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2012-08-25SOWK2010 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK
Tennessee State UniversitySocial Work Program / Introduction to Social Work
SOWK2010-01
Fall 2012
Credits: 2
Instructor: Michael A. Wright
Email:
Office: Elliott Hall 302 / Time: 1:00pm -2:00pmTR
Location: Elliott Hall 309
Office Phone:963-7673
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is to provide an Introduction to the generalist perspective of social work practice and the profession of Social Work. This course will help students develop a more authentic understanding and appreciation of the profession. Students will be exposed to what social workers do and the importance of considering the environmental context that surrounds all decisions.
REQUIREDTEXTS
Wright, M. (2010). Introduction to Social Work. Nashville: MAWMedia Group. ISBN: 978-0-9842170-1-4 $35.00
SKILLS & ASSESSMENTS
Skill / AssessmentDefine Social Work as a Profession. / Examination 1
Identify Social Work Professional techniques. / Examination 2
Articulate the Social Work professional culture and practice contexts. / Final Examination
Formulate and communicate reason in writing. [WRITE] / Writing Assignments
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & NOTES
I.PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS
All students are expected to demonstrate the following:
Expectation / DefinitionIdentify as a professional social worker / As students, you can expect to have your current knowledge, skills, and values challenged as you learn and wrestle with professional social work knowledge, skills, and values in the development of a professional social work identity.
Demonstrate a Proactive Commitment to Learning / As a student, you are expected to take time to review the syllabus and workload of the course to make a self-assessment to your abilities to fulfill the course requirements. As needed, you should request additional information about assignments or grading procedures. Faculty may respond to your request individually or as a group, in class or out of class time. If you recognize a conflict between due dates in the course and your personal responsibilities, notify your professor immediately to problem-solve and negotiate a resolution.
Utilize Resources and Feedback with Efficacy / As a student, you are expected to identify and communicate concerns you have and to seek out help. Likewise, as a student, you need to be open to feedback by the faculty on your work and professional behaviors and be willing to effectively use and integrate that feedback into future work and your understanding of professional social work behaviors. If you are unable to contact a professor or other support resource, be sure to take note of the time, date, mode of contact to record a concrete timeline of events. This will help us improve the system of support so that it better responds to your needs.
Communicate Effectively with respect and cultural competence / Students are expected to develop communication and language that does not attack individuals for beliefs, but engages in dialogue concerning substantive issues, demonstrates critical thinking, and is supported by a rationale and evidence.
Apply Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills / Students are expected to ask questions in a way that demonstrates your knowledge and your thought process. In asking questions, students may adopt the following manner: “I understand that this is… but I don’t see how this relates to that?” or “May I have a point of clarity?”
Demonstrate Self-Awareness and Ethical Conduct / Students are expected to embrace the idea that you represent the social work profession when you are in the community and working with our partner agencies. You are also expected to take time to become familiar with the NASW Code of Ethics. You will, also, need to set time aside to reflect on, to integrate, and to assess your learning about and understanding of ethical decision making.
Manage a Healthy & Balanced Lifestyle effectively Managing Stress / Students are expected to take advantage of the multitude of resources available during matriculation. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone and see out help.
FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE ABOVE PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS MAY RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE INSTRUCTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK, AND THE UNIVERSITY.
II. ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY
NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Each student must plan to complete assignments ahead of the posted due dates in order to ensure that no surprises will inhibit the timely completion any of the assignments. Staffing, Courier, Email or other technological excuses for late work will NOT be accepted.Late work is NOT accepted (all assignments are due by 5pm on the specified day). Assignments not submitted by the due date will receive a zero (0) grade.
