Graduate Catalog: 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

and short-term theoretical models and techniquesare applied to diverse and vulnerable populations.Also examined are social work values and relatedethical dilemmas, legal and professional issues andsocial work research, particularly the evaluation ofpractice effectiveness. (Prerequisites: SWK 500,510, 520 or Consent of Instructor)SWK 642 Sexual Abuse: Assessment &Intervention - Two semester hours. Issues ofsexual abuse and rape across cultures. The emphasisis on childhood sexual abuse, incestuous and nonfamilial,and its effects on the developing child andthe adult survivor. Protective service issues as wellas psychotherapeutic issues will be addressed.Course content includes: assessment of sexualabuse; treatment philosophies and techniques forchildren and adult survivors, including individual,family and group therapy; assessment of childhoodsexual abuse in custody and visitation cases; falsememory syndrome; offender treatment; and socialwork roles, including protective services worker,therapist, and witness. Building on the knowledge ofhuman behavior and diversity, social work practice,and social welfare policy acquired in the study ofthe core curriculum, this course emphasizes theapplication of this knowledge in the area ofchildhood sexual abuse and rape. It is an elective inthe Direct Practice concentration, and builds uponthis body of knowledge, especially SWK 600, 602,610 and 616. (Prerequisites: SWK 500, 501, 521 &522 or Consent of Instructor)SWK 643 Interventions with Children andAdolescents – Three semester hours. Provides anoverview of practice with emphasis on physical,psychological, and cultural developmentalengagement, processes and characteristics unique tochildren and adolescents. The course also exploresassessment and intervention strategies useful withchildren/adolescents in family, group, andinstitutional settings. Critically examines values,ethics, research and other issues regarding effectivepractice with this vulnerable population.(Prerequisites: SWK 500, 510, 520 or Consent ofInstructor)SWK 644 HIV/AIDS: Critical Issues in SocialWork – Three semester hours. This course focuseson the biological, social and psychological dynamicsof HIV/AIDS. It is designed to prepare social workmajors and students majoring in other disciplines tobe knowledgeable of HIV?AIDS and itsdisproportionate impact on African-Americans andpeople of color.SWK 652 Social Work and Law – Two semesterhours. This seminar examines the judicial systemand its relevancy to social welfare and social work.The focus is on skills and knowledge needed foreffective participation in the legal process as a socialwork professional. (Prerequisites are SWK 500,501, 510, 511, 520, 521 or Consent of Instructor)SWK 658 International Social Welfare andSocial Work – Two semester hours. Sensitizesstudents to the knowledge base required ininternational social welfare and social work practiceand international social work education. Further, itwill emphasize the significance of traditional andmodern ways of foreign welfare and social workpractices in developed and developing countries.Emphasis is placed on the examination of macro,mezzo and micro social systems and theirinteraction. Further, these concepts will be discussedin class: demography, social issues/problems,community development, community organization,transfer of technology, non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs), governmental organization(GOs) and the like. (Prerequisites: SWK 510, 511,520, 521 or Consent of Instructor)SWK 660 Personality Theories andPsychopathology - Three semester hours. In-depthfocus on assessment and diagnosis in social workpractice with some attention to change personalitytheories. Includes in-depth discussion and critique ofDSM-IV-TR and its use in social work practice.Information on assessment etiology and treatment ofmental illnesses is provided. Required of all studentsin direct practice concentrations. (Prerequisites:Completion of ALL foundation courses or Consentof Instructor)SWK 663 Substance Abuse – Two semester hours.Examines the impact of substance abuse onindividuals, families, groups,organizations/institutions and communities. Also,societal responses, contributing factors, socialproblems, policies, programs, services, interventionstrategies, and needed resources will be examined.(Prerequisites: SWK 500, 501, 520, 521, or Consentof Instructor)SWK 667 Social Work Practice with Aging - Twosemester hours. Discusses impact of mental illnesson the elderly. Focuses on demographic issues andproblems of the aged will be infused into the coursecontent with a special emphasis on Alzheimer’sdisease and other mental illnesses. Assessment andintervention strategies used by social workers will166