MA in Social Work

SOCW 410. Human Behavior and the Social Environment. 3 hours.

Human development through the life span including urban family, group, community, and organizational interactions with social, cultural, psychological factors. Course Information: Credit is not given for SOCW 410 if the student has credit for SOCW 535. Some sections may be fully or partially online. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor or admission to the MSW program.

SOCW 411. Critical Social Work in a Multicultural Society. 3 hours.

Examines the social construction of race in groups, communities, and organizations with focus on African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native/Indigenous people, and other diverse populations. Particular attention to resistance to oppression. Course Information: Credit is not given for SOCW 411 if the student has credit for SOCW 537. Prerequisite(s): Admission to MSW program.

SOCW 420. Policy I: Social Welfare Policy and Services. 3 hours.

History of social welfare policy, role of social work profession, examining origins and development of current social welfare system, policies, and service delivery, in view of principles of human rights, social, economic, environmental justice. Course Information: Credit is not given for SOCW 420 if the student has credit for SOCW 550. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and Admission to the MSW program.

SOCW 430. Practice I: Generalist Practice with Individuals and Organizations. 3 hours.

Overview of generalist social work as method and process emphasizing fundamental competencies, values, principles, and practice behaviors. Special attention to practice with individuals and practice with and within organizations. Course Information: Credit is not given for SOCW 430 if the student has credit for SOCW 501. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and Admission to the MSW program.

SOCW 431. Practice II: Generalist Practice with Families, Groups, and Communities. 3 hours.

Generalist social work practice. Special attention to practice with families, groups, and communities. Course Information: Credit is not given for SOCW 431 if the student has credit for SOCW 502. Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430 and graduate standing.

SOCW 460. Research I: Social Work Research. 3 hours.

Prepares students to demonstrate basic competencies in the knowledge, values, and skills of research methodology in social work, including problem formulation, design of research, measurement, sampling, data analysis. Course Information: Credit is not given for SOCW 460 if the student has credit for SOCW 560. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and Admission to the MSW program.

SOCW 480. Special Studies in School Social Work Practice. 3 hours.

Ecological and strengths-based interventions in urban school systems. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. This course is fully online. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the post-MSW Type 73 program and graduate standing.

SOCW 503. Family Practice in Urban Communities. 3 hours.

Empowering at-risk urban families using strengths-based intervention; brief treatment models; attention to diversity, community, poor, and other urban at-risk populations. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430.

SOCW 504. Group Theory and Practice. 3 hours.

Theory and practice of social work with empower groups in both clinical and large system settings; diversity and equity issues. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430.

SOCW 508. Research Methods in Social Work I. 3 hours.

Functions of scholarship in social work, contributions of scholarship to social and economic justice, research methodologies and knowledge building precesses for practice and policy analysis. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Previously listed as SOCW 592. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Social Work program or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 509. Research Methods in Social Work II. 3 hours.

Functions and processes of research in social work, knowledge-building methodologies and the contributions of multiple research models to the growth of knowledge for the profession. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): SOCW 508.

SOCW 511. Practice With Children. 3 hours.

Direct treatment with urban at-risk children including situations involving homelessness, substance-abuse, violence; treatment modalities emphasizing family, community, culture. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430.

SOCW 512. International Social Work. 3 hours.

Introduction to the field of international social work; emphasis on social development theory and practice strategies to attack poverty and improve human well-being globally and locally. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in SOCW 411 and SOCW 420; or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 517. Practice with Family Violence, Neglect, and Abuse. 3 hours.

Ecological approach to family violence: physical, psychological and sexual abuse of children, women and elders at practice and policy levels; urban vulnerable population. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430; or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 519. Practice III: Organization and Community Practice. 3 hours.

Provide students with the tools needed in order to build effective, culturally-relevant, community based organizations to combat structural violence, promote social justice, and improve the quality of and access to the social determinants of health. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in SOCW 431.

SOCW 520. Practice IV: Community Health and Urban Development. 3 hours.

It focuses on community methods of practice. Human rights, health inequities and the social determinants of health are used to contextualize community. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in SOCW 519.

SOCW 521. Aging Populations: Social Work Response. 3 hours.

Psychological, social, biological aging factors of individuals and families; emphasis on practice skills for community, long-term care and hospital-based services with urban emphases. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410; or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 522. Crisis Intervention. 3 hours.

Nature of crises including suicide and large-scale disaster; strengths-based interventions in urban settings: medical and mental health facilities, schools, community centers, and neighborhoods. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430.

SOCW 523. Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Social Work. 3 hours.

History and pharmacology of alcohol and other drugs; etiology of abuse and dependence; assessment and treatment models; practice in multi-disciplinary settings; emphasis on urban systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430.

SOCW 525. Social Work with Women. 3 hours.

Research, policy, and practice approaches to working with women in diverse urban settings; empowerment and diversity perspectives. Course Information: Same as GWS 525. Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410; or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 527. Topics in Social Services. 3 hours.

Critical review of selected areas of social work, social services, and social welfare. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Depending on the section of this course, field trips may be part of the course. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MSW program or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 529. Kinship Care: A Comprehensive Overview. 3 hours.

Provides a comprehensive overview focusing on the growing number of children who are raised by relatives other than their parents. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. This course may be offered fully online or in a blended-online format. Please check the Schedule of Classes for information on the format of the course offering. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Interest in children, families and family caregiving.

SOCW 530. Leadership and Professional Development. 3 hours.

Social work leadership and professional development including writing for publication, communication skills, personal leadership plan development, theory and practice of leadership at individual agency and community levels. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410.

