SOWK 601. Prin & Prac of Gen SOWK Prac. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts, values, and assumptions of the social work profession and to provide a general overview of theories and models of social work practice. Students will focus on the initial phase of the social work intervention process that includes the development of effective helping relationships characterized by the ability to demonstrate genuineness, empathic caring and respect that leads to trustworthiness in social work practice. Students will apply social work concepts in collaborative experiential learning course activities and exercises. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-requisite(s): SOWK 602, 603, 604 & 605.

SOWK 602. Human Behavior & Soc Envrin I. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to provide a broad and essential human behavior framework that introduces evidence-based multi-theoretical and multidimensional behavioral perspectives for understanding the biological, psychological, spiritual, aspects of human behavior. Included will be content on the economic, political and complex sociocultural interactive factors that also impact and help shape the lives of individuals, families and groups in multicultural environments. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-requisite(s): SOWK 601, 603, 604 & 605.

SOWK 603. Gen SOWK Prac w/Ind. & Groups. (3 Credits)

This course builds on the introductory content in SOWK 601 and continues with presentation of the basic knowledge, assumptions, skills and values necessary to provide a range of social work intervention skill sets that help to maintain, enhance, restore, rehabilitate human services needs among client populations. This course introduces selected theories and practice models to guide intervention in social work practice with individuals and groups while emphasizing the multidimensional and diverse contexts in which problems and needs are assessed and in which interventions occur. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-requisite(s): SOWK 601, 602, 604 & 605.

SOWK 604. Gen SOWK Prac with Families. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to provide graduate level MSW students with the family theory/therapy practice models utilized for family therapy assessment and intervention in social work practice with families. The course will focus on the family as a natural social system in context and on strengths-based perspectives in family functioning while attending to cultural diversity as well as the differences in family structure and developmental tasks among various populations groups. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-requisite(s): SOWK 601, 602, 603 & 605.

SOWK 605. Fou Field Prac I & Int Seminar. (3 Credits)

Students are assigned for two days (15 field hours) per week for 15 weeks (200+ field hours), in program-assigned social work field practice settings. This field practicum provides the required program curriculum practice opportunities for students to apply and master essential social work generalist practice knowledge, values and skills under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, and monitored by an assigned program faculty field liaison. The field practicum emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the foundation curriculum and includes an on-campus weekly 60 minute required integrative field seminar group session for all registered students in SOWK 605. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 601, 602, 603 & 604.

SOWK 607. ADVSTD SOWK Practice II. (3 Credits)

This course focuses on the phases of the social work intervention process and reviews the basic concepts, values, assumptions, and skill sets of the social work practice that help to maintain, restore, rehabilitate human services needs among diverse client populations. The course reviews selected social work theories and practice models to guide intervention in social work practice with individuals, families and groups while also emphasizing the multidimensional and diverse contexts in which problems and needs are assessed and in which interventions occur. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 608, 609 & 610.

SOWK 608. ADVSTD SOWK Research Methods. (3 Credits)

This course reviews the methods of social work research including problem formulation, research designs, measurement, data collection and sampling. Students will work with the research instructor to complete a trauma-focused research proposal, the first phase of a required research project that will be finalized and presented in SOWK 638, the program specialization research capstone course. The completed research project paper is the benchmark trauma-focused assignment. The date of submission and presentation is to be determine by the Program. Students must earn a grade of “B” or better for this competency-based capstone assignment. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 607, 609 & 610.

SOWK 609. ADVSTD Cult Div Soc Wel Pol Pr. (3 Credits)

This course provides generalist practice students with the historical evolutionary background of social policy, and current policy practice approaches in social welfare services, organizations and communities. The course introduces the value-based role of social workers as advocates and change agents in policy formulation, in social and economic justice methods, and in legislative, community and organizational arenas. The course introduces and emphasizes the application of socio-behavioral intervention models and analytical frameworks for assessing program organizational and policy efficacy. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 607, 608 & 610.

SOWK 610. ADVSTD Field Prac I & Inte Sem. (3 Credits)

Students are assigned for two days (15 field hours) per week for 15 weeks (200 field hours) in program-assigned social work field practice settings. This field practicum provides the required program curriculum practice opportunities for students to apply and master essential social work generalist practice knowledge, values and skills under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, and monitored by an assigned program faculty field liaison. The field practicum emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the foundation curriculum and includes an on-campus weekly 60 minute required integrative field seminar group session for all registered students in SOWK 610. Prerequisite(s): N/A Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 607, 608 & 609.

