Social Work (SWK)

SWK 1013. Introduction to Social Work. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

This introductory course provides an overview of social work as a profession, with a focus on its unique principles, values and ethics, variety of areas of practice and commitment to advance human rights and social, racial, economic and environmental justice, and to promote human and social well-being. The course will also provide students with a critical understanding of the history and development of the profession. The course is open to all students. Students seeking formal admission to the BSW Program must earn a minimum grade of "C-" in order to be eligible for admission.

SWK 2013. Diversity and Social Justice in San Antonio and Beyond. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

This course explores how diversity and intersectionality shape human experience within the context of the societal and historical roots of social and racial injustices. The course also introduces distinct approaches to advancing social, racial, economic, and environmental justice through examining diverse local, national, and global voices and movements. The course is open to all students. Students seeking a BSW degree may complete this class prior to formal admission to the BSW Program or during their first semester in the program. Students must earn a minimum grade of "C-" in order to pass this course with credit toward their BSW degree.

SWK 2103. Social Welfare Policy Analysis. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines the overall structure of the American social welfare system from a historical multidimensional contextual perspective that emphasizes the diversity of clients/client systems, problems, needs, and injustices. It also considers the ways in which the social work profession has responded to the demands of social problems across key periods of the American social welfare experience. An emphasis is placed on policy analysis as a foundation for advocacy on behalf of clients/client systems.

SWK 3013. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Admission to BSW Program or consent of social work advisor. This course focuses on building students' understanding of individual and family life span development with an emphasis on diversity and social justice issues. Ecological systems and cross-cultural development provide the organizing framework for this course. Attention is given to increasing students' understanding of individual and family dynamics by developing their abilities to understand, evaluate, and differentially apply multiple paradigms and theories.

SWK 3023. Human Behavior and the Social Environment II. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of SWK 3013 or consent of social work advisor. This course focuses on human behavior in groups, organizations, and communities with an emphasis on diversity and social justice issues. Attention is given to increasing students' understanding of group, organizational, and community dynamics by developing their abilities to understand, evaluate, and differentially apply multiple mezzo and macro paradigms and theories.

SWK 3203. Applied Social Work Research. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Admission to BSW Program or consent of social work advisor and completion of STA 1053 or the equivalent. This research course explores the role of research in culturally competent social work practice that emphasizes the diversity of clients/client systems, strengths, problems, needs, and injustices. The course focuses on research methods and the use of ethical scientific methods used by social workers for evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence.

SWK 3403. Ethics and Professionalism in Social Work. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Admission to BSW Program or consent of social work advisor. This course socializes students to the social work profession, exploring and applying the NASW Code of Ethics, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners' Code of Conduct, and the International Federation of Social Workers' Statement of Ethical Principles. The student will apply professional self-presentation, take responsibility for personal and professional growth, learn professional behaviors in organizations, and apply ethical and professional skills at a local/state/federal and/or global context. Special emphasis will be placed on learning the importance of self-reflection, which incorporates an understanding of one's own personal values.

SWK 3413. Generalist Social Work Practice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Admission to the BSW Program. This course focuses on the development of beginning knowledge, skills, and values needed to practice generalist social work within a community context. Emphasis will be placed on the ecosystems, strengths, empowerment, and antiracism perspectives as organizing frameworks for understanding clients/client systems. The student will learn how to apply theories to culturally-sensitive practice through classroom discussions and a community-oriented service learning project.

SWK 3423. Practice Skills: Interviewing and Documentation. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Admission to the BSW Program and completion of SWK 3013. Through experiential simulations, application activities, and classroom discussions, the student will learn the skills to conduct a culturally responsive helping interview and to complete ethical and professional documentation.

SWK 4103. Methods I. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of the majority of core social work courses and approval of social work advisor. This course, typically taken concurrently with SWK 4303 Field Practicum I, is designed to facilitate a student’s ability to apply culturally competent engagement, assessment, and intervention planning skills with individuals, families, small groups, communities, and organizations from a generalist social work perspective.

SWK 4113. Methods II. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of SWK 4103 or approval of social work advisor. This course, typically taken concurrently with SWK 4313 Field Practicum II, is designed to facilitate the student’s ability to apply evidence-based interventions, termination, and research-informed evaluation practice skills with individuals, families, small groups, communities, and organizations from a generalist social work perspective.

SWK 4203. Integrative Field Seminar I. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Corequisites: Concurrent enrollment in SWK 4303. This course facilitates students' integration of their field practicum experience and the program's generalist academic curriculum. The students will engage in classroom discussions and analysis, connecting classroom learning with practice in the field while integrating theory with ethical professional practice.

SWK 4213. Integrative Field Seminar II. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of all generalist social work courses other than those taken concurrently with SWK 4213. Corequisites: Concurrent enrollment in SWK 4313. Taken together with SWK 4313 during the student's final semester in the BSW Program, this course serves as the capstone course for the social work program. This generalist field practicum course builds on knowledge and skills gained in SWK 4203, with a focus on the continued integration of the program's academic curriculum and real-world generalist social work practice. It also serves as the bridge between program goals and generalist competencies. Students demonstrate program competency mastery through the completion of an independent capstone course paper.

SWK 4303. Field Practicum I. (0-15) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of the majority of core social work courses and approval of program advisor. Corequisites: Concurrent enrollment in SWK 4203. This generalist field practicum course is designed to serve as the integration of professional knowledge, values, and skills in real-world practice. It is a practice course based on supervised assignments designed to facilitate the student's ability to develop and demonstrate independent learning competencies from a generalist social work perspective which includes skill in working with individuals, families, small groups, communities, and organizations. The student completes a minimum of 225 clock hours at an assigned field practicum site affiliated with UTSA. The student will continue in this same practicum setting for SWK 4313. Students must earn a minimum grade of "B-" in order to pass this course for credit toward the degree.

SWK 4313. Field Practicum II. (0-15) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of SWK 4203 and SWK 4303. Corequisites: Concurrent enrollment in SWK 4213. This generalist field practicum course builds on knowledge and skills gained in SWK 4303 and SWK 4203, with a focus on demonstrating an understanding of competencies from a generalist social work perspective and skill development with diverse clients/client systems. The student's assignment from SWK 4303 continues in the same field practicum setting. The student completes a minimum of 225 clock hours at an assigned field practicum site affiliated with UTSA. Students must earn a minimum grade of "B-" to pass this course for credit toward the degree.