Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Slippery Rock University

Social Work (SOWK)

SOWK 105 -  Human Diversity  

An orientation to living and working with diverse populations within modern American society, including examination of the strengths and stresses associated with diversities.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Every Term

Thematic Thread(s): Citizenship & Social Problems, Cultural Literacy & Community Building, Conservation, Technology & Imagination, Human Diversity & Well-Being, Institutions & Human Innovations, Transfer Thread Completion Course

SOWK 139 -  Foundations of Academic Discovery  

Foundations of Academic Discovery serves as the entry point to the Rock Integrated Studies Program. With its strong faculty-student interaction, the course promotes intellectual inquiry, critical and creative thinking, and academic excellence. Through varied content, the course introduces students to academic discourse and information literacy while exploring topics such as diversity and inclusion and global awareness. This course will set students along the path to becoming engaged with issues and scholarship important to a 21st century education while they learn about themselves and their place in the world.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

Enrollment limited to students with a semester level of Freshman 1 or Freshman 2.
Enrollment limited to students with the ROCK STUDIES 2 STUDENT or ROCK STUDIES STUDENT attributes.

SOWK 170 -  Cultural Competence and Social Change  

This course is designed to provide an overview of social issues to increase student understanding of the problems faced by societies today. Students will enhance their skills in critical thinking to analyze and acknowledge complexities in social issues, assessing problems, advocating and facilitating change.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

Enrollment limited to students with the ROCK STUDIES 2 STUDENT or ROCK STUDIES STUDENT attributes.

SOWK 190 -  Experimental  

A unique and specifically focused course within the general purview of a department which intends to offer it on a "one time only" basis and not as a permanent part of the department's curriculum.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 195 -  Workshop  

A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format, and on a timely topic.

Credits: 1-6

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 198 -  Selected Topics  

A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 200 -  Introduction to Child Welfare  

Provides an overview of the child welfare system in the United States, including the history of the development of child welfare policies, programs, and services; exploring best practices in child welfare; and examining current and future issues and problems in this field.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms

Thematic Thread(s): Cultural Literacy & Community Building, Transfer Thread Completion Course

SOWK 230 -  Social Justice and Equality  

This course provides an overview of Frederick Douglass' perspectives on injustice and racial prejudice, which will be examined from his life experiences as a former slave who became the pre-eminent voice of the liberation struggle. The historical context of Douglass' life will be compared and contrasted to contemporary issues of race, ethnicity, freedom and diversity awareness.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Winter, Spring&Summer

Thematic Thread(s): Citizenship & Social Problems, Transfer Thread Completion Course

SOWK 251 -  Introduction to Social Work  

An orientation to the field of social work and social work activities in the community. Includes service learning.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms

SOWK 290 -  Experimental  

A unique and specifically focused course within the general purview of a department which intends to offer it on a "one time only" basis and not as a permanent part of the department's curriculum.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 295 -  Workshop  

A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format, and on a timely topic.

Credits: 1-6

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 298 -  Selected Topics  

A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 300 -  Crisis Intervention  

This course focuses on practice skills to effectively recognize and intervene in crises. This course examines factors influencing the development of crises, identification of potential crises and use of de-escalation skills. This course will focus on developing effective crisis intervention skills and techniques for a variety of crisis situations.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms

Thematic Thread(s): Citizenship & Social Problems, Transfer Thread Completion Course

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1 or Freshman 2 may not enroll.

SOWK 310 -  Animal Assisted Interventions  

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the human-animal bond and how this relationship can foster interventions in the human service and health care fields. Students will learn several animal-assisted interventions, beneficial effects and how they are implemented with diverse groups in various practice settings.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1 or Freshman 2 may not enroll.

SOWK 311 -  Clinical and Academic Documentation for Social Work  

This course will assist students in developing strong clinical documentation skills for social work practice. Students will be exposed and practice various types of clinical documentation. Additionally, students will enhance their clinical and academic writing by creating a portfolio of various documents.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Summer Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.

SOWK 318 -  Research Methods  

Major methods and procedures used in social work and sociological research.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in Social Work.

SOWK 319 -  Statistical Methods  

Introduction to basic statistical concepts and research techniques used in social research. Also listed as PROF 317

Prerequisite: SOWK 318D
D Requires minimum grade of D.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms

Enrollment is limited to students with a program in Social Work.

SOWK 321 -  Forensic Social Work  

This course applies social work principles to various aspects of the legal system. Students will address legal rights, policies and practice in various forensic settings and with clients involved with the law and legal system.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.

SOWK 328 -  Human Behavior and the Social Environment  

Covers the biophysical, psychological, and social dimensions assessing social functioning during pregnancy, birth, newborn, infancy, and early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence, young and late adulthood.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in Social Work or Social Work.

SOWK 334 -  Clinical Perspectives on DSM Diagnoses  

Course content related to taxonomy, etiology, and diagnostic impressions of psychiatric disorders will be presented. Social Work services will be analyzed in relation to the disorders.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Criminology & Criminal Justice or Social Work.

SOWK 340 -  Social Welfare Institutions  

An introductory analysis of social welfare policies, issues, and institutions.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 355 -  Social Work Practice with Individuals  

Principles and practice of interviewing processes as applied to casework methods. Grade of C or better is required in this course.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 356 -  Social work Practice with Groups & Families  

Expands knowledge and skills base to include social work practice with family and group systems. Grade of C or better is required in this course.

Prerequisite: SOWK 355C
C Requires minimum grade of C.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 357 -  Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities  

Expands knowledge and skills base to include social work practice in communities and larger social systems. Grade of C or better is required in this course.

Prerequisites: SOWK 340D and SOWK 356C
D Requires minimum grade of D.
C Requires minimum grade of C.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 390 -  Experimental  

A unique and specifically focused course within the general purview of a department which intends to offer it on a "one time only" basis and not as a permanent part of the department's curriculum.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 395 -  Workshop  

A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format, and on a timely topic.

Credits: 1-6

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 398 -  Selected Topics  

A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 407 -  Social Policy Issues  

Problems and issues associated with social policy including the politics of welfare policy.

Prerequisites: SOWK 251D and SOWK 340*D (may be taken concurrently).
D Requires minimum grade of D.

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 450 -  SOWK Internship  

A Social Work Internship.

Corequisite(s): SOWK 460

Credits: 1-12

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring & Summer Terms

Enrollment limited to students with a semester level of Senior 1 or Senior 2.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 460 -  Social Work Integrative Seminar  

This senior level course integrates a four year social work curriculum with emphasis on knowledge base and skill acquisition for working in micro, mezzo, macro and research practice.  This course will be a corequisite with SOWK 450 (Internship)

Corequisite(s): SOWK 450

Credits: 3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring & Summer Terms

Enrollment limited to students with a semester level of Senior 1 or Senior 2.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Social Work.

SOWK 490 -  Independent Study  

Independent research under the guidance of a faculty member. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor, departmental chairperson, and dean of the college where the study will be conducted. (repeatable up to 6 credits) Independent Study courses give students the opportunity to pursue research and/or studies that are not part of the university's traditional course offerings. Students work one on one or in small groups with faculty guidance and are typically required to submit a final paper or project as determined by the supervising professor.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 495 -  Workshop  

A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format, and on a timely topic.

Credits: 1-6

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

SOWK 498 -  Selected Topics  

A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.

Credits: 1-3

Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed

Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.