SOWK 615. Hum Behav in the Soc Env II. (3 Credits)

This course that covers content on critical life course human development theories beginning with conception and following development through adolescence, middle and late adulthood. In addition, students will examine the significant influence, roles, functions and identified traumatic effects of oppressive environmental factors on individual biological, psychological, social and spiritual coping and adaptation. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 605 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 616, 617, 618 & 619.

SOWK 616. Social Science Res Methods. (3 Credits)

This course introduces the methods of social work research, including problem formulation, research designs, measurement, data collection and sampling. The course focuses on the application of critical thinking skills, diversity and effective research methods for clinical social work practice. This course also covers evaluation of social work programs and services. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 605 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 615, 617, 618 & 619.

SOWK 617. Div & Cul Comp in SOWK Prac. (3 Credits)

This course covers content designed to enhance student self-awareness, recognition, understanding and appreciation of diversity among societal population groups as well as recognize and appreciate the many forms of multicultural differences in society as a whole. The course also helps students identify and analyze oppression resulting from persisting social, educational, political, economic, religious and legal inequalities. The course provides a focus on the experiences of oppressed groups in the United States to help increase student competency in both recognition and understanding of the strengths, needs and responses to oppressive societal conditions and experiences. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 605 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 615, 616, 618 & 619.

SOWK 618. Gen Prac II- Comm & Org. (3 Credits)

This course presents social work theory and practice that focuses on social policy, communities, agencies and organizations and the related social and economic justice principles in macro practice. Course content introduces and analyzes the specific skill sets in social work policy practice and provides skill building in advocacy, planned change and policy and organizational analysis. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 605 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 615, 616, 617 & 619.

SOWK 619. Field Prac II & Int Sem II. (3 Credits)

Students are assigned for two days (14 hours per week for 15 weeks – 200+ field hours) in program-assigned social work field practice settings. This field practicum provides the required program curriculum practice opportunities for students to apply and master essential social work generalist practice knowledge, values and skills under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by an assigned program faculty field liaison. The field practicum emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the foundation curriculum and includes an on-campus weekly 60 minute required integrative field seminar group session for all registered students in SOWK 619. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 605 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 615, 616, 617 & 618.

SOWK 644. SOWK in the Soc Serv Environ. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to focus on the recognition and identification of the special needs as well as the ethnicity and diversity of underrepresented, economically insecure and/or other marginalized client groups such as bisexual and transgender individuals, single-parent, gay and lesbian families and other differences when providing social work services in private and public social services environments. An important focus of this course is the backdrop of public service politics and service characteristics that may be identified in public social services environments. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 619 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.

SOWK 645. Trauma and Substance Use. (3 Credits)

This elective course is designed to examine theory-based approaches to recognize, identify and address the significant impact of substance use on bio-psychosocial functioning of individual and families in their environments. The content identifies the evidence-based multidimensional correlations between developmental trauma and other types of trauma experiences and substance use based on the DSM 5 assessment of substance use impairments. Important for student social work practice are the substance use screening, assessment and intervention strategies provided for work with clients challenged by substance use impairments. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 619 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.

SOWK 646. Tra-Inf Care in Org Settings. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to introduce the trauma-informed care and resilience approach/paradigm for organizational settings. The course correlates with content in SOWK 648 and 649 and focuses on a broad ecological explanatory perspective to explain individual and family developmental responses to biopsychosocial environmental stressors and the impact on organizational and community development. The course specifically identifies and underscores the influence of trauma on neurological and socio-emotional behavioral responses of individuals and groups in organizations and the effects of trauma on emotional dysregulation behavioral responses. The course introduces the seven significant principles of trauma-informed care changes and advocacy intervention strategies that define a trauma-informed organizational paradigm and principles of resiliency. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 619 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.

SOWK 648. Tra-Inf Clinical SOWK Sch Sett. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to introduce the trauma-informed care and resilience approach/paradigm for clinical social work in school settings. The course correlates with content in SOWK 649 and focuses on a broad ecological explanatory perspective to explain the interdependence of school, family and community and identifies and underscores the influence of trauma on neurological and socio-emotional behavioral responses of children in school settings. The course introduces the seven overriding principles of trauma-informed care and advocacy strategies that may be utilized in the school setting to assist with the development of trauma-informed care intervention principles. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 619 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.

SOWK 720. Tra & Resiliency in SOWK Prac. (3 Credits)

This course provides a clinical definition and overview of the concept of trauma, the types of trauma, the broad range of traumatic experiences and the effects of trauma on biopsychosocial development at the individual, family, community and institutional levels. Relatedly, the accompanying focus on resilience, including an overview of factors that promote resilience over the course of trauma and life after trauma, will be introduced to students as a concept central for understanding and intervention with client populations who are survivors of various types of traumatic experiences. Prerequisite(s): Two Year Program - SOWK 619 Prerequisite(s): Advanced Standing Program - SOWK 610 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 725, 726, 727 & 728.

SOWK 725. DSM-5:Diff Ass & Dia Clin SOWK. (3 Credits)

This course covers a range of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders that are diagnosed from childhood through the adulthood life span. The course examines the etiology and classification of these conditions and the significance of biopsychosocial spiritual and cultural differential diagnostic assessment in clinical social work practice. Additionally, the course introduces basic knowledge of the most common psychopharmacologic agents as they are commonly prescribed to treat and manage the most frequently diagnosed mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Prerequisite(s): Two Year Program - SOWK 619 Prerequisite(s): Advanced Standing Program - SOWK 610 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 720, 726, 727 & 728.

SOWK 726. Neuroscience & SOWK Practice. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to provide MSW students with the neurobiological perspective that supports the human development process. The course emphasizes the neurobiological contribution to the person-in-environment self-regulatory capacity that includes emotional reactivity (dysregulation, auto-regulation and co-regulation), all requisite for differential bio-psychosocial assessment and practice application in social work intervention. The course emphasizes the knowledge and understanding of theoretical perspectives of the transactions between the biologic individual and environment that help shape and condition cognition, emotions and behavior as significant factors during differential assessment and intervention planning with diverse individuals and families in clinical social work practice. Prerequisite(s): Two Year Program - SOWK 619 Prerequisite(s): Advanced Standing Program - SOWK 610 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 720, 725, 727 & 728.

SOWK 727. Tra-Inf Clinic SOWK Prac w/Fam. (3 Credits)

This graduate level trauma-informed course is designed to provide clinical students with advanced multi-theoretical family therapy perspectives including specialized research and theory-based family therapy trauma focused interventions. The course will focus on the family as a natural social system in context and on strengths-based perspectives in family functioning while attending to the effects of trauma on family structure and developmental tasks. Primary emphasis is on the mastery of family theory/therapy-based assessment principles and intervention strategies inclusive of trauma-informed treatment strategies for effective intervention outcomes. Prerequisite(s): Two Year Program - SOWK 619 Prerequisite(s): Advanced Standing Program - SOWK 610 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 720, 725, 726 & 728.

SOWK 728. Spe Field Prac & Integ Semin I. (3 Credits)

Students spend 21 hours per week in the field (250+ field hours). This is the initial course of a two-course sequence that is designed to provide agency-based field practice instruction with planned opportunities to master advanced social work application of theory knowledge, values, and skills and including a focus on trauma-informed intervention skills. Students assigned to the field practicum placement practice under the direction of the program-approved agency-based field instructor, monitored by a program faculty field liaison. The course emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the specialization curriculum and includes an on-campus weekly 60 minute required integrative field seminar group session for all registered students in SOWK 728. Prerequisite(s): Two Year Program - SOWK 619 Prerequisite(s): Advanced Standing Program - SOWK 610 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 720, 725, 726 & 727.

SOWK 735. Trauma & Attachment Theory. (3 Credits)

This course provides an in-depth coverage of attachment theory and the relationship between childhood trauma and types of attachment and the predictive role of childhood trauma on types of attachment. Specifically, the course examines the theoretical perspectives of attachment and evidence-based trauma correlations between early loss or absence of consistent caregiving. Early negative childhood experiences such as emotional, physical or sexual abuse and various forms of neglect are examined as primary types of early childhood experiences that create vulnerability to trauma and childhood developmental disorders that extend well into adulthood. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 736, 737 & 738.

SOWK 736. Tra-Inf Clinic SOWK Prac w/Grp. (3 Credits)

This advanced specialization course includes and builds on generalist social group work theory and intervention skills. The course is designed to provide research-based group theory perspectives and intervention strategies that focus on group experiential application/practice interventions and clinical skill sets for social work practice with diverse group client systems. Trauma-informed group theory perspectives and related trauma-informed clinical group practice skill will be identified and utilized in collaborative learning experiential group applications with in-class student-assigned group client systems. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 735, 737 & 738.

SOWK 737. Trama-Focus Research Capstone. (3 Credits)

This is the second and final research course in the MSW program. It builds on SOWK 616 in which students completed and submitted a trauma-focused research proposal. Program faculty were assigned individual students during the summer and fall semesters to continue with work with students on each student’s research project. In this course, students complete the research project, write and submit the report to the course instructor for a final course grade The completed research project paper is the capstone benchmark trauma-focused assignment. The date of submission is to be determined by the Program. Students must earn a B or better for this assignment. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 735, 736 & 738.

SOWK 738. Spec Field Prac & Integ Sem II. (3 Credits)

This is the second and a continuation of a two course field instruction course sequence. Students spend 21 hours per week (250+ field hours) in agency-based field practice instruction with planned opportunities to master advanced social work application of theory knowledge, values, and skills that includes a focus on trauma-informed intervention skills. Students are assigned to the field practicum placement course and practice under the direction of the program-approved agency-based field instructor and are monitored by a program faculty field liaison. The course emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the specialization curriculum and includes an on-campus weekly 60 minute required integrative field seminar group session for all registered students in SOWK 738. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): SOWK 735, 736 & 738.

SOWK 740. Financ Capability & Asset Bldg. (3 Credits)

The course provides an introduction to the field of financial capability and asset-building practice. The course also includes core content about economics. Financial capability and asset-building practice include content about wealth, poverty, personal household finance, financial access, and related economic concepts. Discussion is focused on economic and financial concepts as related individuals and families across the life-cycle and communities, with special attention financially fragile communities experiencing poverty and near-poverty. Social policy and policy change efforts related to these areas are also examined.

SOWK 741. Child Welfare & Social Work Po. (3 Credits)

This course is open to an array of students/majors in the University. This course is an elective for Master's Social Work students; and as a general elective for all other graduate students. This course focuses on selected public policies that support the basic needs of families as well as policies that drives the child welfare system and specific policies that govern the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, the educational and the various emotional and mental health systems. Students will learn about the impact of the policies' cultural, historical, mental health, and political aspects through lectures, videos, PowerPoint presentation, role plays, and other student-centered activities.

SOWK 747. Trauma in the Military. (3 Credits)

This course covers the multiple situations that military personnel experience which are identified as traumatizing events and experiences that independently or together, are major contributors for the development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorders in the military, as defined and described in the DSM 5 Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA, 2013). Multiple deployments, witnessing death or dismemberment or injury of fellow warriors, separation from family, conflict between civilian and military culture and military sexual trauma are some of the factors that will be explored as precipitants of trauma for male and female military personnel. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.

SOWK 749. Admn & Sup in Tra-Inf Sys Care. (3 Credits)

This course presents knowledge of organizational theories and provides strategies for problem-solving in the internal and external environments of organizations and programs and provides strategies for analyzing problems internal and external to the organization and program. The course also examines the tasks and responsibilities in supervision of the social worker and presents a trauma-informed theoretical framework for supervision in an organization with a focus on methods and skill sets for trauma-informed administrative and supervisory intervention and practice. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.

SOWK 750. Tra-Inf Ldrshp:Advoc & Pol Pra. (3 Credits)

This course presents a trauma-informed knowledge base and the attendant related skills for social work leadership in the administration, development and advocacy skill sets required in offering human social services programs that are socially and economically just. The course provides a specific focus on trauma-informed advocacy based on the traumatizing events that have occurred in the lives of individuals that underscore effective intervention and leadership processes. The course also explores underlying assumptions, political, and value-based ethical consideration in advocacy and policy practice planning and assists students in analyzing the sociopolitical context for effective leadership in policy practice settings. Prerequisite(s): SOWK 728 Co-Requisite(s): N/A.