Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree
DESCRIPTION
124 Credit Hours
School of Social & Behavioral Sciences Angela Volpe, Director
The Social Work Program at North Central University will train students in the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice. The program is guided by a love for Christ and a
commitment to service to God and to humanity. Our educational framework is based on the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) requirements, Christian values, the National
Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics, a liberal arts foundation, as well as a biblical foundation.
Student Learning and Development Outcomes for the Social Work major include: Goal 1: Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly
Advocate for client access to the services of social work
Practice personal reflection and self-correction to assure continual professional development
Attend to professional roles and boundaries
Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and communication
Engage in career-long learning
Use supervision and consultation
Goal 2: Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
Recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice
Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and, as applicable, the International Federation of Social
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Workers/International Association of Schools of Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement of Principles
Tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts
Apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions Goal 3: Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments
Distinguish, appraise, and integrate multiple sources of knowledge, including research- based knowledge, and practice wisdom
Analyze models of assessment, intervention, and evaluation
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and colleagues
Goal 4: Engage diversity and difference in practice
Recognize the extent to which a culture's structures and values may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power
Gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse groups
View themselves as learners and engage those with whom they work as informants Goal 5: Advance human rights and social and economic justice
Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination
Advocate for human rights and social and economic justice
Engage in practices that advance social and economic justice
Goal 6: Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research
Use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry
Use research evidence to inform practice
Goal 7: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
Utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the processes of assessment, intervention, and evaluation
Critique and apply knowledge to understand person and environment
Goal 8: Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services
Analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social well-being
Collaborate with colleagues and clients for effective policy action Goal 9: Respond to contexts that shape practice
Continuously discover, appraise, and attend to changing locales, populations, scientific and technological developments, and emerging social trends to provide relevant services
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Provide leadership in promoting sustainable changes in service delivery and practice to improve the quality of social services
Goal 10: Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Substantively and effectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Use empathy and other interpersonal skills
Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work and desired outcomes
Collect, organize, and interpret data
Assess client strengths and limitations
Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives
Select appropriate intervention strategies
Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals
Implement prevention interventions that enhance client capacities
Help clients resolve problems
Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients
Facilitate transitions and endings
Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions Goal 11: Ethically integrate social work and Christian theology
Describe various approaches to the relationship between social work (science) and Christianity (theology)
Articulate a Christian worldview
Critique issues in social work from a theologically-informed perspective
Demonstrate commitment to social work as a form of ministry
COURSES
Part 1. General Education Core
Social work students must take PSYC 126 for the social relations requirement. See General Education Core
Part 2. Christian Studies Core
See Christian Studies Core
Part 3. Social Work Major Core
53 Credits
MATH 260 Statistics (3)
PSYC 177 Career Seminar In the Behavioral Sciences (2) SWK 450 Group Practice (3)
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PSYC 460 Research Methods In Psychology (3) PSYC 495 Senior Project - Psychology (3) SWK 200 Introduction to Social Work (3)
SWK 220 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3) SWK 240 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3) SWK 320 Generalist Social Work Practice I (3)
SWK 330 Generalist Social Work Practice II (3) SWK 340 The Social Welfare System (3) SWK 380 Current Social Issues (3) SWK 488 Internship Practicum I (3) SWK 489 Internship Practicum II (3)
URBN 133 Introduction to Urban Studies (3) Select 9 credits of Major Electives
Any ADC, PSYC or SW credits
Social work students are required to complete a 400 hour internship during their senior year. The internship is an integral part of social work education and will need to be approved by the Social Work Internship Director.
Part 4. General Electives and Bachelor of Arts Degree Option
18-21 Credits
Students may select 6-8 credits of the same foreign language (may include Biblical Languages or American Sign Language) and 8-10 credits of general electives (for a total of 18 credits) to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or 21 credits of general electives to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree.