PARRIS J. BAKER, PH.D., Program Director
FACULTY: Associate Professor: Charles M. Murphy, Assistant
Professors: Parris J. Baker, Sara
Lichtenwalter.
Social work as a profession is an art and science concerned with unmet or unsatisfied human and social needs. It achieves its objectives by working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
The Social Work Program offers the student an orientation to the philosophy, history, values settings and the practice of the social work profession, as well as an opportunity to implement classroom material in an actual agency setting for which credits are received. The existence of the social work program is based on our society experiencing an increasingly accelerated concern for the problems of human suffering as well as the actualization of human potential. As a people we are concerned with our fellow citizens and our fellow human beings living under excessively stressful conditions - be the source of stress financial, emotional, marital, environmental, or physical. We are also concerned about discrimination in all its' forms as well as social and economic justice.
The practice of social work requires not only the intellectual capacity to absorb a substantial body of knowledge but also the ability to master skills in interpersonal relationships and in effecting social change. It requires commitment to ethical values, concern for people and regard for human dignity, self-discipline and self-knowledge, and personal characteristics of independence and integrity.
The primary educational objective of Gannon’s Social Work Program is to prepare students for beginning Professional Social Work practice within diverse populations in a variety of agency settings, including but not limited to child welfare, family services, health care, corrections, mental health, mental retardation and community organizations.
Important: Admission to Gannon does not assure admission into the Social Work Program. Students interested in entering the Social Work Program must submit a formal application and comply with established procedures for admission to the program. Details are available from the Director. Students are expected to have completed at least 50 hours of volunteer service prior to formal admission to the Program.
The Social Work Program is accredited at the baccalaureate level by the Council on Social Work Education.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
SCWK 111: Introduction to Social Work
This is the first course in the Social Work program and is required for all other courses in the Social Work Sequence.
It provides the student an opportunity to learn about Social Work and exposes him/her to the field of Social Work Practice.
Students are also required to participate in field observation in an agency setting for 3 hours per week.
3 credits
SCWK 211: Intro to Gerontology
An overview of the study of gerontology. Examines aging in America, stereotypes, theories on aging, adult development,
work and living environments, and selected problems of the elderly. This course has a service-learning component.
3 credits, Fall
SCWK 212: Social Problems, Services and Issues
This is the foundation course of the Social policy sequence and is required for admission to the Social Work Program.
It is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the nature and scope of social welfare service in the
United States. In addition to its primary purpose of introducing students to the social policy process, this course
provides students with an opportunity to evaluate their career choices. There is a 30 hour volunteer component to this course.
3 credits
SCWK 220: Dying, Death and Bereavement
This course explores dying, death and grief, a topic of interest to personnel in the human service and related professions. Issues discussed are theories of dying, death and bereavement with aged, and assessments and interventions with clients and their families. Social cultural differences in attitude and behavior toward death as well as ethical, legal issues, resources and support services are explored.
3 credits
SCWK 221: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
This is part I of a two semester course on human behavior and the social environment. This course uses the idea of
person and the environment to develop a holistic understanding of human behavior. This course will identify relevant
dimensions of person/environment and present up-to-date theory and research about each dimension.
3 credits
SCWK 222: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
This is the continuation of HBSE I. This course takes a person-in-environment focus across the life span.
For each stage in the Life Cycle Biological, Psychological and Sociological variables that influence development are identified. This course addresses the impact of various size systems on human behaviors as well as issues of discrimination and social/economic justice.
Prerequisite: SCWK 221
3 credits
SCWK 223: Human Behavior and the Social Environment III
Human Biology. Examination of the major human biological systems with a special emphasis on understanding the brain and the effects of drugs and alcohol.
3 credits
SCWK 230: Human Diversity
This course studies the impact of discrimination and inequality on specific and generalized collectivities
(groups) in our environment. Particular and specific attention will be given to the more vulnerable populations of women, gay and lesbians, and minorities of color. The course will examine the response(s) offered by specific disciplines (i.e., professional social work) and by the larger society, as they relate to discrimination and inequality.
Methods to celebrate differences are explored.
3 credits
SCWK 315: Bio Medical Aspects of Aging
This course is designed to acquaint students with the biological and medical changes occurring in the organs of man
during the aging process. Course will include a layman’s discussion of the aging and pathological process of the organs as well as common medical pharmacological, and surgical treatments of these organ systems.
3 credits
SCWK 316: Counseling Older Adults
This course will identify various areas impacting lives of the “young” old, “middle” old, and the “old” old.
Misconceptions, stereotypes, and biases toward the aging process will be explored. The course focuses on assessment, counseling interventions, and techniques designed to enrich the world of the mature adult and their families.
3 credits
SCWK 336: Mental Health and the Elderly
Factors involved in successful aging and maintenance of healthy personality functioning are
investigated. The most common psychological disorders of the elderly are considered from
etiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects.
Prerequisite: GERO 211
3 credits
SCWK 355: Seminar in Emotional and Behavior Disorders
This course is designed to identify the characteristics, terminology, etiology, and definition of children identified
with emotional and behavioral disorders. Focus will be given to the methods and techniques utilized to diagnose and
categorize children identified in this category. This course will discuss the perceptions, controversies, incidence,
and prevalence of children with emotional and behavioral disorders.
3 credits
SCWK 358: Instructional and Therapeutic Interventions for Treatment Design
This course is designed to identify the instructional and therapeutic interventions for children with emotional
and behavioral disorders in the home, community and in the schools. This course will provide hands-on experience with assessments, evaluations, curriculum, treatment plans, and individualized educational programs. Content includes evaluating therapeutic and instructional interventions, social skills development, group and individual counseling techniques, positive behavioral support plans, and conflict resolution techniques.
