Introduction to Social Work Syllabus for 2014-2015
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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.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Required text:  DuBois, B & Miley, K.K. (2014).  Social work:  An Empowering Profession. (8^th edition).  Boston, MA:  Pearson.

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

Supplies

\ Paper, pens, pencils.  Students also need access to a reliable computer with internet, a computer printer and paper.

Student Performance

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

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• \ Discuss the development of social welfare in the U.S.
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• \ Discuss the development of social work as a recognized profession.
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• \ Appreciate the broad range of professional responsibilities and skills that social workers utilize in their daily interactions with clients.
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• \ Demonstrate familiarity with National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and how it guides decision-making.
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• \ Identify multiple social and economic factors that influence or affect the behavior of individuals, groups, and communities.
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• \ Understand that human behavior is influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors.
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• \ Understand the process for becoming a professional social worker.
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• \ Understand and appreciate the concept of generalist practice as it applies to social workers at the bachelor’s level.
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• \ Demonstrate an increased understanding of the issues relating to working with diverse populations.
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• \ Recognize and evaluate his or her value system as related to providing social work services to diverse populations.
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• \ Recognize the global context of social work practice.
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• \ Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills that reflect the student’s ability to comprehend material.
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• \ Demonstrate the ability to utilize critical thinking skills.
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

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If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

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• \ Interaction and discussion are encouraged; learning is greatly facilitated by the active participation of all class members.
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• \  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.
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• \ 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. 
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\ Scholastic Honesty: 

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\ 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 others of the content of any examination prior to the time the exam 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 during the semester.  Material for exams will be drawn from the required text, lectures, videos, and guest speakers. 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 score.  This score will be based on regular homework assignments and minute papers describing guest speakers’ presentations and your reaction to the information. There will 20 of these scores. Your grade will be pass/fail.  You get credit for turning in the assignment, no credit for not completing the assignment.  The homework must be turned in at the beginning of class on the date it is due. Homework will be accepted late only as follows; turned in after class period it is due, until the next class period, for partial points.  Homework will not be accepted once we have moved on to the next chapter.  Minute papers will not be accepted late or be available for make up.  Homework can be turned in early, if necessary, to Behavioral Science office 207.

 

Assignments:  There will be four written assignments:

 

Assignments turned 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 in 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.  100 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.  Make arrangements early, social workers are very busy individuals!

 

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.  100 points

3) Movie Assignment

Each student should watch one of the following movies:
 

Silver Linings Play Book

Hunger Games

I Am Sam

Losing Isaiah

Dying Young 

White Oleander 

Radio 

Bogus 

Kramer vs. Kramer 

Ordinary People 

Juno

Mrs. Doubtfire

Divergent

50 Shades of Grey

(There won’t necessarily be a social worker IN these movies-the question is what MIGHT a social worker do….)  Other movies will be accepted upon presentation of the movie by the student to the instructor and permission granted.

Then….
1. Pick one character to be the client.
2. Using the goals and purposes of social work, the six core values and social work ethics, diversity, and the macro, mezzo and micro concepts, each student will write a reaction paper relating to one of the characters in the movie, incorporating at least three of these areas (Goals and purposes, core values, ethics, diversity, micro-level etc.).
3. If you were the client’s social worker, what would you do to help the client and how would the things listed in #2 above apply to the client’s situation?
4. The paper should be a minimum of three pages (typed, double-spaced) and should outline what a social worker might do to help the selected client, integrating the three areas that you selected. Be sure to include and introduction/backstory about the movie incase I haven't seen it.  100 points

4) 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 APA style in citing references.  In APA, 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 2014).  At the end of your paper, list your references on the reference page, following APAstyle.  (Author Sirname first, in alphabetical order. Title of book. Year published.)  You can find more information online about APA.

If you only write a summary of the book, then you will automatically lose ten points.  You must make reference to topics learned in our text and/or in class back to The Glass Castle.  Your paper should be five to six full pages, double-spaced.   100 points

IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS YOU WILL FAIL THIS CLASS!

 

Attendance: 100 points

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 attendance total.  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:

Attendance:  100 points

Exams:  300 points

Homework/Minute papers:  200 points

Assignments:  400 points

TOTAL:  1000 points

 

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.

Attendance

\ Attendance:

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\ Attendance will be taken every class period.  Students are expected to be on time and attend class regularly, as well as participate in class. 

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\ 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.  

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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.

 

***************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., as well as up to 10 pionts of extra credit per semester outside of exam extra credit.  This is for community service/involvement and will be discussed in class.  
    
7. 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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