Social Work

48 semester hours

• Required Requisite Courses: SOC 102; SOSW 140, 220; SOC 254, 310, 312, 331; SOSW 371, 372, 373, 483, 484, Total of 6 elective credit from the following: SOSW 321, 325, 326; SOC 338, 342, 343, 377; SOCJ 354
• Corequisite (Directed GE) Courses: SOC 111, 231; PSY 100; POLS 211; ECON 111; BIOL 111
• A minimum overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required with a minimum 2.5 GPA required in the Social Work major
• Please see the university requirements in this catalog.

Freshman Year

Fall

Spring

Sophomore Year

Fall

Spring

Junior Year

Fall

Spring

Senior Year

Fall

Spring

For more information, contact the department by calling 570-422-3453

Stroud Hall, Room 414 570-422-3453 www.esu.edu/soc

24 Semester Hours

The goal of the Social Work program is to provide students the educational background necessary for competent generalist social work practice in a range of human service settings and/or to pursue graduate study in social work or related disciplines.

• Required courses: SOSW 140; SOC 310, 331; SOSW 371, 372; SOC 486
• Electives: 6 semester hours from SOSW 321, 325, 326, 373
• Additional requirements: Directed GE: SOC 111; Student must have a 2.5 GPA in the minor.

Barbara Collins, Chair (bcollins@po-box.esu.edu)

Associate Professors:

John Kraybill-Greggo (jkgreggo@po-box.esu.edu)

Reto Muller (rmuller@po-box.esu.edu)

Hooshang Pazaki (shpazaki@po-box.esu.edu)

Assistant Professors:

Laurene Clossey (lclossey@po-box.esu.edu)

Marianne Cutler (mcutler@po-box.esu.edu)

Chin Hu (chu@po-box.esu.edu)

Gerard LaSalle (glasalle@po-box.esu.edu)

Instructor:

Michael Muth (mmuth@po-box.esu.edu)

SOSW 140 Foundations of Social Work Practice (3)

• This course is designed to introduce students with social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities as applicable to various social work fields of practice. It also introduces students to the historical foundations, contemporary knowledge base, core values, and ethical principles of the social work profession.

SOSW 220 Contemporary Social Work Practice (3)

• This course is designed to focus on contemporary issues and approaches in social work practice, and the responsibilities and ethics of a professional social worker. The course will also introduce students to the basic skills of helping. A limited field experience will enhance the classroom content and provide a venue for students to explore contemporary practice in a field of social work that interests them.

SOSW 321 Helping Philosophies and Methods for Social Workers (3)

• This course provides an introduction to the main modern therapies that professional social workers can use with their clients or take into consideration in making referrals. The main assumptions, concepts, and methods of dynamic psychotherapy, behavior therapy, and humanistic psychotherapy will be analyzed and illustrated. Prerequisite: SOSW 140. This course will not count for the Sociology major.

SOSW 322 Theory and Practice in Groups (3)

• The focus of this course is small group theory and practice as applicable to social work practice. Social work intervention with family groups, problem-centered groups, and social action focused groups will each be examined. Focus will be both on developing understanding of group dynamics and group process, and developing skills in group work practice. This course will not count for the Sociology major. Prerequisite: SOC 311.

SOSW 325 Crisis Intervention (3)

• This course will introduce students to the theoretical knowledge and practice skills necessary to competently intervene as crisis counselors in selected crisis situations. This course does not count for the Sociology major. Prerequisite: SOC 311 or permission of instructor.

SOSW 326 Child Welfare Services (3)

• This is a social welfare policy course providing a comprehensive study of principal child welfare policy and services. Supportive, supplementary, protective, substitute services will be covered with a special focus on the problem of child abuse and neglect. Emphasis will be on child welfare services as a field of social work practice. This course will not count toward the Sociology major. Prerequisite: SOSW 140.

SOSW 371 Social Work with Individuals & Families (3)

• This course provides the foundation for social work practice with individuals and families. It emphasizes the basic knowledge, analytic and practice skills, and values necessary for direct practice. Students will learn how to engage/join with individuals and families. Specific knowledge to assist students in both assessment and establishing goals for intervention will be covered. Pre-requisite(s): SOSW 140

SOSW 372 Social Work with Groups (3)

• The focus of this course is small group theory and practice as applicable to social work practice. Social work intervention with family groups, problem-centered groups, and social action focused groups will be examined. Focus will be both on developing understanding of group dynamics and group process, and developing skills in group work practice. Prerequisite: SOSW 140 and SOSW 371.

SOSW 373 Social Work with Communities and Organizations (3)

• This course focuses on developing knowledge and skills appropriate for social work practice with communities and organizations. The course designed to teach skills to influence the organizational context of practice, as well as community organizing and program development skills. Pre-requisite(s): SOSW 140, SOSW 371.

SOSW 483 Social Work Practice and Skills I (6)

• This course is designed to provide in-depth knowledge and skills in the professional practice of social work through an integrated class and agency-based learning experience. Major theories related to professional practice will be examined and skills in assessment, planning intervention, and evaluation will be developed. Emphasis is placed on the development of an increased understanding of the use of self in the professional social work role. This course will not count toward the sociology major. Pre-requisite(s): SOSW 140, 371, 372, 373.

SOSW 484 Social Work Practice and Skills II (6)

• This course is the second semester long experience designed to provide students with an advanced opportunity to apply in-depth social work knowledge, skills, values and ethics through an integrated class and agency-based learning experience. Students will complete a capstone project related to their agency-based experience. Students must receive a minimum of a C in SOSW 483 to be able to register for the course. This course will not count toward the sociology major. Pre-requisite(s): SOSW 140, SOC 310, 311, SOSW 371, 372, 373, 483.