Introduction to Social Work Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

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Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

SOCW-2361-005 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

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 (5th edition). Boston, MA:  Cengage Learning.

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:

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 the 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

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

Students are expected to log in and participate online. This will be monitored weekly. Attendance will be taken weekly for participation online and in person. The main rule of this class is respect. There are going to be topics discussed that may make individuals uncomfortable as we talk about multiple areas that social workers experience on a daily basis.  These may bring up uncomfortable feelings, or even make you aware of past situations in your life.  The counseling center is a great resource.  Everyone is an individual and has opinions but we will be respectful of each other's opinions in this course.  Questions are encouraged, disrespect is not tolerated in any form. Any harassment of any kind will not be tolerated and this will be grounds to ask you to leave the class as well. Please note that these rules apply to verbal and electronic communication. AC, and I, do not tolerate any type of harassment.  Please be tolerant and respectful of other students' responses in the class.  We want this to be an environment where everyone can learn and feel safe.  Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism.  This means that you should be doing your own work.  I wholeheartedly expect you to use your notes and books on all assignments and exams, you just may not use your friend or classmates.  

Students who do not log on prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. 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".

Grading Criteria

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.

All papers are submitted to SafeAssign. This measures the validity of the writing you have submitted. It is recommended that this stays below 12%. If a paper is above 20%, it will be reviewed. If it is plagiarized and taken from sources that are not cited, the grade will result in a zero and the student will be directly contacted by the professor. 

All APA assignments will have a grading rubric. 

Class Participation/Ethical Dilemmas 15 at 13 points each (195 points)

At the end of every class we will have an ethical dilemma question. Your participation in this question will determine if you get points for this assignment. 

About Me Google Form (25 points)- Signed agreement between the department and the student. This will be uploaded to Blackboard.

Common Assessment (100 points)

This assignment will explore how elder abuse is perceived, understood, and treated across different cultural, social, and developmental contexts. You will analyze a case or story related to elder abuse and investigate how various cultural, social, and developmental factors influence attitudes, stigma, prevention, and support systems. The focus will be on understanding the psychological, cultural, and social dimensions of elder abuse.

The instructions and tools provided in this LibGuide will help you complete your research and write your essay. Use the tabs toward the top of this guide to complete all steps of this assignment.

Please note: many of the materials in this guide were originally created for an assignment in a psychology class. You are currently taking a course in social work. Simply ignore any mention of psychology and focus instead on how to complete your assignment. Most of the databases you will find here, as well as the links to web pages (to use in a Google Advanced search) will still help you find information on your topic. And there are a few links that are specifically aimed at sociologists and social workers.

If you have any questions, please check with your instructor, but you will also find research help in the AC Library (the library's contact info is also on this page) and editing help from The Writers' Corner. 

As you conduct your research and write your essay, remember that although your assignment asks you to examine elder abuse, your focus should be on how people from different groups or cultures might vary when it comes to perceiving, understanding, and treating elder abuse. How do intercultural differences influence people?

Discussion Boards (160 points)

There will be 8 different discussion topics, each worth 20 points. 

You will be required to respond to different discussion topics online. 

The discussion will need to include relevant information discussed in PowerPoint, weblinks, YouTube videos and your textbook.

There will be  points possible for your response and points for our responses to your classmates.

You will be required to respond to 2 classmates' posts.  Your comments need to be 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 the way you related reinforcement to everyday life and I agree with your statement that money is really the number one incentive in the world".  

Glass Castle: Integration of social work principles (125 points)

This assignment is designed to help you apply the social work knowledge you have gained throughout the semester to The Glass Castle (and optionally The Other Wes Moore). Your paper should go beyond simply reviewing the book. Instead, you are expected to analyze and interpret the experiences, family dynamics, and social issues presented in the autobiography through the lens of course content, including the textbook and class discussions. This is your opportunity to demonstrate how well you understand and can apply key concepts related to social work practice.

Your paper must be a minimum of seven pages total: one APA-formatted title page, five full pages of written content, and one APA-formatted reference page. You are required to use at least two sources in your paper: our course textbook and the assigned autobiography (The Glass Castle). You may include additional academic sources if you choose, but the textbook and novel must be cited. Audiobook versions of The Glass Castle are available for free on YouTube if you prefer to listen, but you may not use any movie adaptations, as they differ significantly from the book.

In your analysis, you should connect specific scenes, characters, and events in The Glass Castle (and/or The Other Wes Moore) to relevant topics discussed in our course. Examples of applicable topics include poverty, substance abuse, child neglect or abuse, trauma, resilience, family systems theory, and role boundaries. Make sure to reference course content clearly and thoughtfully, using direct quotes or paraphrased information. In either case, cite your sources appropriately using APA format. For example, a sentence referencing the textbook might look like this: “Our textbook points out that families often experience conflict when role boundaries are unclear (Dubois & Miley, 2014).” At the end of your paper, include a reference page listing all sources in proper APA format, beginning with the author's last name and listed in alphabetical order.

Your paper must follow APA formatting guidelines, including a cover page, running head, page numbers, in-text citations, and a reference page. For help with APA style, you may visit https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html. Please double-check that your paper includes all necessary APA components before submitting.

