Introduction to Social Work Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Course

SOCW-2361-001 Introduction to Social Work

Prerequisites

Course Description

Development of the philosophy and practice of social work in the United States; survey of the fields and techniques of social work; attention given to requirements for graduate training and social work.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Required Text:  Du Bois, B. & Miley, K.K. (2011).  Social Work - An Empowering Profession. (7th edition). Boston, MA:  Allyn & Bacon

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\ Required Autobiography:  Walls, Jeanette (2005).  The Glass Castle. New York, NY: Scribner

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\ Grammar Reference:  Elliot, Rebecca (2006).  Painless Grammar.  Canada:  Barron's Educational Series

Supplies

\ # 2 pencils, 4 Scantrons, paper and pens for notetaking.

Student Performance

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1.  Discuss the development of social welfare in this country.

2.  Discuss the development of social work as a recognized profession.

3.  Appreciate the broad range of professional responsibilities and skills that social workers utilize in their daily interactions with clients.

4.  Demonstrate familiarity with National Association of Social Workers/(NASW) Code of Ethics and how it guides decision-making.

5.  Identify multiple social and economic factors that influence or affect the behavior of individuals, groups, and communities.

6.  Understand that human behavior is influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors.

7.  Understand the process for becoming a professional social worker.

8. Understand and appreciate the concept of generalist practice as it applies to social workers at the bachelor’s level.

9. Demonstrate an increased understanding of the issues relating to working with diverse populations.

10. Recognize and evaluate his or her value systems as related to providing social work services to diverse populations.

11. Recognize the global context of social work practice.

12. Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills that reflect the student’s ability to comprehend material.

13. Demonstrate the ability to utilize critical thinking skills.

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

Student Behavior:

• Interaction and discussion are encouraged; learning is greatly facilitated by the active participation of all class members.
•  An atmosphere of mutual respect is expected as well as punctuality, attentiveness, and consistent attendance.  Attentiveness means being awake, being focused on class activities, not engaging in extensive private conversations, not reading non-class materials, not leaving the classroom frequently, and not using a cell phone or texting.
• Cell phones are not to be used in class.  This means that there will be no texting, checking messages, accepting or making calls during class time (including lectures, guest speakers, films, or any other activities going on during class).  Cell phones should be turned off during class and should not be on your desk.  Students using cell phones during class may be counted absent.  If you have an emergency, and must make a call or check your phone during class, then discuss it with your instructor before class for permission.

Scholastic Dishonesty:
It is the responsibility of students and instructors to help maintain scholastic integrity by refusing to participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty.  This listing is not exclusive of any other acts that may reasonably be said to constitute scholastic dishonesty: acquiring or providing information for any assigned work or examination from any unauthorized source; informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the examination is given in subsequent sections of the course, plagiarism (copying from a source without documenting and crediting the source:, submission of a paper that is substantially the same for two courses or written by someone else.

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria, Exams, and Makeup Policy:

Assessment of student progress will be based on various assignments that are designed to demonstrate the student’s critical thinking skills as well as the ability to apply knowledge learned in the classroom.

 

There will be four examinations including three midterms and a final (non-comprehensive).  Material for tests will be drawn from the required text, lectures, videos, guest speakers, and grammar book. You will be allowed to drop your lowest exam grade or one exam that is missed. 

Students need to bring a scantron form to each exam.

It is not an option to make up a test that is missed.   Exams are not given early or late.  You must take the exam on the scheduled date.  If you miss an exam, the missed test grade will be the grade that is dropped.  If two tests are missed, a grade of zero will be averaged into your final grade.

 

In addition to the four exams, there will also be a homework/pop test score.  This score will be based on regular homework assignments and periodic short exams.  There will be 14 or more these scores.  The top 10 grades will be averaged for one score.  This score will be added to the top three exam grades and averaged.  The average will count as 65% of your overall grade.  The homework must be turned in at thebeginning of class on the date it is due.  Homework will not be accepted late.  Homework can be turned in early, if necessary, to Behavioral Science office 207.

 

Assignments:  There will be three written assignments:

 

Assignmentsturned in late will be accepted, up to 5 working days late. There will be 1 point a day deducted for each working day late, starting with not turning the paper in during class on the date due (if turned in later that day, there will be .5 points deducted).  If you are turning in work late, either bring it to class or turn it in to Cheryl Oldham in the Behavioral Science office 207, so that she can date it.

