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Welcome to the Department of Social Work at Central State University. You have undertaken an exciting and rewarding career option in selecting social work, a profession committed to helping people resolve a diversity of problems and effecting social changes to aid their social functioning. The Social Work Code of Ethics guides social workers in their efforts to assist people to improve the quality of their lives.
The social work program is a professional education program designed to prepare you to work as a generalist practitioner. You will have opportunities to learn more about social work as a helping profession that advocates for social, political, and economic justice for all people. The curriculum helps students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work with diverse client groups, which may be individuals, family groups, organizations, or communities.
We encourage Marauders to take advantage of additional learning opportunities to become involved in-service activities within and outside the University.
The Central State Social Work Program is fully accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). We conduct our program in the spirit of and with the guidance of CSWE standards.
Faculty members look forward to working with you. Students are expected to be active participants in the program's student organization.
Again, welcome to our program. You have chosen a noble profession.
Program overview
The primary objective of the social work curriculum is to prepare students for entry-level professional practice. Students have opportunities for the study and development of generalist knowledge of social work, skills, values, and ethics required of professional social workers.
The content courses, along with field practicum, are designed to provide students with a broad and comprehensive theoretical knowledge base integrated with practical experience. Program graduates may seek beginning-level social work employment or pursue graduate study. Students who plan to major in social work may take the introductory courses and are considered pre-social work students until they are formally accepted into the program. Transfer students must meet with a social work advisor to determine acceptable transfer courses for the social work major.
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The major in social work consists of 49 credit hours. Students must complete a formal application to the program at the end of their freshman year and after the completion of SWK 1100, SWK 2200, ENG 1102, and MTH 1550 with a grade of C or above and have completed 30 semester hours. To be accepted into the program, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better to graduate with a degree in social work. Students who fail to earn a C or better in all social work courses must repeat these courses.
The social work practicum consists of one semester and is designed to provide students with appropriate practice experiences to ensure their professional development. Students must complete a formal application for the field education courses, SWK 4595 and SWK 4596. Social work faculty will determine students’ readiness for the field practicum courses. Applications for the social work program are located in room 311 of Wesley Hall. Social work faculty review applications and students may also be interviewed prior to final decisions. Course offerings and program policies regarding requirements for majors are subject to continuous review and may be changed.
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The Social Work Student Handbook offers students information about specific program policies, curriculum, rights and responsibilities, graduation requirements, and other useful information for social work students. The complete Central State University Student Handbook may be obtained from the Dean of Students and or Admissions office.
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Bachelor of Arts in Social Work: All general graduation requirements and the special requirements for the Bachelor of Arts are: 1)a minimum of 49 credit hours in Social Work to include the following courses: SWK 1100, 2200, 3011, 3012, 3406, 4201, 4202, 4203, 4595, 4596, SOC 2206, and 2800; 2)as part of the General Education Natural and Physical Science requirement, a student must take 7 credit hours from two (2) different disciplines, one (1 ) of which must include a lab. Social Work majors must select BIO 1500 (Environmental Science with Lab) as one of their choices; and 3) two semesters of a foreign language are required for Social Work majors earning a B.A. degree.
Bachelor of Science in Social Work: All general graduation requirements and the special requirements for the Bachelor of Science are: 1) a minimum of 49 credit hours in Social Work to include the following courses: SWK 1100, 2200, 3011, 3012, 3406, 4201, 4202, 4203, 4595, 4596: SOC 2206 and 2800; 2) as part of the General Education requirement, a student must take 7 credit hours from two (2) different disciplines, one (1) of which must include a lab; and 3)Social Work majors must select 1310 1500 (Environmental Science with Lab ) as one of their choices.
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Admission to field education is accomplished in phases. The student must be in good academic standing with the University and the Social Work Program. All necessary academic prerequisites and requirements must be completed. Applicants for the field education component must complete and return the Application for Field Education.
Students’ are eligible to apply for the Social Work Field Practicum if you:
- Must be accepted in the Social Work Program 2
- Earn at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA
- Have completed ALL coursework
Beyond these prerequisites, the student must complete Field Placement application. Application may be obtained by Field Placement Coordinator.
It is strongly recommended that students obtain direct experience in one or more settings as a volunteer prior to their field education experience. This can produce direct knowledge of agencies, clients, and feelings about social work.
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Student placements need to be arranged with the Field Placement Coordinator in the semester preceding the semester placement. A student interested in applying for field placement should attend the informational meeting held for this purpose each semester and contact the Field Coordinator or the program office for application forms
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SWK 1100. Introduction to Social Work — Introduces students to social work as a profession, practice settings for social workers are explored, and various practice roles are examined.
SWK 2200. Introduction to Social Welfare — Examines the history and organization of social welfare in the United States; the historical and cultural foundations of how societies have developed social welfare services; and contemporary issues that may have some impact on social welfare services.
