SOCIAL WORK

MISSION STATEMENT

The primary mission of the Social work program is to train generalist social work professionals capable of providing culturally competent services within diverse, multicultural communities. Through all its activities, the program seeks to foster the fulfillment of human potential, promote social and economic justice, and contribute to the development of a social culture that respects the dignity and worth of all members of society.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is designed to provide training to prepare graduates for entry level generalist social work practice or for admission to a graduate program in social work. Such training includes helping students develop and strengthen their sense of social responsibility, appreciation for diversity, understanding of the realities of discrimination and oppression, and knowledge of core social work values, ethics, and skills. Specifically, the BSW program seeks to achieve the following goals:

• Prepare students for agency based generalist social work practice with individuals, families, and communities
• Develop/strengthen the ability to apply critical thinking skills in a professional context
• Understand the effects of diverse backgrounds and membership in a population-at-risk on individuals, families, and communities, and the mechanisms of oppression and discrimination
• Understand that the professional roles and responsibilities of social workers include efforts to promote social and economic justice and alleviate unjust social, political, and economic conditions
• Demonstrate the ability to carry out professional practice congruent with the NASW Code of Ethics, including the ability to practice without discrimination based on group membership

The Bachelor in Social Work program prepares graduates to work in a variety of public and private service settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, mental health clinics, family service agencies, Texas regulatory agencies, schools, police and sheriff’s departments, and a wide variety of other state, community, non-profit and for-profit agencies.

General Education

Social Work students are required to complete the University General Education Requirements. As part of the General Education Requirements, the BSW requires the inclusion of the following specified courses:

1. To fulfill the Physical and Life Science requirement, select:
   BIOL 1306/1106, General Biology I with lab
   A second Life/Physical Science Lab Course
2. To fulfill the second course in the Mathematics requirement, select either:
   PSYC 3301, Introduction to Statistics
   or SOCI 3317, Introductory Statistics
3. To fulfill the Social Science requirement, select either:
   PSYC 1301, Introduction to Psychology
   or SOCI 1301, Introduction to Sociology

In addition, the major in Social Work requires an additional Social Science course, the course that was not used to fulfill the Social Science requirement:

PSYC 1301, Introductory Psychology
or SOCI 1301, Introduction to Sociology

Accreditation

The BSW Program is pursuing accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work education, and in August, 2004 was admitted to the candidacy phase of the accreditation process. Candidacy is granted to programs, which in the judgment of the CSWE Commission on Accreditation, have the potential to be awarded full accreditation. Candidacy is granted for a maximum period of three years.

Computer Use

All Social Work majors must demonstrate a basic use of computing through the completion of PSYC 3301 or SOCI 3317.

Admission to the BSW Program

Admission to the BSW program shall consist of two stages: (1) the Pre-Social Work major; and (2) the Social Work major.

The Pre-Social Work Major. Any student may declare a Pre-Social Work major. Students will remain in the Pre-Social Work until they meet the requirements for application into the social work major. This policy applies to new freshmen, transfer students, and students who desire to change their major to Social Work.

To be eligible to apply for Stage 2, the Social Work major, students must meet the following course, grade and semester credit hour criteria:

1. Attain a minimum 2.5 overall GPA for classes taken at UTPB and a minimum 2.5 GPA in Social Work (SOWK) courses.
   
   
2. Attain a C or higher in SOWK 2361, SOWK 2320, and SOWK 3340.
   
   
3. Have 9 or fewer credit hours of the general education, 44 semester credit hour core to complete.
   
   
4. Have completed at least 45 semester credit hours.

Students who have not been admitted to the major may not enroll in the field education courses.

Stage 2, the Social Work Major. Admission into Stage 2 requires that the student:

1. Complete the course and grade requirements specified as a Pre-Social Work major. Experience may not be substituted for course requirements; no academic credit will be granted for life or work experience.
   
   
2. Submit a formal application for admission.

Admissions Criteria: The BSW program wishes to admit applicants who demonstrate both academic competency and the personal attributes that will provide a solid foundation for professional development. Such attributes include maturity, good judgment, a willingness to consider new ideas, the ability to develop reflectivity and self-awareness, an acceptance of differences in people, and values consistent with the social work profession. Applications will be reviewed by the Program Director and Director of Field Education. Three possible decisions are: (1) regular admission; (2) provisional admission; and (3) denied admission.

Upon admission into Stage 2 of the BSW program, a student's formal academic major will be converted administratively from Pre-Social Work to Social Work.

Students who have completed SOWK courses at other institutions must complete the 12 credit hours of field practicum at U. T. Permian Basin. It is also strongly preferred that the 9 credit hours of practice courses be completed at UTPB, though transfer of practice course credits will be considered. The Program Director will evaluate the transferability of SOWK courses elsewhere and determine which are acceptable for transfer and credit as required professional social work courses. Generally, only social work courses taken from a CSWE accredited BSW program will be accepted as equivalent for professional social work courses; exceptions will be made only when a course from an unaccredited program can be definitively shown to be equivalent to the course offered by UTPB, as determined by the Program Director. All transfer credit awarded must be based on formal course work; no academic credit can be granted for life experience or work experience in a social service position.

