Social Work (SOW)

An Overview of the Profession of Social Work including the history, philosophy, ethics, values, interventions and fields of practice in generalist social work.

Theories and concepts of human biopsychosocial development within an ecological framework, focusing on individuals and families.

Theories and concepts of human biopsychosocial development within an ecological framework, focusing on groups, communities, and organizations.

Analysis of social welfare policy; application of policy research; advocacy for policy consistent with social work values; and understanding the financial, organizational, administrative, and planning processes required to deliver social services.

Generalist social work practice knowledge and skills with individuals and families including theoretical perspectives, ethics and values, the social work relationship, interviewing, planned change process, and intervention skills.

Generalist social work practice knowledge and skills with groups including theoretical perspectives, ethics and values, the social work relationship, group leadership and facilitation, planned change process, and intervention skills.

Required course in the undergraduate social work program focuses on the socially constructed concepts of race, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and explores how these shape the human experience and affect the formation of identity. Students will investigate how various dimensions of diversity intersect for understanding the multicultural nature of American society, the global community, and their relationship to culturally competent social work practice. The course will provide opportunities for students to reflect deeply on personal values and professional social work values as well as to study the unique social histories, experiences, and contributions of diverse groups. The course will explore how the experience of “otherness” often shapes life experiences such as oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Students will examine their understanding of the importance of diversity and examine their personal biases and values.

Supervised field internship required of all BSW majors. Placement is made by the Coordinator of Field Education. 250 contact hours are required. This course is section I of the field requirement.

Part II of the required supervised field experience consisting of 250 contact hours in the same agency as Field Education I unless otherwise directed by the Coordinator of Field Education.

Examines dynamics related to inter-relational violence and the dynamic constructs of violence, offender profiles and victim intervention strategies.

Explores the social meanings and implications of different groups of people within an International environment with emphasis on local social service delivery systems. Students observe and compare and contrast traits in people from countries.

Generalist social work practice knowledge and skills with organizations, institutions and communities including theoretical perspectives, ethics and values, the social work relationship, planned change process, and intervention skills.

Introduces concepts of leadership and supervision in social work settings. Emphasis in the course is on the development of and practice of leadership and the development and practice of good supervisory skills.

Social work research methods, including the use of statistical software; focus on critical thinking; use of research in practice.

Integrates theory and practice and provides an interactive venue for field related issues. Students are expected to demonstrate skills and knowledge related to their internship experience.

The capstone course in the BSW program. Classroom and field learning are integrated. Students prepare to enter professional field of practice.

Variety of issues related to health and mental health from a social work perspective.

This course is designed to provide students with a general understanding of trauma and its effect on the brain. Students will study various types of trauma, including personal, political, and environmental.

Examines the changing portrait of older persons and how aging is shaped by race, class, culture, gender, sexual orientation, physical and social environments, cohort experiences, and ageism.

This introduction to child maltreatment course provides definitions of various types of maltreatment, characteristics of perpetrators and maltreated children and indicators of child abuse and neglect. Child protection investigations, treatment, and the professional's role in a multidisciplinary team approach are also included.

Overview of loss and bereavement related to death, health, job or relationships. Examines the historical, cultural, social and legal aspects of death and bereavement.

Examines issues and controversies surrounding social, psychological theories of chemical dependency and treatment. Provides the student with an understanding of substance abuse, prevention and interventions to promote healthy lifestyles.

Current issues about children and families in Southwest Florida including historical perspectives, policy, practice, service delivery, and community needs for services in daycare, public welfare, child abuse and neglect services, juvenile courts and ethics.

The focus of this course is the international nature of human trafficking. Students examine local issues with regards to the problem of human trafficking as well as health and mental health impacts on victims.

This course provides content that informs social work practice with Latino individuals, families, groups and communities. It is framed on systemic–ecological theory and the strength and empowerment perspectives.

Individual Study by students under the direction of a faculty member. Topics vary and are usually selected on an individual basis.

Examines selected topics in social work practice and theory.

First of two required courses with content on the reciprocal relationships between human behavior, the impact upon one's health and social systems. Human developmental theories, i.e. psychological, social, biological, cultural and spiritual, across the life span are examined.

Explores the differential diagnostic process using the DSM IV-TR for assessing symptoms of major mental disorders. Examines concerns about reimbursement, and diverse clients. Fulfills statutory educational requirement for clinical licensure in Florida.

Integration of major theories and methods of community organizing, knowledge and skills for advanced assessment, and intervention with neighborhoods, communities, and organizations. Examine impact of economic, political, and organizational policy on communities.

Examines dynamics related to inter-relational violence and the dynamic constructs of violence, offender profiles and victim intervention strategies.

An introduction to current and historical structure of social welfare policies and system, the historical development of social work profession and policies that form the foundation of social welfare from a local, state, national and international perspective.

Introduces the legislative process of law making, lobbying, and advocacy on the local and state level for populations with diminished access or economic influence; includes policy practice skills regarding economic, political and organizational systems.

Explores the social meanings and implications of different groups of people within an international environment with emphasis on local social service delivery systems. Students observe and compare and contrast traits in people from other countries.

