2013-2014 Catalog - Virginia Wesleyan College

162 SOCIAL SCIENCESSOCIAL WORK163research component. The SSDM OversightCommittee maintains a list of approved researchcourses.The student must formally declare the SSDM byfiling a Declaration of Major form with the Registrar’sOffice at least three semesters before graduation,summer not counting as a semester. In closeconsultation with an academic advisor, the studentdevelops a contract listing the courses to be includedin the major, along with an essay explaining the goalsand the rationale for choosing the divisional approachand demonstrating an intellectual coherence and clearfocus for the major. The contract must also indicatewhich courses in or outside the major the student willuse to fulfill the college’s requirements for oralcommunication competency and computerproficiency and how those courses fulfill therequirements. The contract must be approved by thestudent’s faculty advisor and the members of theSSDM Oversight Committee, all of whom, alongwith the student, sign the completed contract. Thecontract is kept on file by the administrative assistantof the Social Sciences Division. It may berenegotiated if courses listed are no longer available,but such changes must be approved by the student,the faculty advisor and the SSDM OversightCommittee. Finally, during the last semester ofcoursework, the student must compose a reflectiveessay that reviews the goals and unifying intellectualtheme of the major as stated in the declarationcontract and then explores in some detail how thegoals and theme have been realized.Departments from which courses may be drawnfor the SSDM include Business (MBE), Education,Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology,Recreation and Leisure Studies, Social Work,Sociology and Criminal Justice. Please note: This listis strictly for the purpose of guiding course choices forthe SSDM and should not be extended to otherapplications.A student may choose education as the area ofconcentration, but this course of study will notpermit the student to be certified by theCommonwealth of Virginia to teach in the publicschools. Students seeking teacher certification shouldconfer with a member of the Education Departmentwhen considering the SSDM.A student using Business as the department ofconcentration must include MBE 301, MBE 316,and MBE 400 and take at least 9 semester hours ofMBE courses at the 300/400 level in residence atVirginia Wesleyan.Major Requirements• Either the area of concentration or at least oneenrichment field must be history, politicalscience, psychology, or sociology.• The contract is due at least two semesters beforegraduation, summer not counting as a semester.• The contract is due by March 1 for fallacceptance and by October 1 for springacceptance.• The reflective essay is due by November 1 for fallgraduation and by April 1 for spring graduation.COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE SEM.HRS.Area of ConcentrationFive courses in one department ordiscipline in the Social Sciences Division, 20including at least 16 hours at the300/400 level.Enrichment AreasFour courses at 300/400 level, includingtwo from each of two other departments 16or disciplines in the Social SciencesDivisionThree other courses at any level andfrom any department or discipline in 12the Social Sciences Division.One research course chosen fromthe list maintained by the division.SOCIAL WORKDR. BENJAMIN D. DOBRIN, MSW, PHD,Program CoordinatorMS. SHARON L. PAYNE, LCSW, CSACTOTAL 48The Social Work Program, which is based on astrong foundation in the liberal arts, preparesstudents for generalist social work practice andgraduate study. The program focuses on ethicalbehavior and competent practice, following VirginiaWesleyan’s honor code and the National Associationof Social Worker’s (NASW) Code of Ethics. Throughcommunity service and classroom experience,students encounter the relationships and socialcontexts in which they will learn and eventuallypractice. Students are immersed in the topics ofmental and physical health, human rights, diversity,oppression, and economic and social justice, througha data-driven, outcomes-based curriculum in whichcritical thinking skills are applied.Departmental Policies1. Students must apply to the major. Applicationsare available on the department’s collegewebsite. Students may apply to the program asearly as spring of their sophomore year.2. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA both overalland in the major and must successfullycomplete all required courses with a C orhigher prior to the internship.3. Students must maintain a portfolio of theirwork in this program that includes theirapplication to the program, a record of theCSWE competencies, contracts, professionalmeeting attendance, a resume, and all otherprofessional documents as directed by thedepartment.4. A grade of 80% or higher is required for eachCouncil on Social Work Education (CSWE)competency. If a competency is repeated in afuture course, the same policy applies. A gradebelow 80% will stand; however, the studentmust show competency to go forward in theprogram. Individual professors develop policiesfor remediation in each class at their owndiscretion.5. Students must report ANY violation of theVirginia Wesleyan Honor Code to full-timeSocial Work faculty immediately. Any Level Ihonor code violation will necessitate a meetingof the student and full-time Social Work facultyin which remedial action will be developed andplanned. Any Level II honor code violation willresult in immediate removal from the program.6. This list is not exhaustive. More detailedpolicies are available in the departmentalstudent handbook found online in the college’sdepartmental website. Specific internshiprequirements are detailed in the handbook oninternships.Major Requirements: Social WorkCOURSE NUMBER AND TITLESEM.HRS.SW 2014Introduction to Social WorkSW 251Diversity & Social Problems 4in Social WorkSW 3024Planning, Administration, & LegislationSW 336Human Growth & Development: 4Life Course ApproachSW 400Social Work Methods with 4Groups & CommunitiesSW 401Social Work with Individuals & Families4SW 450Research Methods in Social Work4SW 472Social Work Internship 12SW 475Social Work Seminar4TOTAL 44SOCIAL WORK COURSES (SW)CORE COURSES201 Introduction to Social Work (4) SAcquaints the beginning student with the history,philosophy, values, concepts, language, directions,problems, and broad scope of social work. Offersexposure to various agencies and agency policies.Prerequisite: sophomore/junior/senior status. Offeredeach fall.251 Diversity and Social Problemsin Social Work (4)An overview of how diversity influences socialwork practice and the social problems practitionerstry to address. Topics include the history, philosophy,values, ethics, concepts, language, directions,problems, and broad scope of diversity and socialproblems and how they impact social work practice.Offered each fall.302 Legislation, Policy and Administration (4)Builds skills in community organization,administrative and legislative process as interventiontechniques. Each student is expected to design,develop and present a project using the methodtaught. Prerequisite: junior status or consent. Offeredeach spring.336 Lifespan Development and Behavior (4)Designed for students who want to develop astrong foundation in human growth anddevelopment. Biological, social, and psychologicaltheories of growth and development are examinedfrom a multi-disciplinary perspective. Students learnabout normal development from conception to ageddeath as well as certain pathological processes are.Students who have previously taken a developmentalcourse, or will as part of their intended major, maynot take this class for additional credit. Prerequisite:junior status or consent. Offered each fall.