SOCW 531. Policy II: Community Health and Urban Development. 3 hours.

Advanced policy content for urban communities including health disparities, discrimination, urban poverty and social dislocation. Analytical and policy practice skills addressed. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in SOCW 420.

SOCW 532. Social Work in Corrections. 3 hours.

Policy and practice roles of social workers in correctional settings with emphasis on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and poverty factors. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410; or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 533. Sexual Minority Communities. 3 hours.

Community and social justice framework applied to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered populations; historical development of sexual minority communities; overview of social work response. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MSW program or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 534. Independent Study in Practice. 1-3 hours.

Independent study in practice area not covered by existing course offerings. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and approval of the college.

SOCW 538. Social Work and Human Rights. 3 hours.

Assists students to understand the historical development of human rights principles related to vulnerable populations to prepare for advocacy for this population. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410 and consent of the instructor.

SOCW 539. Mental Health Issues with Children and Adolescents. 3 hours.

Critical, strengths-based understanding of current classification and diagnostic systems for assessment and treatment planning with children and adolescents. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 540. Mental Health Issues with Adults. 3 hours.

Critical, strengths-based understanding of current classification and diagnostic systems for assessment and treatment planning with adults. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 544. Community Violence. 3 hours.

Urban community violence; impact on individuals and society; policies and theories critically studied from race, class, and gender perspectives, including LBGTQ; social work implications. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 545. HIV/AIDS: Social Work Challenges. 3 hours.

HIV prevention and intervention in urban settings; system and ecological understanding of impact of HIV on society and role of social work practice and policy. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 546. Public Health Approaches with Adolescents and Young Adults. 3 hours.

Health and social development of the adolescent and young adult populations and special subgroups (e.g. parenting, homeless) are reviewed from a critical pedagogy and public health science perspective. Course Information: Same as CHSC 544. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. Recommended background: Research, policy and/or practice and interest in adolescence and youth and in community development and intervention studies; ethnic/minority studies; education; health and social/human service professions.

SOCW 547. Advanced Child Welfare Practice. 3 hours.

Focuses on practice in child welfare with children and families who have experienced abuse or neglect and addresses theoretical and programmatic aspects of child welfare practice, with particular attention to practice in Illinois. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 430 and SOCW 431 and SOCW 410 and SOCW 460 and SOCW 411 and SOCW 420.

SOCW 548. Social Entrepreneurship. 3 hours.

Introduction to global spectrum of socially responsible ventures providing innovative solutions to poverty and other social issues through entrepreneurship. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 431.

SOCW 549. Independent Study in Human Behavior and the Social Environment. 1-3 hours.

Independent study in human behavior and social environment areas not covered by existing course offerings. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and approval of the college.

SOCW 551. Policy II: School Social Work Policy. 3 hours.

Critical analysis of federal, state, and local policies relevant to social work practice in urban school systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 420.

SOCW 552. Policy II: Child and Family Policy. 3 hours.

Critical analysis of policies affecting welfare of families and children; focus on child welfare, juvenile justice, adult criminal justice, mental health, and special education systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 420.

SOCW 554. Policy II: Mental Health Policy. 3 hours.

Critical analysis of policies and structures in mental health delivery system with a focus on persons with chronic mental illness. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 420.

SOCW 557. Social Work with Military Service Members. 3 hours.

Social work with military services members, veterans and families in a variety of settings. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410 and SOCW 430; or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 558. Social Work and the Law. 3 hours.

Social work input in legal system: family law, family violence, crime, delinquency, civil rights, education, health, mental health, social advocacy, social work practice regulation. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 420 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 559. Independent Study in Social Welfare Policy and Services. 1-3 hours.

Independent study in social welfare policy and services areas not covered by existing course offerings. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and approval of the college.

SOCW 563. Program Evaluation. 3 hours.

Prepares students to demonstrate advanced competencies in designing needs assessments and program evaluations. Emphasis on evaluation of programs serving urban at-risk populations. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 460 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 565. Research Seminars: Social Service Issues. 3 hours.

Methodologies and results of research in selected fields of social services; special issues and problems in practice; relationship of research, theory, and practice; priorities for future research. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOCW 460 or consent of the instructor.

SOCW 566. Doctoral Independent Study. 1-5 hours.

Individual research under faculty direction of an area not adequately covered in an existing graduate level course. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Open only to Ph.D. degree students and approval of the department.

SOCW 567. Research Project. 0-9 hours.

Application of research methods to social work problems in an individual or group project or library research project. Preparation of a formal report based on field study processes and findings. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. If taken for a minimum of 3 credits this course will be accepted as meeting MSW degree requirements for advanced research in all concentrations except the School Social Work concentration. Prerequisite(s): Grade of A in SOCW 460 or an equivalent course or consent of the instructor; and approval of the college.

SOCW 569. Independent Study in Research. 1-3 hours.

Independent study in research methodology or areas not covered by existing course offerings. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and approval of the college.

SOCW 570. Field Instruction I. 5 hours.

Students are assigned to social agencies where, under the supervision of an agency field instructor, selected micro and macro system cases are carried for social work services. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

SOCW 571. Field Instruction II. 5 hours.

Students are assigned to social agencies where, under the supervision of an agency field instructor, they carry selected cases or groups for social work services. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): SOCW 570 and consent of the instructor.

SOCW 572. Field Instruction III. 8 hours.

Students are assigned to social agencies where, under the supervision of an agency field instructor, selected micro and macro system cases are carried for social work services. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): SOCW 571 and consent of the instructor.

SOCW 573. Field Instruction IV. 8 hours.