The mission of the social work profession is "to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty" (from the Preamble of the N.A.S.W. Code of Ethics). Social work addresses the needs of individuals, families, groups and communities. The core values of the profession are service, social justice, dignity and worth of the individual, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. The College of St. Scholastica's Social Work Program embraces the mission of the social work profession in the context of the College's Benedictine tradition. The program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, requires graduates to be well prepared for beginning generalist professional practice. Graduates find employment in a variety of settings, some of which include: child and family service agencies, hospitals, community action agencies, schools, child and adult protection, residential treatment programs, nursing care and tribal social service agencies, gerontological services, mental health settings, criminal justice, developmental/mental disabilities, and international social work.
St. Scholastica graduates also may enter most Master of Social Work
programs with advanced standing, requiring only 12 months of graduate
study. For students who care about people and want to make a
difference, Social Work may be the appropriate major.
Department Chair/Program Director: Lee Gustafson, Ph.D., M.S.S.W.,
L.G.S.W.
The St. Scholatica Social Work Program has three goals and 11 specified educational outcomes that are used as guiding principles for evaluating program effectiveness. Students who graduate from this program have a grounding in liberal arts with a successively more advanced set of professional classes which lead to readiness for entry-level practice, community service and graduate education. The goals and outcomes specified by this program are as follows.
The College of St. Scholastica Social Work Program prepares
students for beginning generalist social work practice with
individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
The Social Work Program will foster the mission of the College and the values from the Benedictine heritage: community, hospitality, respect, stewardship and the love of learning.
The Social Work Program will prepare students for lifelong learning.
The College of St. Scholastica undergraduate Social Work Degree Program prepares students in the generalist social work practice model, with emphasis on acquisition of basic knowledge, values and skills essential for beginning level professional practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. The College of St. Scholastica Social Work Program is guided by the liberal arts tradition of the College and integrates a humanistic, egalitarian educational philosophy with rigorous, sequential academic programming. Students completing the program are prepared to work in rural, urban and international areas with diverse populations.
The College of St. Scholastica Social Work Program enables graduates to sit for licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) by the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Additionally, the curriculum is approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for School Social Worker Licensure. Students seeking licensure as a school social worker are required to complete the Social Work major coursework and SWK 4555 Senior Field Practicum in a school setting under the supervision of a licensed school social worker, consisting of at least 400 contact hours during one school year.
SWK 2240, 3360, 3362, 3370, 3383, 3385; 3380 or 3315; SWK 3555, 4440, 4441, 4449, 4555, 4470.
Students provide their own transportation to community learning
experiences such as their field practicum during their junior and
senior years. Students are required to obtain professional liability
insurance before beginning field practicum. Students become members of
N.A.S.W. (National Association of Social Workers) at the beginning of
their Junior year. Students planning to attend graduate school
(including programs offering advanced standing in social work) are
strongly recommended to take PSY 3331 - Statistics.
All entering students are encouraged to submit their application for the Social Work major to the Office of the Registrar once they are an intended major. Social Work majors apply for formal admission to the Social Work Program during the spring semester of the sophomore year. For fall juniorstatus admission, students transferring from a community college with an A.A. degree must make application to both the College and the Social Work Program by April 15.
Admission to the Social Work Program is a prerequisite condition for registration in SWK 3362 and SWK 3370.
Application to the Social Work Program includes the following:
The Social Work Program director informs student in writing by June 15th of the decision. Possible actions include:
Admission and retention criteria for the program follow.
Students must maintain acceptable academic standing. For admission this includes: junior standing; a 2.5 overall GPA (on a 4.0 scale); and 3.0 cumulative GPA in Psychology, Sociology and Social Work courses. All Social Work courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C. Retention requires continuation of these minimum grades. Students who earn a grade below C in any required Social Work course must retake the course prior to enrollment in the next course in the professional practice sequence.
Students are expected to exhibit commitment to the profession through attendance and active participation in classes.
Other evaluative criteria used by the program include the following:
The Social Work Program reserves the privilege of accepting and retaining in the program only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, Admission Committee and Grievance Committee, satisfy the requirements of scholarship and the integrity of the social work profession as set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics. No academic credit is awarded for life or previous work experiences in this degree program.
The Social Work Program encourages all students to learn about the diversity in their communities. Program activities are dedicated to expanding students' experiences with diversity and to assist them in developing cultural competency. The Social Work Program conducts all its activities without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, local commission status, or status with regard to public assistance.
SWK 2240 Introduction to Professional Social Work 4 cr.
Provides an introduction to the foundation of social work as a
profession, and outlines the primary knowledge, values, and skills that
characterize contemporary practice. This entry-level course surveys a
variety of professional practice settings allowing students an
opportunity for career exploration within the social work profession.
