This course introduces students to the principles of social work and the importance of personal wellness. Students will explore topics such as mental health, self-care, community engagement, and social responsibility. Through interactive activities and discussions, students will learn strategies to support their own well-being and contribute positively to their communities. The course aims to foster empathy, resilience, and a proactive approach to personal and social challenges.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of social work and essential parenting skills. Emphasizing empathy, communication, and cultural sensitivity, it explores topics such as child development, family dynamics, and advocacy for diverse communities. Students will develop practical tools for fostering personal wellness, healthy relationships, and social responsibility.

This course introduces students to essential concepts of nutrition and wellness, exploring topics such as healthy eating habits, food justice, and sustainability. Students will develop practical skills for making informed dietary decisions while engaging with social work principles to address food-related challenges in their communities.

An overview of professional practice for potential Social Work majors. Exposes students to various professional roles and encourages examination of Social Work as a career.

This course addresses issues relating to alcohol and other substances. Special emphasis is placed on cultural and socio-economic facts that impact substance abuse.

This course equips junior-level students with foundational skills for effective social work practice. Through a combination of classroom instruction and field-based practicum experiences, students develop competencies in engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation, adhering to professional and ethical standards. Emphasis is placed on applying theoretical frameworks to real­world scenarios, fostering critical thinking, and enhancing advocacy and community engagement skills.

Analyzes the development and behavior of persons from conception through young adulthood: biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors are examined.

A continuation of Human Behavior I, this course examines human growth and development from middle/adulthood through old age.

An examination of diversity and change in marriage, family life, and wo­men’s roles and status, identifying areas of concern to helping professionals.

Provides the theoretical foundation for generalist practice, applying systems thinking to activities in the human services. Examines Social Work functions and tasks for effective service delivery.

Provides students an opportunity to develop skills in communication, interviewing, purposeful observation, recording, problem identification, and record keeping.

Development of techniques and skills in problem/solving with families, groups, communities, and organizations. Selected frameworks for Social Work intervention are explored.

Historical and philosophical development of social welfare as an institution and Social Work as a profession. Policy structures of public and private agencies are examined.

Analysis and interpretation of social welfare policies, programs and issues. Examines the influence of movements, ideologies, political conditions, and socio­cultural attitudes on social welfare.

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to child abuse and neglect from a Social Work perspective. Social workers in all professional work settings must know how to identify child maltreatment and domestic violence. Students will learn the family dynamics and indicators of maltreatment and effective interventions on the micro and macro level. Additionally, students will learn the extent of the problem, effects on children, treatment issues, the social worker’s role in a multidisciplinary team approach, and how to advocate for individuals and families.

This course focuses on interventions to protect children from neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse by strengthening, supporting and empowering their families. The course explores the history, mission, and scope of child welfare services and practice, including the underlying philosophy and values that drive child welfare practice, and addressing cultural and relationship issues when working with families. The course covers conceptual and practical information on identifying child maltreatment; assessing family needs and strengths; determining the level of risk to children for future maltreatment; case planning; applying a casework model to working with families; interviewing skills in a child welfare setting and integrating the use of professional authority in these activities.

A survey course that develops an understanding and appreciation for factors affecting health status and its contribution to individual and community health.

This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data from research in Social Work with an emphasis on applied methods.

Introduces the basic logic, knowledge, and skills of research design and methodology in Social Work.

An educational experience under faculty direction in an approved social service agency. Students work approximately 24 hours per week providing services to various client systems.

Core­quisite: SOW 422. Students integrate knowledge, values, and skills learned in the classroom with their practice experience in an agency.

Under faculty supervision, students work 24 hours per week in an approved social service agency.

Taken in conjunction with SOW 424. Students are offered an opportunity to refine skills in pro­blem/solving as a final preparation for professional practice.

An historical analysis of child welfare as an institution and an in/depth study of programs, policies, practices, and their impact on children, youth, and families.

An in-depth research effort. To include an introduction to basic logic, knowledge and skills of research design and methodology.

This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data for research in criminal justice with an emphasis on applied methods. (Three hours of lecture, on hour of laboratory per week)

This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data form research in Social Work with an emphasis on applied methods.

A seminar for the discussion of specific topics concerning Rehabilitation Counseling offered by the University of Kentucky. May be repeated for credit no more than four times (12 hours of credit).

This course explores the ethical principles and standards that guide social work practice. Students will examine the complexities of ethical decision-making, the role of professional values, and the application of ethical frameworks in diverse practice settings. The course emphasizes critical thinking, cultural competence, and the development of ethical practice skills through case studies and practical applications.