III.GOVERNING POLICY DOCUMENTS
Social Work Students are expected to submit all work in compliance with Tennessee State University’s Academic Integrity Policy and other applicable policies detailed in the University Student Handbook, Departmental Policy & Procedures Manual, and Departmental Student Handbook. In addition, social work students are expected to adhere to the Social Work Code of Ethics available for review at
IV. STATEMENT REGARDING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with documented disabilities are encouraged to inform the instructor and university of any disability. Contact the Disabled Student Services Office at 963-7400 if you require documentation and/or accommodation. The Department of Social Work in conjunction with the Office of Disabled Student Services makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students with medically documented disabilities. The instructor must be presented with documentation of your disability prior to the due date of assignments. More information is available at
V. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to be in attendance and in learning posture once class role is called. Tardiness will result in a zero grade on any in-class assignments and a one point reduction in final grade for each absence. University policies governing attendance shall be observed, i.e. 3 tardies = 1 absence. Because the classroom interaction is so important to value integration, this course makes no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. After your second absence, 5 percent will be deducted from your final grade per absence.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS
EXAMINATIONS
Two examinations will be proctored in class with 45 minutes allotted for answering 25 questions. A final examination will be proctored in accordance with university policy at the conclusion of the course. Scheduled times for the final examination are determined by the university. Remember, no make-up examinations will be given in this course.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Writing assignments are due at the beginning of each class on Thursday. Receive 1 bonus point for presenting your writing in front of class. Each has a thesis (the statement of argument), antithesis (contradiction of thesis/alternative argument), and synthesis (reconciliation of contradictions). They will be judged on a 3 point scale for the required elements. Poor grammar and spelling will be noted and corrected, but not judged. The goal is to formulate and communicate reason in writing.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
This course requires 30 hours of volunteer service at any community services agency. The professor has engaged AuntBertha.com for volunteer hours. Your task is to profile social services agencies in the Nashville Metro Area. Receive 2 points=1 hour for each agency profiled.
MEETING SCHEDULE
SKILLS / LESSON TOPICS & DATES / LEARNING ACTIVITIES / RESOURCESDefine Social Work as a Profession. / PROFESSIONALISM EXPECTATIONS
AUG 28 / Articulate the requirements of the class. List and define the elements of the Hegelian dialectic essay. / AuntBertha.com Overview
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK?
AUG 30 / Define the social work profession.
Compose your first HD Essay in class.
DEFINING A PROFESSION
SEP 4 / List the social work educational content that orders the training of the profession.
ESTABLISHING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION
SEP 6 / List historical events that shaped the social work profession from its beginning. / Interview with Erine Gray: Finding information on agencies
YOUR 5 YEAR PLAN
SEP 11 / Compose a 5 year plan. Identify where you will keep your 5 year plan to be carried with you at all times.
CODE OF ETHICS
SEP 13 / Review the general and specific values that guide professional social workers. Discuss the pros and cons of self-determination.
SELF-EFFICACY AND PERSONAL VALUES
SEP 18 / Compose a personal mission and vision statement.
SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION
SEP 20 / Review the professional authority of the social work profession gained from accredited educational standards. Consider the value of accrediting social work programs. / Interview with Mozart: What I wish I had learned in SWEducation
THE GENIUS ID
SEP 25 / Classify 3 types of students.
DEFINITION OF A SOCIAL WORKER, TITLE PROTECTION, AND LICENSURE
SEP 27 / Review the community sanction of the social work profession both informal and formal. Contrast the respect level of four professions including social work.
SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OCT 2 / List the major social work professional organizations. List the pros and cons of maintaining separate organizations rather than one central organization. / AuntBertha: Making professional connections
SOCIALWORKHELPER.COM
OCT 4 / Engage with the founder of an online group for social workers. / Interview with Deona Hooper
SYSTEMATIC BODY OF THEORY: HBSE
OCT 9 / Review the general and specific knowledge that guide professional social workers. Consider the combined value of assessment and intervention.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MODELS
OCT 11 / Define operational research.
Identify Social Work Professional techniques. / OCT 16 / NO CLASS – FALL BREAK
OCT 18 / EXAMINATION I: It will cover chapters 1-8 from the printed text.
USE OF STRENGTHS AND SOLUTIONS
OCT 23 / Review the general and specific skills that guide professional social workers. Consider the value of assisting in the coping process.
HELP SEEKING AMONG STUDENTS
OCT 25 / Identify on-campus services for students. List some common challenges that become apparent between the ages of 18-34. / Guest with counselors.
FOR EMPOWERMENT AND RESILIENCE
OCT 30 / List the components of empowerment and resilience. Reflect on the effect of adverse childhood experiences on human development.
