Course Collective: online. Schedule additional sessions as needed.
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 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.
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
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.
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
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.
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 .
SOCW-2361-002 Introduction to Social Work
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
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.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Online Course
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.
OR
Moore, Wes. (2010). The Other Wes Moore. New York, NY: Speigel & Grau Trade Paperback Edition.
Paper, pens, pencils. Students also need access to a reliable computer with internet, a computer printer and paper.
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.
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".
Students are expected to log in and participate online. This will be monitored weekly. Attendance will be taken weekly for participation online. 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 others 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 a 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 although the class is online 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, 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.
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.
Exams (300 points)
There will be two exams during the semester. Material for exams will be drawn from the required text. Each exam is worth 150 points and will count in your average. There is no opportunity to drop an exam score. Missing an exam is not recommended, but sometimes cannot be helped. YOU MUST NOTIFY ME WELL IN ADVANCE IF YOU CAN NOT TAKE THE EXAM DURING THE DAYS IT IS OPEN. Exams will be online, in Blackboard, and will be open for at least 5 days. There will only be extreme circumstances that accommodations to this will be made. MAKE UP EXAMS MUST BE SCHEDULED WITH ME PRIOR TO THE EXAM DATE, AND FOR A VALID REASON (this is at my discretion). DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE EXAM TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT THIS.
Please do not wait until the deadline to take the exam. If there are technical issues, we want to resolve them as soon as possible. Exams are timed and, once started, will only be available during the set time. Once the time has expired, the test will automatically submit.
Assignments: (600 points)
No late assignments will be accepted. Please contact your instructor should there be complications/barriers for assignments being turned in on time. All assignments are open at the beginning of the term and available until their due date, providing adequate time to complete assignments early. This is college as well as an online course. In order to succeed, you must put in the work. Extra points will not be provided, given, or considered. If there are personal plans that have been made, please make sure to complete assignments in the time frame alotted, and enjoy your personal 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. Assignments should be 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1” margins. APA includes the use of a cover page and reference page. Please see www.apastyle.org, or www.purdueowl.com for more information. This is the style writing you will be expected to use in the remainder of your social work career, it would be wise to learn it now. It will be difficult to incorporate into every assignment, but do your best. Anything that is not your own work (pictures, quotes, statistics, etc.) requires a cite and source. Please use the resources above to provide the correct citation. The minimum number of required pages for each assignment 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. If page length is not met, it will receive a deduction of 20 points. It is recommended to utilize the resources mentioned above for format, grammar, spelling, and APA format. The library and Writer's Corner are excellent resources to you, please use them.
Assignments will be submitted via Blackboard. There will be drop boxes. All assignments should be completed as the syllabus details.
Student Acknowledgment (25 pts)- Signed agreement between the department and the student. This will be uploaded to Blackboard.
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 ensure you meet client needs, professional roles, and keep personal values.
Hint: Do not simply focus on autobiographical information. The key is looking at your traits and how you have either been rewarded or oppressed. Your paper should be three pages, double-spaced. This assignment is the first of self reflection and values analysis. This must be in APA style with a cover page, body, and works cited page. Any information that is not your own must be cited within the text and the reference page.
Social Responsibility (100 points)
What is social responsibility? Social responsibility is an ethical structure which suggests that an individual has an obligation to act for the benefit of society as a whole. Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the community and the individuals who live in them.
For this assignment each of you will be required to volunteer at a community service agency in your community. You will need to volunteer at least 4 hours of your time at the agency of your choice. Please visit this website https://www.actx.edu/studentlife/volunteer-opportunities-and-service-learning or call/email Jenna Welch (806)371-5259 jenna.welch@actx.edu for different opportunities around town. If you are still having issues finding a location, please speak with your professor. After you have completed your volunteer hours you will be required to provide proof of volunteering and answer short answer essay online regarding your experience. Each short answer must be written in complete sentences using complete thoughts and ideas. You will be required to reference ideas and topics from your textbook that applies to your knowledge and experiences from volunteering at your chosen agency. The questions which you will answer on the answer template are listed below.
There is a format with this assignment. It must be used. You must volunteer 4 hours. This cannot be part of your employment and it must be at an agency you have not volunteered at before. This can not be the same assignment you have completed for another class. You must provide proof attached to your assignment that has a signature from the agency of your participation. Not completing will result in a failing grade. You must provide a citation for any information about the organization that is not your own.
In the Social Responsibility folder, you will find an answer template with some additional questions. Please type your answers into the answer template and turn it into the assignment drop box.
Glass Castle/The Other Wes Moore: Integration of social work principles (175 points)
Write an in depth review of your understanding of The Glass Castle, or Wes Moore tying it in with topics discussed in the text and discussed in class.This should be the application of social work knowledge gained during the semester from our text and discussions. 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 and that it is cited according to APA format. The emphasis should be in making comparisons between the autobiographies and topics from the text or other information from class.
