SOWK101: Introduction to Social Work

11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 08/08/2024

Course Description

Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare is a course that gives an overview of the field of social work practice. Topics regarding the ecclesiastical beginnings of the profession, additional historical components, the integration of faith and practice, as well as social work values and ethics will be explored.

Rationale

Introduction to Social Work offers the student a broad overview of the practice of generalist social work. The student interested in pursuing the attainment of a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, as well as those with interest in learning about the field, will be presented with the foundational knowledge of the field. This course will examine the knowledge, values, and skills of the field of social work from a Christ-centered point of view.

Course Assignment

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for this Discussion. The initial thread must be 300 words, integrate a minimum of 1 scholarly source and 1 biblical principle, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 100 words and integrate 1 source, either scholarly or biblical. All sources used must be cited in current APA format. Acceptable sources include the textbook, peer-reviewed publications, and the Bible. (CLO: B, C, D, E, F, G)

Poverty Journal Assignment

For the first part of a two-part assignment, the student will submit seven journal entries (one per day/week). The student will follow specific guidelines for a 7 consecutive day poverty immersive simulation experience. For the poverty journal, the student will give a daily itemized list of expenses, activities, descriptive feelings, and daily biblical scripture experienced during these 7 days. The student must organize his/her journal utilizing headings for each day and the subtopics of the journal. Further details of the rules for the 7-day experience are provided in the assignment instructions. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Poverty Reflection Assignment

For the second part of a two-part assignment, the student will provide a minimum of 3 pages and a maximum of 5 pages of written reflection comparing and contrasting his/her poverty immersive simulation experience and the Maid’s experiences within select chapters of the Land textbook, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s will to Survive. Students are required to cite a minimum of 3 scholarly sources (including the required Land text). The additional 2 scholarly sources may include Read items, journal articles, and other statistical sources/databases. The Land text contains 3 Parts, the student is required to read Chapter 1 and select individual choices from each Part as instructed within each Canvas Module/Week. APA headings should be the title of the Land chapter to identify to the instructor the point of reference in the student’s writing. 

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

The student will create an 8-slide minimum PowerPoint presentation based on an area of interest in a specific field of social work covered in the Segal, Gerdes, & Steiner text. The student will then research a problem or need addressed within this field and an agency, advocacy effort, or organization whose mission is targeted to this need or problem. The content of the PowerPoint presentation should contain the following information: a descriptive explanation and history of the problem or need; a description of the chosen field of social work; the mission, goal, effort, agency, or organization; the proposed solution to the problem; and related social work competencies. Sources should be cited in APA format on each content slide with a minimum of 3 scholarly sources used in the presentation. (CLO: B, E)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned Module: Week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes and contain 4-8 multiple-choice and true/false questions. There is no time limit on these quizzes and the student is only able to take this quiz one time. (CLO: A, D).