Radford University
Graduate Catalog
for 1999-2000
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Marilyn Rigby, Interim Director
Graduate Faculty
Jenny Burroughs, Dennis Cogswell, Steve Culver, Roy Denton, Anne Dornberg, Rana Duncan-Daston, Diane Hodge, Jacqueline Parker, Marilyn A. Rigby, Jill Smeltzer
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE
This degree is structured to meet the needs of full-time students and
those who wish to study on a part-time basis. The main campus is in Radford
with a part-time program in Abingdon, Virginia. The program focuses on direct
practice with families in the community context. An advanced track option
is available for full-time and part-time students who are qualified graduates
of CSWE accredited BSW Programs. The MSW program is accredited by the Council
on Social Work Education.
(For more information, follow the link above to the department's
Home Page.)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet the following criteria for admission to the Master's Degree in Social Work Program at Radford University:
- a) Hold a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by a recognized
regional accrediting agency in the United States (degrees from institutions
outside the United States will be evaluated on an equivalency basis);
and
b) Indicate that such bachelor's degree provided an adequate liberal arts background. Liberal arts coursework must include the following:
1) the humanities (9 hours);
2) the natural sciences and mathematics (human biology content).
3) the social sciences (15 hours).
It is not expected that a given applicant will have taken every subject; rather, we expect that an applicant's academic background will indicate broad-base exposure to liberal studies. Coursework in introductory statistics is recommended. - Have at least a 2.7 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Advanced Standing applicants must have an overall 3.0 GPA and 3.2 for all undergraduate social work course work.
- a) Earn an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (Quantitative+Verbal);
or
b) Earn an acceptable score on the Miller Analogy Test. - Demonstrate motivation and potential for a career in social work.
- Demonstrate interest and ability to participate in the field of human services preferably through previous professional, volunteer, or field placement experience.
Applicants lacking coursework in these areas must fulfill this requirement before being considered for Regular Admission; Conditional Admission may be granted with the condition that the student make up the deficiency within the first semester of enrollment with a grade of 3.0 or better.
MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK
Program Requirements - 61 hrs.
Foundation Curriculum - 27 hrs.
SOWK 601. Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Human Growth and Development.
- 3
SOWK 602. Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Biophysical Interactions.
- 3
SOWK 611. Social Welfare Policy I: History and Issues. - 3
SOWK 621. Research I: Basic Research Methodology. - 3
SOWK 631. Social Work Practice I: Foundations. - 3
SOWK 632. Social Work Practice II: Families, Groups and Community-Based
Practice. - 3
SOWK 641. Foundation Practicum and Seminar I. - 3
SOWK 642. Foundation Practicum and Seminar II. - 3
Elective - 3
Concentration Curriculum - 34 hrs.
SOWK 682. Social Work Practice II: Psychopathology. - 3
SOWK 751. Human Behavior in the Social Environment III: Family Studies.
- 3
SOWK 761. Social Welfare Policy II: Family Policies. - 3
SOWK 772. Research II: Advanced Research Methodology. - 3
SOWK 783. Family Focused Direct Practice I. - 3
SOWK 784. Family Focused Direct Practice II. - 3
SOWK 785. Family Focused Direct Practice III. - 3
SOWK 791:792. Concentration Practicum and Seminar I and II. - 5:5
Elective - 3
Advanced Standing: Preconcentration Course
SOWK 679. Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Advanced Standing. -
3
ADVANCED STANDING CURRICULUM
Students in the Advanced Standing Program enter the program in the summer, in which a pre-concentration course, SOWK 679, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, is required. The course acts as the bridge between the student's previous undergraduate social work curriculum and Radford University's special conceptual em-phasis, preparatory to entering the Concentra-tion year. Thereafter, the Advanced Standing students follow the same curriculum as offered to all concentration-level students in the full-time or part-time program.
SOCIAL WORK COURSES
SOWK 601. Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Human Growth
and Development. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in social work or permission
of the instructor.
Human Behavior in Social Environment I focuses on the fundamental question:
"How do people get to be the way they are?" Course examines four
social science paradigms and appraises role of gender, ethnicity, age, culture,
and sexual orientation. Ethical problems are deliberated.
SOWK 602: Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Biopsychosocial
Interactions. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: SOWK 601 or permission of instructor.
Human Behavior in the Social Environment II focuses on the interplay between
human biological, psychological, social and cultural systems to answer the
question of what is problematic in the human condition.
SOWK 611. Social Welfare Policy I: History and Issues. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: Admission to graduate program in social work or permission
of the instructor.
Course is foundation course of a two-part sequence. Provides historical,
conceptual and values framework for students to use in analysis of contemporary
social welfare policies and issues pertaining to social and economic justice.
