Course Descriptions
Foundation Courses
Full-time (2 year program) and Part-time (4 year program) Tracks
SOWK 0500. Generalist Practice (full & part-time tracks only) 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
This course prepares students for generalist practice using a problem-solving, task-oriented approach to working with individuals, families, and communities. Students develop competency in the assessment and intervention process. Coursework emphasizes the development of self-awareness and the acquisition of appropriate attitudes and values for enabling individuals, families and communities to reach their potential. Special attention is given to understanding cultural subgroups. Students are introduced to interviewing as a social work technique. Case simulations accessed in the lab (or online) will enhance students learning.
SOWK 0501. Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Social Work (full & part-time tracks only) 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
Students are introduced to the theories, methodologies, and materials used in social science research and applied social research. Students will learn about different research methodologies, how to obtain datasets for their research, and different research designs. Students will develop a two-semester research project. During the first semester they will develop a research question, conduct a literature review, make a hypothesis, and develop a basic research plan.
SOWK 0503. Human Behavior and the Social Environment (full & part-time tracks only) 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
This course provides a foundation on the interrelated biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to human behavior, growth, and adaptation. Social factors such as ethnicity, gender, and culture are emphasized. Ecological/systems theory is introduced and explored; student learn about micro, mezzo, and macro contributors to a person’s opportunities, challenges, protective factors, and development. Case simulations accessed in the lab (or online) will enhance students learning.
SOWK 0504. Social Welfare Policy (full-time/part-time tracks only) 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students develop a philosophical and historical perspective of social welfare services and the social welfare system and state. The course emphasizes evaluation of social welfare services and programs particularly as they affect African American and other diverse individuals, families, and communities. Issues in political economy are explored.
SOWK 0506/0507 (sections A-F). Practicum & Internship Education and Seminar, 3 credits, Fall/Spring, Internship/Lect.
Each semester students will engage in fieldwork (15-18 hours per week) and an integrative seminar to bridge field and classroom learning. First year students will be placed in a variety of community agency settings. In the advanced year, students will be placed in a field work setting related to their chosen specialization. Placements will be available for students interested in learning applied practice with traumatized children or adults. Placements in healthcare settings, in cooperation with the nursing program for interdiscplinary study paths, will be available for students interested in healthcare care social work.
SOWK 0505. Social Welfare Policy Practice and Advocacy, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
In this second policy course students will learn the importance of macro practice. Students will learn how to embed policy practice into generalist practices. They will learn the methods and tools of advocacy practice on behalf of and with vulnerable clients, groups, and communities. Understanding how legislation is passed and government functions will be emphasized. Students will design and engage in a basic advocacy project that will be presented to the professor and class at the conclusion of the course. A requirement of the project will be to design an advocacy tool (e.g. social media page) or engage in an advocacy action (e.g. meet with an elected official). Prerequisite: Social Welfare Policy
SOWK 0508. Telehealth, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn the basics of telehealth practice with an emphasis on tele mental health practice. Best practices in tele mental health will be explored. Students will learn about short-term and long-term trend in telehealth and tele-mental health practice with a focus on hard to reach urban and rural populations.
SOWK 0509. Telehealth lab, 0 credit, Spring, Lab- *telehealth certification
Students will learn about commonly used tele mental health platforms and their basic features. Students will practice delivering a tele mental health session in the lab using one of the platforms available in the lab such as Cisco or skype. There is an optional telehealth certificate upon completion of the course.
SOWK 0510. Research and Evaluation II, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will continue to learn about research and evaluation with an emphasis on social work research. They will learn basic quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. The research project begun in the first semester will be continued. Students will engage in a case study, cluster analysis, or basic analysis of a secondary dataset. They will conclude their research project by reporting and discussing their findings. Prerequisite: Research and Evaluation I (full-time & part-time tracks).
SOWK 0511. Global Social Work, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn about global social work practice and global social problems. They will be introduced to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Opportunities for global practice and advocacy will be reviewed. Case simulations accessed in the lab will help student understand global social work practice and how to work with vulnerable populations abroad. Course will include Peace Corp. speakers, prep, and correspondence. A service learning project will be completed as part of this course.
SOWK 0506/0507A. Practicum & Internship Education and Seminar, 4 credits, Fall/Spring, Internship/Lect.
Each semester students will engage in fieldwork (15-18 hours per week) and an integrative seminar to bridge field and classroom learning. First year students will be placed in a variety of community agency settings. In the advanced year, students will be placed in a field work setting related to their chosen specialization. Placements will be available for students interested in learning applied practice with traumatized children or adults. Placements in healthcare settings, in cooperation with the nursing program, will be available for students interested in healthcare care social work.
