All undergraduates at Florida State University must demonstrate basic computer skills competency prior to graduation. As necessary computer competency skills vary from discipline to discipline, each major determines the courses needed to satisfy this requirement. Undergraduate majors in social work satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of "C–" or higher in CGS 2060 or CGS 2100.

The State of Florida has identified common program prerequisites for this University degree program. Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites, but may not be admitted into the program.

At the time this document was published, some common program prerequisites were undergoing revision. Please visit http://facts23.facts.org/navigation/detail_ext/cpp_intro.do?pageId=060304 for a current list of state-approved prerequisites.

The following lists the common program prerequisites or their substitutions necessary for admission into this upper-division degree program:

1. XXX XXXX: American government (American national government or American government) or Introduction to public policy for three (3) credit hours
2. XXX XXXX: Biology (human biology or anatomy and physiology) for three (3) credit hours
3. ECO XXXX: Economics (microeconomics or macroeconomics or introduction to economics) for three (3) credit hours
4. XXX XXXX: Introductory psychology for three (3) credit hours
5. XXX XXXX: Introductory sociology/social problems for three (3) credit hours

SOW—Social Work

SOW 1054r. Human Services Experience (1). (S/U grade only.) This course entails a direct human service experience in a social services agency or community organization or program. Thirty (30) hours of volunteer services are required per credit hour. Through the volunteer experience, students are able to observe the application of social work knowledge and skills within a human service program and to learn about the role social workers play in generalist practice settings with systems of all sizes. May be repeated to a maximum of three (3) semester hours.

SOW 3203. Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (3). This course surveys the philosophy, history, and services of social welfare and the purpose, objectives, values, ethics, methods, and practice settings of the profession of social work. Attention is given to the role that social work and social welfare policies play in promoting social and economic justice for oppressed groups.

SOW 3350. Interviewing and Recording in Social Work (3). This overview class covers the basic elements of interviewing and recording as utilized in various helping professions including social work. The values and ethics of the social work profession are discussed, along with how interviews can help to promote social and economic justice.

SOW 4104. Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3). Prerequisites: SOW 1054, SOW 3203, and SOW 3350. This course focuses on reciprocal relationships between human behavior and social environments. Content includes empirically-based theories and knowledge that focus on human development at the individual and family level, but as influenced by interactions between and among systems of all sizes, including groups, societies, and economic systems. Theories and knowledge of biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, identity, and spiritual development across the life span are critiqued, especially as they relate to populations-at-risk. Ways to promote social and economic justice while practicing as a social worker are also discussed.

SOW 4108. Women's Issues and Social Work (3). This course is designed to acquaint students with the factors that affect women throughout life and the role that social work plays in addressing these issues.

SOW 4152. Human Sexuality (3). Survey of issues and problems associated with human sexuality, intended for social workers and others in helping professions. Emphasis on sexually oppressed groups, sexual life cycle from a psychosocial perspective, and student's attitudes and values regarding sexuality.

SOW 4232. Social Welfare Policies and Programs (3). Prerequisites: SOW 1054, SOW 3203, and SOW 3350. The course provides a beginning understanding of the relationship between social welfare and social policy in American society from a social work perspective. Attention is given to the role that social work and social welfare policies and programs play in promoting social and economic justice for oppressed groups.

SOW 4290. Ethical Issues in Social Work Practice (3). This course provides students with a framework of knowledge and skills to prepare them for effective and ethical decision making that is congruent with codes of ethics and standard practice in the social-work profession. Also explored are the principles of ethical decision making and various value systems.

SOW 4323. Theory and Practice of Social Work with Groups (3). Prerequisites: SOW 1054, SOW 3203, SOW 3350, and SOW 4341. This course focuses on the development of generalist practice skills with various kinds of groups: educational, socialization, and support. This class covers practice skills that contribute to group effectiveness, including composition, structure, dynamics, goal setting, and evaluation. Content also includes examining the empirical bases of a range of theories and models for social work group practice.

SOW 4341. Social Work Practice I (4). Prerequisites: SOW 1054, SOW 3203, and SOW 3350. This is the foundation course for generalist social work practice that grounds students with practice knowledge, values, and skills that are demonstrated across direct practice roles with individuals and families in social work. The empirical bases of a range of theories and models of social work practice are examined, along with applications to generalist social work practice. Ways to promote social and economic justice while practicing as a social worker are also discussed.

