Online Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work

Course Description

The course describes the historical development, formation of social welfare policies, and the role of the social work professional.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course surveys the history of social welfare policy, services, and the social work profession.

It explores current social welfare issues in the context of their history and the underlying rationale and values that support different approaches. Topics include major fields of social work service such as: income maintenance, healthcare, mental health, child welfare, corrections, and services to the elderly.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides students with professional interviewing skills, and enhanced understanding of verbal and non-verbal communication listening skills, and an awareness and understanding of diverse issues related to the interviewing process. The person-in-environment perspective will be utilized throughout this course. Students will develop beginning proficiency as generalist social work practitioners when interviewing clients and other professionals who may work in an interdisciplinary setting. Students will begin to develop knowledge and proficiency in how to translate interview information into a bio-psycho-social assessment. Students will also learn introductory skills relating to the problem-solving model, particularly engagement and problem identification. Students are expected to demonstrate increased insight into their own behaviors, values, beliefs, and attitudes as they relate to professional social work practice.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course in human diversity provides students with a framework for understanding race, class, and gender, along with ethnicity, sexual orientation, and privilege. Students are taught to develop critical thinking skills, engage in culturally sensitive practice, and advocate for social justice.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course examines the relationship of social policy, ethics, and the social work field. Students will address ethical dilemmas, particularly as they relate to current and needed social policies on local, state, and national levels. A basic understanding of social welfare theories will assist the student in evaluating, assessing, and advocating for change in both a micro/macro perspective. The Ethical Standards of Social Worker Professionals will serve as a backbone for students to use in decision-making, assessment of clients and client groups, and promotion of change in a diverse setting.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course explores a select set of theories that help us understand how individuals and communities develop and interact. Because empathic and skillful interventions with individuals, groups, and communities require understanding ourselves as well as others, the course provides an opportunity for increased self-awareness. At the beginning of the course, we focus on the key theories that help us understand the dimensions and expression of human behavior in the social environment. This discussion is followed by an examination of how dimensions of culture and cultural contexts can shape individual values, beliefs, worldviews, and identities and, therefore, play a role in the helping process. Through discussion and analysis, we will explore areas of universality and difference in the context of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, and socioeconomic class, as well as the realities and influence of multiple forms of oppression.

Credits

3

Course Description

In this second course in the human behavior and the social environment sequence, students will examine human development, considering the theoretical underpinnings regarding opportunities, vulnerabilities and cultural factors that can influence individual development within communities and organizations. With particular attention on how systems impact the health and well-being of marginalized populations, the ability to analyze human behavior in the social environment and the impact within communities and organizations is essential for all methods of social work practice, whether the primary focus is clinical or community based.
Prerequisite: BSW 310

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will provide students with an introduction to research methods used in social work. Topics include research paradigms, introduction to quantitative and qualitative analysis and how they relate to social work research. This course will guide students through the steps required to understand research and conducting a research project in social work.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course emphasizes the comparative analysis of respective national approaches to social policy provision in a variety of developed and developing nations. It examines different societies and a number of dimensions of the social welfare system: Social Security, social services, and health care policy. Particular attention is paid to the nature of governmental involvement in social policy, the nature of public/private sector relations, and the assessment of social policy with regard to such analytical concepts as adequacy, equity, and efficiency.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course prepares students to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior in the field of social work. Students learn about the CSWE 9 core competencies and associated practice behaviors. Students will hone interviewing and assessment skills as well as develop self-advocacy skills. Special topics include self-care and safety in social work.

Credits

3

Course Description

In this course Theories, models and perspectives for practice with Individuals and families discussed.

Credits

3

Course Description

In this course theories, models and perspectives for practice with groups are discussed.

Credits

3

Course Description

In this course theories, models and perspectives for practice with Communities and Organizations are discussed.