Practice Core Courses
Second Year: Full-time, Part-time and Advance Standing Tracks
SOWK 0600. Psychopathology, 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
Students learn about the dysfunctional or “pathological” end of the human behavior continuum. Behavior is analyzed using the systems approach learned in HBSE. The implications of trauma, separation, loss, discrimination, and differences in ability are introduced to highlight the ramifications of specific stressors at particular points in the life cycle of the individual and family. Computer based multimedia techniques are used to enhance instruction in DSM-IV. Prerequisite: HBSE
SOWK 0601. Advanced Clinical Practice, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will continue learning and improving on skills developed in Generalist Practice. They will move into more advanced clinical concepts and practice with an emphasis on children and families, and mental health. Students will access case simulations in the lab (or online) that will enhance their practice skills. Prerequisite: Generalist Practice
SOWK 0602. Group Practice, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn the basics of working with groups in clinical practice. They will learn about group practice with adolescents and adults and for a variety of diagnoses and presenting issues such as domestic violence and challenges and trauma face by veterans. Students will have the opportunity to role play leading a group in class and will use the lab to practice group skills using simulations. Prerequisites: HBSE, Generalist Practice
SOWK 0506/0507A. Practicum & Internship Education and Seminar, 3 credits, Fall/Spring, Internship/Lect.
Each semester students will engage in fieldwork (15-18 hours per week) and an integrative seminar to bridge field and classroom learning. First year students will be placed in a variety of community agency settings. In the advanced year, students will be placed in a field work setting related to their chosen specialization. Placements will be available for students interested in learning applied practice with traumatized children or adults. Placements in healthcare settings, in cooperation with the nursing program, will be available for students interested in healthcare care social work.
Specialization and Electives Courses
Advanced Standing, Full-time, and Part-time Tracks
SOWK 0603. Practice with Children, Youth, and Families (required first course in specialization) 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
Students will learn the basics of assessment and intervention with children, youth, and families with an emphasis on traumatized clients and clients involved in the child welfare system. Students will learn about the major theories used to understand and assess challenges in children, youth, and families. They will engage in case simulations in the lab to improve practice with children, youth, or families. Students interested working with traumatize children and families may apply to complete field work in setting where they can learn trauma informed practice skills. A required financial social work skills lab will be a required component of this course.
SOWK 0604. Behavioral Health in Social Work (required first course in specialization) 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
Students will learn advanced concepts in mental health assessment and treatment. Advanced theories will be presented. Students will engage in case of simulations in the lab to develop advanced clinical practice skills with clients facing mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. Students in this specialization will complete fieldwork in a setting where they can participate in the assessment of clients and delivery of an intervention to clients facing a variety of moderate mental health challenges.
SOWK 0605. Healthcare in Social Work (required first course in specialization) 3 credits, Fall, Lect.
Students with an interest in healthcare social workers will learn about different opportunities in this field including work in a hospital, hospice, nursing, primary care, and pediatric care settings. Students in this specialization will be required to complete fieldwork in a healthcare setting in cooperation with the nursing program.
Note: Students who will dual degree for Public Health must take this course prior to enrollment of the dual degree program.
SOWK 0607. Financial Social Work and Skills lab 2 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students may elect to take a course and/or to earn a financial social work certification that will prepare them to work with clients from all socioeconomic backgrounds who are experiencing major financial stressors due to a downturn in the economy, unemployment, or a family illness. The certificate requires five online lessons and monthly training.
SOWK 0608. Interpersonal/Family Violence 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students in any specialization track will be eligible to take a course on intimate partner (IPV) and interpersonal violence or family violence. The course will emphasize work with families impacted by domestic violence, mental health issues related to violence and intimate partner violence, and practice in healthcare settings related to IPV. Students will learn to recognize the traumatic impacts of IPV and others forms of violence, including community violence, on individuals and families. Prerequisite: first course in the specialization
SOWK 0609. Global Child Welfare, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students in the children, youth, and families specialization, as well as any students interested in global social work practice, will especially benefit from this elective course on global child welfare. Poverty among children globally and the U.S. will be explored. Practice opportunities with global child populations will be reviewed including in the field of advocacy. Students interested in global social work practice or global child welfare are encouraged to apply for study abroad or fieldwork where they may work with immigrant or refugee families involved in child welfare systems.
SOWK 0610. Co-Occurring Mental Health/Substance Use Disorders, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students interested in advancing their practice skills, knowledge, and theoretical foundation in work with clients facing mental health diagnoses and/or substance use disorder may take this elective course. Coursework with focus on more advanced practice with children and adults facing moderate to several mental health issues, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders. Students will be placed in a fieldwork setting where they can gain experiencing working with a specialized population of interest. Kognito simulation will be used for this course SBIRT
SOWK 0611. Advanced Rural Social Work, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn about the gaps in social work practice in rural communities in Alabama and nationally. They will learn about the role of tele mental health practice in reaching these populations and special assessment and intervention considerations with rural populations. A community project and/or GIS mapping certification will be completed.
