Minor in Social Work
The Social Work Minor is designed for:
- those students majoring in areas related to social work who may need knowledge of social welfare and social services
- those students interested in combining a primary academic area such as sociology, political science, or psychology with social welfare and professional social work content
The Social Work Minor consists of four required courses and one elective course (15 hours). Minor requirements include Community Social Services, Historical and Contemporary Developments in American Social Welfare, Social Welfare Policy Analysis and Advocacy and Human Behavior Theory. Students may also study the legal environment of social work; explore social work issues related to schools, children, African American families, multicultural social work, health care, and substance abuse; or complete a more in-depth independent study.
If interested, contact BSW Advisor Susie Mallard Barnes , 1911 Building, room 202 A
Application form for Social Work minor ( DOC 
| PDF 
)
Social Course Offerings in the Minor
Required Courses
- SW 201 Community Social Services. Study of the social services typical of American communities including services for children, families, and older persons; and services in such settings as mental health, criminal and juvenile justice, and business; volunteer work required.
- SW 290 The Development of Social Welfare and Social Work in the United States. A review of the major policy and program developments in American social welfare and the parallel emergence and development of the social work profession.
- SW 307 Social Welfare Policy: Analysis and Advocacy. Social welfare policy analysis and social work advocacy skill development. Recent changes in national and state social welfare policies and programs in major areas such as welfare, housing, health and mental health care, juvenile justice and rural development.
- SW 310 Human Behavior Theory for Social Work Practice. Theory regarding human social functioning for students intending to practice social work. Emphasis on social, biological, psychological, and cultural factors in human life.
Elective Courses
- SW 312 Multi-Cultural Social Work. Study of social service provision to diverse populations with particular emphasis on implications for social work practice. Population groups will include African Americans, Asian Americans, Caucasians, Gays and Lesbians, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and selected religious groups.
- SW 412 Social Work in Schools. Practice models and roles relevant to school social work. Emphasis on cooperative work with school personnel in the identification, prevention and treatment of social, emotional and behavioral problems of children and interventive techniques with parents and community groups. Designed for individuals preparing for social work practice in the public schools and for school social workers seeking certification.
- SW 413 African American Families: History, Tradition, and Community. This course prepares students to be sensitive and responsive to the cultural norms of Black Families (African American, and other African people who are now living in the United States). The course provides an opportunity to learn about Black families, their relationship to other social institutions, social policy development, social advocacy and the significance of their history and heritage.
- SW 414 Social Work Practice in Health Care. Practice skills and knowledge required of social workers in health care systems. Multi-disciplinary teamwork in health care. Social components of major illness and disabilities including prevention and rehabilitation. Emotional, cultural, economic and social factors in health and illness. Health needs of specific population groups.
- SW 415 Child Welfare. Focuses on social work practice with children, youth, their parents and substitute parents. Emphasizes development of diagnostic case planning activities that support, augment or substitute for the family. Includes methods of protective services that focus on the maintenance, improvement and/or restoration of the social functioning of parents and children.
- SW 416 Substance Abuse and Social Work Practice. This course focuses on social work methods for prevention, identification, assessment, treatment, and referral of persons with alcohol and other drug-related problems. The course will combine theory and practice to prepare the BSW with basic competency in working with this population in a variety of settings. Subjects examined include the substance of addiction (effects, signs, and symptoms); models of addiction and treatment; family dynamics; addiction and special populations; social costs of substance abuse and dependence; prevention and ethical issue.
- SW 420 The Legal Aspects of Social Work. This course explores the roles of the social worker in the legal field. Legal terms and procedures and the state and federal courts systems are studied. The legal aspects of protective services for children and adults, the child support laws and the juvenile justice systems are examined. Students receive experience in locating and using legal records.
- SW 495 Special Topics in Social Work. Detailed investigation of a topic in social work. Topic and mode of study determined by faculty member. The number of credit hours determined by instructor. Special topic courses which are not permanent course offerings are designated by letter (for example A).
- SW 498 Independent Study in Social Work. Independent study of a social work practice or social welfare area. The number of credit hours determined by instructor and student.
Any student seeking to minor must do the following:
- Consult with a minor advisor on a plan of work.
- File a copy of the plan of work in the Department of Social Work.
- File a copy of the plan and application for a minor with the major advisor at least one semester before graduation, and
- Attach a transcript or degree audit to verify completion of social work courses