3 credits
SCWK 360: Interviewing Skills
This course introduces students to the basic interpersonal helping skills using a problem solving model. Students are expected to demonstrate understanding of the relationship of interpersonal skills to social work practice and to demonstrate initial mastery of the basic helping skills.
3 credits
SCWK 361: Introduction to Generalist Practice
Emphasis is placed on introducing students to a generalist problem-solving practice framework that is applicable across a wide range of settings, problems and different size systems.
Prerequisite: SCWK 360
3 credits
SCWK 362: Generalist Practice with Families/Groups
This is a continuation of SCWK 361. It is designed to reinforce, deepen and expand the student’s knowledge of the generalist problem-solving practice framework with particular emphasis on recognizing its utility in working with groups and the family size systems.
Prerequisite: SCWK 361
3 credits
SCWK 363: Generalist Practice with Organizations/Communities
This course, continuing with the generalist problem-solving practice framework, focuses on a generalist approach to practice with community and institutional systems. This course is designed to be taken concurrently with H1 490 (Field Placement I) and facilitates the integration of field experience with course content.
Prerequisites: SCWK 361 and SCWK 362
3 credits
SCWK 364: Social Welfare Policy, Programs and Issues
This course analyzes social welfare policy, programs and services. In addition to developing conceptual understanding, students will begin to develop skills in policy analysis using the policies of local community Agencies as case illustrations.
Prerequisite: SCWK 212, SCWK 361
3 credits
SCWK 365: Applied Behavioral Analysis and Intervention
This course is designed to identify the components of applied behavioral analysis and the
development of effective behavioral interventions, pertaining to children and adolescents
with emotional and behavioral disorders. Focus is given to identification of the causes and
functions of behaviors, the assessment and diagnosis of behavioral issues, and the
development and implementation of effective behavioral and therapeutic plans. The students
will be able to assess, develop, implement, and evaluate effective behavioral and therapeutic
plans using a variety of positive behavioral support and management techniques.
3 credits
SCWK 370: Interagency Collaboration and Consultation
This course is designed to develop the role of the behavior specialist as an effective collaborator in the various agencies, within the home, community, and school setting. The course will develop communication skills, differentiate between the roles of collaboration and consultation, develop effective resolution skills, and discuss the ethical and legal responsibilities of the behavior specialist.
3 credits
SCWK 380: Social Work Research Methods
This course will assist students in developing beginning knowledge and skill in evaluating their practice and in conducting
evaluation research.
Prerequisite: SCWK 361
3 credits
SCWK 390-394: Special Topics in Social Work
Topics of special and/or current interest in all areas of Social Work will be covered. The topics will vary from year to year,
depending on the faculty resources and the needs of the students.
3 credits
SCWK 395-399: Independent Study
3 credits
SCWK 400: Social Work Senior Integrating Seminar I
This course is intended to help students integrate knowledge along with developing and refining skills for beginning professional
Social Work practice. Students will use specific episodes of services (live cases) from their field experience in this course.
Concurrent with SCWK 363, SCWK 490
2 credits
SCWK 401: Social Work Senior Integrating Seminar II
A continuation of SCWK 400 intended to facilitate the integration of knowledge, along with the development and refining of
skills for beginning Social Work Practice. Taken concurrently with SCWK 491.
Prerequisite: SCWK 400.
1 credit
SCWK 475: Behavioral Specialist Practicum
This course is an opportunity for criminal justice, education, social work, and psychology
majors with a Behavior Specialist minor to engage in participant observation, Skill Streaming
and Applied Behavior analysis or other related activities as tutors/mentors that place the intern
in direct contact with the juvenile clients in a supervised setting. The intern is required to
engage in such activities for a minimum of 6 credit hours during an entire semester or over
several semesters to satisfy 300 hours. Open only to students with a minimum of 2.5 GPA and
have fulfilled all prerequisite courses. A maximum of 6 credits can be attributed to this field
placement. The Alternative Education Program is designed to provide the behavioral, emotional
and educational needs of the disruptive secondary level student in a school setting. Through the
use of small groups, academic instruction, technology enhancement, mentorship and life skills
counseling, each student's most severe behavioral and academic needs will be addressed.
Prerequisite: SCWK 355, 358, 365
6 credits
SCWK 490: Social Work Field Placement I
An educationally directed agency placement provides an opportunity for the student to relate
classroom learning to a practice setting; to learn, use and test skills, and to test their
commitment to social work attitudes and values.
Prerequisite: By application and approval of the field coordinator. Only Social Work majors
accepted.
6 credits
SCWK 491: Social Work Field Placement II
A continuation of SCWK 490.
SCWK 490, by application and approval of the field coordinator. Only Social
Work majors accepted.
Corequisite: SCWK 401
6 credits
SCWK 495: Advanced Interviewing Skills
This course will focus on two very similar approaches to interviewing: solution focused and
motivational interviewing. Both approaches are similar and reinforce each other and both
approaches are aimed at what professionals label difficult clients. The course requires a basic
understanding and skill in using basic interviewing skills. These skills will be quickly reviewed
and then students will learn both solution focused and motivational interviewing.
Prerequisite: SCWK 360
3 credits
Social Work Curriculum
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THE NEXT STEP
Baccalaureate Degree Program for Graduates of Two Year Colleges
Social Work
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Social Work Minor
A minor in social work is intended to expand the knowledge and skills of individuals who hope to work in correctional settings, probation, group homes, mental health agencies, and other human service settings.
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