BASW: Course Descriptions

Core Courses

TSOCWF 300 Historical Approaches to Social Welfare (3) I&S

Stresses the origin of social welfare policies, beginning with the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601. Issues of poverty, as well as development of publicly funded income-maintenance programs, and an understanding of the historical roots of the social work are central. Required of Social Welfare majors. Open to nonmajors.

TSOCWF 310 Social Welfare Practice I (3)

Provides an introduction to the roles, tasks, and functions of the social welfare practitioner and to the theories and methods of intervention; a conceptual framework for social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups; and an opportunity to develop skills in problem assessment, intervention, termination, and evaluation.

TSOCWF 311 Social Welfare Practice II (3)

Introduction to the roles, tasks and functions of the social welfare practitioner and to theories and methods of intervention; a conceptual framework for social work practice with individuals, families and small groups; and an opportunity to develop skills in problem assessment, intervention, termination and evaluation. Prerequisite: TSOCWF 310.

TSOCWF 312 Social Welfare Practice III (3)

Focus on macro systems in a diverse society using the generalist perspective. The implications of system resources and configurations for meeting human needs are considered. The role and function of generalist social workers to understand and advocate for system development and change is emphasized. Prerequisite: TSOCWF 311.

TSOCWF 320 Social Welfare: Contemporary Approaches (3) I&S

Current policy and program developments in the social welfare field. Topics include income maintenance proposals, the emergence of programs to treat specific social dysfunctioning (mental health services) and the growth of a service-oriented society. Required of social welfare majors. Open to nonmajors.

TSOCWF 390 Introduction to Social Welfare Research (5)

Introduction to the logic of the scientific method as applied to social work/welfare practice, design and conduct of a research study, data collection and summarization. Skill development in critical consumption of social welfare research. Prerequisite: Introductory Statistics course with a 2.0 or C grade or higher.

TSOCWF 402 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3) I&S

Focuses on person-in-the-environment for individuals and family development across the lifespan. Utilizes developmental and social systems perspectives in seeking to understand and influence human behavior across diverse backgrounds. Addresses dynamics and processes of families, small groups, organizations, and community systems.

TSOCWF 403 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3) I&S

Focuses on person-in-the-environment for small groups, organizations, community and society as systems. Utilizes developmental and social systems perspectives in seeking to understand and influence human behavior across diverse backgrounds. Prerequisite: TSOCWF 402.

TSOCWF 404 Cultural Diversity and Social Justice (5) I&S

History and culture of disadvantaged and oppressed groups served by social welfare generalist practioners. Open to nonmajors with department permission.

TSOCWF 405 Practicum Seminar (3, max. 9)

Integrates social work practicum experiences with prior and concurrent course work in social sciences, social work and research. Includes discussion of class presentations and simulations or practice situations that combine knowledge and skill utilization. Student logs provide a basis for individual goal identification and achievement. Required of all social welfare seniors. Prerequisite: TSOCWF 312.

TSOCWF 415 Practicum (4, max. 12)

Students are placed in selected social service agencies and accept beginning social service assignments under the supervision of a competent agency personnel. Credit/No Credit only. Prerequisite: TSOCWF 312.

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Electives

TSOCWF 202 Perspectives on Doing Service (5) I&S

Explores the philosophical, spiritual, cultural, and value concepts that undergird helping and altruistic behaviors by individuals and groups in a global society. Service learning is included in explorations of what helping and service mean in daily life and the professional work world. Open to nonmajors.

TSOCWF 350 Biopsychosocial Human Services (5) I&S, NW, W

Examination of human life at the cellular level contextualized through the social environment. Emphasis upon cells, systems and individual development and functioning. Coverage of relevant theoretical frameworks commonly used in biological sciences, human services, and social work will be used to address biological issues with clients in social and community contexts. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 351 Applied Statistics for Social and Human Services (5) QSR, NW

Application of statistical methods for use in social and human services. Examines purpose and use of social statistics to include analyzing the relationships between variables as a tool for conducting research; central tendencies and dispersion; probability; descriptive statistics; statistical inference and hypothesis testing; and bivariate analysis. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 352 Women in the Criminal Justice System (5) I&S

Explores the history, societal impact, and future of women within the US criminal justice system. Focuses on factors which contribute to female incarceration including poverty, physical and sexual victimization, chemical dependency and major mental illness. Gender-responsive strategies designed for advocacy and empowerment address major economic and social justice issues. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 353 Mental Illness and Recovery (5) I&S

Provides an overview of persistent and disabling mental illness among adults. Combines classroom and experimental learning. Students learn directly from service providers and consumers the challenges of living with serious mental illness and within health and social welfare system constraints. Recommended: Introductory psychology. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 354 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (5) I&S

This course focuses on legal and sociopolitical topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity using social justice and empowerment perspectives. The framing of such topics at the local, national, and global level is emphasized, as is the intersectionality of sexual and gender identity with other aspects of human diversity. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 409 Readings in Social Welfare (1-5, max. 15)

Student-originated, individually contracted projects on topics of interest in social welfare/ social work not covered by other Social Work Program offerings.

TSOCWF 420 Interpersonal Violence and Society (5) I&S

Explores interpersonal violence from both sociological and psychological frameworks. Understanding of the nature, dynamics and effects of interpersonal violence and the threads that connect personal and community violence. Will evaluate how best to prevent and decrease the amount of violence in society. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 421 Cross-Cultural Grieving (5) I&S

Examines spiritual, psychosocial, physical, and behavioral impacts of major loss on persons, families, and communities as it occurs in diverse North American ethnic and cultural communities. Exploration of death, dying, major family separations, divorce and refugee/immigration changes as it relates to grief, loss and mourning. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 422 Aging in American Society (5) I&S

Covers physical and psychological processes of aging. Social aspects of aging related to family roles, cultural, social support and use of health and social services will be included. Home and community based services and how those services may need to change in the 21st century will be reviewed. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 423 Risk and Ethics in Human Enterprises (5) I&S

Values, ethics, risk management, and the law are explored in depth as they relate to the provision of human services programs, and other professional disciplines. Topics include: conflict of interest, duty of care, duty to warn, privacy and confidentiality, risk analysis, and ethical decision making. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 424 Information Technology and Human Service (5) I&S

In depth exploration of the impact of information technology on human service agencies and their consumers. Topics include: changing human service practice, human service websites, online therapy and self-help information, and technology-based social problems. Involves experiential learning. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 425 Comparative Social Welfare Policy (5) I&S

Explores current social policy issues in the United States, Canada, and Nordic countries from a comparative perspective. Examines history and political structures that influences implementation of social policies. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 450 International Comparisons of Current Issues (12) I&S

Provides an international comparison of social policy and social service delivery systems. In addition to a three-week intensive field component, students will complete relevant readings and conduct an independent research project on a relevant topic negotiated with the instructor. Open to nonmajors sophomore standing or higher.

TSOCWF 490 Research in Social Welfare (1-3, max. 10)

Individual work with faculty member to assist with current research project(s). Training and supervision in some or all of the following research tasks: literature review, data analysis, record-keeping, interviewing, report writing, data entry and coding, data collection, and other tasks commonly found in research problems in social welfare.