Social Work Major
Why study social work at CMU?
The social work program prepares students for a variety of professions offering services to people who need assistance in their lives because of social, emotional, financial, or other life problems. Consider these key features distinguishing this program at CMU:
- Undergraduate research opportunities with social work faculty members
- Practical experience through internship possibilities in a variety of social work settings
- Professional development through on-campus organizations such as the Student Social Work Association
- Volunteer opportunities in social work related agencies locally, throughout the state, across the nation and in other countries
Career outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, for all occupations through the year 2014:
- The employment of social workers is expected to increase 18 to 26 percent.
- By specialty, job prospects may be best for those social workers with a background in gerontology and substance abuse treatment.
- The employment of school social workers also is expected to grow with expanded efforts to respond to rising student enrollments and continued emphasis on integrating disabled children into the general school population.
Career options
Graduates of the social work program at CMU will find a variety of career opportunities. Some of these may require additional education.
- Juvenile Court Worker
- Probation Officer
- Parole Officer
- Community Dispute Mediator
- Community Corrections Officer
- Social Justice Activist
- Social Worker
- Youth Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Community Services Case Manager
Program Overview
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires.
For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin
AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education
courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.
(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)
Social Work Major
( Total: 47 semester hours
Note: The student will enroll in SWK 470 AND SWK 480 consecutively within two years of completing the course prerequisites. )
(41 hours)
Required Courses I
3
SOC 100 Introductory Sociology
Systematic introduction to the field of sociology, its theories, concepts, and methods. Explores social relationships within the context of social structure. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format. (University Program Group III-B)
3
SOC 200 Introduction to Social Research and Analysis
First in a two-part methods sequence with SOC 350. Basic research issues. Univariate, bivariate, multivariate analysis techniques in sociology and social work. Computer applications. Prerequisites: SOC 100; completion of math competency.
3
SOC 350 Social Research Methodologies
Second in methods sequence with SOC 200. Research methodologies. Observation and surveys; two from: experiments/single subject design; program evaluation; interviewing/focus groups; ethnography/community studies. Prerequisites: SOC 100; 200 with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better; or for PSY majors, PSY 211 with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better; six additional hours of sociology and/or social work.
3
SWK 100 Introduction to Social Work
Principles and values of social work, community resources and social service agencies, helping methods, and the role of the professional social worker.
3
SWK 250 Social Welfare Policies and Services I
History of social welfare and social action. Analysis of American social welfare systems. Links between social policy and needs and impacts on vulnerable groups. Prerequisite: SWK 100. Pre/Co- requisite: LIB 197.
3
SWK 315 Social Work Generalist Practice I: Social Work Communications
Generalist communication skills through interviewing and information exchange with micro, mezzo and macro client systems. Develop ability to assess information obtained. Prerequisites: Must have minimum of 2.5 GPA; signed Social Work Major; applied to the Social Work Program; SWK 100; completion of 24 credit hours. Pre/Co-requisites: SWK 250; SOC 350. Co-requisite: SWK 374.
3
SWK 321 Social Work Generalist Practice II
Knowledge, skills, and values for social work generalist practice within micro, mezzo, and macro client systems. Emphasis on culturally- competent and evidence-based practice. Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program; all SWK program required volunteer hours completed; SWK 315, 374. Co-requisite: SWK 375.
3
SWK 331 Social Work Generalist Practice III
Generalist social work practice with micro, mezzo and macro systems continued from SWK 315 & SWK 321 with emphasis on the strengths perspective. Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program; all SWK program required volunteer hours completed; SWK 315, 321. Co-requisite: SWK 470.
3
SWK 374 Social Work and Human Behavior I
Social work and related theories explaining human behavior in individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities with emphasis on early to middle stages of life. Prerequisites: Must have minimum of 2.5 GPA; signed Social Work Major; applied to the Social Work Program. Pre/Co-requisites: SWK 250; BIO 151 or HSC 211.
3
SWK 375 Social Work and Human Behavior II
Social work and related theories explaining human behavior in individuals, families, groups, organizations & communities with an emphasis on middle to late life stages. Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program; SWK 374. Co-requisite: SWK 321.
3
SWK 450 Social Welfare Policies and Services II
Analysis and evaluation of social policies and social welfare services. Emphasis on social action, social and economic justice and impact on at-risk groups. Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program; SWK 250; SOC 221 or 302. Co-requisite: SWK 480.
4
SWK 470 Social Work Practicum I
Supervised field experience in an agency. Includes 200 hours in field and 15 seminar hours. Must be taken within 2 years of SWK 321 and SWK 375. Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program; SOC 350; SWK 321, 375. Co-requisite: SWK 331.
4
SWK 480 Social Work Practicum II
Continuation of SWK 470 in the same agency. 200 hours of supervised field work and 15 seminar hours. Must be taken immediately following SWK 470. Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program; SWK 470 with a grade of B- or better. Co-requisite: SWK 450.
(3 hours)
Required Courses II
Select one of the following:
3
SOC 221 Social Problems
Nature and extent of major social problems. Underlying general social processes and specific factors, as well as proposed solutions. Prerequisite: One 3-hour course from University Program Group III-B. (University Program Group IV-A)
3
SOC 302 Social Inequality
Class, race, and gender and other forms of social strata. The bases, consequences, and correlates of position in the system of stratification. Prerequisites: SOC 100 or 201 or 221; or SOC/ANT 101 and a signed Global Justice Minor.
(3 hours)
Required Courses III
Select one of the following:
3
PSY 330 Social Psychology
Empirical approach to understanding individual social behavior. Deals with the person and the social environment with a focus in attitudes, interpersonal behavior, and group processes. Prerequisite: PSY 100. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
3
SOC 201 Social Psychology
Examines the links between social structure and self. Substantive topics may include: agency, emotions, socialization, attitudes, gender, inequality, deviance, conflict, and social change. (Group III-A)