SWK 400, 410, 420

9

SWK 455, 456

12

Electives

14

Total

35

Overall Total

130

 

Suggested Progression through the Social Work Curriculum by Semester entering Major

Entering Social Work Major in Fall Semester:

Semester

Social Work Courses to be taken

Fall 1

SWK 203, SWK 322

Spring 1

SWK 350, SWK 355, SWK 373, Apply to Program

Fall 2

SWK 400, SWK 410, SWK 420, Apply to Practicum

Spring 2

SWK 455, SWK 456

 

Entering Social Work Major in Spring Semester:

Semester

Social Work Courses to be taken

Spring 1

SWK 203, SWK 322

Fall 1

SWK 350, SWK 355, SWK 373, Apply to Program

Spring 2

SWK 400, SWK 410, SWK 420, Apply to Practicum

Fall 2

SWK 455, SWK 456

 

Entering Social Work Major in Summer Semester:

Semester

Social Work Courses to be taken

Summer 1

SWK 203, SWK 322

Fall 1

SWK 350, SWK 355, SWK 373, Apply to Program

Spring 1

SWK 400, SWK 410, SWK 420, Apply to Practicum

Fall 2

SWK 455, SWK 456