SOW 4347. Social Networking and Case Management in Social Work (3). This course introduces students to the history, theoretical underpinnings, and strategies of case management in various service delivery systems. Contemporary issues and implications for the changing practice environment are highlighted.

SOW 4360. Social Work Practice II (3). Prerequisites: SOW 1054, SOW 3203, SOW 3350, and SOW 4341. This course focuses on the development of generalist practice skills at the mezzo and macro levels in task groups, organizations, and communities. In addition, the integration of mezzo- and macro-level skill sets is emphasized. The empirical bases of a range of theories and models of group, organization, and community behavior are examined, along with applications to generalist social work practice. The course utilizes an applied perspective whereby students work in task groups to carry out projects in organizational and/or community settings.

SOW 4370. Supervised Visitation (3). (S/U grade only.) In this course, students have the opportunity to be involved in supervised visitation in conjunction with the Florida Department of Children and Families. The course is conducted in practicum format with training and mandatory weekly supervised visitation. The students observe visitation, learn and analyze policies, and integrate an understanding of child abuse, neglect, and family dynamics.

SOW 4403. Introduction to Social Work Research (3). Prerequisite: SOW 4414. This course introduces students to qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to provide an understanding of a scientific, analytic, and ethical approach to building knowledge for practice. Students' mastery of course content prepares them to develop, use, and effectively communicate empirically-based knowledge. Research knowledge is used by students to provide high-quality services; to initiate change; to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery; and to evaluate their own practice from an evidence-based perspective.

SOW 4414. Measurements in Social Work Research (3). Prerequisites: SOW 1054, SOW 3203, and SOW 3350. This course introduces students to quantitative tools used to describe and interpret data used in social work practice, research, and policy formation. Course content prepares students to understand, interpret, and conduct the statistical analyses necessary for the evaluation of effective social work practice, social policies, and social programs. Students learn to plan and conduct analyses guided by an understanding of social work values and ethics. Specific topics to be covered in class include descriptive statistics, basic probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, correlation, and regression.

SOW 4454. Grant Writing and Grant Management (3). Particularly in the public and not-for-profit sectors, grants may be necessary to expand the type or number of resources available to clients; therefore, grant writing is related to social work objectives that stress access to and availability of resources. This course covers the basics of proposals: purpose statements, background and justification, aims or objectives, personnel, time line, methods, budget, and evaluation, and how to effectively manage grants once they are funded. The needs of disenfranchised groups or communities are discussed in this course, along with the particulars of proposals that may be most effective in meeting such needs.

SOW 4510r. Undergraduate Field Instruction (6–12). (S/U grade only). Prerequisites: A 3.0 GPA in social work courses and completion of all the required social work courses and prerequisites. Corequisite: SOW 4522. Supervised direct social work experience is provided in various human service settings. May be repeated to a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours.

SOW 4522. Integrative Field Seminar (3). Corequisite: SOW 4510. This course assists students in the integration of their social work courses with social work practice. The course utilizes an ecosystems perspective, focusing on the students' ability to apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice to systems of all sizes.

SOW 4602. Social Work in Health Settings (3). This course focuses on social work practice in health settings from a "person-in-environment" perspective, preparing students with an understanding of the roles that social workers play in health settings, the structure of health care delivery systems, organizational and professional ethics and standards, challenges we face in health care policy, and patient issues and how to help to address these issues. Specific knowledge and skills in a health care setting are addressed, including biopsychosocial assessments, chart documentation, treatment planning, and discharge planning.

SOW 4615. Family Violence Across the Lifespan (3). This course provides an ecological perspective emphasizing the interconnections between individuals experiencing violence and their social environments. Emphasis is placed upon broad coverage of all-important aspects of child abuse, incest, intimate partner violence, rape, and elder abuse. This course is appropriate for students who wish to gain skill in detecting and responding to incest situations for clients, sexual assault survivors, and victims of intimate partner violence or elder abuse.

SOW 4620. Diversity in Social Work Practice (3). This course enhances student understanding of human diversity and prepares students to engage in a lifetime pursuit of cultural competence. Students are encouraged to discuss the intricacies of their own particular diverse dominant and minority social statuses and their relations to other persons, especially future social work clients. Although the course is not designed to train students in particular practice skill sets, emphasis is placed on enhancing respectful and empathic communication.

