Undergraduate Bulletin, 1999-2000

School of Social Welfare

Dean
Lynn Videka-Sherman

Associate Dean
Anne E. Fortune

Director, Undergraduate Program
Susan R. Sherman

Faculty

Distinguished Professor
William J. Reid, D.S.W.
Columbia University

Distinguished Service Professor
Shirley J. Jones, D.S.W. (Collins Fellow)
Columbia University

Professors Emeritae/i
Donald L. Cohen, M.S.W.
Columbia University

Maureen Didier, Ph.D.
Smith College

Steven Pflanczer, Ph.D.
Loyola University

Aaron Rosenblatt, D.S.W.
Columbia University

Edmund Sherman, Ph.D.
Bryn Mawr College

Max Siporin, D.S.W.
University of Pittsburgh

Sheldon S. Tobin, Ph.D.
University of Chicago

Professors
Bonnie E. Carlson, Ph.D.
University of Michigan

Anne E. Fortune, Ph.D.
University of Chicago

Burton Gummer, Ph.D.
Bryn Mawr College

Jan L. Hagen, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota

Susan R. Sherman, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow)
University of California, Berkeley

Theodore J. Stein, D.S.W.
University of California, Berkeley

Ronald W. Toseland, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lynn Videka-Sherman, Ph.D.
University of Chicago

Associate Professors
Julie S. Abramson, Ph.D.
Bryn Mawr College

Barry M. Loneck, Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve University

Janet D. Perloff, Ph.D.
University of Chicago

William D. Roth, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley

Carolyn Smith, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Assistant Professors
Julian Chow, Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve University

Nancy Claiborne, Ph.D.
University of Houston

Zvi Gellis, Ph.D.
University of Toronto

Philip McCallion, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Blanca Ramos, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Lecturers
Neil J. Cervera. Ph.D.
New York University

Motier F. Haskins, M.S.W.
Syracuse University

Mary L. McCarthy, M.S.W.
University at Albany

Professional Staff
Frances Lawrance, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Barbara Rio, M.S.W.
Hunter College

Bonita W. Sanchez, M.S.W.
University at Albany

Adjuncts (estimated): 2
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 1

The objectives of the undergraduate social work major (B.S.) is to prepare students for beginning social work. The program serves the liberal education needs for students interested in the social sciences and human services professions. Part-time study is possible. The B.S. in social work qualifies graduates for advanced standing in some M.S.W. programs.

The Master in Social Welfare (M.S.W.) prepares students for advanced social work practice. These positions generally require advanced theoretical, practice, research, management and/or policy analysis skills.

The School of Social Welfare offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in social welfare, a Master of Social Welfare (M.S.W.) degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. The School of Social Welfare also sponsors the Ringel Institute of Gerontology, the Center for Social Work Practice Research, and a Continuing Education Program.

Both the B.S. and M.S.W. degree programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for all schools of social work.

Degree Requirements for the Major in Social Welfare

General Program B.S.: A combined major and minor sequence consisting of a minimum of 65 credits as follows:

Of the 65 credits: (a) 15-16 credits represent the elementary base; (b) 18 credits represent the advanced base; (c) the remaining 32 credits constitute the core requirements for a major in social welfare.

In addition, it is recommended that prospective social welfare majors elect R Ssw 290 (Community Service) in their sophomore year.

Elementary Base:(15-16 credits), required courses to be taken preferably prior to admission to the program.

A Bio 110F or N (or A Bio 102N, A Bio 209N, A Ant 102, A Ant 119N, A Ant 313, A Ant 319, A Ant 411, A Ant 412, A Ant 450).

A Psy 101M

A Soc 115M or G

R Pos 101M or G

R Ssw 210

Advanced Base:(18 credits), required courses that build upon the elementary base.

A Mat 108 (or A Psy 210, A Soc 221, B Msi 220, R Crj 281.

A Psy 270 or A Soc 260

A Psy 338

A Soc 180M

A Soc 282M or G (or A Aas 213, A Aas 220, A Aas 240, A His 158, A Lcs 282M, A Phi 328, A Soc 375, R Ssw 220.

