Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Department of Social Work

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/socialwork

Patricia Desrosiers, Department Chair
Academic Complex 211
(270) 745-5312
swrk@wku.edu

Faculty

Professor

Amy C. Cappiccie PhD (Social Work), University of Louisville, 2006

Patricia L. Desrosiers PhD (Social Work), University of Louisville, 2009

Wesley J. Gabbard PhD (Social Work), The University of Alabama, 2004

Gayle M. Mallinger PhD (Social Work), University of Pitts Pittsburgh Camp, 2010

Dana J. Sullivan PhD (Social Work), University of Louisville, 2003

Associate Professor

Austin G. Griffiths PhD (Social Work), University of Kentucky, 2017

Assistant Professor

Daniel A. Boamah PhD (Social Work), University of Louisville, 2020

Erin T. Warfel DSW (Social Work), University of Saint Thomas, 2022

Pedagogical Assistant Professor

Whitney Cassity Caywood PhD (Social Work), University of Louisville, 2005

Instructor I

Lynn M. Hazlett PhD, University of Kentucky, 2022

Shannon M. Sales EdD (Educational Leadership), Western Kentucky University, 2013

Instructor II

Allison Gibson MSSW (Social Work), University of Louisville, 2005

Social Work Courses

SWRK 433G    Ethical Issues and Dilemmas in Social Work    3 Hours

An examination of professional ethics and common ethical dilemmas in social work. Models of ethical decision making are applied in case vignettes.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023

SWRK 436G    Services to Children    3 Hours

A survey of institutional and community services with focus on principles of social services for children and their families.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2023

SWRK 501    Diversity, Oppression, and Equity in Social Work Practice    3 Hours

Expands culturally competent standards of practice used in making effective assessments and providing interventions across cultures, including rurality. Note: Not appropriate for advanced standing MSW students.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 510    Human Behavior in the Social Environment    3 Hours

Examines behavior within the context of families, groups, organizations, communities, and cultures. Topics include developmental stages of the individual within multiple systems with a particular focus on issues of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 520    Generalist Social Work Practice    3 Hours

Presents micro level theories as they apply to individuals and families. Foundation level skills are tied to theory for practice including communication skills, case management skills, and assessment skills. Field experiences in appropriate off-campus settings may be required. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 560

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 522    Group Dynamics in Social Work Practice    3 Hours

An introduction to group work based interventions in social work, including dynamics of group interaction, stages of group development, and group types. Experiential exercises are used to promote understanding of group processes.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 501 and SWRK 510 and SWRK 520 and SWRK 560

Corequisite(s): SWRK 561

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 523    Rural Community Organization and Development    3 Hours

Teaches knowledge, skills, and values of advanced macro level social work practice with a focus on complex skills in community development, economic development, and organizational change within the rural community.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 501 and SWRK 510 and SWRK 520

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 530    Foundation of Social Welfare Policy    3 Hours

Foundations to social policy, social welfare, and the American society. Introduction to analytical and critical thinking about social welfare policy and processes.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 540    Foundations of Social Work Research Methods    3 Hours

Focuses on basic skills, knowledge, and values essential to critiquing and conducting social work research, with an emphasis on anti-racist and anti-oppressive evidence-based practice and research ethics.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 560    Generalist Field Practicum I    3 Hours

A beginning application of advanced social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment. Field experiences in an appropriate off-campus setting is required. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 520

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 561    Generalist Field Practicum II    3 Hours

Continued application of advanced social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment. This is a continuation of SWRK 560. Field experiences in an appropriate off-campus setting are required. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designating or assigned sites.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 520 and SWRK 560

Corequisite(s): SWRK 522

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 571    Introduction to Kentucky Child Welfare Practice    3 Hours

Focuses on understanding problems and issues faced by children and families within an ecological framework. Examination of the complexities of social work practice within the Kentucky child welfare system.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022

SWRK 572    Interpersonal Violence: Social Work Practice    3 Hours

Provides students with the research, practice, and policy knowledge necessary for understanding, assessing, and intervening in various forms of interpersonal violence. Additionally, students examine their own values, beliefs, and biases related to working in this area of social work practice.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2024

SWRK 573    Assessment and Case Management of Child Sexual Abuse    3 Hours

Prepares students to identify family dynamics associated with childhood sexual abuse, advocacy, crisis assistance and intervention. Students gain knowledge and skills required to interview children, families, and offenders, assess needs, make appropriate referrals, and prepare for the placement of the child. Students will learn the social worker's role in a multi-disciplinary team and increase their preparation for and participation in related judicial proceedings.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022

SWRK 574    Enhancing Safety and Permanency for Children    3 Hours

Students develop professional social work practice knowledge and skills in the delivery of services to children and youth in foster and out of home care as well as families (birth, relative, foster, and adoptive) who care for them. Students are prepared to enhance the safety and permanency of children receiving services from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; spring 2022

SWRK 576    Advanced Casework Practice in Child Welfare    3 Hours

Training in advanced levels of casework in a child welfare practice setting. Note: This is one of three administration and supervision courses offered by the Credit for Learning Program along with SWRK 577 and SWRK 578. Permission of the Credit for Learning (CFL) Program required.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 577, SWRK 578

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 577    Supervision of Advanced Casework in Child Welfare    3 Hours

Core concepts and competencies in casework supervision in child welfare. Note: This is one of three administration and supervision courses offered by the Credit for Learning Program along with SWRK 576 and SWRK 578. Permission of the Credit for Learning (CFL) Program required.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 578, SWRK 576

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 578    Coaching and Mentoring Child Welfare Practice    3 Hours

Supervision, coaching and mentoring theory, research, practices, and policies in child welfare. Note: This is one of three administration and supervision courses offered by the Credit for Learning Program along with SWRK 576 and SWRK 577. Permission of the Credit for Learning (CFL) Program required.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 577, SWRK 576

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 579    Partnership in Assessing Children and Families    3 Hours

Provides students with a comprehensive introduction to assessment and provision of ongoing services in cases of child maltreatment as well as abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022

SWRK 600    Maintaining Matriculation    1 Hour (repeatable max of 2 hrs)

Maintaining matriculation while completing a thesis or comprehensive examination.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 622

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 610    Social Work Administration and Supervision    3 Hours

This course prepares students to assume leadership roles in rural non-profits by developing the knowledge, skills, values, and cognitive and affective processes necessary for advanced social work practice in administration and supervision.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 612    Social Work in Diverse Rural Areas    3 Hours

Addresses issues of diversity, including rurality, in multi-level advanced social work practice for Advanced Standing students.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 620    Advanced Psycho-Social Approaches for Rural Practice    3 Hours

Focuses on knowledge, skills, and values for advanced micro level social work within a rural area. Topics include clinical interventions with individuals, families, and groups, empowerment and interdisciplinary approaches. Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses required.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 660

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 622    Integrated Social Work Practice with Families    3 Hours

This course builds on the knowledge and skills gained in the generalist social work practice classes. Knowledge and skills related to the social work processes for planned change using engagement, assessment, planning, implementing, evaluating, terminating, and follow up in working with families will be taught. Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses or admission to the Advanced Standing program required.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 610 and SWRK 620 and SWRK 623 and SWRK 660

Corequisite(s): SWRK 661

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 623    Social Work Clinical Assessment and Intervention    3 Hours

Focuses on clinical processes of assessment and diagnosis for rural-centered social work practice. Topics include theories within the Bio-Psycho-Social paradigm, frameworks for organizing and formulating diagnostic understanding with diverse populations. Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses required.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 630    Rural Social Welfare Policy    3 Hours

Focuses on policy analysis with emphasis on skills in legislative advocacy and decision making related to social policy and services for rural areas. Includes local and state government decision-making. Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses or admission to the Advanced Standing program required.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 637    Theories of Addiction    3 Hours

This course involves introduction to theoretical, philosophical and historical premises of addictions. Topics include professional ethics, diversity, family roles and relationships, and dual diagnosis. Note: Admission to or completion of approved graduate program in a helping profession required.

Equivalent(s): PSY 637, CNS 637

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 640    Applied Social Work Research    3 Hours

Focuses on skills, knowledge, and values for evaluation of advanced rural social work with emphasis on single subject design and program evaluation. Students conduct a research project on their practice. Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses or admission to the Advanced Standing program.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 647    Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning    3 Hours

This course involves the selection, administration, and interpretation of assessment methods and techniques used to diagnose addiction disorders, as well as the development of appropriate treatment plans and issues involved in individual, group and family treatment planning.

Equivalent(s): CNS 647, PSY 647

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 660    Advanced Generalist Field Practicum I    3 Hours

An advanced application of social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment with a specific population. Field experiences in an appropriate off-campus setting are required. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites. Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses required.

Corequisite(s): SWRK 620

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

SWRK 661    Advanced Generalist Field Practicum II    3 Hours

The capstone course, a continuation of SWRK 660. Application of advanced social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment with a specific population. Field experiences in appropriate off-campus settings are required. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites. Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses required.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 620 and SWRK 660

Corequisite(s): SWRK 622

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 667    Counseling Substance and Process Addictions    3 Hours

Counseling issues to substance abuse diagnosis, treatment and aftercare programs involving individual, group, family and other systems.

Equivalent(s): CNS 667, PSY 667

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 671    Social Work and the Law    3 Hours

Introduction to legal issues in social work. Identifies similarities and differences between legal and ethical obligations and dilemmas. Topics include courtroom evidence, procedure and testimony.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2024

SWRK 672    Child Sexual Abuse    3 Hours

Dynamics, causes, and effects of child sexual abuse across the life span. Focuses on interventions, skills, and knowledge for working with families and individuals experiencing child sexual abuse. Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses required.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; summer 2024

SWRK 673    Grief and Loss: Issues and Interventions    3 Hours

Dynamics of grief and loss. Theories/models for interventions that are relevant for advanced direct social work practice in rural settings.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; winter 2023

SWRK 675    Expressive Therapies in Social Work Practice    3 Hours

This course will focus on the use of expressive therapies in social work practice from a holistic perspective that embraces alternative practices for personal change and growth. Students will obtain knowledge from various theories and models with interventions that are relevant for individual, family and group social work practice which extends what is known as the traditional "talking cure". Note: Completion of all required 500 level MSW courses required.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023

SWRK 676    Social Work with Migrants    3 Hours

Examine terms associated with migrants, the history of immigration in the U.S., cultural competency and migrant populations, theoretical underpinnings, effective interventions, the most vulnerable migrant groups, and the role of social work.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 678    Environmental Justice: Theory, Policy, and Practice    3 Hours

Examines the relationship between environmental practice and social inequity, with grounding in relevant theories, policies, practice and evaluation of micro, mezzo, and macro intervention.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 679    Professional Social Work Writing Seminar    3 Hours

Common social work writing tasks include documentation of client services, psychosocial assessments including diagnostic impressions, court reports often including recommendations for removal of children or jail time, grant proposals, and additional discipline specific writing requirements. This course will help students develop advanced social work writing skills in these areas critical for successful advanced professional practice.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 680    Social Work in Sports    3 Hours

Focuses on the role of social workers in sport. Theories and policies informing social work practice in sport will be examined. Focuses on the role of social work within an interprofessional team that works to support athletes. Applies social work values, ethics, and competencies to sport social work. Addresses the well-being of the athlete, assessment, intervention, and social justice.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022; winter 2023; spring 2024

SWRK 681    Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders    3 Hours

This course will prepare students to assess, diagnose, and treat PTSD and Other Trauma and Stressor related disorders in diverse settings. Evidenced Based Practice standards for specific populations will be explored. Suicide assessment, prevention, and treatment will be integrated throughout the course due to the increased risk factors with traumatic experiences. Themes of countertransference, secondary trauma, and burnout will be woven into the course.

Prerequisite(s): (SWRK 623 with a minimum grade of B or permission of instructor)

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2023

SWRK 682    Suicide Assessment and Intervention for Social Work    3 Hours

This course will further prepare students to assess and intervene with client systems experiencing suicidal ideation. Evidenced Based Practice standards for assessment will be reviewed. DSM criteria will be examined for diagnoses that increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts and actions. Best practices for intervention and safety planning will be of focus. The Social Worker’s role at various levels, to include Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), will be explored.

Prerequisite(s): (SWRK 623 with a minimum grade of B or permission of instructor)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2024

SWRK 683    Trauma Informed School Social Work Practice    3 Hours

This course prepares students to assume the role of school social worker by developing the knowledge, skills, values and cognitive and affective processes for advanced trauma informed social work practice within school settings.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2024

SWRK 685    Human Trafficking: Theories, Policies, & Intervention    3 Hours

Students will learn important terminology, typologies of human trafficking, and gain an understanding of the scope of the problem, both domestically and globally. Students will holistically examine the problem of human trafficking from a micro perspective to a macro perspective.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

SWRK 695    Special Topics in Social Work    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

An in-depth examination of a selected topic in social work. Topics will vary.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022

SWRK 698    Selected Readings in Social Work    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

An independent study with a faculty member focusing on the development of a literature review or thesis topic pertaining to an agreed upon area within rural centered social work practice. Note: Completion of the 1st year of MSW or advanced standing required.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Social Work (157)

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SWRK 699    Selected Research in Social Work    3,6 Hours

An independent study with a faculty member focusing on the completion of the research proposal initiated in SWRK 698.

Prerequisite(s): SWRK 698

Recent Term(s) Offered: None