 

Assignments should be typed in 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1” margins.  This syllabus is in 12 point font, so you can use this as an example.  Use a cover sheet for your identifying information:  name, course, title of paper.  Do not use the body of the paper for this.  The minimum number of required pages should be full pages.   For example, if the paper is to be three to four pages, it should be a minimum of three full pages.  I highly recommend that you use spell check and grammar check on your computer.

 

Papers should be stapled.  Brochures for the second assignment should be attached to your paper by staple or paper clip.

 

1)  A self-assessment looking at dominant characteristics, power, privilege, or oppression and the role they have played in your life.  More information and an example will be given in class to guide you in this assignment.  You need to choose at least four traits/characteristics (sex/gender, race, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, religion, age, education) and explore how your traits have been an advantage and/or disadvantage in terms of how you are treated in society.  You must choose traits from this list.   Use the article by Michael Spencer as a guide in how to approach this assignment.  (Use the article in terms of content; you will not use this article as a guide in terms of formatting.  It is from a journal and you will not need to format your paper as a journal article.)

Hint:  Do not simply focus on autobiographical information.  The key is looking at your traits and how you have either been rewarded, oppressed, or a combination of both because of who you are.  Also, do not focus on how you rate yourself, but rather in terms of how others see you and treat you, based on your characteristics.  Your paper should be three to four pages, double-spaced.  8 points

 

2) An agency visit and interview with a licensed social worker.  Select an agency that you are interested in and that employs at least one licensed social worker.  This interview must be done locally and on-site, not over the phone.   If you are employed in a social service agency in a position that delivers social services, I strongly recommend that you choose another agency to do your interview and tour in order to make this a learning experience.  If you are employed in a non-social service position, such as bookkeeping or interpreting then you can do the interview and tour at your agency.  Do not do group interviews.  Interview one on one, not with another student or group of students.

 

Select an agency and make an appointment with a social worker, making sure that s/he  is licensed by the state of Texas (LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LMSW-AP).  Do not interview anyone who is not a currently licensed social worker in Texas.  It is your responsibility to make sure that the person you interview is licensed, so if you make the appointment through someone else, be sure that they understand this requirement.  Request a tour of the agency and get a copy of available literature (literature about this agency, not literature about other agencies).  Include the literature with your paper on the due date and attach it to the paper with a paper clip or staple. 

 

In the tour find out about: the population served (including diversity in the population—diversity includes race, ethnic groups, sex, age, social class, dis/ability, etc.), what services are offered by that agency at large and by the social workers, where the funding comes from (federal, state, donation, grants, fee for service, etc.), what type of agency it is (for profit/non-profit, public/private, host/ primary, sectarian/nonsectarian), what are the requirements for staff they hire in the social work program, do they have volunteers in the agency and/or in the social work program (and if so, what do they do), do they accept social work field placement students, and what the service delivery issues are (what prevents them from delivering their services and what aids them in delivering services).

 

In interviewing the social worker, ask about their level of education (what is their degree in and name the level of degree), level of licensure (LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, etc.), duties and responsibilities, the salary range of social workers is at their agency, their biggest challenges and rewards, why they chose social work, how they deal with possible burn-out, how long they have worked in the field, etc.  You are encouraged to ask additional questions.

 

Write a four to six full page, double-spaced paper that documents your interview, tour, impressions, and what you learned.  Include all of the above information to receive full credit.  You may also refer to Chapter 4 of the text for more information on types of agencies.  Attach the brochures to the paper with a paper clip.  12 points

 

3) Write a book review of The Glass Castle tying it in with topics discussed in the text and discussed in class.  For example, you might find passages in the text book about poverty, child abuse/neglect, or about alcoholism and relate how the family fits this information or might be an exception to this information.  You may quote directly from the text or paraphrase information from the text in your own words.  In either case, make sure it is clearly stated in your paper that you are making reference to some information from the text or information presented in class (such as lecture, films, guest speakers).  The emphasis should be in making comparisons between The Glass Castle and topics from the text or other information from class. 