This assignment is worth 125 points. A grading rubric will be provided to outline the expectations in detail. Please note the following automatic deductions: failure to meet the page requirement will result in a 20-point deduction; failure to use APA formatting will result in a 15-point deduction; and submitting a book review without applying course content and references will result in an automatic 100-point deduction and a failing grade. Again, this is an in-depth paper, not a summary or review of the book.

If you have any questions about the assignment or need help connecting course material to the text, don’t hesitate to reach out. Plan ahead and use your resources—especially the textbook, class notes, and the APA guide—to support your writing and analysis.

Self Assessment (100 points)

In this reflective writing assignment, you will complete a self-assessment that explores how characteristics such as power, privilege, and oppression have shaped your personal experiences. This is an opportunity to think critically and honestly about the ways various aspects of your identity have either advantaged or disadvantaged you throughout your life.

Drawing from the concepts discussed in Chapter 3—particularly the "isms" we covered—you will focus on four different aspects of your identity. These may include, but are not limited to: age, class, culture, sex, gender, ability (or disability), race, sexual orientation, and political ideology. Use Highlights 3.2 and 4.2 in the textbook to help guide your reflection and analysis.

Rather than simply telling your life story, aim to explore how certain traits have influenced your social position. For instance, consider how you may have benefited from unearned advantages in some areas, while experiencing barriers in others. The goal is to develop awareness of how these dynamics can shape personal perspectives and, ultimately, your role as a future helping professional.

As practitioners in the field of human services or social work, this kind of introspection is not a one-time task—it is a vital and ongoing part of ethical, culturally responsive practice. Being aware of our own social positioning and potential biases allows us to serve clients more effectively and empathetically.

Your paper should be three full pages, double-spaced, and written in APA format. This includes a cover page, the body of the paper, and a reference page. Any ideas, terms, or frameworks taken from class materials or the textbook must be properly cited both in-text and on the reference page. A grading rubric will be provided to guide your work and clarify expectations.

Exams 2 at 75 points (150 points) 

There will be two exams throughout the semester, each worth 75 points. While exams are an important part of your grade, they are not the primary focus of the course—your written assignments and projects carry more weight overall. The exams will focus on material from the required textbook and are intended to help you check your understanding of key concepts.

Exams will be available online through Blackboard and open for at least five days. Please plan to complete them early during the open window, in case you encounter any technical issues. Exams are timed, and once you begin, you must complete them within the allotted time. Once time expires, the exam will automatically submit.

If you know in advance that you will be unable to take the exam during the open window, please notify me as early as possible. In most cases, accommodations will only be made for documented or serious circumstances. Make-up exams must be arranged before the exam window begins and will be approved at the instructor's discretion.

Exams will not open before the assigned week, and there is no option to drop an exam score. If you encounter a technical issue during the exam, take a screenshot of the problem and email it to me right away so I can review it. I will follow up with you directly regarding next steps if needed.

Attendance

Attendance: (100 points)

We will meet a total of 15 times. The college is closed on 9/1/25 reducing our class meeting times. Attendance will be taken every week for participation. You will get 10 points for every class date that you are in attendance.  Students are expected to participate and monitor their course. If there is a change or an announcement, I will make an announcement in the class. Please check the course more than once a week. After two weeks of no participation, 50 points will be deducted from your attendance total. Please make me aware of any issues/emergencies as soon as possible

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.

Grading is as follows:

a= +1000-900

b=899-800

c=799-700

d=699-600

f=599 and below

Attendance (10 points per class)   = 150 points 

About Me Google Form = 25 points

8 Discussion Boards Blackboard (20 points each) = 160 points 

15 Class Participation/Ethical Dilemmas (13 points) = 195 points 

Exams (75 points each) = 150 points 

Common Assessment = 100 points 

Glass Castle Essay = 125 points 

Self Assessment Essay = 100 points 

=1005 Total points

Extra Credit assignments, discussions, and quizzes may be added at any point in the semester. Changes to assignments will be posted in announcements as well as sent via email. These will be over various topics and must be in complete APA format. Please use the writing lab for all assignments.

Course format: 

This is a hybrid course, meaning it combines in-person class meetings and online learning components. We will meet in person Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00–8:15 PM, and you will complete additional online assignments and activities in Blackboard. Attendance and participation apply to both the in-person and online components. Examples of online assignments are discussion boards, quizzes, or reflections through Blackboard.

For this course, any emails will have a response within 24-48 hours.  I will check email at least once daily, generally early morning and evening.  I have full-time employment and have very limited ability to respond to you during normal work hours, please be respectful of this.  If there are questions about assignments, please do not wait until the last minute to ask as there may not be a response in adequate time. 

Guest Speakers:

Absolutely no phones when there is a guest speaker, laptops may be permitted to take notes. If I see you on your phone during a guest speaker presentation, you may be asked to leave. You will not receive credit for the class or participation points for that day.

To be successful in this course you should: 

*Read the Syllabus. Most of your questions can be answered here.

*Attend class regularly and be punctual.

*Read the assigned reading.

*Use the power points provided each week for guidance.

*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 if provided.

*Turn in assignments on time.

*Complete all assignments. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS, YOU WILL FAIL.  BE DILIGENT!