Social Work, School of

College of Health and Human Services

DEPARTMENT OFFICE

ST  F816

Phone:  (323) 343-4680

Karin Elliott Brown, Director

MSW Admissions Information Line (24 hours): (323) 343-5612

E-mail:     IndiraV@cslanet.calstatela.edu

Website:  http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/soc_work/index.htm

The BASW Mission of the School of Social Work:

The BASW Program in the School of Social Work at California State University, Los Angeles prepares students for beginning strengths-based generalist practice in socially, culturally and economically diverse urban communities.  Our BASW graduates are educated to promote social and economic justice and facilitate change and growth at all levels of professional practice.

The MSW Mission of the School of Social Work:

The MSW Program at California State University, Los Angeles educates students to assume leadership roles in professional practice.  Our advanced urban generalist graduates analyze, intervene, evaluate and advocate with diverse, underserved and oppressed clients and communities.

The Faculty 

Professors:  Pauline Agbayani, Joanne Altschuler (BPD), E. Frederick Anderson, Karin Elliott Brown(Director), Constance Corley, Susan Crimmins, Roger Delgado, Alfredo G. González, Rita Ledesma, Siyon Y. Rhee, Valentine Villa, Dale Weaver.

Associate Professor: Victor Manalo.

Assistant Professor: Sofya Bagdasaryan, Blythe FitzHarris, Anh-Luu Huynh-Hohnbaum, Victor Manalo, Raquel Warley.

Emeritus: Shirley Jean Better, Phillip L. Carter, Neil A. Cohen,

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work enables students to explore and develop values, knowledge and generalist skills essential to the practice of social work in a multiethnic environment.  The goals of the program include: providing continuing education for persons already employed in the field of social work or related human services; preparing students for professional entry-level positions in social work; and preparing students for further study in graduate schools of social work or related human services.

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work is 180 units, of which 86-87 units are in the major.  Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

All students in the Social Work major must see an academic adviser during their first quarter in the program. During this initial advisement, a summary of the program curriculum and School of Social work regulations will be reviewed.

All social work students are also required to meet with an adviser one quarter prior to beginning their fieldwork, to determine eligibility for field education. Finally, students must meet with an adviser two quarters before graduation to complete a graduation check.

Students who earn less than the minimum required grade for social work courses must meet with an academic adviser from the School of Social Work to prepare a revised academic plan to assure satisfactory progress.

Students in the Social Work major must earn grades of C or higher in the following social work courses: SW 370, 372, 301, 474, 475,478, 482.  To meet the requirements of continuing satisfactory performance, students must also receive a passing grade (credit) for the Field Internship (SW 495) and a grade of C or better in their Integrative Seminar (SW 496). Students who are placed on academic probation are not permitted to enroll in a social work course until an academic adviser from the School of Social Work approves a revised academic plan. The plan will provide students with guidelines to support their academic success.

Students are required to complete a criminal clearance check, prior to entering a field placement. Some field agencies will not accept students who cannot pass the criminal background clearance. Please note that difficulty or the inability to place a student in a required field practicum may delay or prevent the completion of the BASW degree.

·     The WPE must be passed prior to taking SW 301

·     SW 370 is a prerequisite to all required social work courses except SW 301, SW 391, and SW 476

·     Prerequisites to Field Education (SW 495) include:  Passing the WPE; completion of SW 301, SW 370, SW
            371A, SW 371B, and SW 372

·     SW 372 is a prerequisite to the advanced social work practice courses (SW 474, SW 475, and SW 482)

·     Students must take SW 495 and SW 496 concurrently.

·     Field Education (SW 495, SW 496) must be taken in the last three quarters of the BASW Program

Requirements for the Major  (86–87 units)

The BASW program requires a total of 180 units for the degree, including 71 units in required courses in social work; 7-8 units of required courses in related fields; and 8 units of elective courses in social work and other fields. See the Undergraduate Study: General information chapter for details about general education and other requirements that constitute the units outside the major.

Required Courses in Related Fields (7-8 units)

The following courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher before any other courses in the major are attempted:

·     PSY 150 or SOC 201 or 202

·     Elementary Statistics (HHS 400 or EDFN 452, or SOC 210A, or ECON/MATH 109)

Required Upper Division Courses  (71 units)

Select with prior adviser approval.

Remaining units can be used to take free electives in social work or any other discipline to meet the required 180 units for graduation.

