Social Work (SOWK)
SOWK 2110G Introduction to Human Services and Social Work 3 Credits (3)
This course is for students who are interested in social welfare issues and/or are considering entering a social service profession. The course presents an overview of social problems, issues and trends, and the network of social agencies developed to address these concerns. The course examines the influence of personal and professional values and ethics on the helping relationship. The concept of social welfare will be discussed from a social work perspective (with an emphasis on social justice), and students will gain a basic understanding of social work in U.S. society, social work career opportunities, and contemporary issues facing social workers. Approaches relevant to work with individuals, families, groups and communities are presented, with special emphasis on Hispanic and Indigenous populations of New Mexico and the Southwest. Repeatable: up to 3 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the interactions of social institutions, cultural factors, dimensions of identity, and environment with the human development and behavior of individuals.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the social work profession’s focus on addressing contemporary social issues in the United States.
- Describe the mission and services provided by social service agencies at the regional, national, and global levels.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the social work profession, its history, career opportunities, and contemporary issues facing social workers in the United States today.
- Recognize how students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes impact their competence as helping professionals.
SOWK 2111 Women's Issues in Social Work 3 Credits (3)
Examines gender-specific social problems and their identification and resolution through the use of social agencies and community resources. Repeatable: up to 3 credits
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the commonalties among all women, identifying commonalties and differences among oppressed and dominant groups, recognize multiple oppressions, and respect diversity while conducting social work practice through readings, class discussions, and/or written assignments.
- Identify the various needs of women as individuals, family members and community members through readings, class discussions, and/or written assignments.
- Demonstrate skills in working effectively with diverse issues involving women with an emphasis on building strengths, interdependence, self-direction, shared power, and cooperation through experiential exercises, written assignments, companion book, and instructor presentations.
- Demonstrate skills in addressing issues that affect women such as parental issues, relationship problems, physical abuse, sexual abuse, crime, substance abuse, eating disorders, housing concerns, psychological issues and physical abilities written reports.
- Understand the importance of and demonstrating skills in caring and empathetic connection in the change process through written assignments, experiential activities in the companion book.
- Understanding the Importance of the Professionals Self-Care through experiential activities and journaling in the companion book.