In addition, the course reviews the historical and philosophical
background of social work. Students demonstrate increased awareness of
personal values in exploring both the National Association of Social
Workers Code of Ethics, as well as the Benedictine Values. The course
emphasizes the experience of populations at risk and analyzes factors
that constitute being at risk Through the use of weekly classroom
lecture, discussion, readings, audio visual tools, and service learning
assignments, students increase awareness of the value of promoting
social and economic justice across all levels of practice.
SWK/GER/PSY/SOC 3315 Psychosocial Aspects of Aging 4 cr.
Provides an overview of the aging individual within a social context.
The focus is on characteristics of today's older adult cohort,
psychological processes in late life, the social context in which older
adults live, and society's response to older adults. Topics include:
demographics, stereotypes and attitudes, research methods, theories of
development, sensing and responding to the environment, cognitive
processes, mental disorders and treatment, death and dying, sexuality,
intimate relationships, family relationships, care giving, employment
and retirement, finances, Social Security, social programs and
political power of the older cohort.
SWK 3360 American Social Welfare Policy 4 cr.
Examines the history, current structures and future of social welfare
policy, and the role of social policy in social work practice. Course
content includes: identification of local, state, federal and
international political processes that shape the development of
domestic and international social policy; analysis of current
limitations and strengths in social policy; application of research
relevant to existing and potential social policy; and consideration of
controversial policies and social reform strategies. Policy analysis of
the following issues are examined: income redistribution, poverty,
discrimination, child welfare, mental health, housing, healthcare as
well as other relevant economic/ political/organizational systems. The
purpose of the course is to challenge students to recognize and
understand the relationship between social problems, social values,
social institutions, client advocacy, and social change as they prepare
for entry level generalist social work practice.
SWK 3362 Human Behavior in the Social Environment 4 cr.
Provides students with knowledge and understanding of the reciprocal
relationships between human behavior and social environments through a
social systems approach as affected by biological, cultural,
environmental, psychosocial, and spiritual factors across the lifespan.
Content includes empirically based theories and knowledge that focus on
the interactions between and among individual, family, small group,
organizational and community roles in human behavior as related to
social work practice. Course focuses on cultural, ethnic and lifestyle
diversity and its effects on achieving health and well-being.
Prerequisite: SWK 2240; PSY 1105 or 2208; BIO 1102; concurrent
enrollment in SWK 3370.
SWK 3370 General Social Work Practice 4 cr.
The first of the four practice sequence courses. This course provides
students with the fundamental concepts, principles and skills necessary
to engage in beginning generalist social work practice at the
baccalaureate level. It explores the unique aspects and challenges of
the social work profession, emphasizes the professional commitment and
values necessary to provide service to culturally diverse and
vulnerable populations, promotes understanding and use of a strength's
practice perspective, examines the NASW Code of Ethics, and introduces
the generalist intervention problemsolving method for practice with
individuals, families, groups and communities. Students develop
interviewing skills and the professional use of self. Prerequisites:
SWK 2240; PSY 1105 or 2208; concurrent enrollment in SWK 3362.
SWK 3380 Child Welfare 4 cr.
Examines the social welfare system as it affects children in American
society. Students learn about critical factors that affect the needs of
children and families in contemporary society. Child maltreatment,
protective intervention, family preservation, family assessment and
alternative substitute care are some of the key issues addressed.
Students also learn about human service agencies and programs providing
services to children and families. Course content includes theory,
practices services and research in the field of child welfare.
SWK 3383 Social Work with Individuals and Families 4 cr.
The second course in the social work practice sequence. This course
builds on the knowledge and skills taught in SWK 3370. Students
continue to demonstrate mastery of interviewing skills and application
of the generalist intervention model on a more advanced level working
with individuals, couples and families. This course includes
information and practice with: contemporary social work practice
theories, social histories, individual and family assessments;
assessment of suicidal potential and Duty to Warn; treatment plans;
three generational genograms; eco-maps and professional documentation
skills. Students participate in role playing, client case analyses and
ethical practice dilemmas. Prerequisites: SWK 2240, 3362, 3370.
SWK 3385 Social Work Research and Evaluation 4 cr.
Qualitative and quantitative approaches to building evidence-based
generalist social work practice. Students acquire knowledge and develop
skills necessary for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of
practice interventions and social service programs. Course goals are to
prepare students to be competent consumers, producers and communicators
of social science research. Course content includes: steps in practice
research; ethnic-sensitive research practice; empirical research
strategies for assessing micro, mezzo and macro social work
interventions; developing and implementing a research project; and
effective use of computer technology as an integral part of both
research and human service practice. Prerequisite: PSY 3331.
