Coursework Required Prior to Initiating Senior Practicum

The core social work courses at EMU lay the foundation for social work competencies and practice skills. This then makes the conceptual contribution from the classroom to the practice setting, fostering the implementation of evidence-informed practice to compliment experiential learning.

101 Exploring Social Work 3 SH

The course provides an introduction to beginning social work theory, values and skills, generalist social work practice and an overview of professional social work opportunities. Participation in agency visits and 20 hours of community learning are required.

200 Social Behavior and Diversity - 3 SH

(Human Behavior and the Social Environment [HBSE] I)  This course explores human behavior in the social environment as it relates to human development through the lifespan (conception through older adulthood). Traditional and alternate paradigms are studied in relationship to the needs and realities for individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The course fosters an appreciation for human diversity, and recognizes the complexities of understanding human behavior and the environment including: poverty, oppression, discrimination and differences due to culture, race and ethnicity.

210 Social Stratification (HBSE II) - 3 SH

This human behavior in the social environment course focuses on theories of social stratification and inequality. Students will explore various interpretations of the causes and consequences of inequality within the United States. The course profiles community organizing as a tool for addressing and reducing inequality. As an experiential learning course, students will participate in simulations and other group learning experiences.

220 Social Welfare History and Philosophy - 3 SH

The course explores the historical roots of social welfare and the development of social welfare philosophy and policy in the U.S. It examines current social welfare programs and services, especially as they pertain to populations-at-risk. Recommended prerequisite: SOWK 101.

310 Social Work Practice I  - 3 SH

This course provides a generalist, problem-solving process for beginning social workers and details professional relationship development methods/strategies that facilitate the helping process with a variety of client systems. It is a client-centered and strength-based approach with emphasis on personal and professional growth and development and effective practice across difference. This course is restricted to students who have formally declared their social work major with the registrar’s office. Prerequisites: SOWK 101, SOWK 200 or PSYC 202.

330 Social Policy Analysis - 3 SH

This course builds on SOWK 220. It provides social work theory and skills to assess social problems, to analyze and evaluate social welfare policy and programs, and to engage in and advocate for organizational, political, and community policy formation and change. Prerequisite: SOWK 220.

360 Race and Gender (HBSE III) - 3 SH

This foundational course in the human behavior in the social environment curriculum explores the system nature of racism and sexism in the United States. Students will explore the history of social patterns that have shaped, modified and maintained these realities. The course also explores how class, poverty, age, education, power and other elements contribute to social inequality and interweave with race and gender to produce an enduring reality in which we live our daily lives. The course seeks to help students consider theories and frameworks to better understand the systemic nature of class, racism and sexism and how those tools help lead to informed, reflective and transformative policy and practice. Prerequisite: SOC 101 or PSYC 101.

400 Social Work Practice II - 3 SH

This course provides a generalist focus highlighting knowledge and skills to work with families and groups. Skill development includes effective communication and relationship building, strength-based perspective and techniques for social work practice, boundary setting with client systems, assessment skills, service delivery and evaluation. Units will highlight group and family work, crisis intervention, diversity and cultural competency. The course integrates client advocacy, professional documentation, use of supervision, participating in partnership/team model, personal and professional growth and adherence to professional ethics. This course is restricted to social work majors accepted into the social work program. Prerequisite: SOWK 310.

410 Social Work Practice III -  3 SH

This course provides macro social work knowledge and skills necessary to engage in macro-level interventions (neighborhoods, communities, organizations, and society). Students are introduced to social advocacy and action strategies with populations-at-risk. This course is restricted to social work majors accepted into the social work program. Prerequisite: SOWK 310.

420 Topics in Social Work  - 3 SH           

Any 300 or 400 level course complimenting required social work courses and of the student’s interest as approved by faculty adviser. Preapproved social work topic courses include: PSYC 331 Abnormal Psychology; PSYC 391 Introduction to Counseling; PXD 311 Mediation and Conflict Transformation; PXD 321 Group Dynamics and Facilitation; PXD 331 Restorative Justice and Trauma Awareness; PXD 451 Program Evaluation through Qualitative Methods; PXD 485 Theories of International Development, SOWK 300 The Family in Social Context.

430 Senior Practicum in Social Work - 12 SH

The senior practicum is a 430-clock-hour, semester-long placement in an approved organizational setting, under a social work field instructor.  Students must satisfactorily complete an application process prior to placement and work with the faculty coordinator to arrange for the practicum placement.  The student concurrently participates in a 2 credit hour seminar course facilitated by a faculty member for the cohort of students in practicum.  This course involves processing practicum experiences and completing assignments related to the practicum.  This course is restricted to social work majors accepted into the social work program.  All social work courses must be completed prior to this practicum unless special permission is granted. 

Additional Required Complimentary Courses for EMU Social Work Majors

SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology; STAT 120 Descriptive Statistics; POL 111 Comparative Government OR POL 112 American Politics; PSYC 101 General Psychology; PSYC 202 Developmental Psychology; SOC 336 Methods of Social Research; ECON 201 Survey of Economics OR PXD 365 Social & Political Economy.

Previous experiences working with people

Many of our social work majors bring various experiences they have participated in as young adults, such as camp counselor, day care worker, working with the elderly and so on through summer or various other jobs. Additionally two required EMU social work courses have a community learning component built in to the curriculum again exposing students to areas of social work practice