Credits

3

Course Description

The Practicum I include theory and traineeship of 150 hours and must be taken concurrent with BSW 320 Social Work Practice I (Individuals and Families). The prior arrangement for the agency for the Practicum/Traineeship must be arranged at least 6-7 months prior to the beginning date desired. This requirement is done by prior arrangement through the BASW Program Director and Coordinator of the Practicum.

Credits

3

Course Description

The Practicum I include theory and traineeship of 150 hours and must be taken concurrent with BSW 322 Social Work Practice II (Groups). The prior arrangement for the agency for the Practicum/Traineeship must be arranged at least 6-7 months prior to the beginning date desired. This requirement is done by prior arrangement through the BASW Program Director and Coordinator of the Practicum.

Credits

3

Course Description

The Practicum I include theory and traineeship of 150 hours and must be taken concurrent with BSW 324 Social Work Practice III (Communities and Organizations). The prior arrangement for the agency for the Practicum/ Traineeship must be arranged at least 6-7 months prior to the beginning date desired. This requirement is done by prior arrangement through the BASW Program Director and Coordinator of the Practicum.

Credits

3

Course Description

The Capstone Course is the final culminating course in the BASW degree program. In this course, the student work on a comprehensive social work portfolio. Students will demonstrate skills in research, synthesis of information, and critical thinking. The Capstone course is used to assess the student achievement of all 9 core competencies of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the BASW Program Learning Outcomes.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will provide a systemic perspective on Family Violence (FV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) (IPV is formerly and is still referred to as domestic violence). Included in the course is an overview of associated theories and research FV and IPV, various types of abuse, the legal systems response, assessment and intervention techniques and community support services for batterer intervention programs. Special topics will also include socioeconomic status, gender and religion relevant to domestic violence.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course introduces victim advocacy and victimization in the United States relative to social work. Students examine the impact of crime from the victims’ perspective. Special emphasis in the course addresses interventions for victims as well as victim’s rights and services. Students engage victim advocacy topics in both current events and local resources.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides an introductory examination of Youth at Risk in the United States. Students explore the physical, psychological, social and cultural dimensions of youths at risk. The course includes topics in diversity, socio-cultural contexts, and social work interventions pertinent to at risk youth populations. Students assess behavioral, emotional, and situational problems facing youth in our society today.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course examines social policies and interventions that address child abuse including neglect and abandonment. Students explore child abuse relative to historical, legal, policy, treatment and prevention. Special topics include attachment, separation, and the long-term effects of abuse on the developing child and the associated risk factors such as substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the social worker’s role with service members, veterans and their families. Students explore services and resources in a variety of settings to include community, government, education, health and mental health. Special topics include military culture, educating stakeholders, advocacy through the social worker’s knowledge of legislative, regulatory, and other associated policies that ensure optimal care for the military population.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course introduces students to international social work and the theoretical underpinnings for social work practice in contemporary settings. Students examine the history, environment, culture, socioeconomic factors and social welfare policies in various geographic locations around the world. Special topics include but are not limited to global poverty, health disparities, treatment of women, population growth and migration. Students will analyze and employ critical thinking skills in a variety of models that demonstrate prevention and or intervention of international social work practice.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course introduces students to social work intervention aimed at addiction prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. Students receive an overview of a variety of addiction theories used in social work practice. Special topics include psychosocial factors affecting both the identification and treatment of substance abusers, the impact of substance abuse on the user, families, and society.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the biological, psychological, and social aspects facing older adults in our society. Students learn underling theories and skill sets for direct practice in social work with older adults. The course focuses on social agencies and other service resources for the elderly, and the associated policies and legal issues that most affect the lives of older adults. Special topics include challenges and opportunities in late life and the associated impact on caregivers’ family members of older adults.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course focuses on child protective services social workers role to ensure the safety and well-being of children living in households where abuse or neglect may be taking place. These social workers may provide counseling to families where poor parenting practices are endangering children. They may identify resources for the troubled families. In some cases, child protective services workers may remove endangered children and arrange adoptions or find foster care for them.

Credits

3