SWK 3555 Junior Field Practicum 2-4 cr.
This course is designed to provide students an entry-level opportunity
to work in a social service agency, institution or organization in the
role of a social work intern 8-13 hours per week/120-200 total hours,
during spring semester of their junior year. In placement, students
prepare for effective social work practice within a pluralistic society
including sensitivity to race, color, gender, age, creed, ethnic or
national origin, handicap, or political or sexual orientation. Learning
contracts are individually designed to meet the specific needs of each
student and the requirements and opportunities available in each human
service organization. Students participate in a weekly 100-minute small
group seminar which emphasizes student-centered learning,
personal/professional introspection and an opportunity to exchange
information on agency placement experiences. Various general practice
skills will be explored, including values, ethics, professional
documentation and intervention strategies. Students will be graded on a
P/F basis. Prerequisites: SWK 2240, 3362, 3370, and concurrent
enrollment in SWK 3383, 3385, and program permission.
SWK/INS 4410 Counseling the American Indian (I, II) 4 cr.
Historical and cultural aspects of the relationship of American Indians
to the counseling process. Courses involve group dynamics and practical
techniques.
SWK/INS 4415 American Indian Families (I, II, 6) 4 cr.
Traditional and contemporary concepts of American Indian families. The
social and political changes that have impacted on Indian families will
be identified and the degree of impact will be assessed.
SWK/INS 4420 Human Behavior and the American Indian
Community (I, II, 6) 4 cr.
Understanding of human behavior, cultural issues and their implication
for human service interaction with American Indian communities. A
systems approach will be utilized to address the issues of individual,
family, community and societal behavior.
SWK 4440 Social Work Intervention with Groups 4 cr.
This course is the third sequenced course of four practice courses
required for all Social Work majors. The course incorporates knowledge
and skill content developed in SWK 3370 and SWK 3383. Students examine
the nature and development of social work group practice within task
and treatment groups. Specific attention is given to group dynamics
theory, leadership and group facilitation skills, stages of group
development, theories and techniques adapted to a variety of treatment
and task group settings, ethical standards for group practice, and
cultural and ethnic consideration in social work group intervention.
Students have the opportunity to demonstrate group facilitation and
memberships skills in group labs. In addition, students receive
instruction in implementing empirically based interventions in
evaluating practice effectiveness. Prerequisites SWK 2240, 3360, 3370,
3383 and 3385
SWK 4441 Social Work with Community Systems 4 cr.
Fourth course of the social work practice sequence. This course
emphasizes the theories and skills necessary for beginning social work
practitioners to bring about effectively planned change in community
groups, organizations and institutions. The course content addresses:
community theory and community practice skills; organizational and
inter-organizational practice theory and skills; community organizing
in a diverse society; macro social work research; and, theories and
skills for professional development and macro level interventions. It
provides students experiential learning opportunities. Prerequisites:
SWK 2240, 3362, 3370, 3383, 4440, 3385; PSY 3331.
SWK 4449 Preparation for Senior Practicum 1 cr.
Designed for senior social work students in preparation for their
senior field experience. Students have the opportunity to assess their
interests and abilities, familiarize themselves with available field
placement sites, complete necessary paperwork and interview with at
least three field placement supervisors. Prerequisites: SWK 2240, 3370,
3383, 3385; PSY 3331.
SWK 4470 Independent Professional Project 2 cr.
Senior project integrating coursework and field placement experience of
the student's social work education. The project must address these
nine basic foundation areas: values and ethics, diversity, social and
economic justice, work with populations at risk, human behavior in the
social environment, social welfare policies and services, social work
practice, research, field practicum and internship. Prerequisites: all
social work courses and concurrent enrollment in SWK 4555.
SWK 4555 Senior Field Practicum 8-12 cr.
A 400 hour (minimum) social work internship in a social service agency,
institution or organization during the senior year. The practicum
provides students the opportunity to integrate direct practice with
acquired theoretical knowledge and skills. A biweekly seminar
facilitates the integration of classroom content and direct practice
experience. Attention is given to the relationship between the
purposes, values and principles expressed in the Social Work Code of
Ethics and the professional practice of social work. Prerequisites: all
Social Work courses except SWK 4470; admission to the field sequence.
SWK 4777 Topics in Social Work 1-4 cr.
Courses not a regular part of Social Work curriculum but taught because
of s special need, interest or opportunity. Topics vary.
SWK 4999 Independent Study 1-8 cr.
Students select a particular topic of study with instructor. Individual
student learning goals and method of evaluation is designed.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
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