Introduction to Social Work Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

SOCW-2361-002 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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required text:  Kirst-Ashman, Karen K. (2017).  Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare Critical Thinking Perspectives (5^th edition).  Boston, MA:  Cengage Learning.

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

OR

Moore, Wes. (2010). The Other Wes Moore. New York, NY:  Speigel & Grau Trade Paperback Edition. 

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:

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

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

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

• Interaction and discussion are encouraged; learning is greatly facilitated by the active participation of all class members. Please be respectful of others situations and positions.  Respect confidentiality.  
•  An atmosphere of mutual respect is expected as well as punctuality, attentiveness, and consistent attendance.  Attentiveness means being awake, being focused on class activities, engaging in discussions.  
• YOU are responsible for your learning in this class. It is important that you attend each in person class, and complete every assignment.  

Scholastic Honesty: 

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.

Exams (300 points)

There will be two examinations during the semester.  Material for exams will be drawn from the required text, lectures, videos, and guest speakers. Each exam is worth 150 points, and all will count in your average. There is no opportunity to drop an exam score.   Missing an exam is not an option.  Exams will be online, in blackboard, and will be open for at least 3 days.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF THE EXAM TO SPEAK WITH ME, if you have difficulty. 

Assignments:  (350 points)

Select assignments turned in late will be accepted, up to 5 working days late. There will be 10 points a day deducted for each working day late.  There is not an opportunity to make up, or turn in late, the Glass Castle/Wes Moore, Favorite Speaker assignments due to time.  

Assignments should be typed using APA (American Psychological Association) formatting.  Please visit the Writers Corner for assistance.   The Writers Corner is located in Ordway Hall,and will be accesseble on line.  Assignments should be 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1” margins.  APA includes the use of a cover sheet and reference sheet.  Please see www.apastyle.org, or www.purdueowl.com for more information.  This is the style of writing you will be expected to use in the remainder of your social work career, get used to it now.  It will be difficult to incorporate into every assignment, but do your best.  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.  The library and Writer's Corner are excellent resources to you, use them.  

ALL assignments will be submitted via blackboard.  There will be discussion boards,and drop boxes for assignments.  

All assignments should be completed as the syllabus details.  

Self Assessment (100 points)

Complete a self-assessment looking at dominate characteristics, power, privilege, or oppression and the role they have played in your life.  I want you to be introspective and look back at your life and how you either had AN ADVANTAGE, or DISADVANTAGE based on the isms we covered in CHAPTER 3. You will focus ON FOUR different aspects that include:  AGE, CLASS, CULTURE, SEX, GENDER, ABILITY (OR disABILITY), RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, ETC.  Please refer to highlights 3.2 and 4.2 to assist with this. As helping professionals, it is our obligation to be in tune with how our personal biases effect our work with people.  This is the first of MANY assignments you will have as professional helpers on self assessment.  As life long learners, you will be required to do this throughout your career to insure you meet client needs, professional roles, and keep personal values.  

Use APA style.  Refer to https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ for assistance in APA style.  EVERY assignment will be able to use cover page, abstract, body. If you use other resources, quotes, or research, it will be included in the works cited page. 

  YOU MUST CHOOSE TRAITS FROM THIS LIST. Use the article by Michael Spencer as a guide in how to approach this assignment.  

 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.   Your paper should be three to four pages, double-spaced.  This assignment is the first of self reflection and values analysis.  

Favorite Speaker Response Paper (50 points)

Social workers from the community will come to speak to the class, via Zoom.  At the end of the semester each student will write a 1-2 page paper about their favorite speaker during the semester.  It is recommended to take notes after a speaker comes, to use when writing the response paper.  The student will include the speaker’s name, title, agency, licensure and degree, why they chose that speaker, what they learned from the speaker, how they might use the information presented in the future, along with any additional information regarding the speaker.  

Glass Castles/Wes Moore integration of social work principles (100)

Write an  in depth review of The Glass Castle, or Wes Moore tying it in with topics discussed in the text and discussed in class.This should be application of social work knowledge gained during the semester from out text, lectures, movies and guests.  Apply your knowledge to specific information in Glass Castle/Wes Moore.  For example, you might find passages in the text book about poverty, child abuse/neglect, or about substance abuse 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/Wes Moore and topics from the text or other information from class.  DO NOT SIMPLY WRITE A REVIEW OF THIS BOOK. 

Use APA style in citing references.  In APA, you put the author and publication year 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 (Kirst-Ashman, 2017).  At the end of your paper, list your references on the reference page, following APA  style.  (Author Surname first, in alphabetical order. Title of book. Year published.)  You can find more information online about APA.  Make sure you have all pieces of APA,cover page, running heading,page numbers, reference page,and cited work in text.  

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

Discussion Boards (350 points)

There will be  7 different discussion topics, each worth 50 points.  

• you will be required to respond to different discussion topics on-line
• the discussion will need to include relevant information discussed in powerponts, web links, YouTube videos and in your textbook
• All discussions will be worth 50 points. There will be points possible for your initial response and points for your responses to your classmates.
• You will be required to respond to 2 classmates’ posts. Your comments need to relevant responses that show that you have read and understood what your classmates have posted and their point of view. Nice job is not enough. Here is an example of a good response: That is a really great point of view, I really liked that way you related reinforcement to everyday life and I agree with your statement that money is really the number one incentive in the world.

IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ALL 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, TEN points 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 half these points in deduction.  If you come to class after roll has been taken, it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you are here.  This will occur online.  You may gain 5 points for perfect attendance.  

 

Example of how the grading system works:

Attendance:  100 points

Exams:  300 points 

Assignments:  250 points

Discussions:  350 points

TOTAL:  1000 points

10 points extra credit available per semester for attendance at certain events, or other items specified in class.  No more than 10 extra credit points will be allowed.  

 

Grading is as follows:

a= 1000-900

b=899-800

c=799-700

d=699-600

f=599 and below

grades will be rounded up

 

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 videos 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.  

*Take advantage of extra credit options.

*Turn in assignments on time.

*Complete all assignments. 

Attendance

Attendance:

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

After two absences, TEN points per absence will be deducted from your attendance total.  You may gain 5 points for perfect attendance.  

If you come to class after roll has been taken, it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you are here.  

 

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. Assignments are accepted late (see under assignments section).
4. There are up to 10 points of extra credit allowed.  This is for community service/involvement and will be discussed in class. 
5. 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.

************************************************************************

Mental Health Services and the Advocacy & Resource Center:

 As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student’s ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5191.  The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/.  Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website iswww.actx.edu/arc