4
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS at ARLINGTON
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
SOCW 2311 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK
Spring 2009
6:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m.
Richard Dangel, Ph.D.
Office Hours: Before and after class and by appointment
Office Phone: 817-801-7773
E-mail:
I. INTRODUCTION
This course is designed to introduce students to the profession and practice of social work and, for students who elect to major in social work, as preparation for advanced coursework. It also provides students with information on available social services, offers an introduction to social policy issues and citizenship decisions, and provides an experiential introduction to the various fields of social welfare and social work. The course will explore the values, code of ethics, knowledge base, and skills necessary for social work practice.
II. OBJECTIVES
By the completion of the course, students should be able to:
1. Describe the development of social work and social welfare.
2. Define and describe the fields of social welfare, social work, and human services.
3. Explain the relationship of these fields to sociology, psychology, and other related disciplines.
4. Explain and analyze contemporary social problems in our society.
5. Explain current social services designed to meet these problems.
6. Discuss gaps in current services and controversial issues in each service area.
7. Describe the generalist framework for social work practice with systems of all sizes.
8. Identify and discuss the knowledge, skills, and values needed for effective social work practice.
9. Demonstrate awareness of personal values in regard to critical issues of social work practice.
10. Demonstrate awareness of values and ethics of the social work profession.
III. ORGANIZATION OF THE COURSE
Readings will be assigned from the textbook and may be augmented with class handouts. Additional readings may be assigned that are both relevant to course material and will enhance student learning. A combination of lecture, discussion and in-class and out-of-class exercises (individual and small group) will highlight the major concepts covered in the course.
IV. REQUIRED TEXT
Glicken, M.D. (2007). Social Work in the 21st Century. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Axinn, J. and Stern, M.J. (2008). Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
These books are available in the Bookstore, or can be ordered from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or most any on-line book seller.
V. ASSIGNMENTS
A. Interview with Social Worker. Schedule a face-to-face interview with a master’s level social worker currently employed in an area of social work of interest to you (for example, child protective services, health care, schools, advocacy and so on). To prepare for your interview, compile a specific set of questions you’d like answered. Discuss job responsibilities, what is satisfying about the job, what isn’t; what advice does the social worker have for you to guide your educational experience; and so on. It is your responsibility to create the questions. Once you’ve completed the interview, compile what you’ve learned and be prepared to share your experience and findings with your classmates. (10 points)
B. Discussion questions. For each assigned reading (excluding Field of Practice), prepare a list of discussion questions, key findings in the reading, and your reactions. These must be submitted on the class period when the chapters are discussed. (10 points)
C. Issues Paper. Prepare a well-researched APA style paper (10 pages double spaced exclusive of references) presenting both sides of a controversial social or political issue of your choice. You must get your topic approved by me in advance. (20 points)
D. Field of Practice Presentation. Work with your small group (to be selected in class) to present a summary of a specific field of practice. You must review the assigned readings AND review other relevant documents to prepare your presentation. Discuss how this information may be useful to you as you start your career, content that was particularly informative or disturbing, and what you (as a group or individually) found that will prompt you to do more reading. Prepare a written summary to distribute to your classmates. You will present your findings in class and lead the discussion. Each group will have 75 minutes. (35 points)
E. Class Participation. You are expected to complete all readings and contribute fully in class discussions. (10 points)
F. Final Examination. The final examination will be short answer and cover all material from the required readings and class discussions. (15 points)
VI. GRADING AND EVALUATION
You can earn a total of 100 points in this course. The grading for this course is as follows:
90 - 100 = A 70 - 79 = C Below 60 = F (Course Failure)
80 - 89 = B 60 - 69 = D
VII. OTHER INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES
1. Dropping the Class
If you choose to drop this course at any point during the semester, please be attentive to specific University calendar dates established for completing this process. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the necessary paperwork according to the University’s schedule. Not doing so will result in a failing grade.
2. Student Support Services
The University supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. They include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. The English Writing Center (411 Central Library) is especially useful.
3. Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form at the University of Texas at Arlington. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.
“Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts” (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22).
4. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
If you are a student who requires accommodations in compliance with the ADA, please consult with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Faculty members are required by law to provide “reasonable accommodation” to students with disabilities, so as to not discriminate on the basis of that disability. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor of the disability at the beginning of the semester and provide documentation authorizing the specific accommodation. Student services at UTA include the Office for Students with Disabilities (located in the lower level of the University Center) that is responsible for verifying and implementing accommodations to ensure equal opportunity in all programs and activities.
5. Bomb Threats
In cases of bomb threats, UTA will attempt to trace the phone call and prosecute all responsible parties. Every effort will be made to avoid cancellation of presentations/tests caused by bomb threats. Unannounced alternate sites will be available for these classes. Your instructor will make you aware of alternate class sites in the event that your classroom is not available.
6. Incompletes
Incompletes are given only in exceptional and very rare situations that involve Acts of God and/or other things beyond the ability of the student to anticipate or overcome. Computer problems, for example, do not constitute grounds for an incomplete, nor does misreading the syllabus.
7. Student Retention
The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. They include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information.
COURSE SCHEDULE
1 / 1/26 / Introduction and Course Overview
2 / 2/2 / Social Welfare in American Society / Read Ch. 1 Glicken
Discussion questions, observations, reactions
3 / 2/9 / Social Welfare in American Society / Read Ch. 2 Glicken
Read Ch. 1 & 2 Stern & Axinn
Discussion questions, observations, reactions
4 / 2/16 / What Social Workers Do / Interview Social Worker (class off-site)
5 / 2/23 / What Social Workers Do / Present Interviews
6 / 3/2 / History and Process / Read Ch. 3 Glicken
Read Ch. 3 Stern & Axinn
Discussion questions, observations, reactions
7 / 3/9 / Poverty and Welfare / Read Ch. 5 Glicken
Read Ch. 4 Stern & Axinn
Discussion questions, observations, reactions
8 / 3/16 / Spring Break
9 / 3/23 / Small Group Planning Meetings
10 / 3/30 / Field of Practice: Generalist (Glicken, 4)
Field of Practice: Schools (Glicken, 7; Stern & Axinn, 5)
11 / 4/6 / Field of Practice: Families (Glicken, 8)
Field of Practice: Criminal Justice (Glicken, 10)
12 / 4/13 / Field of Practice: Advocacy
Field of Practice: Community Organization
13 / 4/20 / Field of Practice: Gerontology (Glicken, 11, 12, 13)
Field of Practice: Mental Illness (Glicken, 14) / ISSUES PAPER DUE
14 / 4/27 / Field of Practice: Substance Abuse (Glicken, 14)
Field of Practice: Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
15 / 5/4 / FINAL EXAMINATION / FINAL EXAMINATION