SWK F103X      Introduction to Social Work      (s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall and Spring

Introduction to the profession of social work and the human services delivery system. Examines historical development of social work focusing on the knowledge, values and skills that characterize the social worker. Orientation to the context for social work, including the diversity of human needs, human services, social policy and legislation.

Special Notes: Services, programs, and career opportunities within rural and urban Alaska, as well as nationally, are discussed.

Attributes: UAF GER Social Sciences Req

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F220      Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice      (s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall and Spring

The professional nature and meaning of generalist social work practice. Examines the NASW code of ethics. Introduces interpersonal communication and interviewing. Assists students in making decisions about a career in social work.

Prerequisites: SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F305      Social Welfare History      (s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall

Analysis of social inequality and the U.S. social welfare system by tracing the historical development of government response to social inequality and exploring historical and persisting dilemmas in the provision of social welfare services.

Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; SWK F103X or HIST F100X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F306      Social Welfare: Policies and Issues
3 Credits

Offered Spring

Social policies and how they affect the delivery of social services. Factors influencing development of the current social service system. Analysis of dilemmas that develop in a welfare system attempting to deal with rapid social change. Alternative approaches to the solution of social problems and possible future developments.

Prerequisites: ECON F120X; PS F100X; SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F320      Rural Social Work
3 Credits

Offered Fall and Spring

This course examines rural and small community life, its value systems, strengths and capacities, customs, political and economic structures and their implications for the lives of people in rural settings and for generalist social work practice. Special attention is given to differences in intervention and service provision in rural areas.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F330      Seminar in International Social Work
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

International issues related to social work practice and social welfare policy. The focus of the seminar will be on global and international issues related to social and economic justice, distributive justice, and human and civil rights. Specific content is announced at registration.

Prerequisites: SWK F103X.

Special Notes: Course may be repeated once for credit when content varies.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 2 times for up to 6 credits

SWK F341      Human Behavior in the Social Environment I      (s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall

HBSE is a sequence of two courses that focus on human development in the context of the social environment. Throughout the sequence, a person-in-environment perspective is utilized to interpret the situations of individuals, families and groups. These situations are evaluated in the light of social work values and ethics.

Prerequisites: PSY F111X; SOC F101X or ANTH F100X; SWK F103X.

Special Notes: The first course in the sequence focuses on the human life cycle viewed in the context of the social environment.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F342      Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
3 Credits

Offered Spring

HBSE is a sequence of two courses that focus on human development in the context of the social environment. Throughout the sequence, a person-in-environment perspective is utilized to interpret the situations of individuals, families and groups. These situations are evaluated in the light of social work values and ethics.

Prerequisites: PSY F111X; SOC F101X or ANTH F100X; SWK F103X.

Special Notes: The second course in the sequence pays attention to those features of culture, the political economy, families, groups, formal organizations and communities that encourage human development or constrain and thwart it.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F350      Women's Issues in Social Welfare and Social Work Practices      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Examination of theories and research concerning women's issues in the field of social work and in the social welfare system, with particular emphasis on women in poverty and women of color. Contemporary policy issues and strategies of empowerment will be covered.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; SWK F103X or SOC F101X.

Cross-listed with WGS F350.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F360      Child Abuse and Neglect
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Dynamics, implications and treatments of child abuse and neglect for individuals and families in rural and urban Alaska.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F370      Services and Support for an Aging Society      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

An examination of the aging process, theories, political processes, social work generalist intervention and strategies and agency support for the aging population. The rapidly changing social and health issues of older adults are addressed in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural approach.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F375      Research Methods in Social Work
3 Credits

Offered Fall and Spring

Course has a two-fold objective: to help students become critical consumers of research in the social sciences and to allow students to carry out beginning research studies. Course sequentially covers phases of the research process, whether quantitative or qualitative.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; JUST F110X, PSY F111X or SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F390      Trauma and Wellness: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
3 Credits

Offered Summer Even-numbered Years

This course explores and critically examines diverse ways of knowing about experiences related to the concepts of trauma and wellness, both individually and collectively, and builds upon wellness strategies that focus on context, culture and lived experience across the lifespan.

Prerequisites: Sophmore standing or higher.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F405      Mental Health and Wellness: A Social Work Approach
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

This course will explore the history and treatment of individuals with mental health disorders in the United States. Students will explore the unique opportunities and challenges faced by social workers, and prepare them to provide case management and assessment services to people with mental health disorders.

Prerequisites: SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F440      Social Work Practice with Military Families
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Explores the history and roles of social work with military families. Ethical concerns that emerge from social work practice with military families are addressed. Military social workers' roles in mental health programs, family advocacy, program administration and policy-making are examined. Addresses issues that affect military families during deployment times.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F460      Social Work Practice I
3 Credits

Offered Fall

Development of beginning skills in interviewing and helping processes with individuals and families. Application of intervention strategies, interviewing techniques, case management and advocacy.

Prerequisites: acceptance to practicum; social work major; senior standing.

Corequisites: SWK F461.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F461      Practicum in Social Work I
6 Credits

Offered Fall

Individual training and practice in a social service agency. Students complete 200 hours of direct practice in an approved agency under the supervision of a field instructor.

Prerequisites: Social Work major; senior standing; approval from practicum coordinator.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 2 + 15 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F463      Social Work Practice II
3 Credits

Offered Spring

Further development of student's knowledge of direct practice and beginning skills in groups and community practice. Emphasis on aspects of rural practice.

Prerequisites: SWK F460; social work major; senior standing.

Corequisites: SWK F464.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F464      Practicum in Social Work II
6 Credits

Offered Spring

Continuation of SWK F461; further direct practice experience in an agency. Students complete 200 hours of practice in an approved agency under the supervision of a field instructor. Taken concurrently with SWK F463.

Prerequisites: SWK F460; SWK F461; Social Work major; senior standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 2 + 15 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F466      Practicum in Social Work III
3,6 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Further direct practice experience in an approved agency under the supervision of a field instructor. Students enrolled in 3 credits must complete 100 hours of practicum. Students enrolled in 6 credits must complete 200 hours of practicum.

Prerequisites: SWK F460; SWK F461; SWK F463; SWK F464; Social Work major; senior standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 7,15 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F470      Substance Abuse Theories and Treatment      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Examination of research and theories of chemical dependency from a social work, systems/ecological framework. Critically examines current theory and practice in terms of effectiveness, cultural appropriateness and validity with vulnerable populations.

Prerequisites: SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

SWK F484      Seminar in Social Work Practice Areas
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Problem areas in social work. Topics vary in different semesters, content announced in class schedule prior to each semester. Course may be repeated for credit when topic varies.

Prerequisites: SWK F103X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

Repeatable for Credit: May be taken unlimited times for up to unlimited credits