MU's Online Bachelor of Social Work: Curriculum

This general introduction to the study of American government and politics focuses on the national level and on the actors and interests who contend for power and influence in Washington DC. Students will gain an understanding of the origins, structure, and operation of American government. Topics include American political culture, the framing of the Constitution, political parties, campaigns and elections, interest groups, the media, the Presidency, the Congress, the federal judiciary, and current issues of public policy.

Introduction to the science of psychology. Substantive topics include the history of psychology, the biology of psychological processes, psychological development, perception, learning, memory, personality, and social psychology.

Abnormal behavior and mental processes. Topics include the distinction between normality and abnormality, the classification and diagnosis of psychological disorders, the neurotic and psychotic disorders, and the major therapeutic approaches. Prerequisite: PSY 1010

The science of human society with emphasis on description and analysis of society, culture, the socialization process, social institutions, and social change.

An introductory course in Statistics with emphasis in Statistical inference to include elementary probability theory, elementary set theory, summation notation and continuing to “decision theory” through topics of sampling distributions, point estimation, confidence intervals for mean; variance; difference of population means, correlation, linear regression, tests of independence, homogeneity, goodness of fit and analysis of variance.

Course SOC 2200, PSY 2500 OR JUS 2200 can be used as a substitute.

Introduction to social problems and social service systems designed to impact upon those problems. Introduction to social work as a profession, its ethics, values, knowledge base, skills base, and fields of practice.

This course introduces students to the American Psychological Association (APA) style of writing. The ethics of writing, indicating the acceptable forms and practices of recognizing the ideas and intellectual properties of others will be explored in this course. The course will examine the concept of plagiarism. The course will address the role of the Internet and the information it provides in writing professional papers. It will also offer suggestions for using computer technology at various stages of the research process. The course will develop strong writing skills necessary for professional papers, case documentation, report writing, and agency correspondence.

Systems theory and the ecological perspective applied to the bio-psycho-social development of the individual and the family from the pre-natal stage through early adolescence.

This course applies systems theory and the ecological perspective to the of development of the individual and family from middle adulthood through later years.

Personal and societal reaction to death with emphasis on euthanasia and suicide and the experience of the dying individual in relation to self, family, and care-providing institutions.

Cross-listed: GRN 3050 and SOC 3050

An introduction to the giving and taking of help, the communication process, the helping relationship, the problem-solving model, and various intervention concepts and theories. This is a pre-practice course open to all majors.

This course covers the scientific method and research design, including an introduction to quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The student will develop an original research proposal.

This course focuses on the dynamics and consequences of discrimination, economic deprivation, and oppression of: women, gay and lesbian persons, people with disabilities, African Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, military families, rural populations, and other populations at risk. The history of diverse groups and populations will be explored and the many myths, stereotypes, and prejudices that surround these groups will be discussed.

Key historical, political, economic, and ideological events in relation to the social welfare system in the United States with an introduction to current welfare policies and programs.

Key historical, political, economic, and ideological events in relation to the social welfare system in the United States with an introduction to current welfare policies and programs.

Introduction to social work practice methods with micro and mezzo client populations. It includes the development of skills in interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, termination and evaluation of practice. This course requires a service learning component. Students who do not receive a grade of C or better may repeat this course one time only. Refer to the Methodist University Social Work Program Field Practicum Handbook for exceptions and requirements of students enrolled in Field Practicum.

This course provides an overview of theories, concepts, and practice skills, including evaluation, relating to work with groups, organizations, and community based program planning. Entry-level generalist social work practitioners work not only with individuals and families, but also with groups, organizations and communities. It is important to develop a wide range of skills and strategies for interventions with diverse and oppressed populations including women, minorities of color, gays, and lesbians, the poor, military and rural populations. This course has a community engagement component. Students who do not receive a grade of C or better may repeat this course one time only. Refer to the Methodist University Social Work Program Field Practicum Handbook for exceptions and requirements of students enrolled in Field Practicum.

The student is placed in an approved social welfare agency for supervised learning experience of no less than 400 contact hours. Requires a weekly seminar.

Prerequisites: 2.25 overall GPA, 2.75 major GPA; senior class standing; admission to the social work program; approval of Field Coordinator; acceptance by agency; SWK 2310, SWK 2400, 3000, 3020, 3150, 3320, 3500, 3700, 3720, 4200, 4240; SOC 1510; PSY 1010; PSC 1510; PSY 3410; and a course in statistics

This course is a continuation of SWK 4751 Field Education Seminar I

Prerequisite: SWK 4751 Field Education Seminar I

The Social Work Capstone Seminar runs concurrently with the Field Education component of the Social Work curriculum. It is an academic course in Social Work Education which is focused on the synthesis of knowledge, values, and skills from earlier courses.

Prerequisites: 2.25 overall GPA, 2.75 major GPA; senior class standing; admission to the Social Work program; approval of Field Coordinator, acceptance by agency; SWK 2310, SWK 2400, SWK 3000, 3020, 3150, 3320, 3500, 3700, 3720, 4200, 4240, SOC 1510, PSY 1010, PSC 1510, PSY 3410 and a course in statistics.

This course is a continuation of SWK 4801 Social Work Capstone Seminar I

Prerequisite: SWK 4801 Social Work Capstone Seminar I

Policies, programs, and issues relating to the child welfare system are examined, including protective services, out-of-home placements, adoption, day care, and public school programs.

Students who have been admitted to the Social Work major are eligible to take this course and apply as a Child Welfare Scholar for the Collaborative. Students are eligible for all aspects of child welfare employment after the course and a Field Internship in Child Welfare.

Discover information about the school system through 10 hours in an accredited public school with an emphasis on directed observation. In this course, you will be supervised by a clinical educator as well as a faculty member from the MU Education Department.

This course offers the Teacher Candidate an opportunity to discover information about the organization, governance and importance of the public education systems in America. The course will explore teaching as a profession in the 21st Century; professional ethics and goal setting; and the roles of the classroom teacher in the school and community. Ten hours in an accredited public school with emphasis on directed observation is required. Formal application for Field Experience Placement is required at the time of pre-registration.

Professional Orientation addresses critical legislation and case law relating to education in North Carolina and the United States. This course is designed to provide preservice teachers with basic legal literacy, legal history, and legal research skills.

This course focuses on major issues in education and historical, philosophical and political influences of school social work practice. A variety of social work skills, interventions, and theories applicable to the delivery of school social work services are discussed. Students will learn about working with students with challenges such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and ADHD, as well as the needs of the gifted and exceptional students.