SOW 4622. Social Work with Black Families (3). This course critically analyzes African-American/black family life, culture, structure, and functioning. The focus is on knowledge and skill development for family intervention. Specifically, students review the historical development of black families in America, evaluate and analyze major family theoretical models, identify practice strategies and gaps and/or deficiencies in the existing social work practice literature, and focus on the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing these models in practice with black families.

SOW 4627. Mental Health of Diverse Populations (3). This course critically examines various factors that impact the mental health of diverse populations. Students critically review/analyze recent mental health literature concerning the cultural context in which the mental health needs of diverse populations have evolved; the major services required to meet the mental health needs of diverse populations and the availability and accessibility of these services; and the strategies and skills (both micro and macro) necessary to improve the delivery of mental health and mental health related services to diverse populations.

SOW 4633. The Social Worker in the Public School System (3). School social workers seek to maximize student success and promote optimal learning opportunities by helping to remove the variety of barriers that prevent school-based personnel and children from working to the best of their abilities. This course introduces the student to school social work practice and related issues, such as biased educational practices, behavior, economic constraints, physical and emotional problems, and community and family adversity.

SOW 4645. Gerontological Social Work (3). This course introduces students to social gerontology and gerontological social work. Topics cover the demography of aging and the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of aging; social and health-care policies that impact older persons, their caregivers, and the aging network of services; the impact of ageism, sexism, racism, ablebodyism, beautism, and homophobia on our work with older people; as well as the promotion of dignity, self-determination, and socio-economic justice for older people.

SOW 4647. Physical Aspects of Aging (3).  This course covers age and health demographics, as well as attitudes toward aging and health. Topics include basic cellular or molecular theories of aging, how the human body's organ systems typically change over time, pathologies associated with aging, as well as psychological responses to normal and pathological changes.

SOW 4650. Child Welfare Practice (3). This course provides a framework of values, knowledge, and skills necessary to practice with vulnerable children and their families. The major focus is on social work in public child welfare agencies and children's mental health agencies. The course utilizes an ecosystems perspective for understanding and assessing the special needs of at risk children and families.

SOW 4658. Mental Health and Child Welfare (3). This course provides students with knowledge and skills related to the theory, research, and implications of child and adolescent maltreatment for child development and psychopathology.

SOW 4665. Theory and Practice of Social Work in Criminal Justice Settings (3). This course focuses on criminal theories and on the development of both evidence-based and generalist social-work practice skills pertinent to working in criminal-justice settings, alongside the individuals in the criminal-justice system. Focus is placed on theory and practice for social workers in corrections, prisoner-reentry programs, and juvenile-justice settings. The course covers the philosophy and practice of restorative justice and victim-offender mediation programs, emphasizing the needs of both offenders and victims.

SOW 4680. Living with AIDS: Prevention, Intervention and Care (3). This course provides a comprehensive overview of the biopsychosocial implications of HIV/AIDS. Topics include the origins of the illness, its prevalence and spread throughout world cultures, and its impact on the individual and society.

SOW 4702. Chemical Dependency Problems and Programs (3). This course covers the etiology and epidemiology of drug abuse, physiological and behavioral consequences of drug abuse, treatment approaches, and major policies and programs. Special attention is directed toward drug use in special populations, such as women, racial and ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

SOW 4784. International Social Work and Social Welfare (3). The course prepares students for international social-work practice and for transitional work with immigrants, refugees, international migrants, etc. It introduces international perspectives in the social-work field and offers varied examples of social-work practice in the U.S., and in Western, Central European, and Caribbean nations. The course examines the impact of the global interdependence on social-work practice and policy and helps students learn to critically analyze varied practice approaches utilized in dealing with international welfare issues.

SOW 4905r. Directed Individual Study (1–4). Prerequisites: Eight (8) credit hours in social work, a 2.75 GPA, and Instruction permission. May be repeated to a maximum of eight (8) semester hours. See departmental guidelines.