Certificate Programs

The Applied Gerontology credit certificate, offered by the College of Health and Human Services through the Applied Gerontology Institute, contains course work in social work and is available to both social work majors and others. The department also offers course work applicable toward the interdisciplinary credit certificate in Child Maltreatment and Family Violence offered by the College of Health and Human Services.

Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Programs

Master of Social Work Degree

The Master of Social Work degree prepares graduate students for entry into advanced and specialized social work practice where they will be able to provide effective services to individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

The MSW program can be completed in a two year sequence or in a three year sequence.

The foundation year consists of generalist courses. The advanced year consists of advanced generalist courses and courses in one of three concentrations.

The Children, Youth, Women and Families concentration prepares students for practice in settings addressing the needs of children and their families, and consists of SW551, SW558, and SW575.

The Aging and Families concentration prepares students for practice in settings addressing the needs of older adults and their families and consists of SW552, SW559, and SW576.

The Forensic Social Work concentration prepares students for practice with children, adults and their families in forensic settings, and consists of SW556, SW560 and SW577.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must apply simultaneously to the University and to the School of Social Work.  Admission to the department does not guarantee admission to the College of Health and Human Services and/or the University.  Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the department and/or college.  In addition to an evaluation of the applicant’s potential for advanced practice in the profession of social work, the minimum requirements for admission are:

·     Acceptable bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;

·     Minimum 2.75 grade point average in the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units);

·     Completion of a course in research and statistics and 8 quarter units
     (6 semester units ) of upper division social science courses;

·     Good academic standing at the last college or university attended; and

·     Graduate Record Exam if GPA from last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) is below 3.25

·     In addition, the Department Admissions Committee is guided by the following criteria:

·     Voluntary and/or paid experience in human services;-

     Professional promise, which includes social consciousness and commitment to the values of the profession and the specific

     mission of the program, personal readiness, motivation, and ability to relate as an effective helping person to individual,

     organizational and societal needs.

Degree Requirements

A total of 90 units is required.

Foundation Year Courses (45 units)

With adviser approval, complete 4 units of electives.

List of Courses (SW) - Undergraduate Level

Upper Division Courses

PSY 150 or SOC 201 or 202, normally prerequisite to all upper division SW courses, may be waived only with instructor consent.

SW 301 Writing for Social Work  (4) 

Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). Reasoning and writing skills for comprehending and communicating information in social work. Minimum C grade required for passing.

SW 355 Strategies for Preventing and Intervening in Family Violence and Abuse  (4)  (crosslisted as NURS 355)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Major theories used to explain family violence; emphasis on preventing abuse and intervening with victims across the age span;  social policy and legal issues.

     GE Theme B

SW 362 From Institutional Racism to Cultural Competency (4)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D. Theoretical and empirical data regarding institutional racism; increase understanding of diversity and cultural competency.     GE Theme H

SW 370 Field of Social Work  (4)

Prerequisites: PSY 150 or SOC 201 or 202 and HHS 400 or EDFN 452 or SOC 210A or ECON/MATH 109 or an equivalent elementary statistics course. Overview of social work profession; including contemporary practices and policies of social welfare agencies. Minimum C grade required for passing.

SW 371A Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Prenatal  Through Early Adolescence (4)

Prerequisite: SW 370. Application of social work practice principles, values, knowledge, and skills in assessment of' human behavior within context of social environment from birth to early adolescence.

SW 371B Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Late Adolescence Through Old Age (4)

Prerequisite: SW 370. Application of social work practice principles, values, knowledge, and skills in assessment of human behavior within context of social environment from late adolescence through old age.

SW 372 Social Work Practice I: Communication and Interviewing Skills  (4)

Prerequisite:  SW 370.  Prerequisite:  SW 370.  Examines and applies communication theory and interviewing skills in working with individuals, families, small groups, and communities. Minimum C grade required for passing.

SW 391 Social Work Research Methods  (4)

Prerequisite: HHS 400, SOC 210A or EDFN 452, ECON/MATH 109. Scientific, analytic approach to knowledge building and practice in social work;  experimental, quasiexperimental, and single subject research designs;  sampling, survey methods, case studies, exploratory-descriptive studies, and evaluation research.

SW 400-Level Courses

Some 400-level courses may be applied toward master’s degree requirements, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser:

SW 411 Computer Applications in Social Work  (4)

Prerequisite:  SW 370.  Computers in field of social work and human service programs;  includes use of DOS and major “applications” programs that have specific relevance to field of social work.