This course provides an in-depth understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. Students will learn the principles and practices of trauma-informed care, including assessment, intervention, and prevention strategies. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills to create safe and supportive environments for clients who have experienced trauma.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of advanced social work practice with individuals and families. Students will develop advanced skills in assessment, intervention, and evaluation, with a focus on evidence-based practices and theoretical frameworks. The course emphasizes the integration of cultural competence, ethical considerations, and reflective practice in working with diverse populations.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of psychopathology, focusing on the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental disorders. Students will examine the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to mental health conditions, and learn to apply this knowledge in social work practice. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based interventions and culturally competent care.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the major theoretical perspectives that inform social work practice. Students will examine the historical development, key concepts, and practical applications of various theories. The course emphasizes the integration of these theories into practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities, and highlights the importance of cultural competence and ethical considerations.

This course provides an in-depth examination of various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect. Students will explore the dynamics of abuse, its impact on individuals and families, and effective intervention strategies. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills for assessment, prevention, and treatment, as well as understanding the legal and ethical considerations in social work practice.

This course examines the development, analysis, and implementation of social work policies and services. Students will explore the impact of social policies on individuals, families, and communities, and develop skills in policy analysis, advocacy, and implementation. The course emphasizes the role of social workers in shaping and influencing policy to promote social justice and equity.

This course emphasizes the process of critical thinking and analysis in the process of affective professional writing as required for generalist social work practice. Students will prepare writing samples, such as research papers, case documentation, professional communications, and grant proposals. Research and writing skills emphasized.

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address the complex issues of poverty, inequity, and social injustice. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, practical applications, and case studies, students will explore the systemic and structural factors that contribute to these issues and develop strategies for effective social work practice. The course emphasizes critical thinking, ethical considerations, and the role of social workers as advocates for social change.

This course examines the theories, research and interventions that social workers utilize in community practice. Community practitioners define the scope of their practice in the context of social justice within organizations, neighborhoods and communities applying social values and the concepts of welfare economics. They seek to improve the lives of people through purposeful change in their communities.

This course provides students with information on advanced techniques of practice and program assessment. Both qualitative and quantitative research designs are taught. Evaluation research design, instrument selection and development and techniques of data analysis are addressed.

Students are placed in field practicums in many organizational settings including the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Placement settings include the range of opportunities available to social work practitioners. This course provides opportunities for students to integrate knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes learned in academic courses to the practicum situation at the foundation level of generalist social work practice. Field practicum provides opportunities to learn the person-in-environment framework; the application of scientific inquiry, ethical principles, and critical thinking in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels; and strategies to engage diversity in practice and advocates for human rights and social and economic justice.

Students will learn assessment, treatment planning, and principles of group therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc. This course emphasizes the professional use-of-self and integrates bio-psycho-social-spiritual and ecological-systemic models in considering human behavior.

Students will learn to conduct sophisticated mental status and lethality risk interviews, engage in strengths and assets discovery, and apply the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association and other classification schemes in formulating assessment hypotheses. Recognizing the social, political, legal, and ethical implications of assessment, Students will learn to critically examine various conceptual frameworks and apply biopsychosocial and strengths perspectives to understand its multidimensional aspects.

This course provides an awareness of problems and concepts of the policy process in the U.S., exploring the political, economic, and institutional frameworks which structure public social welfare choices. A discussion and analysis of select current issues in social policy, including poverty, housing, discrimination, disability, mental health, and incarceration, will be integrated throughout the course. Students will learn to define, analyze, and advocate for social welfare policies that directly impact communities they intend to serve.

This course builds on the generalist practice with communities and organizations I extending the concepts of empowerment-based practice and the strengths perspective to macro client systems. Students will learn about community organizing, advocacy, and the relationship between organizations and communities and at-risk populations.

The advanced practicum focuses on the application of theory, knowledge, and skills, and integrates the social work competencies developed in the advanced curriculum year with practice experience in community-based agencies to address complex needs and problems. Students have the opportunity to choose areas of specialization, and work in community based agencies that provide services in that area of specialization. This course includes specified hours per semester of seminar and experiential learning.

This course builds on the advanced practicum I and the foundation practicum and prepares students to practice as social workers at the advanced level in public and private settings. The advanced practicum focuses on the application of theory, knowledge, and skills, and integrates the social work competencies developed in the advanced curriculum year with practice experience in community-based agencies to address complex needs and problems. Students have the opportunity to choose areas of specialization and work in community-based agencies that provide services in that area. This course includes specified hours per semester of seminar and experiential learning.

In this course, students will begin with an examination of philosophical issues and traditions relevant to qualitative research, with an emphasis on how critical social theory and critical social work can be applied to both understanding and using qualitative research methods to address problems in social work and social policy. Students will learn about various methods of qualitative research approaches including interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic observation, and methods of data analysis.

Students will learn the difference between supervision and leadership, assess your own leadership style in a variety of ways, and learn several leadership techniques. You will also become familiar with various administrative roles, such as program assessment, team building, human resource management, board relationships, working with the media, budgeting and ethical practice.