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

SWK 630 Needs Assessment and ProgramEvaluation - Three semester hours. This coursebuilds on foundation courses and the need forscientific problem-solving, decision-making andaccountability in professional social work practice.Knowledge of the social work research process isthe foundation upon which students will developneeds assessment and program evaluation skills.Understanding of social work knowledge, values,skills and ethics associated with practice, policy, andhuman behavior perspectives will be articulated inthe student’s conceptualization and development ofeither a need assessment or a program evaluation.Additionally, these skills will be applied to a varietyof social systems and social problems for thepurposes of promoting, sustaining, and enhancingindividuals, families, groups, communities, andsocietal well-being. (Prerequisites: SWK 530, orConsent of Instructor)SWK 631 & 632 Research Project/Thesis - Twoto six semester hours. This course offers studentsthe opportunity to prepare an empirically basedresearch thesis derived from a practice problem. Thethesis is designed to make a significant contributionto a special area of interest within the student’sconcentration. Upon approval by the student’sThesis Committee, or the research project panel, andacceptance by the Dean of the School of GraduateStudies (Graduate Bulletin, 1999-2000), studentscomplete their research and thesis under theguidance of a graduate faculty member and thesiscommittee. Upon completion of the research project,the thesis is defended before the student’s thesiscommittee. (Prerequisites: Completion of all firstyearcourses, or Advanced Placement status, andRegistration for SWK 631: Research Project)SWK 641 Crisis Intervention and Short TermPsychotherapy - Two semester hours. In-depthexploration of the history and theory of crisisintervention and brief therapies. Crisis interventionand 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 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 organization169