SWK 3011. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I — Examines human development and social functioning from infancy through adolescence. Major theories on human development are presented; specialized content on cultural diversity and special populations is presented: and students are provided information on how the family, social networks, groups, and communications may influence human development and social functioning.
SWK 3012. Human Behavior and the Social Environment II — Examines human development and social functioning from adolescence through adulthood. Major theories on human development are presented; specialized content on cultural diversity and special populations is presented; and students are provided information on how the family, social networks, groups, and communities may influence human development and social functioning at each stage of development. Prerequisite: SWK 3011.
SWK 3320. Social Services and Issues for Older Adults — Critically examines the social, psychological, and physiological aspects of aging: focuses on special problems of aging with a developmental disability and other disabilities that may occur with the aging process; identifies social services for the aged and the service delivery role of practitioners.
SWK 3330. Social Work in Health Care Services — Examines current policies in service delivery; considers issues of interdisciplinary collaboration in health care, the impact of illness on family functioning, the availability of physical and mental health care services, and the ethical dilemmas of social workers in health care systems.
SWK 3406. Social Welfare Policy and Services — Examines societal value orientations and influences on the formation of policies and programs, and the use of scientific knowledge and skill in policy analysis. Specific policies and programs are critically examined.
SWK 4201. Generalist Practice I — This first course in the generalist practice sequence is designed to help students develop and apply basic knowledge and skills in problem-solving, communication techniques, individual and family needs assessments, planning, implementation, evaluation, and termination of services intervention in practice with individuals and families. Prerequisites: SWK 3011 and SWK. 3012, and must be an accepted social work major.
SWK 4202 Generalist Practice II — This is the second course in the generalist practice sequence. The course is designed to provide theory and skill development in group dynamics for generalist social work practice. Content focuses on group formation, communication, member roles, group functions, and theories for understanding human behavior and the process of small group dynamics in the helping process. Prerequisites: SWK 1100, 2200, 3001, 3012, 4201, and must be an accepted social work major.
SWK 4203. Generalist Practice III — This is the third course in the generalist practice sequence. This course introduces students to generalist practice intervention with organizations and communities. Students are exposed to various concepts and dynamics of intervention with these systems. Special attention is given to providing content that reflects the treatment of ethnic minorities, women, and other disadvantaged groups. Prerequisites: SWK 4201, 4202, and must be an accepted social work major.
SWK 4420. Child and Family Services — Examines historical and current basic policies, programs, and practices in child and family services. This course considers the relationship among federal, state, and local laws which influence policy and the impact on clients as well as social workers responding to social service systems.
SWK 4595. Comprehensive Social Work Seminar — This capstone course is taken in conjunction with SWK 4596. The course is designed to provide an opportunity for field students to convene and discuss their field experiences and includes the critical integration and demonstration of knowledge and skill acquired during their social work education. Must be taken concurrently with SWK 4596.
SWK 4596. Field Practicum — This course is taken with SWK 4595. Students will have a weekly supervised field experience in an agency or social service organization approved by the Social Work Program. The field education experience provides an opportunity for the student to learn and apply acquired knowledge. Students are in the field four days a week and must participate in a concurrent weekly seminar. Students must complete daytime hours between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Central State social work field education experience operates as a daytime program. Prerequisites: SWK 4201, 4202, and 4203.
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Sociology 2206. Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences — This course focuses on descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, measures of central tendency, measures of variability, percentiles and percentile ranks, normal distribution, correlation, and the meaning of statistical inference.
Sociology 2800. Methods of Social Research — This course focuses on the logic and basic principles of sociological research. Emphasis on qualitative research designs such as field, unobtrusive and participant observation, and single subject. Construction and use of "schedules" and questionnaires are presented.
In addition to the above-required courses, social work students entering the program are required to take the following courses:
- Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1105)
- Introduction to Psychology (PSY 1200)
- Critical Thinking (PHI 2240)
- Environmental Biology (BIO 1500)
- Cultural Anthology (SOC 1111)
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SWK 3320. Social Services and Issues of Older Adults examines the social, psychological, and physiological aspects of aging; focuses on special problems of the aging population; focuses on social services for the aged; and the role of practitioners serving the aged.
SWK 3330: Social Work in Health Care Services examines current policy issues in service delivery; and considers issues of interdisciplinary collaboration in health care, the impact of illness on family functioning and the availability of health care services, and the ethical dilemmas of social workers in health care systems.
SWK 4420: Child and Family Services examines the historical and current basis for policies, programs, and practices in child and family services. The course considers the relationship among federal, state, and local laws that influence policy and the impact on clients, social workers, and responding service systems.
For detailed descriptions of the above courses, see the Central State University course catalog.
Connect with us
Dr. Jonathan Trauth, Director and Associate Professor
Charles H. Wesley Arts and Science Building
Room 311B
937-376-6050 | jtrauth@centralstate.edu
Nikkita Jackson, Assistant Professor
Charles H. Wesley Arts and Science Building
Room 311A
937-376-6523 | njackson@centralstate.edu