Social Work Courses | 2025-2026 Academic Catalog | SIU

Explore the professional side of Social Work, establish the foundation for success in their education and professional development. Must be a social work major and have successfully completed UNIV 101.

Credit Hours: 3

Explores the interdependence of social, cultural, political and economic factors in the history and practice of social welfare with special reference to development of the social work profession. Focus on service integration and coordination in community-based delivery systems in rural areas, especially for poor and oppressed populations. Minimum grade "C" required.

Credit Hours: 3

Exploration of the needs, experiences and attitudes of anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion across populations pertaining to delivery of social services in rural settings. Emphasis on relationship of cultural diversity to practice, policy and research content.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed for freshmen and sophomores who are volunteering service to community, social service, or health agencies in southern Illinois. Credit based upon time spent in direct service. Mandatory Pass/Fail.

Credit Hours: 1-6

May be repeated up to 2 semester hours. Topics will be selected. Limit to no more than one credit hour per semester. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 1

May be repeated up to 2 semester hours. Topics will be selected. Limit to no more than one credit hour per semester. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 1

May be repeated up to 2 semester hours. Topics will be selected. Limit to no more than one credit hour per semester. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 1

Problems of child-parent relationships and difficulties in social functioning of children and adolescents. Adoptions, foster home and institutional placements, protective services. Focus on services in rural areas. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Basic concepts of social work methods applied to the older adult group. Characteristics of the older adult group, its needs and potentials. Social trends and institutions involved in services to older adults.

Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to public policy, programs, and planning for older adults. A framework is utilized for analyzing policy issues, programs and research in such areas as income maintenance, long term care, transportation, leisure time, housing and social services in order to aid present and future practitioners who work with older adults.

Credit Hours: 3

This is an introductory course on interpersonal skills in social work practice within a systems context. Intake, interviewing, and recording are emphasized. Focus on practice in multi-service settings. Prerequisite: PSYC 102. Restricted to Social Work majors. Restricted to Junior standing or higher. Minimum grade of "C" required.

Credit Hours: 3

Application of ADEI knowledge, anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion across populations. Engage with community to apply skills to develop understanding of Social Work practice, diversity, and intersectionality. Prerequisite: SOCW 291 with a grade of C or higher. Restricted to Social Work majors only. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Varying elective topics not ordinarily covered in depth in regular courses and of specific interest to advanced students. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

Statistical methods as applied to social work, focusing on basic descriptive and inferential statistics and their relationship to social work research. Students are provided with statistical methods and models that are applicable to social work research. Lastly, students are prepared to critically analyze published research and apply statistical principles in their own research. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

The first of two courses that examine the normal and dysfunctional life span development from a systems theory perspective. This course focuses on the behavior of individuals and families. It also explores the impact of the environment and the implications for generalist practice with rural populations. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: PLB 115 or ZOOL 115 or ANTH 240A and SOC 108. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

The second of two courses that examines the normal and dysfunctional life span development from a systems theory perspective that is used to examine the theoretical and practice implications of the life cycle as they relate to the development of groups and organizations. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: PLB 115 or ZOOL 115 or ANTH 240A and SOC 108. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

The first of two courses, which prepares for generalist practice. Focuses on intervention skills with individuals and families at a beginning level of proficiency. Emphasis on assessment and treatment in multi-service agencies in rural settings. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: SOCW 275 and SOCW 383 with a minimum grade C. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Generalist practice skills and knowledge with groups, organizations and communities at beginning level of proficiency. Emphasis on assessment and treatment in multi-service agencies in rural settings. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: SOCW 275 and SOCW 383 with a minimum grade C. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Social work research in generalist practice. Examines the principles, concepts and methods of scientific investigation in terms of its application to social work research and practices. Provides basic skills for self-assessment research in field practicum in spring semester. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: SOCW 397, SOC 308, QUAN 402, MATH 282, PSYC 211 or approved statistics course. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

In-depth examination of current social welfare policy and program issues in the context of social welfare history in the United States. Utilizes a systematic analytical framework for critical study of multiple causal factors (socio-economic, cultural, governmental structure). Prerequisites: ECON 113, POLS 114, SOCW 275. Not for graduate credit. Restricted to Social Work majors only at junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Students are expected to complete 420 hours in an approved social service agency during the course of their senior year. The first 210 hours will be completed in SOCW 440. Utilizes learning contracts with goals, objectives and evaluation to integrate course content into practice, including practice self-assessment. Not for graduate credit. Mandatory Pass/Fail. Restricted to senior standing with GPA of 2.50 in core social work courses. Prerequisites: SOCW 201, 275, 291, 383, 391, 400A, 400B, 401, 402, 411, 421. Must be taken concurrently with weekly practicum seminar, SOCW 442. Required to attend Practicum orientation before placement.

Credit Hours: 3

Students are expected to complete 420 hours in an approved social service agency during the course of their senior year. The final 210 hours will be completed in SOCW 441. Utilizes learning contracts with goals, objectives and evaluation to integrate course content into practice, including practice self-assessment. Not for graduate credit. Mandatory Pass/Fail. Restricted to senior standing with GPA of 2.50 in core social work courses. Prerequisites: SOCW 201, 275, 291, 383, 391, 400A, 400B, 401, 402, 411, 421, & 440. Must be taken concurrently with weekly practicum seminar, SOCW 443. Required to attend Practicum orientation before placement.