Major Requirements

Sample Degree Plan

The BSW degree requires a minimum of 122 semester credit hours as specified below, with a minimum of 54 credit hours taken at the junior and senior levels (3000/4000 numbered courses). The major in Social Work does not require the student to have a minor. The course requirements in addition to the general education core and core extension are:

1. Social Work Core Courses, 45 credits

• SOWK 2361, Introduction to Social Work
• SOWK 2320, Social Welfare Policies and Issues
• PSYC 3301/SOCI 3317, Introduction to Statistics (credits counted under General Education)
• SOWK 3320, Social Policy Analysis
• SOWK 3324, Ethics & Values of Social Work
• SOWK 3330, Introduction to Social Work Research
• SOWK 3340, Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Lifespan Development
• SOWK 3370, Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Organizational & Community Assessment
• SOWK 3350, Social Justice
• SOWK 3355, Generalist Social Work Practice I
• SOWK 3356, Generalist Social Work Practice II
• SOWK 4280, Field Practicum I Seminar
• SOWK 4281, Field Practicum II Seminar
• SOWK 4370, Generalist Social Work Practice III
• SOWK 4480, Field Practicum I
• SOWK 4481, Field Practicum II

2. Prescribed Electives, 30 credits

• CRIM 3365, Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
• ECON 2301, Principles of Macroeconomics
• KINE 1301, Concepts in Fitness and Health
• KINE 3310, Motor Development
• HIST 3371, American Minorities
• PLSC 4312, Politics in the American States
• PLSC 4321, Politics of Advanced Industrial Democracies
• PLSC 4345, Public Policy
• PSYC 3321, Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 3322, Theories of Personality
• PSYC 3386, Human Sexuality
• PSYC 3403, Principles of Learning
• SOCI 3350, Social Deviance
• SOCI 4315, Sociology of Organizations
• SOCI 4320, Social Stratification or SOCI 3345, Race, Gender, Ethnicity & Social Change
  (whichever was not taken as part of Behavioral Science Core)
• SOCI 4325, Globalization
• SOWK 3347, Rural Sociology
• SOWK 3390, The Family
• SOWK 4305, Drugs and Behavior
• SOWK 4321, Social Work Intervention: Marriage and Family
• SOWK 4322, Social Work Intervention: The Individual
• Other (as approved by Program Director)

Field Placement

The program requires 12 credit hours (480 clock hours) of field practice experience. This will be satisfied by two SOWK Field Practicum placements taken in the senior year, SOWK 4480/4280 and SOWK 4481/4281. Enrolled students will work in a social service delivery agency under the supervision of a qualified professional worker. Social Work faculty will provide faculty liaison services to monitor the student’s progress within the field placement. Students who have completed the general education core courses and social work core courses should apply for acceptance into the field placement in the long semester prior to the semester they anticipate entering field. Exceptions to the social work core prerequisites are SOWK 4370, Generalist Social Work Practice III, and SOWK 3330, Introduction to Social Work Research, which may be taken concurrently with field. Application for internship is made with the Director of Field Education.

Minor in Social Work

Students who minor in Social Work learn a great deal about our society, its problems, its values, and its responses to needs. Students are better informed as citizens, and they are prepared to work intelligently to make our society better. The Social Work minor seeks to enhance students’ understanding of social policy and give students a basic understanding of social work practice. The Social Work minor, however, does not prepare students to be professional social workers or to seek state licensure as social workers.

Minor Requirements

The Social Work minor requires completion of 18 semester credit hours in SOWK courses. The minor requires the following four courses (12 sch):

SOWK 1310, Introduction to Social Work
SOWK 2320, Social Welfare Policies and Issues I
SOWK 3320, Social Policy Analysis
SOWK 3324, Ethics and Values in Social Work

The student may choose the remaining 6 sch from the social work course listings, with the exception of the generalist practice and field placement courses, which may be taken only by Social Work majors.

Course Listing

SOWK 2320 Social Work Policies and Issues (3)
Examination of the development of policies, the social and political influences on their implementation, and the effects and impact of policy on social work practice in a variety of key areas and practice settings. Prerequisite: SOWK 2361. F

SOWK 2361 Introduction to Social Work (3)
Introduction to the profession of social work and social work roles in the social welfare system, with emphasis on the mission, philosophy, and values of the profession. This course also introduces students to the social welfare institutions in the United States and their historical foundations. F, S

SOWK 3320 Social Policy Analysis (3)
An analysis of current social welfare policies on the local, state, and federal levels, and various elements of welfare programs and entitlements. The course will cover a range of critiques of social welfare policy and reform proposals. A framework for policy analysis/evaluation and strategies for influencing policy development and change will be studied. Prerequisites: SOWK 2320, PLSC 2305 and PLSC 2306.

SOWK 3324 Ethics & Values in Social Work (3)
This course will provide an intensive introduction to the values upon which social work practice is based, and the ethical guidelines which operationalize those values and to which social workers are held accountable. The NASW Code of Ethics will be covered in detail and provide the background for critical thinking and ethical reasoning regarding the inevitable value conflicts and ethical dilemmas social workers face. Prerequisite: SOWK 2361.