Course is an introduction to foundation social work skills within the core values and ethics of the profession. Students acquire knowledge in communications skills, engagement strategies assessment, initial intervention strategies and termination skills.

Identifies, analyzes, and implements empirically based interventions and practice theories designed to achieve client goals; evaluates program outcomes and practice effectiveness, and includes content on providing leadership for policies and services.

Prepares students for advanced clinical social work practice in group treatment settings. Presents evidenced-based interventions and skills for therapeutic group interventions and with diverse clients experiencing complex dilemmas. Prepares students for group interventions with greater depth, breadth, and specificity.

Students explore professional development needs, career opportunities, and specialized treatment techniques.

Introduces concepts of leadership and supervision in social work settings. Emphasis in the course is on the development of and practice of leadership and the development and practice of good supervisory skills.

Introduces qualitative and quantitative scientific inquiry approaches to knowledge building for practice including problem formulation, data collection, methodology, data analysis and presentation of findings. Ethical issues in research are also examined.

Introduces advanced skills for program development and practice evaluation utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods that are designed for evaluating their own practice, and improving policy and service delivery. Examines ethical issues related to conducting research with oppressed and vulnerable populations.

This course provides full-time foundation year students the opportunity to learn and to apply beginning generalist social work skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 16 hours per week or 250 hours per semester in the agency.

This course is offered in the spring semester for full-time foundation year students. Students will continue to learn beginning generalist social work skills and to apply them to a variety of client systems. Students will spend a minimum of 16 hrs per week or 250 hours per semester in the agency.

This course provides full time concentration year students with the opportunity to learn and to apply advanced community clinical social work practice skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 16 hours per week or 250 hours per semester in the agency.

This course in the spring semester is offered to full time concentration year students. Students will continue to learn advanced community clinical social work practice skills and to apply them to a variety of client systems. Students will spend a minimum of 16 hours per week or 250 hours per semester in the agency.

Part-time foundation year students will learn and apply beginning generalist social work skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week or 120 hours per semester in the agency.

Part time foundation year students will learn and apply beginning generalist skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week or 190 hours per semester in the agency.

This course occurs in the fall semester. It provides part time foundation year students the opportunity to learn and to apply beginning generalist social work skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week or 190 hours per semester in the agency.

This course occurs in the summer semester. It provides part time concentration year students the opportunity to learn and to apply advanced community clinical social work practice skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week or 120 hours per semester in the agency.

Part time concentration year students will learn and apply advanced community clinical social work practice skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week or 190 hours per semester in the agency.

Part time concentration year students will learn and apply advanced community clinical social work practice skills to various client systems in a social service agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week or 190 hours per semester in the agency.

Prepares students for advanced social work practice in health care settings. Students gain knowledge, skills and proficiency in applying theoretical models, and evidence-based interventions. Focus will be upon critical health practice competency areas including but not limited to medical terminology, psychosocial assessment, treatment interventions, interdisciplinary teamwork, ethics, and leadership.

Variety of issues related to Health and Mental Health from a social work perspective.

Prepares students for advanced clinical social work practice with families and couples. Evidence-based treatment models, such as structural, strategic, solution-focused and cognitive behavioral, for working with diverse families and couples and populations-at-risk, are explored.

Prepares students for advanced clinical social work practice with individuals by examining evidenced based theories clinical diagnostic impressions, treatment planning and outcome measures . Provides advanced skills for clinical intervention with diverse populations.

This course provides content that informs social work practice with Latino individuals, families, groups and communities. It is framed on systemic–ecological theory and the strength and empowerment perspectives.

Focuses on social work practice with older persons individually, with families, in groups and in the community. Theoretical perspectives relevant to the aging process will also be reviewed.

Examines the changing portrait of older persons and how aging is shaped by race, class, culture, gender, sexual orientation, physical and social environments, cohort experiences, and ageism.

This introduction to child maltreatment provides definitions of various types of maltreatment, characteristics of perpetrators and maltreated children and indicators of child abuse and neglect. Child protection investigations, treatment, and the professional's role in a multidisciplinary team approach are also included.

Overview of loss and bereavement related to death, health, job, or relationships. Examine the historical, cultural, social and legal aspects of death and bereavement.

This course is designed to provide students with a general understanding of trauma and its effect on the brain. Students will study various types of trauma, including personal, political, and environmental.

Examines issues and controversies surrounding social, psychological theories of chemical dependency and treatment. Provides the student with an understanding of substance abuse, prevention and interventions to promote healthy lifestyles.

Current issues about children and families in Southwest Florida, including historical perspectives, policy, practice, service delivery, and community needs for services in daycare, public welfare, child abuse and neglect services, juvenile courts, and ethics.

The focus of this course is the international nature of human trafficking. Students examine local issues with regards to the problem of human trafficking as well as health and mental health impacts on victims.

A reading program in selected topics under supervision of a faculty member. A formal contract must be approved by the Chairperson. Admission to MSW program and Departmental approval required.

Examines advanced topics in social work practice and theory. The specific topic varies to meet the needs of current students and practitioners. Restricted to MSW students; others by departmental approval.