SOW 4911r. Honors Work in Social Work (1–6). Prerequisites: Junior standing, a 3.2 or higher GPA, and at least one semester of twelve (12) or more semester hours; junior college transfers with membership in Phi Theta Kappa may be admitted directly. A thesis, completed over a period of two or three semesters, based on traditional library research and critical analysis. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.

SOW 4935r. Seminar in Social Work: Selected Topics (3). May be repeated to a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours as topics change.

SOW 5105. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3).

SOW 5109. Women's Issues and Social Work (3).

SOW 5125. Psychopathology in Clinical Practice (3).

SOW 5153. Human Sexuality (3).

SOW 5235. Policies and Programs in Social Services (3).

SOW 5238. Advanced Policy Analysis (3).

SOW 5281. Ethics In Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5282. Legislative Advocacy (3).

SOW 5308. Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5324. Group Treatment in Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5334. Organization and Community System Change (3).

SOW 5335. Theories and Models of Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5340. Theory and Practice of Poetry Therapy (3).

SOW 5345. Advanced Social Services Administration (3).

SOW 5349. Social Networking and Case Management in Social Work (3).

SOW 5353. Marital and Couple Counseling in Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5367. Theory and Practice of Crisis Intervention (3).

SOW 5369. Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5374. Supervised Visitation (3). (S/U grade only).

SOW 5376. Budgeting and Finances in the Social Services (3).

SOW 5377. Personnel Administration in the Social Services (3).

SOW 5404. Introduction to Social Work Research (3).

SOW 5432. Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3).

SOW 5435. Social Program and Policy Evaluation (3).

SOW 5455. Grant Writing and Grant Management (3).

SOW 5532r. Graduate Field Instruction I (5–10). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 5535r. Graduate Field Instruction II (6–12). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 5537r. Field Instruction: Special Placement (3–12). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 5603. Social Work in Health Settings (3).

SOW 5611. Family Counseling in Social Work (3).

SOW 5614. Family Violence Across the Life Span (3).

SOW 5623. Social Work with Black Families (3).

SOW 5628. Mental Health of Diverse Populations (3).

SOW 5635. The Social Worker in the Public School System (3).

SOW 5646. Gerontological Social Work (3).

SOW 5648. Physical Aspects of Aging (3).

SOW 5655. Social Work with Children and Adolescents (3).

SOW 5656. Child Welfare Practice (3).

SOW 5659. Mental Health and Child Welfare (3).

SOW 5666. Theory and Practice of Social Work in Criminal Justice Settings (3).

SOW 5688. Living with AIDS: Prevention, Intervention and Care (3).

SOW 5712. Chemical Dependency Problems and Programs (3).

SOW 5745. Seminar on Loss and Bereavement (3).

SOW 5785. International Social Work and Social Welfare (3).

SOW 5908r. Directed Individual Study (1–4). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 5915r. Supervised Research (1–3).

SOW 5938r. Social Work Seminars: Selected Topics (3).

SOW 5941r. Supervised Teaching (1–3). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6358. Measurement in Social Work Research I (2).

SOW 6359. Measurement in Social Work Research II (2).

SOW 6399. Social Policy Analysis (3).

SOW 6407. Survey Research Methods (3).

SOW 6418. Introduction to Linear Modeling for Applied Social Research (4).

SOW 6466. Social Work Research Using Secondary Data (3).

SOW 6490. Introduction to Social Work Research Topics (2). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6492. Foundation Research Methods (4).

SOW 6494. Advanced Research Methods (3).

SOW 6495. Systematic Reviews in Social Work Research (3).

SOW 6496. Qualitative Research Methods (3).

SOW 6498. Integrative Seminar (3).

SOW 6499. Intervention Research in Social Work (3).

SOW 6755. Theories and Models of Social Work Research (4).

SOW 6775. Professional Issues in Social Work (3).

SOW 6904r. Reading in Social Work/Social Welfare (1–6). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6909r. Directed Individual Study (1–6). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6916r. Supervised Research (1–6). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6930. Teaching Seminar and Practicum (1-4). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6938r. Selected Topics in Social Work (3).

SOW 6942r. Supervised Teaching (1–3). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6945r. Practicum in Applied Research (2-6). (S/U grade only.)

SOW 6960. Preliminary Prep (0–12). (S/U grade only.)

For listings relating to graduate course work for thesis, dissertation, and master's and doctoral examinations and defense, consult the Graduate Bulletin.