Courses

Course requirements for SW major:

Social Work 101, 102, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 401, 402, 403, 490
Anthropology 201
Biology 110 or 115
Political Science 247

Strongly recommended, but not required: Sociology 101, Pscychology 130,
Economics 130

Recommended for those considering graduate study in social work: Sociology 350 (social statistics)

Social work 101, 102, and 201 may be taken by first-year students. Typically, one or more prerequisite courses such as introductory sociology and general psychology are also taken in the first year. One semester in the senior year is devoted entirely to off-campus field instruction in a selected social service organization and a concurrent professional seminar. Work experience does not provide exemption from academic coursework.

Students registering for social work 102 or above need to consult with a social work adviser for approval of course plans. A social work student handbook is available which explains the policies and procedures related to the major.

Students are also encouraged to study abroad if possible since cross-cultural understanding is important in social work. Proficiency in another language can also be very useful, particularly Spanish.

There are many elective courses that support the social work major. The nature of social work is such that all knowledge, skills, talents, wisdom, and life experience will be used. Students considering the social work major are encouraged to take advantage of the rich variety of offerings at Luther and take courses in other areas of interest. Students are also encouraged to participate in the wide variety of co curricular activities offered at the college and in the community.

The social work major is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the baccalaureate level, allowing students to gain advanced standing at many graduate schools of social work.

Course requirements for Social Welfare minor:

Social Work: 101, 302, 303

Two additional courses selected from:

Social Work 102, 185, 304, 305
Anthropology 201
Sociology 345, 350 (or an equivalent course in statistics)
Biology 110, 115
Political Science 247
** In the minor, Political Science 247 and SW 201 are not prerequisites to
SW 304

The social welfare minor introduces students to the issues of public good both historically and in the present. It focuses on the development of social welfare and the behavior of individuals and families in the context of their social environment. The minor helps provide a comprehensive understanding of the social welfare system in the United States, the values behind it, and the social issues facing our nation in the coming century; it does not provide the specific skills needed for actual social work practice. Graduate schools of social work examine the course work taken in approved, accredited undergraduate programs on a case-by-case basis and allow students to have advanced standing if they have taken certain courses in undergraduate social work. Though some course requirements are the same, students may not major in social work and minor on social welfare.