ACES & COUNTER EDUCATION
NOV 1 / List ACEs and their impact on health. / Guest with grad.
NOV 6 / EXAMINATION
NOV 8 / NO CLASS – CSWE CONFERENCE
Articulate the Social Work professional culture and practice contexts. / NOV 13 / NO CLASS – CSWE CONFERENCE
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NOV 15 / Identify prevailing mechanisms and contexts in the promotion of social good through business. / Interview with Erine
INFORMAL PROFESSIONAL CULTURE
NOV 20 / Articulate the informal culture of the social work profession evident in the professional roles, values, norms, and common symbols. Reflect on the dual goal of social work to facilitate individual change and social change.
NOV 22 / NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING
POVERTY, HEALTH, AND INSTITUTIONS
NOV 27 / Define the major social ills that social work addresses. Consider the value of promoting economic justice, mental health, and civility.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL GOOD
NOV 29 / Brainstorm ways that social media can be used to promote social good. / Interview with Mozart.
FORMAL PROFESSIONAL CULTURE
DEC 4 / Articulate the formal culture of the social work profession, like settings, structure of client relationships, policy change, and research opportunities. Reflect on the value of social work research.
DEC 6 / REVIEW DAY
FINAL EXAMINATION ACCORDING TO POSTED UNVERSITY SCHEDULE
FINALS WEEK
BIBLIOGRAPHY - SOWK 2010
Axinn, J., & Stern M., (2004) Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need: Boston, Massachusetts: (Allyn & Bacon)
Colby, I., & Dziegielewski, S. (2004) Social Work the People’sProfession
Compton, B. & Galaway, B. (1999). (6th Edition). Social Work Process. California: Brooks/Cole.
Crosson-Tower, C. (2004) 3rd Edition. Exploring Child Welfare. Boston: Allyn & Bacon Publishers.
DuBois, B. & Miley, K. (1999). (3rd Edition). Social Work: an Empowering Profession. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Engel, G. L.(1977). “The need for a new medical model" Science 196:129–136.
Fong & Furuto (2001) Culturally Competent Practice Skills, Intervention and Evaluations: Allyn & Bacon.
Ginsberg, L (2001) Careers in Social Work Massachusetts: Allyn $ Bacon.
Johnson, H. (1998) (5th Edition) The Social Service: an Introduction. Illusion: Peacock Publishers.
Morales, A., & Sheafor, B. (2001) Social Work A Profession of Many Faces: Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.
Samantrai, K (2004). Culturally Competent Public Child Welfare. California: Thompson-Brooke-Cole.
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2012-08-25SOWK2010 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK
EVALUATION FORMAT
Graded Items in this Course / % Achieved / Points Possible / % Achieved / Points PossibleWriting Assignments / 3 / Writing Assignments / 3
Writing Assignments / 3 / Writing Assignments / 3
Writing Assignments / 3 / Writing Assignments / 3
Writing Assignments / 3 / Writing Assignments / 3
Writing Assignments / 3 / Writing Assignments / 3
Writing Assignments / 3
Examination 1 / 25 / Examination 2 / 25
Final Examination / 50 / Volunteer Experience / 30
COLUMN TOTAL / 93 / COLUMN TOTAL / 70
Final Point Total
Used to Calculate Your Final Grade. Calculate your final grade dividing total POINTS ACHIEVED by 1.63 / 163
GRADING SCALE
A = 90 – 100B = 80 – 89C = 70 – 79D = 60 – 69F = 59 and below
STUDENT LEARNING SELF-ASSESSMENT
FALLSEMESTER 2012
This survey is to be completed and turned in at the end of the semester when this course is completed. Your response on this survey does not impact your grade.The information you provide is used todetermine possible social work program improvements.
Limited Grasp of the Skill / Below Average Grasp / Average Grasp / Above Average Grasp / Exceptional Grasp of the SkillDefine Social Work as a Profession. / / / / /
Identify Social Work Professional techniques. / / / / /
Articulate the Social Work professional culture and practice contexts. / / / / /
Formulate and communicate reason in writing. [WRITE] / / / / /
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