This course provides a foundation for generalists professional social work practice. At an introductory level, the course deals with a) what is social work, social welfare, social policy, social problems, social potentiality, social justice and empowerment, b) the purposes, assumptions, roles, and categories of generalists social work practice; c) what makes social work a profession, d) the knowledge, values, and skills professional social workers need in generalists practice; and e) a forty-hour field experience to explore introductory generalists learning.

The course lays a foundation for the remainder of the social work curriculum. As such, students receive 1) initial exposure to social problems/needs and policies which formulate the ground work for dealing with those problems/needs; 2) an overview of needs fundamental to the development of human behavior and problems which may impede that development; 3) skills in active listening and interpersonal communication; 4) introduction to the roles and content of generalists social work practice; 5) content in human diversity; and 6) as noted above, a "first contact" field experience to explore professional social work.

1. Students will demonstrate that they know information about the characteristics of professional social work.
Method of Evaluation: Exams

2. Students will show their introductory understanding about generalists social work practice.
Method of Evaluation: Field Experience

3. Students will show their understanding of characteristics of social welfare agencies.
Method of Evaluation: Exams/Class Discussions

4. Students will demonstrate an introductory understanding of the history of social welfare and of the unique contributions of social work to that history.
Method of Evaluation: Exams/Class Discussions

5. Students will show their awareness of the values of social justice and empowerment in social work practice.
Method of Evaluation: Class Exercises/Field Experience

6. Students will demonstrate an introductory understanding of the levels of and methods of social work practice.
Method of Evaluation: Exam

7. Students will show their understanding of the problem solving process.
Mehod of Evaluation: Exam/Class Discussions/Field Experience

8. Students will display an awareness of the importance of values and ethics in professional social work practice.
Method of Evaluation: Exams/Class Exercises

9. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the value of diversity in social work practice, and their awareness of the diminution of this value by the presence in society of racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, handicapism, and ageism.
Method of Evlauation: Field Experience/Class Discussions/Exam

Part One: The Profession of Social Work
This part of the course is designed to help you understand the profession of social work practice from a generalists perspective. The focus here is on the profession, the context within which it functions and its practice. This part will also help the student develop a vocabulary of social work terminology.

Part Two: The History of Social Work and Social Welfare
This part of the course is designed to help you understand the history of social welfare in this country. You will gain new knowledge in early and contemporary social welfare history.

Part Three: Social Work and Social Systems
This part of the course will help you to gain new knowledge of social systems in social work. You will develop an understanding of the Ecological Perspective, Systems Theory and the Eco-systems Model.

Part Four: Target Groups
This part of the course, which occurs at the end of the semester, has as its purpose understanding various target groups or populations of special interest and concern to the profession of social work. For Examples: the aged, the handicapped, women, persons with emotional disabilities, homeless, and children at risk. You will have the opportunity to study one of these groups and to report the results of your investigation to the class. (Appendix A)

Part Five: Field Laboratory Experience
This part of the course consists of a forty(40) hour "volunteer" experience in one of the local social service agencies. Its purpose is to allow students the opportunity to evaluate their interest in, and aptitude for, a career in social work through learning directly about the people, settings and practice of social work. (Appendix B)

Mid-Term Examination 100 points
Two Quizes (50 points each) 100 points
Target Group Report 100 points
Field Lab Experience 25 points

*Field placement journal 25 " "

*Field lab report 25 " "

*Agency evaluation 25 " "

Grading Scale:

400 - 360 = A
359 - 320 = B
319 - 280 = C
279 - 240 = D
239 and below = E

Bonus Points you can earn:
25 points for attendance
50 points for Service-Learning Project with SLDP
 

DuBois, Brenda and Karla Krogsrud Miley. Social Work: An Empowering Profession. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1992.

Barker, Robert. The Social Work Dictionary. Virginia: NASW Press, 1997.

Other Readings will be assigned.

Regular attendance is the responsibility of the student. Material will be presented in class that is not in the readings. If you cannot attend a scheduled exam for the reasons of illness or unanticipated automotive collapse, you must notify the professor or the department office before the exam to be eligible for a makeup exam. You may be asked to document the reason for absence. Makeup exams must be taken within three "class" days unless the illness lasts longer than that. Grading standards are higher. Makeup exams given after the regular exams are returned will be essay exams. Although, there is no attendance policy there will be a 25 point bonus for anyone who has perfect attendance. Please drop your name in the attendance basket at the begining of each class.

Week One
Introduction to Course and discussion of syllabus
The role of Service-Learning

Service-Learning quiz/class discussions on what it means to provide and receive services

Week Two
Understanding the "Socials": Social Problems, Social Welfare, Social Justice, Social Work, Social Services, Social Policy, social Potentiality, and Social Empowerment.

"The First Contact" Field Experience: Expectations, Requirements, and Opportunities for Beginning Generalist Practice.
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 1-25

Week Three
Understanding Generalist Perspective
Readings: DuBois and Miley, Chapter 1, 8, 10

Generalist Perspective cont...
Readings: Handouts and class exercises

Week Four
Reflection Exercise

Social Justice and Empowerment, and their relation to Generalist Practice.
Levels of Empowerment and Levels of Social Work Practice.
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 209-226

Week Five
Understanding Early and Contemporary Social Welfare History.
Readings: Lecture and Handouts
Generalist Social Work in Social Welfare History: Continuity and Tension.
The Generalist Perspective: Roles of Practice
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 271-296

Week Six
Introduction to Social Work and Social Systems
a. agencies
b. levels of social work practice
c. agency funding
d. social planning
What is a Generalist Social Worker?
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 77-103

Week Seven
NO CLASS FALL BREAK

Midterm Exam

Week Eight
Social Systems, General Systems, and the Generalist Social Worker: Perspective 1
The Ecology of Generalist Social Work Practice: Perspective 2
Power and Generalist Social Work Practice: Perspective 3
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 51-74
Handouts

Week Nine
Social Policy: What does it have to do with Generalist Practice?
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 227-238

Social Policy cont...

Week Ten
NO CLASS
 
Social Work and Problem-Solving Skills
1. Problem Solving as Micro, Mezzo, or Macro Issues
2. Identifying and Assessing problems
3. Setting goals
4. Gathering and Analyzing Information
5. Exploring Alternatives
6. Developing a plan of change/intervention
7. Monitoring the intervention
8. Evaluating the change
9. Intervention/change as Empowerment
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 239-265

Week Eleven
Values and Value Dilemmas is Generalist Social Work Practice. Diversity as a Social Value and a Social Goal.
Readings: DuBois and Miley, pages 107-168

NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK

Week Twelve Target Group Reports

Week Thirteen Target Group Reports

Week Fourteen
Final Exam Week (Exam date to be announced)

Week Fifteen

Week Sixteen

Week Seventeen