101 Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare 4 hours
A survey course covering the development of the social welfare institution and the social work profession in the United States. Included is information on how social welfare and social work impact on diverse populations, populations at risk, and promotion of social and economic justice in our society. Content on social work values and ethics is interspersed throughout the course. Includes comparisons with social welfare systems in other countries and the relationship between social work and other human service professions. (HB,E)
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102 Social Work Field Experience 4 hours
Full time supervised field experience as a participant-observer in a social service agency. Prerequisite: 101, or consent of instructor.
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139, 239, 339, 439 Special Topics Credit arr.
Courses offered under this tiel are inteded to introduce students in a formal way to the variety of issues, methods, and settings in social work practice. Topics may include: mental health, child welfare, aging, chemical dependency, and rural social work.
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185 First Year Seminar 4 hours
A variety of seminars for first-year students offered each January term.
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186 Service Learning in Crisis Intervention 1 hour
Building on the knowledge and skills learned in social work/women and gender studies 185 (Crisis Intervention: Interpersonal Violence), this course will provide students an opportunity to engage in a service-learning field experience and seminar. The field experience and seminar will allow students to blend their educational goals around the issues of interpersonal violence with the needs of local communities. Service-learning plans will be designed to meet the skills, abilities, and interests of the students while addressing community issues related to interpersonal violence. A minimum of 40 hours will be spent in a service-learning field placement. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will plan, prepare, implement, and evaluate their service learning. A two-hour seminar will be held every two weeks throughout the semester. (Same as women and gender studies 186.) Prerequisite: 185 (Crisis Intervention: Interpersonal Violence) offered only to first-year students during January term, or consent of instructor.
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201 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice I 4 hours
An introduction to the generalist method of social work practice. This course provides a foundation model for social work practice which is built and expanded upon in 303 and 401. Prerequisite: 101 and 102, or consent of instructor.
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301 Social Work Practice II 4 hours
Applies the generalist model learned in 201 to social work practice with families and groups. Skills for family and group work are developed through a laboratory group and an experience leading a group in the community. Prerequisite: 201
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302 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I 4 hours
This course focuses on theories of human behavior and the interaction between behavior and the social environment. The course develops a conceptual framework for social work practice by examining knowledge and theory related to the development of human behavior across the life span in relation to individuals' emotional, spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and cultural contexts. A life cycle approach is used to understand the experience of individuals in their environment and explore theories of human behavior and responses to life cycle challenges. Human diversity, global perspectives, and an eco-systems approach to understanding human behavior are emphasized. Prerequisites: 101, bio 110 or 115, or consent of instructor. (HBSSM)
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304 Social Welfare Policies, Programs, and Issues 4 hours
An examination of social welfare policy from a theoretical basis to policy as a dimension of generalist social work practice. Includes a study of contemporary social welfare issues, programs and legislation. Emphasis is placed on issues relating to how social policy impacts on human diversity, populations at risk, and social and economic justice in the United States. Content on social work values and ethics is interspersed throughout the course. Prerequisites: 101, 202, 303 (which may be taken concurrently) political science 247, or consent of instructor. (S)
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305 Research Methods for Social Work 4 hours
An introduction to social work research designed to increase the generalist practitioner’s ability to understand, evaluate, and utilize the research literature for practice. A wide variety of social work research methods are examined with an emphasis on doing practice research. Prerequisites: 101, junior standing, or consent of instructor. Soc 301 and 350 may be substituted with consent. Soc 101, psych 130, econ 130 are recommended. (HBSSM, R. W)
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395 Independent Study 1-4 hours
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401 Social Work Practice III 4 hours
Application of the generalist model to working with task groups in organizations and communities and how this work impacts on human diversity, populations at risk, and social and economic justice. Content on social work values and ethics is interspersed throughout the course. A knowledge base and skills for community social work will be developed. Prerequisite: 301, or consent of instructor.
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402 Field Instruction in Social Work Practice 8 hours
A fourteen week (one semester) block field placement in a human service agency with professional supervision, providing educationally directed practical experience, and supplemented by an on-campus professional seminar. Taken concurrently with 403. Prerequisites: all courses required for the major and consent of instructor.
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403 Professional Seminar 4 hours
Emphasis on integration of previous course content and the application of social work ethics, values, skills, and knowledge. Work-related issues of field placement are studied in preparation for generalist social work practice. Students give presentations to the class based upon their field learning. Taken concurrently with 402. Prerequisites: all courses required for the major and consent of instructor.
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485 Seminar Credit arr.
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490 Senior Project 1-4 hours
A continuation of learning from 301. Students write papers on the research they have conducted relevant to social work practice.
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493 Senior Honors Project 4 hours
A year-long independent research project. Applications are completed on the "Honors Program" form available at the registrar’s office, requiring the signatures of a faculty supervisor, the department head, and honors program director, and the registrar. Interdisciplinary projects require the signatures of two faculty supervisors. The project must be completed by the date due for senior projects. The completed project is evaluated by a review committee consisting of the faculty supervisor, another faculty member from the major department, and a faculty member from outside the major department. All projects must be presented publicly. Only projects awarded an "A- or A" qualify for "department honors" designation. The honors project fulfills the all-college senior project requirement. (R, W)
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101 Introduction to Sociology (Sociology 101) 4 hours
Introduction to the sociological perspective, utilizing concepts from sociology, anthropology, and social psychology, together with the philosophy and methodologies of the behavioral sciences. Prerequisite to all other sociology courses. (F, S)
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350 Social Statistics (Sociology 350) 4 hours
A first course in statistics which introduces descriptive and inferential statistical tools as they apply to the social sciemces. Prerequisites: soc 101, mathematics 110 or above. (F)
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130 General Psychology (Psychology 130) 4 hours
An introduction to the field of psychology intended for both majors and non-majors. Topics covered include social processes, personality, emotional disorders, development, thinking, testing, learning, motivation, perception, psychobiology, and animal behavior. This course is prerequisite to all other psychology courses. (F, S)
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115 Human Anatomy (Biology 115) 4 hours
A basic gross anatomy course including dissection of the cat with reference and comparison made to human organ systems. For non-biology majors. Lectures and laboratory. No prerequisite. (S)
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130 Principles of Economics (Economics 130) 4 hours
An introduction to the uses of economic theory in the analysis of problems emergent in large societies. Specific topics include consumer choice, decision making by firms in price taking and price searching situations, and inflation and aggregate employment analysis. No prerequisite. When given for 3 hours the course does not satisfy the core requirement for any major offered in the economics and business department. (F, J, S)
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247 An Introduction to Social Policy (Political Science 247) 4 hours
More than thirty years after President Johnson declared a "War on Poverty," poverty still persists in America. What has gone wrong? Where do we go from here? This course will study the ideas of scholars who propose different answers to these questions. In addition, two issues will be emphasized throughout the course: the feminization of poverty and racial inequality. (Same as women’s studies 247.) (F or J or S)
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