Dr. Mizanur Miah, Head
2002B Health Sciences and Business Administration Building
The Department of Social Work offers a Master of Social Work degree. Social Work is a profession committed to improving the quality of life for all individuals. Social workers perform a variety of roles in many settings and are eligible for professional certification and state licensure. The Master of Social Work degree program at Valdosta State University is designed to prepare students for advanced generalist practice. Social workers in advanced generalist practice use their skills as direct service providers in interventions with individuals, families, groups, organizations, as well as in communities in the role of supervisors, managers, administrators, researchers, and social planners.
SOWK 6000. Orientation to Advanced Generalist Practice. 2 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program with advanced standing status. An overview of social work principles and skills. This is a transition course to orient students who already have a BSW degree to the graduate degree perspective.
SOWK 6001. Orient Prof SOWK Practice I. 1 Hour.
Required seminar introducing conceptual frameworks, purpose, goals, values, and ethics of social work.
SOWK 6003. Practice with Groups. 1 Hour.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Introduction to knowledge, skills, and values that underlie contemporary social work practice with groups.
SOWK 6004. Social Work Practice with Groups. 2 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Introduction to knowledge, skills and values that underlie contemporary social work practice with various types of groups and group dynamics.
SOWK 6100. Introduction to Professional Social Work Education. 1 Hour.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Orientation to graduate social work education.
SOWK 6201. Human Behavior in the Social Environment I. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Presents a multi-theory perspective on human behavior of individuals and families across the life span within the context of the social environment.
SOWK 6202. Human Behavior in the Social Environment II. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Presents a multi-theory perspective on human behavior of groups, organizations and communities within the context of the social environment.
SOWK 6301. Generalist Practice I Individuals and Families. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program. Corequisite: SOWK 6303. An introduction to the planned intervention process used in generalist practice with individuals and families within the ecological systems framework.
SOWK 6302. Generalist Practice II Organizations and Communities. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program and SOWK 6031. The second course in the foundation practice sequence which presents knowledge of the problem-solving approach with work groups, organizations and communities within the Ecological Systems Framework.
SOWK 6303. Practice Skills Lab. 2 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program. Corequisite: SOWK 6301. Laboratory for practice social work interviewing skills.
SOWK 6400. Social Welfare Policy, Problems, and Services. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. History of the social work profession and current patterns of the provision of social services. Policy formulation process, policy analysis and change.
SOWK 6500. Research and Evaluation Methods in Social Work. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Principles, methodologies, technologies and statistical approaches of human service research are introduced. Beginning capabilities in evaluation of social work practice and skill development regarding use of published research are emphasized.
SOWK 6600. Practicum I. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Corequisite: SOWK 6610. First semester of supervised practice for the integration of classroom learning in field settings.
SOWK 6610. Practicum Seminar I. 1 Hour.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Corequisite: SOWK 6600. Seminar in which students discuss their practicum experiences with the goal of integrating social work theory and practice.
SOWK 6700. Practicum II. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program, SOWK 6600, and SOWK 6610. Corequisite: SOWK 6710. Second semester of supervised practice for the integration of classroom learning in field settings.
SOWK 6710. Practicum Seminar II. 1 Hour.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program, SOWK 6600, and SOWK 6610. Corequisite: SOWK 6700. Second semester of seminar in which students discuss their practicum experiences with the goal of integrating social work theory and practice.
SOWK 7000. Independent Study in Social Work. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Must have permission of division head. Independent study in social work.
SOWK 7001. Special Topics in Social Work. 1-3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor and Department Head. Advanced study of emerging areas and forms of social work practice. Topics may change each time the course is offered. Course may be taken three times for credit, with permission of the Deparement head.
SOWK 7300. Advance Practice in Rural Areas I Individuals. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 7310 and SOWK 7320 and admission to the program. Practice models compatible with the ecological systems perspectives and skills for working with individuals.
SOWK 7310. Advance Practice in Rural Areas II Families. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program. Corequisite: SOWK 7320. Advanced seminar applying theories compatible with the ecological systems perspective in relation to multi-level work with families at different levels of functioning and of diverse forms.
SOWK 7320. Advanced Practice in Organizations and Communities. 3 Hours.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Program. Corequisite: SOWK 7310. Advanced seminar on applications of service management, and planning principles and skills essential for social work planners, administrators, supervisors, and program developers.
SOWK 7400. Policy in Rural Areas. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6400 and admission to the program. A continuation of SOWK 6400; An analysis of legislative and judicial contributions to the creation, development, and interpretation of social welfare policies and practices.
SOWK 7500. Advanced Research and Program Evaluation. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission to the program. Emphasizes the integration of research and advanced generalist social work through analysis and evaluation of programs and program components. Emphasis is on program evaluation as a form of direct practice. Both qualitative and quantitative methods and evaluation are emphasized.
SOWK 7611. Advanced Social Work Practicum I. 4 Hours.
Prerequisite: Admission into the program and completion of all foundation coursework. The first of two concentration practica designed to prepare students for advanced generalist social work practice rural settings.
SOWK 7612. Advanced Social Work Practicum II. 4 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 7611 and admission into the program. The second of two concentration practica designed to prepare students for advanced generalist social work practice rural settings.
SOWK 7630. Professional Seminar. 1 Hour.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. A seminar to facilitate and structure students' transition from graduate school to post-graduation social work practice.
SOWK 7700. Social Work with Older Adults. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. Study of aging and an overview of gerontological social work within the context of culture and values. The course emphasizes changes, needs, assessment, and interventions to meet the needs of older adults and their families.
SOWK 7770. Trauma Informed Child Welfare Practice. 2 Hours.
Prerequisite: Completion of first year in MSW Program or permission of the director for other graduate students. Introduction to core concepts informing evidence-based assessment and interventions for traumatized children and adolescents involved in the child welfare system.
SOWK 7800. Social Work Practice in Health Settings. 2 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. Prepares students for advanced practice across a variety of traditional and emerging inpatient and outpatient health care delivery systems.
SOWK 7810. Psychopathology and Assessment for Non-Medical Helpers. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: Concentration Status for SOWK students or permission of department head for other graduate students. Information on theories within the Bio-Psycho-Social paradigm or on causality of disorders/conditions and the use of the DSM-5.
SOWK 7820. Issues in Substance Abuse. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. Alcohol and substance abuse issues are examined from the perspective of their individual and cultural impact. Strategies for prevention and treatment are introduced with an emphasis on Bio-Psycho-Social approaches.
SOWK 7840. Seminar on Loss and Bereavement. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. A seminar focused on a multidisciplinary perspective for helping clients deal with significant losses, using practical interventions at the individual and family level.
SOWK 7850. Social Work Practice in Schools. 2 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director fo other graduate students. Issues and laws related to social work practice in the school.
SOWK 7860. Grant Writing in Human Services. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. Knowledge, skills, and process of human services grant writing.
SOWK 7870. Social Work Practice with Abusing and Neglecting Families. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. An advanced seminar in social work practice with abusing and neglecting families. Content includes current knowledge about causes, dynamics, and interventions related to neglect and abuse of children, elders, spouses and rape victims.
SOWK 7890. Spirituality in Social Work Practice. 3 Hours.
Prerequisite: SOWK 6301, 6302, and 6303 or permission of director for other graduate students. A framework of knowledge, values, skills, and experiences for spiritually sensitive social work practice and subsequent social justice ramifications.