SOWK 3330 Introduction to Social Work Research (3)
This course is designed to provide students with the fundamental skills to evaluate research studies critically, apply research findings to practice, and understand social work research as an integral part of informed practice. The course addresses how to conduct research to evaluate practice, quantitative and qualitative methods, and research ethics, with particular attention to the role of research with populations-at-risk, social and economic justice, and cultural diversity. Critical thinking and writing skills will be emphasized. Prerequisite: PSYC 3301 or SOCI 3317.

SOWK 3340 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Lifespan Development (3)

SOWK 3347 Rural Sociology (3)
Analyzes the rural aspects of population, stratification, social change and the conditions under which persons live and work. Rural social and community organization, agricultural influences, poverty programs and their influences, and technological advances will also be examined. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

SOWK 3350 Social Justice (3)

SOWK 3355 Generalist Social Work Practice I (3)
This first of three generalist practice courses introduces the student to social work processes, concepts, and theories relevant to generalist social work practice with individuals and families. The course will emphasize general practice skills and the professional relationship. Specific attention is paid to the roles of generalist social work. For Social Work majors only. Prerequisite: SOWK 3320, SOWK 3341.

SOWK 3356 Generalist Social Work Practice II (3)
The second practice course introduces students to theories of group development and group dynamics, and emphasizes the development of effective group work skills. The focus is on the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with task, support, and self-help groups. For Social Work majors only. Prerequisites: SOWK 3320, SOWK 3341 and SOWK 3355.

SOWK 3370 Human Behavior and Social Environment II: Organizational & Community Assessment (3)
This is the third of a three-course sequence that addresses the interaction between the social environment and human behavior. This course focuses on the evaluation of organizations and communities, and the reciprocal influence between them and individuals. Prerequisite: SOWK 2361, PSYC 3311.

SOWK 3389 Selected Topics (3)
Undergraduate courses which will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently, or which are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog.

SOWK 3390 The Family (3)
A historical and comparative approach in the examination of changing structure and functions of the family institution. The course provides a broad-based but intensive understanding of the family. Issues include the effect of economic, demographic and cultural changes on male-female relationships, sex roles, marriage and child care. Prerequisites: Junior standing, PSYC 1301 and SOCI 1301. [Cross-listed with SOCI 3390, The Family.]

SOWK 4280 Field Practicum I Seminar (2)
A capstone seminar focused on the integration of classroom theory and knowledge with actual social work practice, based on the student’s filed placement experiences. Prerequisites: Completion of the social work core curriculum, except for SOWK 4370, which may be taken concurrently. Co-requisite: SOWK 4480.

SOWK 4281 Field Practicum II Seminar (2)
Continuation of SOWK 4280 through the second semester of field placement. Integration of theory and practice on the basis of field practicum experiences. Prerequisites: SOWK 4480 and SOWK 42810. Co-requisite: SOWK 4481.

SOWK 4305 Drugs and Behavior (3)
Pharmacologic basis of psychotropic drugs and their associated abuses. Theories of cause and treatment of abusers are reviewed. Prerequisites: Junior standing, PSYC 1301 and SOCI 1301. [Cross-listed with PSYC 4305, Drugs and Behavior]

SOWK 4321 Social Work Intervention: Marriage and Family (3)
Opportunity to learn theory and skills required to implement change in marriages and families. Emphasis is on interactional processes between the social worker and family members. Prerequisites: Junior standing and SOCI 1301. S

SOWK 4322 Social Work Intervention: The Individual (3)
Theory and skills required to implement change in an individual. Emphasis is on interactional processes between social worker and client. Prerequisites: Junior standing and SOCI 1301. F

SOWK 4370 Generalist Social Work Practice III (3)
The third practice courses is designed to acquaint students with the theory and knowledge necessary for generalist social work practice with organizations and communities, with a focus on developing skills for effecting macro-level change. For Social Work majors only. Prerequisites: SOWK 3320, 3324, 3330, 3356, and 3370, or permission of the instructor.

SOCI 4389 Selected Topics (3)
Undergraduate courses which will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently, or which are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog. May be acceptable for graduate credit.

SOWK 4480 Field Practicum I (4)
This is the first of two field courses in a supervised community social service agency consisting of a minimum of 240 hours. A weekly seminar (SOWK 4280) accompanies this course which enables the student to integrate and apply classroom learning (theory and practice) in the field setting. For Social Work majors only. Prerequisites: Formal admission to field placement, completion of the social work core curriculum, except for SOWK 4370, which may be taken concurrently. Co-requisite: SOWK 4280. Course fee required.

SOWK 4481 Field Practicum II (4)
The second course of the field learning experience in a community social service agency consisting of a minimum of 240 hours. A weekly seminar (SOWK 4281) accompanies this course which enables the student to integrate and apply classroom learning (theory and practice) in the field setting. SOWK 4480/4280. Co-requisite: SOWK 4281. Course fee required.