 

Use MLA style in citing references.  In MLA, you put the author and page number at the end of a sentence where you have made a reference.  For example, if you wrote the following sentence, this is how you would cite it: Our text book points out that families have problems when role boundaries are unclear (Dubois and Miley 345).  At the end of your paper, list your references, following MLA style.  (Author. Title of Book.  City of publisher, Year.)  You can find more information online about MLA.

 

If you only write a summary of the book, then you will automatically lose ten points.  Your paper should be four to five full pages, double-spaced.   15 points

 

Attendance:

Attendance will be taken every class period.  Students are expected to be on time and attend class regularly.  After two absences, one point per absence will be deducted from your final average.  Coming to class more than a few minutes late (after roll is taken) or leaving class early will count as a half point deduction.  If you come to class after roll has been taken, it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you are here.  Also using your cell phone in class, sleeping, reading a book or materials not associated with this class, frequently leaving the classroom to step outside, or engaging in extensive personal conversations during class may result in being counted as absent.  More than 8 absences will result in failing the class. 

 

Example of how the grading system works:

A student takes all 4 exams with the following grades:  89, 76, 63, 94.  The lowest grade is dropped, leaving:  89, 76, 94.  The homework/pop quiz score is 85.  The average is 86 x .65=55.9.

On the assignments the students makes:  8 pts, 9 pts. And 10 pts.=27 

They do 4 pts. of extra credit work; they have one absence.

55.9+27+4=86.9 for a final average

 

How to make a good grade in this class:

*Attend class regularly and be punctual.

*Read the assignments before class.

*Take notes during class, including films and guest speakers.

*Find ways that help you learn through repetition, for example outlining the chapters and rereading your outline, highlighting text and going back over what you think is important, look up words or concepts you don’t understand, make index cards with information.

*Start the assignments ahead of time and follow the instructions carefully.  Make yourself an outline to follow when you do your interview, so that you don’t leave anything out.

*Take advantage of extra credit options.

*Pay attention to the study guides.

*Turn in assignments on time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

***************IMPORTANT INFORMATION******************

There are numerous built-in safety nets and sources of help for each student.  Every semester there are students who become ill, have children that become ill, family members with illness or problems, or have other personal problems.  In order to accommodate these issues that arise, here is a list of the class policies that are designed to help: 

 

1)  You are allowed two absences without any loss of credit.

2)  The first day of class, when some students are still registering, is not counted as an absence and missing an exam is not counted as an absence.

3)  You are allowed to drop or miss one exam.

4)  Assignments are accepted late (see under assignments section).

5)  Students receive study guides before each exam so that they know what topics will be covered.

6)  There are possible extra credit points added to exams.

7)  There is a list of extra credit assignments, up to 10 additional points on your average (in addition to the extra credit on each exam).

8)  If you are having problems understanding the content of the class, with writing skills, or have a disability that requires accommodation, I will be glad to meet with you and work on solutions. 

 

Again, the reason for all this built-in help is to accommodate you, if you experience illnesses or other personal problems.  The policies listed above are not a base line from which to start negotiating additional perks or leniency.  If you quickly use up the allowed absences and miss an exam, then come to me with a request for additional leniency or special treatment, it is highly unlikely that I will agree to do more.  There is a point at which a student has to take responsibility for attendance and doing the work.

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Attendance

Attendance will be taken every class period. Students are expected to be on time and attend class regularly.  After two absences, one point per absence will be deducted from your final average.  Coming to class more than a few minutes late or leaving class early will count as a half point deduction.  If you come to class after roll has been taken, it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you are here.  Also using your cell phone in class, sleeping, reading a book or materials not associated with this class, or engaging in extensive personal conversations during class may result in being counted as absent.  More than 8 absences will result in failing the class. 

Calendar

Additional Information

Course Overview:

Introduction to Social Work is a survey course designed to allow the student to study and discuss the broad topic of social welfare and the role of professional social workers in different areas of community and human service.  Students will be introduced to various philosophies of social welfare in this country and to the development of social work as a profession.  The settings where professional social work is practiced will be explored and the student will see why the profession of social work requires an in-depth study of the arts and sciences.  Current issues in social work will be discussed as well as future challenges to the social work profession.  An understanding of diverse populations will be promoted and foundations for further study of generalist practice will be established.  Values and ethics relating to social work are emphasized.  The emerging global context of social work will be explored.