SW 450 Crosscultural Practice with Aging Populations  (4)

Prerequisite:  Upper division standing. Ethnic factors in aging;  ethnic specific and comparative analysis of ethnicity as it influences sociocultural context of older persons, care giving, and service delivery and utilization.

SW 454 Selected Topics in Social Work  (1–6)

Current topics of special interest in social work, as announced in Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit.

SW 456 Multidisciplinary Teams, Child Maltreatment, and Family Violence  (4)

Prerequisite:  PSY 150 or  SOC 201. Personal and professional responsibility in reporting, preventing, and treating child maltreatment;  a multidisciplinary team approach to problems of child maltreatment and family violence.

SW 461 Social Work Practice in Minority Communities  (4)

Prerequisite:  SW 370.  Social work practice and its relationship to minority group communities;  innovative methods of delivery of services;  casework approaches, racism, role of social worker.

SW 462 Institutional Racism and Poverty  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 201. Development of institutional racism and poverty; impact on social policy development and social service delivery; methods to reduce racism and poverty in America.

SW 463 Women’s Issues in Social Welfare  (4)

Prerequisite:  SW 370. Women’s issues within social work practice areas;  analysis of social welfare response to women’s special concerns;  social policy implications for future directions.

SW 465 Programs and Policies Related to the Elderly  (4)

Prerequisite:  Upper division standing. Policies, programs, and service delivery systems related to the elderly;  descriptive and normative analysis of social problems related to aging with emphasis on ethnic minorities.

SW 466 Case Management with Older Adults (4)

Prerequisite:  Upper division standing.  Examination of frameworks and models lined to quality case management programs and services, with the underserved, culturally diverse, frail elderly; case finding, assessment, goal setting to promote community-based care.

SW 474 Social Work Practice II:  Working with Individuals and Families  (4)

Prerequisites: SW 370,  SW 372.  Generalist social work practice methods: engagement, data collection, assessment, intervention case management, evaluation and termination. Covers ethnic sensitive social work practice. Minimum C grade required for passing.

SW 475 Social Work Practice III:  Working with Groups  (4)

Prerequisites: SW 370, SW 372. Study of human behavior in groups; use of groups to accomplish individual, family, organizational, and/or community goals. Minimum C grade required for passing

SW 476 Child Welfare  (4)

Services to families, children, and youth;  the network of preventive and supportive services;  child neglect and abuse;  children and the legal system;  foster care, institutional care, group homes, and adoptions.

SW 478 Social Welfare Policy and Social Services  (4)

Prerequisite: SW 370. Identifying, formulating, implementing, and evaluating social welfare policy options. Design and implementation of social service delivery systems. Minimum C grade required for passing.

SW 480 Social Work in the Criminal Justice System  (4)

Development and application of individual, group, social change methods of social work in criminal justice system. Focus on methods used with victims and communities as well as offenders.

SW 482 Social Work Practice IV:  Community Organization  (4)

Prerequisites: SW 370,   SW 372.  Applies stages of the generalist social work method to community organizing, community analysis, dynamics of social power, and formal organizations. Minimum C grade required for passing.

SW 485 The Homeless in Society  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 201 or  202. The homeless and homelessness including cultural, health/mental health, sociopolitical, economic, legal issues, consequences;  policy, programs, service delivery responses and options. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.

SW 486 Probation and Parole  (4)  (also listed as SOC 486)

Prerequisite:  SOC 480 or 482. History, philosophy, legal bases, and procedures governing investigation, treatment, and supervision of adjudged juvenile offenders and adult violators placed on probation and parole.

SW 490 Latino Mental Health  (4)

Prerequisite:  SW 474 or other upper division course in mental health or counseling. Psychosociocultural aspects of mental health problems and issues within Latino community; factors affecting mental/emotional well-being, the design and delivery of culturally based services, and implications for practice and research. Service in an agency serving Latino clients is required.  This course requires service learning.

SW 495 Directed Field Experience  (4)

Prerequisites: SW 301, SW 370, SW 371A, 371 B, SW 372, Pass WPE and complete criminal clearance. Corequisite: SW 496. Student internship social agency; supervised activities in application of theory and skills acquired in foundation courses. Must be repeated to total 12 units. Graded CR/NC. Students enter fieldwork in fall or winter quarters and must complete three consecutive quarters. If students receive a "NC" in any quarter, they may repeat the entire field practicum only once at another agency.