SOWK 0612. Substance Use in Families, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students interested in advancing their practice skills, knowledge, and theoretical foundation in work with families dealing with a mental health diagnoses and/or substance use disorder may take this elective course. Coursework with focus on advanced practice with families. Students will be placed in a fieldwork setting where they can gain experiencing working with a specialized population of interest. Simulations will be used for this course.
SOWK 0613. Mental and Behavioral Health, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn about the assessment and treatment and mental and behavior health problems in children and adults in various settings including clinics, hospitals, and in child welfare. Evidence based interventions will be reviewed for various presenting problems. Students will learn about co-occurring mental health/substance use disorders and cutting edge community-based treatment models. Mixed Reality Simulations will be used for the course.
SOWK 0614. Core Concepts of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will be introduced to the core concepts of child and adolescent trauma, how to recognize the symptoms of traumatic stress in young clients, and which evidence-based practices are commonly used in treating traumatized children and youth. Students will learn about the major instruments for assessing trauma in children and youth. Students will be placed in a field work assignment where they can observe, help assess, and intervene with traumatized children or youth.
SOWK 0615. Core Concepts of Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will be introduced to the core concepts of trauma-informed child welfare practice including trauma-informed approaches to working with children in institutional settings, with families, and in mental health settings. Students will learn about the major instruments for assessing trauma in children and youth involved in the child welfare systems. Students will complete fieldwork in a child welfare setting where they will learn about trauma-informed agency practices and clinical interventions.
SOWK 0616. Understanding and Treating Trauma in Adults, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will be introduced to the core concepts of adult trauma, how to recognize the symptoms of traumatic stress in adult clients, and which evidence-based practices are commonly used in treating traumatized adults. Students will learn about the major instruments for assessing trauma in adults. Field work assignments will be provided where students they can observe, help assess, and intervene with traumatized adults.
SOWK 0617. Pharmacology, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will be prepared for practice on interdisciplinary teams in the treatment of clients on psychopharmaceutical medications for mental health problems and illnesses. The instructor will review changes made in DSM-5. Problem-based learning will be utilized including case scenarios (in the lab) as well as case examples. Abuse of prescription medications will be discussed as well as special considerations in the treatment of marginalized communities and women. Required course for healthcare and behavioral health specializations.
SOWK 0618. Practice with Older Adults, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn about opportunities in gerontological social work in mental health and nursing settings. They will learn how to assess and treat mental health issues common to older adults. Emphasis will be placed on the role of meaning and purpose in the lives of older adults. Students interested in gerontological social work in a healthcare setting will be placed in a collaborative field work setting with nursing students or in an institutional setting. Fieldwork placements in mental health settings may be available.
SOWK 0619. Military/VA Social Work, 3 credits, Spring, Lect.
Students will learn about opportunities in military social work and in working with retired veterans in VA healthcare or mental health settings. They will learn about trauma informed and evidence-based treatments commonly used with active duty and retired military personnel. Students interested in working with this client population will be placed in a field work setting such as a military installation clinic or residential home for veterans, a VA hospital, or mental health agency that serves veterans to gain experience in working with this population.
SOWK 0620. Special Topics, 3 credits, Offered upon availability, Lect.
Students will learn about special topics in social work base on relevant trends and needs in society. Topics may include social work writing, law in social work, disaster social work, political social work, police social work, social work self-care, social work management, special topics in social work African American social work practice with youth, adults, families, and/or communities. Emphasis will be placed on social justice through the lens of trauma informed practice. Students will have an opportunity to complete a special project or service-learning related to the topic.
SOWK 0621. Public Health Social Work, 3 credits, Summer, Lect.
Students will learn about public health social work in the context of an interdisciplinary, epidemiologically oriented approach to improving human health and well-being. The course will have emphasis on how the alliance of social work and public health has already made significant progress and ways in which it will further improve health care in the United States. It will addresses public health social work ethics and job opportunities for public health social workers in such fields as disease prevention, health promotion, child welfare, gerontology, disaster response, trauma intervention, substance abuse, outreach services, and advocacy. It also covers public health social work with special populations and in neighborhood, rural, and global settings.
Prerequisite: SOWK 0605.Healthcare in Social Work
Note: Students who will dual degree for Public Health must take this course prior to enrollment of the dual degree program.
SOWK Acadeum Consortial. 3 credits, based on availability and approval of specialization lead professor/chair, Lect.
Students will learn about various topics from social work elective courses available through the acadeum consortial universities schools of social work. Dual-degree and US AID Payne Fellows students may select elective courses based on the degree and/or fellowship requirements for specific courses.
Note: additional fees may apply based on credit load or consortial university fees.
**Dual-degree and Payne Fellowship students may have to take additional credit hours to meet requirements of the fellowship. If requirements are over the allowed credits based on enrollment status the student is responsible for any additional cost/fees.
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