Credit Hours: 3

The seminar assists the student who is in field practicum to systematically conceptualize and integrate the field experience with generalist systems theory, skills and knowledge. The seminar builds on and reemphasizes content provided in previous social work courses. Seminar discussion focuses on shared fieldwork experiences: practice issues related to social work principles, ethics and professionalism, and intervention strategies. Not for graduate credit. To be taken concurrently with SOCW 440.

Credit Hours: 3

The seminar assists the student who is in field practicum to systematically conceptualize and integrate the field experience with generalist systems theory, skills and knowledge. The seminar builds on and reemphasizes content provided in previous social work courses. Seminar discussion focuses on shared fieldwork experiences: practice issues related to social work principles, ethics and professionalism, and intervention strategies. Not for graduate credit. To be taken concurrently with SOCW 441.

Credit Hours: 3

Knowledge and skills particularly useful for practice in social services with application to case materials. Theories, models and techniques of modern human service counseling, especially suitable to multiple-service agencies in rural settings. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Knowledge and skills particularly useful for management and supervision in social services with application to case materials. It is essential for social workers to acquire skills in working with groups in diverse settings. The required skills range from elementary to more complex, depending on the demand of the agency and client(s) tasks. Social work practice with groups is utilized in a variety of social service settings like family services, foster care and adoption, corrections, halfway houses, substance abuse treatment centers, physical rehabilitation, private psychotherapy clinics, nursing homes, mental hospitals, public schools, community centers and many others. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will cover all aspects of traumatic stress and disaster relief work. Topics covered include introduction to disaster relief work, shelter operations, family services, first aid and CPR certification, disaster health & Mental health services including the theoretical bases for these services, critical incident, stress management, community recovery and rebuilding, and policy development for disaster preparedness and community rebuilding. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the opportunities and challenges associated with medical social work. Lectures, on-site visits, guest lecturers, directed literature reviews, and classroom discussion are used to focus on the integration of generalist social work practice, research, and ethics with various areas of medical care. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This is an elective course that provides a comprehensive introduction to social work with persons involved in substance abuse. Topics to be covered include: explanation of the use and abuse of central nervous system depressants, narcotics, stimulants, hallucinogens, marijuana, over-the-counter, and prescription drugs; biological, psychological, and sociological theories of addiction; DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of substance abuse/dependence, social consequences of substance abuse; treatment strategies for harm reduction; community resources available and attention to the special needs divers populations. The class may issue selective invitations to the practitioner community to enrich seminar discussion. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Knowledge and skills particularly useful for management and supervision in social services with application to case materials. This course provides an in-depth exposure to the principles and practice of family therapy from a social work perspective which emphasizes self-determination and family strengths. The class will focus on the foundations of family therapy and application of these concepts with an emphasis on special populations and family challenges. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This class provides necessary knowledge to understand the grant writing process starting with the grant seeking stage through the post-proposal stage. Students will develop the essential skills to identify, write/prepare and submit grants for non-profit organizations. The role of grant writing in overall fundraising and its importance for social agencies and organizations are discussed. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Child welfare interacts with entire families as well as focusing on direct intervention with children to ensure all children live in safe, permanent and stable environments that supports their well-being. This course provides learning opportunities and baseline knowledge on substance use and mental health problems among families involved in the child welfare system, facilitates cross-systems work, and incorporates cultural awareness and competency in child welfare practice. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a framework of knowledge, values, skills and experiences for spiritually sensitive social work practice. It prepares students to respond competently and ethically to diverse spiritual and religious perspectives by using a comparative, critically reflective approach to content. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides knowledge of policy and practice for students preparing for employment in child welfare and mental health. Students will learn about major themes concerning adoption and related issues. This expertise can assist prospective and existing adoptive families with important issues that arise during and after the adoption process. The course also addresses guardianships and other custodial arrangements, including foster care. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a broad overview of the systemic analysis of the military culture and bureaucracy and introduces clinical practice strategies of social work intervention with military personnel and their families to improve the health and mental health of this population. This class will be beneficial to students seeking greater understanding on working with this population by orienting students with military culture and the challenges this population and their families face while reintegrating to civilian life. The course also provides an overview of the resources that are available to help this population. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Subjects will vary. May be repeated with different sections. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides an international perspective for the study of social work groups, organizations and communities. Focuses on the examination of assessment and problem solving interventions and cross-cultural comparisons of policy and practice.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Provides an international perspective for the study of social work groups, organizations and communities. Focuses on the examination of assessment and problem solving interventions and cross-cultural comparisons of policy and practice.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Provides an international perspective for the study of social work groups, organizations and communities. Focuses on the examination of assessment and problem solving interventions and cross-cultural comparisons of policy and practice.

Credit Hours: 1-6

This is the first course of two in the University Partnership Program in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and SIUC. This course includes content developed by the IL DCFS that focuses on the fundamental knowledge required for child welfare licensure in Illinois. Students wishing to qualify for employment within DCFS or Private Child Welfare Agencies upon graduation must also complete SOCW 482 and pass DCFS Licensure exams offered during the course. Course can also serve as a stand alone elective. Open to Undergraduate and Graduate students.

Credit Hours: 3

This is the second course of two in the University Partnership Program in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and SIUC. This course includes core competency developed by the IL DCFS that focuses on the current child welfare policy, practice, and research issues intended to prepare students for employment in Illinois public and private child welfare agencies. Students wishing to qualify for employment within DCFS upon graduation must also complete SOCW 480 and pass DCFS Licensure exams offered during the course. Prerequisite: SOCW 480. Open to Undergraduate and Graduate students.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides opportunity for students to conduct independent research with the guidance of a faculty member. Topics of research are identified by the student and faculty member. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3