SOWK 200 Introduction to Social Work

This course serves to introduce students to the professional field of social work. This course is designed for students who are interested in learning about the field of social work, and for those who are interested in pursuing a career in social work. The course will provide students with an introduction to a variety of disciplines necessary for the effective practice of social work across a variety of social work career opportunities in education, community service, and social service areas, and will prepare students to continue their pursuit of social work at a transfer institution if they so choose.

Credits

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Describe the profession of social work, and identify and describe the key values and
professional ethics of social work.
2. Describe the historical development of social work and its current structures and issues.
3. Identify the major theoretical frameworks, and explain how they guide social work
practice.
4. Identify the basic social work concepts of social justice, economic justice, populations-at-risk,
and human diversity.
5. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination, and the
strategies of change that advance social and economic justice.
6. Describe the legislative evolution of the American social welfare system.
7. Understand generalist social work including the processes for social work practice, the
roles and functions of social work, and social policy.
8. Identify various types of social service settings, funding, staffing, and service delivery
issues.
9. Examine contemporary issues within the social work profession: poverty, homelessness,
criminal justice, unemployment, disabilities, mental health, and addiction.
10. Examine contemporary issues within the healthcare systems, working with family and
youth, and among adult and aging services.
11. Demonstrate active listening and physical speaking skills by objectively restating
material, which has been verbally transmitted, through the effective use of appropriate
language and in a manner that is effectively understood by the receiver(s).
12. Deliver an effective formal oral presentation in front of a group that communicates an
abstract or concrete idea in political science so that the receiver(s) clearly perceives the
intended message.

Course Objectives

1. Describe the profession of social work, and identify and describe the key values and
professional ethics of social work.
2. Describe the historical development of social work and its current structures and issues.
3. Identify the major theoretical frameworks, and explain how they guide social work
practice.
4. Identify the basic social work concepts of social justice, economic justice, populations-at-risk,
and human diversity.
5. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination, and the
strategies of change that advance social and economic justice.
6. Describe the legislative evolution of the American social welfare system.
7. Understand generalist social work including the processes for social work practice, the
roles and functions of social work, and social policy.
8. Identify various types of social service settings, funding, staffing, and service delivery
issues.
9. Examine contemporary issues within the social work profession: poverty, homelessness,
criminal justice, unemployment, disabilities, mental health, and addiction.
10. Examine contemporary issues within the healthcare systems, working with family and
youth, and among adult and aging services.
11. Demonstrate active listening and physical speaking skills by objectively restating
material, which has been verbally transmitted, through the effective use of appropriate
language and in a manner that is effectively understood by the receiver(s).
12. Deliver an effective formal oral presentation in front of a group that communicates an
abstract or concrete idea in political science so that the receiver(s) clearly perceives the
intended message.