SW 496 Integrative Seminar  (1)

Prerequisites: SW 301, SW 370, SW 37IA, SW 371B, SW 372 Corequisite: SW 495. Examination of the relationship between social work theory and practice to provide integration of academic and directed social work field experiences. Must be repeated consecutively to total of 3 units as a corequisite to fieldwork (SW495). Minimum C grade required for passing. If a student is required to repeat the fieldwork, they must repeat seminar as a corequisite for 3 additional units; however, if student passes fieldwork but receives less than minimum grade in seminar, course can be repeated only to 4 total units.

SW 497 Social Work Proseminar  (4)

Prerequisite:  Sixteen upper division SW units. Comprehensive survey and analysis of selected areas of social work inquiry as announced in Schedule of Classes. May be repeated once for credit.

SW 498 Cooperative Education

This cooperative education course may be repeated up to 16 units.

SW 499 Undergraduate Directed Study  (1–4)

Prerequisites:  Senior standing, 2.75 overall grade point average, consent of a faculty sponsor, approval of proposed project prior to registration, ability to assume responsibility for independent research and analysis. Regular discussion of progress with sponsor before presentation of final written report.

Graduate Level Courses  (SW)

Some 400-level courses may be applied toward master’s degree requirements, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser:

Classified graduate standing is required for admission to all 500-level courses.

SW 510A Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (4)

Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program.  Human growth and development from birth through adolescence including views based on biological, psychological, cultural, interpersonal, and social structural assumptions; applications to social work.

SW 510B Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (4)

Prerequisite: SW 510A.  Human growth and development form middle age through old age and death, including biopsychosocial, cultural, interpersonal, and structural assumptions.

SW 510C Human Behavior and the Social Environment III (4)

Prerequisite: SW 510B.  Review and critique of theories of human growth and development from a crosscultural perspective; emphasis on micro and mezzo theories for relevance to the biopsychosocial needs and problems of ethnic minority client systems.

SW 520A Parameters of Practice (4)

Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program.  Historical development and theoretical foundations for generalist social practice; value base, principles and method for cross-cultural service delivery.

SW 520B Micro Practice (4)

Prerequisite: SW 520A.  Repertoire of practical skills derived from variety of theoretical frameworks for selective application for professional social work practice with diverse, micro-level client systems.

SW 530A Social Welfare History and Introduction to Macro Practice (4)

Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program.  Social Welfare policy; examination of history, philosophy, ethics, function and structure of the social welfare institution and the social work profession within sociopolitical, economic and cultural  systems.

SW 530B Social Welfare Policy Analysis (4)

Prerequisite: SW 530A.  Programs of social insurance and social assistance, income transfer and income maintenance; analyses of issues with regard to entitlements, coverage and eligibility.

SW 530C Community Organizing (4)

Prerequisite: SW 520B.  Social work interventions with natural and formed  groups, understanding for community development, especially in low-income minority communities; analyses of community organizations and their effect upon delivery of social services.

SW 540 Social Welfare Research and Statistics (4)

Prerequisites: Admission to the MSW program; a course in statistics.  Research designs and methodologies in social work; problem formulation, sampling techniques, instrument construction, evaluation research.

SW 549 ABC  Field Practicum (4, 4, 4)

Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program.  Supervised field placement for advanced generalist practice with individuals, families, groups and communities.  Graded CR/NC.

SW 550 Advanced Social Welfare Research (3)

Prerequisite: SW 540. Advanced research designs and methodologies in social work in preparation for the Master's Thesis. Research questions and hypotheses, protection of human subjects, sampling, instrument construction, data collection and data analysis.

SW 551 Advanced Practice I: Children, Youth, Women and Families (4)

Prerequisite: Completion of SW 549C.  Advanced level of theory and practice focusing upon prevention, crisis intervention and short-term treatment with children, youth, women, and families.

SW 552 Advanced Practice I: Aging and Families (4)

Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Year.  Advanced level of practice addressing theories of aging, health and medical needs of the elderly; critical care issues affecting this population.

SW 553 Advanced Practice II: Diversity Perspectives Over the Life Course (4)

Prerequisite: SW 551.  Theory and practice with ethnically, racially, religiously diverse populations utilizing a multi-dimensional cross-cultural framework and case materials to analyze treatment issues and empowerment strategies for children, youth, women and families.

