Stephen F. Austin State University

School of Social Work

Areas of Study & Degrees

Faculty

Objectives

The Bachelor of Social Work Program prepares students for generalist social work practice. Social work graduates are able to practice at the entry level in many different fields of practice. They have a basic knowledge of theory and the ability to think with conceptual complexity. With the common body of the profession's knowledge, values and skills, social work graduates are able to transfer their generalist practice abilities in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities in a variety of agency settings.

Generalist practice is a practice perspective that serves diverse client systems utilizing an ecological systems approach focusing on individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. It is not confined by a narrow cadre of theories; rather it is versatile enough to allow problems and situations, as well as strengths, capacities and resources, to determine the practice approach. Generalist practice employs a problem-solving framework and a broad knowledge, value and skill base which demands ethical practice and on-going self-assessment.

BSW Mission

The mission of the BSW program at SFA is to prepare competent and effective professional social workers committed to generalist practice with the ability to respond to the needs of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. The program is committed to providing leadership for the region and globally, particularly in identifying and addressing community needs and issues, including those related to the alleviation of poverty and oppression, cultural diversity and social and economic justice. In support of its educational endeavors, the program is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, lifelong learning and community service.

Accreditation

The B.S.W. program at SFA is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Practicum Experience

A unique feature of the program is field instruction courses that provide students with agency-based experience by allowing academic credit for educational experience within a social service agency. According to most surveys of job opportunities in the helping professions, there is need for more supervised study, experience and on-the-job training for individuals who are planning to enter the professional fields. The field instruction course satisfies this need by giving the student an opportunity to engage in a supervised agency-based practicum. Field placements are assigned by the faculty, and the student must apply for field instruction during the semester he/she is enrolled in SWK 450. Students must complete all other degree requirements and be in good academic standing to be eligible for enrollment in SWK 470, 480 and 490, which must be taken as co-requisites. The program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience. More specific information may be obtained from the departmental office.

Advisory Program

All social work majors are assigned a faculty adviser. Participation in the advising program is a requirement for all social work majors. The advising program provides students with the opportunity to secure qualified advice regarding academic issues, the appropriate sequencing of courses and all other requirements for the B.S.W. degree. Advisers meet with each student a minimum of once per semester for the purpose of course selection for the subsequent semester. Social work majors should not drop or add any course without consulting the adviser. During the semester that the student is admitted to the major, he or she should meet with the advisor to prepare and file an official degree plan.

Pre-Social Work Major

Students who wish to major in social work will first be admitted to the pre-social work major. Students will remain in the pre-major status until they meet the requirements for acceptance into the social work major. This policy applies to new freshmen, to transfer students and to students changing their major to social work.

In order to become a social work major, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a 2.25 GPA overall in courses taken at SFA;
  2. Have completed SWK 215, 225 and 300 with a grade of C or higher in each;
  3. Have completed the human biology (BIO 121, 123 or 238) requirement with a grade of C or higher;
  4. Have completed ENG 131 and 132 with a grade of C or higher in each;
  5. Have completed the math requirement (MTH 110 or higher);
  6. Have nine or less hours of core curriculum requirements remaining to complete.

Students who have not been admitted to the major will not be permitted to file an official degree plan or take social work practice courses.

Social Work Major

In addition to the completion of core curriculum requirements, a Bachelor of Social Work degree requires 50 hours of professional social work courses, courses from supportive disciplines and 11 hours of electives. Although a minor is not required for social work majors, students may choose a minor course of study to complement the professional program.

Students who have completed courses at other collegiate institutions may transfer credits under the policies of SFA; however, students must complete at least nine hours of practice methods courses and 15 hours of field practicum at SFA. The program director will evaluate transferred social work hours and determine which hours are acceptable for credit as required professional social work courses. Only social work courses from a B.S.W. program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education will be accepted as equivalent for professional social work courses.

The Curriculum

The courses of the Social Work Program are organized into five curriculum components which include both social work courses and courses from supportive disciplines. Students cannot be permitted to register for social work courses unless they have completed the prerequisite courses with a C average or better. Social work courses are to be taken in ascending numerical order within curriculum components and concurrently with co-requisite courses from the other curriculum components, including courses from the supportive disciplines. Social work majors are strongly encouraged to complete all core curriculum requirements prior to entering the professional sequence of courses. Some core curriculum requirements serve as a liberal arts base for particular social work courses, and these degree requirements must be completed prior to enrollment in social work courses for which they are designated prerequisites.

Courses that are co-requisite must be taken together during the same semester. Separate grades will be awarded for each co-requisite course. Withdrawal from one co-requisite course requires the dropping of the other course. A student is not required to repeat a prerequisite course for which he or she has received at least a minimum grade of C. Each student is required to make a C or better in each social work course.

Policy & Legislation Component

Human Behavior & the Environment Component

Practice Methods Component

Field Practicum Component

Research Methods Component

Curriculum for Majors (120 hours)

Freshman Year (32 hours)
English 131 3 English 132 3
Political Science 141 3 Political Science 142 3
Biology 121, 123 4 Science 4
Fine Arts Elective 3 MTH (110 or higher) 3
Sociology 137 3 Psychology 133 3
16 16
Sophomore Year (30 hours)
Philosophy 153 or 223 3 Economics 231 3
American History 3 American History 3
Social Work 210 3 Communication 111 3
Social Work 215 3 Social Work 225 3
*Core Curriculum Requirement 3 Elective 3
15 15
Junior Year (30 hours)
Psychology 375 3 Social Work 425 3
Sociology 378 3 Social Work 315** 3
Social Work 333 3 Social Work 350 3
Social Work 325 3 Sociology 379 3
Social Work 300 3 Elective** 3
15 15
Senior Year (28 hours)
Social Work 415** 3 Social Work 470 6
Social Work 450 3 Social Work 480 6
Social Work 455** 3 Social Work 490 2
Elective 3
Elective 2
14 14

*Refer to A-2 under Core Curriculum Requirements

**Writing Enhanced Course at SFA

Courses in Social Work (SWK)

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are 3 semester hours credit, 3 hours lecture per week.