SOWK 621. Research I: Basic Research Methodology. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Graduate Program in Social Work or permission
of the instructor.
This course provides a review of statistics as utilized in social work research
as well as an introduction to basic research methodology. Key areas of focus
include application of the scientific method, problem generation, literature
review, formation of hypotheses and research questions, variables and their
measurement, and data processing and analysis. Quasi-experimental, evaluation,
single cell design, and qualitative methodologies will all be considered.
SOWK 631. Social Work Practice I: Foundations. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in social work.
This course is the first in a six course sequence. An introduction to the
generic principles of social work practice is provided. Areas of attention
include the major social work services, methods, populations, and issues/concerns
in terms of both an historical and a contemporary focus.
SOWK 632. Social Work Practice II: Families, Groups and Community-Based
Practice. (3)
Three hours Lecture
Prerequisites: SOWK 601, 631
The second in a six course sequence, this course examines the systems within
which human beings live, work, grow and are served. The focus is on the
generic principles of social work practice which may be used to empower
people to access, negotiate with, influence and change various systems within
a community. A special emphasis is given to the use of groups for dealing
with situations relative to support, rehabilitation and personal growth,
prevention, crisis management and social planning and social action.
SOWK 641:642. Foundation Practicum and Seminar I and II. (3, 3)
Two semester sequence. A practicum experience (16 hours each week) in which
a weekly electronic and/or face-to-face seminar is embedded.
Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in social work.
The Foundation Practicum and Seminar focuses on social work processes and
situations generic to all social work practice. It is designed to develop
knowledge and skills related to the establishment of effective client-worker
relationships, analysis of client needs, service delivery issues, agency/organizational
dynamics, relevant policy issues, and professional values.
SOWK 679. Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Advanced Standing.
(3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Advanced Standing program.
This course is required for all advanced standing students and is aimed
at providing the conceptual orientation necessary for the concentration
year in the graduate program. Students are introduced to the major social
science paradigms and the major theories found in each paradigm.
SOWK 680. Special Topic Seminar. (3)
Three hours lecture.
May be taken a maximum of three times.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.
An intensive study of a specialized area in human services. Topics will
be determined by the instructors based upon demonstrated student interest.
This course may be elected for no more than nine semester hours of credit.
SOWK 682. Social Work Assessment: Psychopathology. (3)
Three hours lecture
Prerequisites: SOWK 602, advanced standing status or permission of instructor.
This course focuses on an examination of the psychopathology nomenclature,
on identifying individual and family strengths, and on viewing behavior
in context. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the individual/family
and environment interaction by means of a systems perspective.
SOWK 698. Directed Study. (1-4)
Hours and credit to be arranged.
Prerequisites: Approval by the School of Social Work.
See Directed Study.
SOWK 699. Research and Thesis. (1-6)
Hours and credit to be arranged with the approval of the dean of the Graduate
College.
See Thesis.
SOWK 751. Human Behavior in the Social Environment III: Family Studies.
(3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: SOWK 602 or SOWK 679.
Human Behavior in the Social Environment III is a graduate social work
course focusing on the major theories used in the study, assessment, and
understanding of family interaction. Particular emphasis is placed on the
application of theory to a variety of family issues, weighing special considerations
and implications of the rural/semi-rural context in such applications.
SOWK 761. Social Welfare Policy II: Family Policies. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: SOWK 611 or SOWK 679.
A review and analysis of significant federal and state policies and
issues which impact various family systems.
SOWK 772. Research II: Advanced Research Methodology. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: SOWK 621 or SOWK 679.
This course focuses on an examination of the broad base of quantitative
and qualitative research techniques used in social work practice as well
as on the implications for their use.
SOWK 783. Family Focused Direct Practice I. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: SOWK 632 or SOWK 679.
The first of three advanced practice courses aimed at enabling social
work students to acquire specialized skills in social work with families
in the community context.
SOWK 784. Family Focused Direct Practice II. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: SOWK 783 .
The second of three advanced practice courses aimed at enabling social
work students to acquire specialized skills in social work with families
in the community context.
SOWK 785. Family Focused Direct Practice III. (3)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisites: SOWK 784.
The third of three advanced practice courses aimed at enabling social
work students to acquire specialized skills in social work with families
in the community context.
SOWK791:792. Concentration Practicum and Seminar I and II. (5:5)
Two semester sequence. A practicum experience (24 hours each week) with
at least three three-hour seminars each semester.
Prerequisites: SOWK 641 or advanced standing status.
The Concentration Practicum I and Seminar focuses on social work processes
and situations specific to direct social work practice with families in
the community context. It is designed to develop knowledge and skills relative
to this focus in the areas of effective clientworker relationships, analysis
of client needs, service delivery issues, agency/organizational dynamics,
policy issues, and professional values as each pertains to various system
levels.
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