Social Work Major

Starting with the basic principles, concepts and a historical perspective, the course will examine problems addressed by diverse social service programs and explore their activities.

Prerequisite: SWRK 101 and restricted to social work majors and minors. Explores how students' personal identity and experiences shape views of social, economic, and environmental justice issues affecting marginalized populations. Focuses on building upon this understanding to begin to develop cultural competence in preparation for social work practice with vulnerable client systems.

Prerequisites: None. The social, natural, and behavioral sciences are used to examine human behavior across the life span, especially as influenced by ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. Colonnade K-SY

Prerequisites: SWRK 378 and 379. An introduction to concepts, research design, and program evaluation in social work research. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills in utilizing research information in social work practice.

Prerequisites: None. This course introduces students to the fundamental aspects of case management (service coordination), including common case management roles, processes, responsibilities, and employment challenges. Major content areas include: case management roles (including advocate, broker, resource coordinator), the roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team (including nurses, social worker, physicians, and other disciplines), case management with special populations (forensic, geriatric, children, diverse populations), and the responsibilities of a case manager working in health care and mental health settings. Students will be introduced to the employment challenges of case management (types of programs that hire case managers, workforce retention issues, expectations of case manager, and job satisfaction). Students will develop familiarity with how case managers and clients interface with individual, group and family systems. Students will develop knowledge of case management ethics and explore common ethical dilemmas and boundaries issues that confront case managers.

Prerequisites:SWRK 330, restricted to social work majors. Corequisite: OR SWRK 330. Emphasizes development of knowledge, values, and skills necessary for effective interventions with individuals and families. Course content will be examined from an ecological social systems perspective that emphasizes empowerment and cultural competency.

Prerequisites: SWRK 330 and SWRK 375. The second of three practice classes that equip students with theory and skills for effective generalist social work practice with groups.

Prerequisites: SWRK 330 and SWRK 375. Study and practice of interviewing individuals, families, and groups. The skill of relationship building as it relates to both micro and macro practice of social work is emphasized.

Prerequisites: SWRK 378 and SWRK 379. The third of three practice classes that equip students with theory and skills for effective generalist social work practice with organizations and communities.

Prerequisites: SWRK 345 and SWRK 381. An understanding of the historical perspectives of social welfare policies as they affect current policy issues. Includes examination of the processes of policy formulation. Models of policy analysis assist students in identifying, and their impact on citizens representing a diversity of backgrounds.

Prerequisites: SWRK 378, 379, field director approval and senior standing. Corequisite: SWRK 481. Social Work practice experience in a social agency.

Prerequisites: SWRK 378, 379, and admission to the field internship, and senior standing. Corequisites: SWRK 480. Integration of the knowledge, skills, values, and experiences gained in the internship.

Prerequisites: SWRK 480/481. Corequisite: SWRK 483. Continued social work practice experience in a social service agency.

Prerequisites: SWRK 480/481. Corequisites: SWRK 482. Integrates the knowledge, skills, values, and experiences gained during the second semester of the internship.

A survey Course of the mental health delivery system in the United States. Services and issues will be discussed.

Prerequisite: 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses or junior status. This course engages students in the analysis of the nature and impact of economics, political and social ideologies, and cultural forces that shape the development of social welfare policies impacting diverse populations in the United States and abroad. The course emphasizes comparative approaches to the analysis of welfare policies influencing service delivery locally and globally.  Policies covered include those that address: poverty, public assistance, health and behavioral health care, criminal justice, child welfare, food insecurity, and homelessness. Specific attention will be paid to the implications of social welfare policies for economic, environmental, and social justice issues and their impact on marginalized populations. Colonnade K-LG

Prerequisite: 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses or junior status. Relationships between the environment and inequity with regard to race/ethnicity and social class are explored by introducing key theories, policies and intervention skills related to environmental justice.  Colonnade K-SY

Prerequisite: None. Clinicians and researchers have become increasingly aware that the effects of trauma suffered by one generation have physical and psychological effects on their descendants. These consequences manifest in higher rates of physical illness, mental health issues, addiction disorders, and the breakdown of family and community structures. This course introduces students to the concepts associated with intergenerational trauma. Emphasis is placed on resilience, multicultural issues, and systems factors. Course objectives are achieved using experiential exercises, class discussions, didactic presentations, podcasts, and/or films, which encourage students to develop skills in critical thinking. 

Prerequisite: None. Prepares students to recognize the repercussions of opioid addiction, address root causes of the crisis, and review federal, state, and local policies aimed at reducing opioid use. The role of the social environment, implications of culture, access, and policy regarding substance abuse services are applied to opioid-related issues. 

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. This course will provide an analysis of women's status and position within our society, based on the premise that women's experiences emerge from society's political, social, and economic structures. Content areas emphasized include women and social change, violence, poverty, men, and feminist change strategies.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. This course focuses on individual and societal aspects of aging with emphasis on programs, resources and services to meet with the social tasks of later life.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. The nature and extent of delinquency, structure, and function of the juvenile court will be stressed. Emphasis will be on the provision of services to the juvenile offenders and their families.

Prerequisites: SWRK 101 or permission of instructor. An examination of professional ethics and common ethical dilemmas in social work. Models of ethical decision making are applied in case vignettes.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. A survey of institutional and community services with focus on principles of social services for children and their families.

Prerequisite: None. This course is designed to increase knowledge and competence in the area of social work services delivered to military personnel, Veterans and their families. Knowledge, values and skills required to work with the special population will be covered, along with evidence-based interventions that would be best suited for this area of social work practice.

Prerequisite: SWRK 101 or PSY 100 or PSYS 100. Comprehensive exploration of trauma with a focus on understanding trauma events, symptoms, theoretical practices and assessment relevant to social services and mental health.  

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Comprehensive introduction to child abuse and neglect from a social work perspective. The extent to the problem, effects on children, treatment issues, social worker's role, and advocacy on behalf of individuals and families are explored. This course is the first of two specific course requirements for the Public Child Welfare Certification Program available through WKU and the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children.

Prerequisites: SWRK 375 and 450. Second of two specific course requirements for the Public Child Welfare Certification Program available through WKU and the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children. Covers various practice skills and treatment interventions related to social work with abused neglected children and their families. Students will have several opportunities to develop their own skills through a variety of teaching methods.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. This course permits in-depth examination of selected topics in social work. The specific topics vary. May be repeated with different topics.

Prerequisites: Junior standing and consent of director. Available to students who wish to conduct individual, intensive reading and research in a specific area of social work, in close cooperation with supervising faculty. Approval required prior to enrollment.