I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Social Work

2. Course Prefix & Number:
HSER 1100

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University:  SOWK 2120  Introduction to Social Welfare
St. Cloud State University:  SW 216 Introduction to Social Work

III. Course Purpose

Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway AS

Other - If this course is not required in a program or is not part of the MN Transfer Curriculum, it may be used for the purpose(s) listed below:
Technical Elective

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Discuss the historical evolution of the social work profession;
• Identify major fields of practice in the social work profession;
• Explain generalist social work as a profession;
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of the social work profession within the social welfare system;
• Differentiate among professional social worker’s responsibility and other service providers’ responsibilities;
• Discuss social work’s perspective on human diversity, oppression, and privilege;
• Discuss the values of the profession and recognize the NASW Code of Ethics as the practice framework for generalist social work practice;
• Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication;
• Identify their comfort level to work with persons different from themselves; and
• Identify selected social problems, social welfare agencies’ responses to these issues, and the role that social workers play in these various settings.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. The Social Work Profession
• Social Work: A Unique Profession
• Professional Social Workers
• The Environment and Context of Practice
• A Broader Ecological Perspective
• Selecting a Career in Social Work
• Education and the Social Work Career Ladder
• Employment Opportunities
• How Professions Relate
• History of Social Work: Linkage to Social Justice
2. Theoretical Perspectives for Social Workers
• Social Work and Systems Theory
• The Ecosystems Perspective
• The Generalist Approach
• Values, Ethics, and Human Diversity
• Social Justice and Populations at Risk
• Political Perspectives
• Turning to Each Other
3. Social Justice, Poverty, and Populations At Risk
• Social Justice, Poverty, and Populations at Risk
• Populations at Risk
• Children
• Women
• Older Adults
• Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
• People with Disabilities
• Gay and Lesbian Persons
• Potent Forms of Discrimination in the United States
• Social Justice Issues in the 21^st Century
• Potent Forms of Discrimination in the United States
• Social Justice Issues in the 21^st Century
4. Social Welfare Policy: Historical Perspectives
• Social Welfare Policy and Social Justice
• Social Welfare Policy in the Old World
• Poor Relief in the United States
• Social Welfare Policy in the 21^st Century
• An International Perspective
5. Family and Children's Services
• Historical Perspectives on Family and Children’s Services
• Challenges of African American Families: A Brief History
• Services and Their Providers: A Continuum of Care
• Client Self-Determination and Professional Decision Making
• Women, Children, and Ethnic Minority Groups: Populations at Risk
• Diverse Family Structures and Social Work’s Ethic of Cultural Competence
• Spirituality, Religion, and Science
• Family Policy, Domestic and International: Research Raises Questions
• How Family-Friendly is the American Workplace?
• Assisting Families Around the World
• Current Trends in the United States
6. Social Work in Mental Health
• Social Work Competencies for Mental Health Practice
• Generalist Practice in Case Management
• Social Workers Respond to Disaster:  Acute and Posttraumatic Stress
• Social Justice Issues in the Mental Health Field
• Environmental Perspectives on Mental Health
• Practice with Diverse Populations
• Native American History and the Cherokee Experience
• Mental Health Policy and Social Work Practice: Historical Perspectives
• Policy and Practice: Future Issues
7. Social Work in Health Care
• Applying Generalist Practice Theory to Health Care
• Emergency Room: Trauma and Crisis amid Human Diversity
• Health Care in Rural Areas
• The Environmental Context of Practice
• Human Rights and Health: Global Perspectives
• Historical Perspectives
• Social Policy: Politics and Economics in Health Care
• Future Trends for Social Workers
8. Social Work in the Schools
• Children at Risk
• People of Latino or Hispanic Heritage: A Brief History
• History of Social Work in the Schools
• The Impact of Cultural Diversity in the Schools
• Involvement in Special Education
• Social Work Values in the School Setting: Policy Implications
• An International Comparison: School Social Work in Ghana
• Current Trends
9. Substance Abuse Services
• The Profession’s History in the Substance Abuse Field
• Critical Components of Professional Practice
• A European Prevention and Treatment Approach: The Harm Reduction Model
• A United States Model: Alcoholics Anonymous
• At-Risk Populations
• Building a Knowledge Base
• Substances of Abuse
• Environmental Perspectives
• Global Differences in Prevention and Treatment
• U.S. Social Welfare Policy Related to Substance Abuse
• Social Justice, Human Rights, and the War on Drugs
10. Social Work with Older Adults
• Social Work with Older Adults: A Brief History
• The Importance of Generalist Social Work
• Gerontological and Geriatric Social Work
• Who Are Our Older Adults?
• Older Adults and Their Families
• Working with Older Adults of Diverse Backgrounds
• Empowerment Practice
• Social Policy and Older Adults: Past to Present
• More Federal Legislation Relating to Older Adults
• Values and Public Policy
• End-of-Life Issues, Religion, and Spirituality
• An International Perspective: The Netherlands
• Social Work with Older Adults: A Growing Future
11. Social Work and Criminal Justice
• History of Social Work in Criminal Justice
• Components of the Criminal Justice System
• Value Dilemmas for Social Workers
• Social Work with Groups and Organizations
• Environmental Perspectives
• Promoting Human Rights and Social Justice
• Social Welfare Policy in Criminal Justice
• Global Perspectives
12. Developmental Disabilities and Social Work
• Developmental Disabilities: What are They?
• Services for People with Disabilities: A Brief History
• Types of Developmental Disabilities
• Social Work Roles with People Who Have Disabilities
• Education for Work with People Who Have Disabilities: CSWE Standards
• NASW Standards for Service
• Human Diversity and Populations at Risk
• Social Justice Issues
• The Disability Rights Movement, Social Policy, and Appropriate Terminology
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991
• Global Efforts on Behalf of People with Disabilities
• Value Dilemmas and Ethical Implications
13. Social Work: Profession at the Edge of Change
• Demographic Trends
• Political Trends
• Economic Trends
• Technological and Biomedical Advances
• Environmental Sustainability
• The Future of the Social Work Profession