Elective as Advised: students select a course of personal interest that specifically addresses issues facing a gender, ethnic, racial or religious group that is different from the student's own background. (A Aas 219, 331, 333, 370, 400, 432, 435; A Ant 100, 172, 351; A Eac 272; A Eco 130; A Eng 240; A Fre 208, 281; A Gog 125, 240; A Jst 155, 260, 270, 344, 351; A Lcs 201; A Phi 214; A Soc 262M; A Rel 155, 214, 270; A Wss 202, 210, 262M). Students are also encouraged to review the Undergraduate Bulletin and discuss with their adviser other courses of personal interest that may satisfy this required elective.

Core Requirements: (32 credits); R Ssw 301, 305, 306, 322, 400, 405Z, 406, 408, 409, 410.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in the social welfare major must complete an application process. Admission to the program is competitive. Applications are accepted in the spring semester of the student's sophomore year for entrance into the fall semester of the junior year. Transfer students who will have completed 56 credits should apply during the spring of the year for which they are seeking fall admission.

Those wishing to enter the major should have the elementary base completed prior to entrance into the program in the junior year. Admissions decisions are based on the following criteria:

The relative merit of any one criterion is considered in light of all others when admissions decisions are made. The overall quality of the application will provide the basis for admissions.

Field Instruction

This course is an integral part of the total educational process. It offers a student the opportunity to develop, apply and integrate the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes for work in social welfare settings. During the senior year each student is provided field instruction by a qualified instructor in an agency designated by the school. Placements are selected by the school for the students on the basis of their educational needs and, wherever possible, their area of interest. The field placements represent a variety of settings under public and private auspices and are located throughout the Capital District. Students are responsible for the expenses involved in placement.

Typical Program for Junior and Senior Social Welfare Majors

JUNIOR YEAR
FALL

R Ssw 301
R Ssw 305
(6 credits)

SPRING

R Ssw 306
R Ssw 322
(6 credits)

SENIOR YEAR
FALL

R Ssw 400
R Ssw 405Z
R Ssw 408
(10 credits)

SPRING

R Ssw 406
R Ssw 409
R Ssw 410
(10 credits)

The following undergraduate courses offered by the school are considered liberal arts and sciences courses for the purpose of requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees:

R Ssw 200, 210, 220, 299M, 301, 320, 322, 350, 408, 409, 450, 499.

All courses listed in this section are understood to be preceded by the school's letter R.

Courses

R Ssw 200 The Functioning of American Social Systems (3)
Students are provided with an overview of the functions and relationships of various systems within contemporary American society. The configuration of values underlying system activities is examined, including methods of changing human systems. A social systems perspective is used as the theoretical framework for the course.

R Ssw 210 Social Welfare in the United States (3)
Within the context of societal responsiveness to human needs, examines U.S. social welfare policies and programs as influenced by economic, political and social changes. Addresses current public and private social welfare efforts and underlying value issues. Examines the role of professional social work within social welfare. Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors only.

R Ssw 220 Value Issues in Social Welfare (3)
General Education: HD
The course considers implicit and explicit values of societal responses to human needs. From an examination of selected topics in social welfare, the course considers social, economic, ethical, religious, and/or personal values as they affect and are affected by social welfare. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

R Ssw 290 Community and Public Service Program (3)
This course requires a minimum of 100 hours per semester (about 7 1/2 hours per week) of volunteer work in public or private agencies which provide service to the community. A supervised evaluation and seminars are required. Prerequisite(s): sophomore standing and permission of instructor. S/U graded.

R Ssw 291 Human Service in the Community (2)
This course requires a minimum of 60 hours a quarter volunteer work in public or private agencies that provide service to the community. A supervised evaluation and seminars are required. May not be taken for credit by students with credit for R Ssw 390. Prerequisite(s): sophomore standing and permission of instructor. S/U graded.

R Ssw 299M Families in Middle Age and Late Life (3)
General Education: SS
This course covers issues of the family in our aging society. Some of the topics to be covered include mutual assistance between generations, diversity in older families, family caregiving for the elderly, grandparenthood and great-grandparenthood, sibling relationships in later life, divorce and step-families, widowhood. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

R Ssw 301 Human Behavior and The Social Environment (3)
Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment as a basis for generalist practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. Includes theoretical and empirical knowledge about the range of normal bio-psycho-social development and the nature and impact of oppression and discrimination on individuals and families throughout the life course. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. For majors only.

R Ssw 305 Social Work Practice I (3)
Introduction to social work practice. Overview of generalist social work practice; history, values and ethics of social work; role of social work; the helping process in a systems framework; self-awareness and professional use of self; introduction to basic communication skills and social work practice skills with diverse clients; effects of oppression and social injustice. For majors only.

