Students interested in a social work minor are required to take a sequence of six courses (totaling 18 credit hours) which must include four required courses and two social work electives. Grades of “C” or better must be earned in all minor courses.

Related Programs

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Minor Requirements
SOWK 200	Introduction to Social Work	3
SOWK 307	Social Work Policy and Community Intervention	3
SOWK 305	Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory	3
SOWK 370	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice	3
Elective Courses
Select two of the following:		6
SOWK 361	Special Topics
SOWK 390	Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
SOWK 709	Social Work and Law
SOWK 722	Introduction to Alcohol and Other Drug Disorders
SOWK 730	Immigration Dynamics and U.S. Social Policy
SOWK 731	Social Work Practice with Refugees and Immigrants
SOWK 732	Migration, Social Justice, and Human Rights
SOWK 733	North American Migration Dynamics, Challenges & Opportunity
SOWK 734	Social Policy and Older Adults
SOWK 735	Loss, Grief, and Dying
Total Hours		18

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
SOWK 200	Introduction to Social Work (Freshman year or later)	3
	Hours	3
Year 2
Fall
SOWK 370	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice (Sophomore year or later)	3
	Hours	3
Year 3
Fall
SOWK 307	Social Work Policy and Community Intervention (Junior year or later)	3
SOWK Elective (Junior year or later)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
SOWK 305	Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory (Junior year or later)	3
SOWK Elective (Junior year or later)		3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	18

Undergraduate Policies and Procedures

Please see Undergraduate Policies and Procedures for academic policies that supersede those of academic units within the University.

The minor's learning outcomes are the following competencies from the BSW outcomes:

COMPETENCY 1: DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant laws and regulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers understand frameworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in practice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize personal values and the distinction between personal and professional values. They also understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions influence their professional judgment and behavior. Social workers understand the profession’s history, its mission, and the roles and responsibilities of the profession. Social Workers also understand the role of other professions when engaged in inter-professional teams. Social workers recognize the importance of life-long learning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure they are relevant and effective. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice. Social workers:

• make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context;
• use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations;
• demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication;
• use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and
• use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

COMPETENCY 3: ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Social workers understand that every person regardless of position in society has fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers understand the global interconnections of oppression and human rights violations, and are knowledgeable about theories of human need and social justice and strategies to promote social and economic justice and human rights. Social workers understand strategies designed to eliminate oppressive structural barriers to ensure that social goods, rights, and responsibilities are distributed equitably and that civil, political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural human rights are protected. Social workers:

• apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels; and
• engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.

COMPETENCY 5: ENGAGE IN POLICY PRACTICE

Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Social workers:

• Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services;
• assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services;
• apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.