W 554 Advanced Practice II: Aging in Cultural Minorities: Aging and Families (4)

Prerequisite:  SW 552.  Examination of special needs of elderly minorities; methodologies for providing direct and indirect services.

SW 556 Advanced Practice I: Forensic Casework (4)

Prerequisite: SW 549 and instructor consent. Examination of theoretical and practice foundations for social casework with adult/juvenile forensic clients; overview of forensic social work practice.

SW 558 Advanced Practice III:  Capstone Seminar: Children, Youth, Women and Families (4)

Prerequisite: SW 553.  Interventions based on gender, race, age and class factors in service delivery to children, youth, women and their families; prevention, funding, grantsmanship and program evaluations. Special emphasis on disadvantaged communities.

SW 559 Advanced Practice III: Capstone Seminar: Aging & Families (4)

Prerequisite: SW 553. Interventions based on gender, race, age and class factors in service delivery to older adults and their families; prevention, funding, grantsmanship and program evaluations. Special emphasis on disadvantaged communities.

SW 560 Advanced Practice III: Capstone Seminar: Forensic Social Work. (4)

Prerequisite SW 556. Interventions based on gender, race, age and class factors in service delivery to clients and their families involved in the criminal justice system, with special emphasis on disadvantaged communities.

SW 571 Administration of Social Service Agencies (4)

Prerequisite: SW 530C.  Issues in management and organizational behavior within human service systems; leadership; decision making; conflict resolution; program and staff development; fiscal management; working with boards and volunteers.

SW 575 Policy and Services/ Applications: Children, Youth, Women and Families (4)

Prerequisite: SW 571.  Critical analysis of social systems, policies and programs designed to provide human services to culturally diverse individuals, families and groups.

SW 576 Policy and Service/Applications: Aging and Families (4)

Prerequisite: SW 571.  Analysis of federal, state and local policies including Medicare and Medi-Cal; emphasis on financing and budgeting of program; legal mandate for various social work interventions.

SW 577 Policy and Services/Applications: Forensic Social Work. (4)

Prerequisite: SW 571. Critical analysis of current problems and policies in forensic social work, and community and institutional issues that impact culturally diverse individuals, families, and groups involved with the criminal justice system.

SW 581 Poverty and Institutional Racism (2)

Prerequisite: Completion of SW 549C.  Historical and contemporary manifestations of institutional racism in America and its effects upon the economic status of oppressed populations.

SW 582 Key Issues in DSM-IV: Focus on Forensic Mental Health (2)

Prerequisites: SW 520B and 530C. Issues of assessment, including mental status and diagnosis, for advanced social work practice. Emphasis on practice with forensic clients.

SW 583 Immigration, Social Policy and the Social Services (2)

Prerequisite: Completion of SW 549C.  Past and current issues in American immigrant legislation; impact upon the social services delivery system from perspectives of the social work practitioner and the recent immigrant.

SW 584 Trauma, Substance Abuse and Violence (2)

Prerequisites: SW 520A and 520B. Examines advanced social work practice interventions with mental health and forensic clients impacted by trauma, physical and sexual violence, and substance abuse.

SW 585 Policy and Practice In Public Child Welfare (2)

Prerequisites: SW 520B and 530C. Contemporary practice in California's public child welfare systems in the context of current policy and administrative issues.

SW 586 Grief and Loss in Later Life (2)

Examination of historical, cultural, societal, and personal perspectives on grief and loss in contemporary society and, in particular, how it impacts older adults.

SW 589 Selected Topics in Social Work (1-6)

Current topics of special interest in social work, announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit up to a total of 4 units.

SW 591ABC Field Practicum (4, 4, 4)

Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation year.  Advanced case and group management and community planning responsibilities in a supervised field setting.  Graded CR/NC.

SW 598 Graduate Directed Study (1-4)

Prerequisite: SW 549 and Instructor consent to act as sponsor.  Independent study of advanced topics in field; regular conferences with sponsor.  Repeatable for up to 12 units.

SW 599A Thesis or Research Project I (3)

Prerequisite: SW 540.  Formulation and design of a thesis or research project incorporating quantitative and/or qualitative data obtained from the field practicum concentration. Graded CR/NC.

SW 599B Thesis or Research Project II (3)

Prerequisite: SW 599A.  Completion of the thesis or research project focusing upon the presentation of data and the conclusion, implication, and recommendations for individual, social or institutional change derived from the findings.  Graded CR/NC.