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 (Dubois and Miley 2014). 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. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html is a great site to help you with APA.
You must make reference to topics learned in our text and/or in class back to The Glass Castle. DO NOT SIMPLY WRITE A REVIEW OF THIS BOOK. A review of the book without educational resources and references will result in a failing grade. The textbook and novel must be two of the citations that are used for the assignment. A cover page, context, and works cited page are required. Your paper should be five full pages with a title page and Work's Cited page. 175 points
Depending on your learning style, the audio book is available on YouTube for free. If there have been movies based on this literature, you CAN NOT use the movies for your assignment. There are vast discrepancies between the two.
Your paper must be minimum 7 pages (cover page, 5 full written pages, and works cited page). Your textbook and the book read for the assignment must be cited. If length is not met, it is an automatic 20 point deduction. If APA is not utilized, it is an automatic 15 point deduction. This is a very in depth paper of what you have learned from your textbook and applying it to the book. As stated, do not write a review of the book. It will result in a failing grade be a deduction of 100 points.
Discussion Boards (200 points)
There will be 5 different discussion tops, each wort 40 points.
*you will be required to respond to different discussion topics online.
*the discussion will need to include relevant information discuss in powerpoints, weblinks, YouTube videos and your textbook.
*All discussions are worth 40 points. 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".
Attendance: 100 points
Attendance will be taken every week for participation online. 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. Pleae make me aware of any issues/emergencies as soon as possible.
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Week |
Date |
Reading |
Assignments |
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Week 1 |
August 21-27 |
Syllabus |
Syllabus |
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Chapters1, 2 |
Student Acknowledgment Due-August 24, 2023 by 11:59 PM (25 pts) Discussion 1- Due August 25th, 2023 by 11:59 PM, response due by 11:59 August 26, 2023 (40 pts) |
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Week 2 |
August 28-September 3 |
Chapters 3-4 |
Self Assessment due by August 31, 2023 11:59 PM (100 PTS) |
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Week 3 |
September 4-10
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Chapters 5-6 |
Discussion 2 due by September 8, 2023 by 11:59 PM, response due by September 9, 2023 by 11:59 PM (40 pts) |
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Week 4 |
September 11-17 |
Chapters 7-8 |
Exam 1 (chapters 1-8) open September 10, due by September 16, 2023 by 11:59 PM (150 pts) Discussion 3 due by September 15, 2023 11:59 PM, response due by September 16, 2023 by 11:59 PM (40 points) |
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Week 5 |
September 18-24 |
Chapters 9-10 |
Discussion 4 due September 22, 2023 by 11:59 PM, response due by September 23 by 11:59 PM (40 pts) |
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Week 6 |
September 25-October1 |
Chapters 11-12 |
Social Responsibility due September 30th, 2023 by 11:59 PM (100 pts) Discussion 5 due by September 29, 2023 by 11:59 PM, response due by September 30, 2023 by 11:59 PM (40 pts) |
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Week 7 |
October 2-8 |
Chapters 13-14 |
Glass Castle/Wes Moore due by October 7, 2023 by 11:59 PM (175 points)
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Week 8 |
October 9-13 |
Chapters 15-16 |
Exam 2(chapters 9-16) opens October 7, 2023, due October 11, 2023 by 11:59 PM (150 pts) Final grades due 10-13-2023 |
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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. |
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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:
* 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 with 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.
*Turn in assignments on time.
*Complete all assignments. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS, YOU WILL FAIL. BE DILIGENT!
* Ask questions.
* Respect the opinions, views, and understanding of others. Our field is about being a generalist and we will encounter different values, ethics, and religions throughout this career.
* If there is a discrepancy with the assignment, syllabus, dates, etc... please notify me immediately to correct the information provided. If one is identified, an email and announcement will be made to the class.
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. Online engagement is required and monitored. Success in the course requires organization, planning, and participation.
2. The first day of class, when some students are still registering, is not counted towards participation and missing an exam is not counted as an absence.
3. Around the 4th or 5th week, a generalized email will be sent to students who are missing assignments or exams. If we are in the 6th week or further, it is unlikely your grade will be able to survive and you will need to speak to your advisor about your options.
Resources are here for students to use to be successful. No late work will be accepted. All assignments are open at the beginning of the session allowing students to schedule their assignments/exams with other obligations. If there are barriers, please contact your professor immediately.
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. Plan ahead, your emergency is not my emergency. 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. Exams will not be open until the week assigned. If there are issues submitting assignments, please take a screenshot of the error and email directly to your professor. Any instance that is submitted will be reviewed. Your professor will contact the student directly for direction.
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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 hps://www.actx.edu/counseling/. Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, ulies, transportaon, 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
08/02/23 6:33 PM
08/15/23 7:27 PM