R Ssw 306 Social Work Practice II (3)
Continuation of Social Work Practice I: Extends topics for R Ssw 305 with greater emphasis on intervention theories and practice skills for work with an individual, family, group, and community; the contexts and settings of social work practice. Prerequisite(s): R Ssw 301 and 305. For majors only.

R Ssw 320 Child Welfare (3)
Covered in this course are the child welfare services employed in dealing with the problems of dependent, neglected, delinquent children. Scope, method, problems and trends are reviewed with regard to each of the services; child welfare in other countries; and sociology of the child welfare worker. Prerequisite(s): R Ssw 200. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

R Ssw 322 Introductory Research Methods in Social Welfare (3)
Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods in social work, including content on: defining social work research problems, developing and testing hypotheses, the logic of causal inference, sampling, measurement (including reliability and validity), basic skills in data analysis and research utilization, the ethics of research, and research issues concerning human diversity and power. Emphasizes methods and content relevant to social work practice and the problems of social welfare. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. For majors only.

R Ssw 350 Community Law and Client Advocacy (3)
This course explains the role of attorneys, social workers and other advocates in our legal system. Examination is made of the legal rights of clients as parents, juveniles, employees, tenants, consumers, welfare clients, the aged and mental patients. Functioning of the courts and administrative agencies in resolving client problems is discussed, as is legal advocacy as a tool. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999- 2000.

R Ssw 390 Community and Public Service Program (3)
This course involves volunteer work in public or private agencies involving service to the community. A minimum of 100 hours per semester (about 7 1/2 hours per week) must be spent in the agency, together with seminars examining some aspects of voluntarism and roles of participating agencies. Prerequisite(s): R Ssw 290 and permission of instructor. S/U graded.

R Ssw 400 Field Instruction in Social Welfare I (4)
Internship in an approved social welfare agency. Hours per week are set to meet acceptable professional standards. Must be taken concurrently with R Ssw 405. Course is graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory (S/U). Credit is not given for R Ssw 400 until R Ssw 410 is satisfactorily completed. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor; for majors only; grade of C or higher in Ssw 301, 305, 306, 322; concurrent with R Ssw 405.

R Ssw 405Z Social Work Practice III (3)
General Education: WI
Continuation of Social Work Practice II. Intervention theories and skills for generalist social work practice with an individual, family, group, and community. Assessment and intervention skills at all levels and with diverse clients. Includes professional use of self and written communication in social work practice. Emphasis on application of skills in concurrent field placement. Prerequisite(s): R Ssw 306. Corequisite: R Ssw 400. For majors only.

R Ssw 406 Social Work Practice IV (3)
Continuation of Social Work Practice III. Intervention theories and skills for generalist social work practice with an individual, family, group, and community. Intervention, evaluation and termination skills at all levels and with diverse clients. Emphasis on application of skills in concurrent field placement. Prerequisite(s): R Ssw 405Z. Corequisite: R Ssw 410. For majors only.

R Ssw 408 Organizational and Community Theory (3)
An introduction to social work practice at the organizational and community levels, with emphasis on oppressed populations. Includes the history of communities, organizations and macro-practice in social work; major approaches to organizational behavior and community dynamics; the nature of non- clinical social work; the organizational and community contexts for the provision of social services; and skills for working in organizations and communities. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor, R Ssw 210 and 301. For majors only.

R Ssw 409 Introduction to Social Policy Analysis (3)
Within an historical context, current social welfare policies and programs will be examined in terms of their rationale, implementation, and effectiveness. The strengths, limitations and alternatives to governmental intervention in social welfare. Emphasis on concepts and frameworks for analyzing social welfare policies and programs, with special attention to their differential impact on at-risk and oppressed populations. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor, R Ssw 408. For majors only.

R Ssw 410 Field Instruction in Social Welfare II (4)
Continuation of R Ssw 400. Must be taken concurrently with R Ssw 406. Course is graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory (S/U).Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor, R Ssw 400, concurrent with R Ssw 406.

R Ssw 450 Independent Study in Social Welfare (3)
Independent reading or research on a selected experimental, theoretical or applied problem is planned under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite(s): written permission of instructor and chair of undergraduate program. May be repeated with different content.

R Ssw 499 Special Areas of Social Welfare (3)
Consideration of a topic or issue in the field of social work knowledge or practice is selected on the basis of faculty and student interest. May be repeated when topic differs. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.

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