210.

Introduction to Social Welfare - Three semester hours. Introduction to social welfare institutions in the United States and the social problems with which these institutions deal. Major emphasis on the historical and philosophical development of social welfare services in the U.S., the institutions that deal with these problems, current issues related to these problems, and the functions of social work in delivering social welfare services. Prerequisites: none.

215.

Introduction to Social Work - Three semester hours. Introduction to the social work profession and service provisions including the history, philosophy, values and ethics of the profession. The Generalist Problem Solving Model introduced. Prerequisites: non-majors-none; majors - PSC 141, HIS 133 and sophomore standing.

225.

Human Behavior and Social Environment I - Three semester hours. Study of problems in living of individuals within the context of small systems, such as families, friendship networks, extended families and informal support groups. Biological, social, psychological, spiritual development and cultural systems examined in regard to human behavior, and interrelationships between persons and environments across the life span. Prerequisites: non-majors - consent of chairman; majors - BIO 121, 123 or 238.

300.

Junior Practicum - Three semester hours. Introduction to social work practice and the provision of social work services in a community-based setting under the supervision of a professional social worker. Requires six hours of supervised field experience per week and attendance in a practicum-related seminar. Student must complete a total of 85 hours in practicum setting approved by the school. Field placement fee: $50. Prerequisite: SWK 215 with a grade of C or higher.

315.

Social Welfare Policy and Legislation - Three semester hours. Study of the history, philosophy, structure and function of social welfare policy and legislation. Emphasis on the survey of social welfare services and issues related to social and economic justice. Prerequisites: non-majors - consent of program director; majors - SWK 215.

325.

Human Behavior and Social Environment II - Three semester hours. Study of the dynamic interaction of people and their environments, and assessment of social functioning in regard to the interrelationship of people and environments. Emphasis on the concepts of crisis, coping, adaptation and the development of problems in social functioning societies, organizations and larger systems. Prerequisites: SWK 215 and 225.

333.

Generalist Social Work with Small Groups - Three semester hours. Introduction to group formation, development, maintenance and change/dissolution. Prerequisites: SOC 137; SWK 225 or consent of program director.

340.

Organizations and Communities: Structures and Functions - Three semester hours. Introduction of communities and organizations as contexts for the helping profession.

350.

Generalist Practice I - Three semester hours. Acquisition and application of social work knowledge, values and skills of the Generalist Problem Solving Model to professional helping relationships with all systems emphasizing individuals, families and small groups. Prerequisites: SWK 325 and 333, SOC 378.

355.

Children’s Services - Three semester hours. Overview of social services for children using the dual perspective of intervention and social service delivery. Within the context of differential assessment and available social service programs, an examination of direct services to and interventions with children and their families.

415.

Social Welfare Policy and Legislation Analysis - Three semester hours. Policy and legislation analysis in generalist social work practice, with emphasis on issues related to social and economic justice. Prerequisite: SWK 315.

425.

Multicultural Social Work - Three semester hours. Study of the manner in which cultural diversity, ethnic diversity and oppression influence assessment, planning and intervention in social work. Prerequisites: SWK 225. Non-majors: consent of program director.

450.

Generalist Practice II - Three semester hours. Acquisition and application of social work knowledge, values and skills of the Generalist Problem Solving Model to professional helping relationships with all systems emphasizing organizations and communities. Prerequisites: completion of SWK 350, SOC 379 with a grade of C or higher in each course.

455.

Research Practicum - Three semester hours. Application of social work knowledge and basic principles of social research to generalist social work practice. Prerequisites: SOC 378, 379.

470.

Social Work Practicum I - Six semester hours. Direct provision of professional services in individual field placements involving participation and supervision in community social service agencies. Emphasis on generalist social work practice. Supervision provided by professional social workers. Course requires 16 hours of supervised field experience per week and practicum seminar attendance. Prerequisites: SWK 350, 415 and 450. Co-requisite: SWK 480 and 490. Field placement fee $50. Cannot be taken concurrently with SWK 450. Consent of program director required.

475.

Social Work Internship - One to three semester hours. Advanced field experience for select students. Course eligibility: (1) completion of SWK 470, 480 and 490, or consent of the program director; (2) written application obtained from and submitted to the field coordinator. Prerequisites: SWK 450, 470, 480, 490, or consent of program director. Field placement fee $15.

480.

Social Work Practicum II - Six semester hours. Direct provision of professional services in individual field placements involving participation and supervision in community social service agencies. Emphasis on generalist social work practice. Supervision provided by professional social workers. Course requires 16 hours of supervised field experience per week and practicum seminar attendance. Prerequisites: SWK 415 and 450. Co-requisites: SWK 470 and 490. Field placement fee $50. Cannot be taken concurrently with SWK 450. Consent of program director is required.

485.

Topics in Social Work - Three semester hours. Selected topics of current interest. Course may be repeated for a maximum of three times as topics vary. (a) Selected Social Service Organizations (b) Selected Client Groups (c) Selected Social Services

490.

Practicum Related Seminar - Two semester hours. Analysis and evaluation of the field experience with the field coordinator, including administrative issues related to the practicum, discussion of the student’s progress, practicum assignments or requirements, and resolution of problems related to the field setting. Prerequisites: SWK 415 and 450 with a grade of C or higher. Co-requisites: SWK 470 and 480.

495.

Independent Study - One to five semester hours. Special interest areas for individuals or tutorial groups. Prerequisites: senior standing and consent of instructor.