815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs,
New York, 12866
SKIDMORE PHONE
518-580-5000
Social Work
Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work: David R. Karp
Associate Chair: Susan Bender
Director of the Social Work Program:
Peter McCarthy
Associate Professor: Thomas P. Oles
Assistant Professor: Crystal D. Moore
Visiting Assistant Professor: Elizabeth K. Misener
Lecturer: Peter McCarthy
Visiting Lecturer: Kelly Mills-Dick
The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social
Work Education at the baccalaureate level. The major has two
primary objectives: to prepare students for beginning-level
generalist social work practice; and to prepare students for
graduate study in social work. The social work curriculum stresses
integrating knowledge of human behavior, social welfare policy
and services, and research, with the values and skills of the
social work profession.
THE SOCIAL WORK MAJOR: The major leads to a bachelor of science
degree. The social work major must successfully complete the
following ten courses in social work for a total of forty-one credit hours:
SW212,
222,
241,
253,
333,
334,
338,
340,
381, and
382.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Admission: Students
must apply for admission to the social work major during their
sophomore year. Selection is based on demonstrated academic
competence, a willingness to abide by the profession's code
of ethics, and suitability for beginning professional practice.
Applications for admission are available from social work faculty.
Students planning on going abroad should talk with the program
director in their first year.
Senior-Year Field Experience: The social work major culminates
in a field experience in the spring semester of the senior year.
Students must complete all course prerequisites prior to enrolling
in the field practicum. In addition, the nature of the field
experience requires that the department reserves the right to
deny enrollment in the field practicum to any student, if in
the judgment of the faculty that student's scholastic or professional
preparation for beginning social work practice is insufficient.
Students serve as beginning social workers four days per week
for a minimum of 400 hours over the course of the semester. This
experience provides them with opportunities to apply knowledge
and skills gained in the classroom in an agency setting. They
are integrated into the field experience as regular staff and
assume the functions of beginning social work practitioners
in such roles as counselors, advocates, and researchers. They
receive supervision from agency field instructors and support
through ongoing monitoring of the placement by the social work
program. Students also meet in a weekly seminar to discuss their
field experiences and professional development.
HONORS: Students desiring departmental honors in social work
must meet the College GPA requirement of 3.0 overall and 3.5 in the major, must
receive a grade of A- or higher in SW 381 Field Practicum Seminar, and
must be recommended by their agency field instructor and the faculty
coordinator of field instruction.
SW 212C. SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND
POPULATIONS-AT-RISK 3
This course introduces social
work values; it provides students an opportunity to identify
and clarify conflicting values and ethical dilemmas; and, it
examines the impact of discrimination, economic deprivation,
and oppression on groups distinguished by race, ethnicity, culture,
class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental
ability, age, and national origin. Students learn assessment
and intervention skills that enable social workers to serve
diverse populations and to promote social and economic justice.
(Fulfills social sciences requirement; designated a Cultural Diversity
course.) The Department
SW 214. DEATH
AND DYING 3
Analyses of death and dying from
historical, cultural, and religious perspectives. Examination
of theories of grief and mourning processes and of death-related
practices such as wills and funerals. Review of approaches to
and strategies for working with the dying and their families.
Students may examine their own attitudes toward death and dying. The Department
SW 217. OBSESSIONS
AND ADDICTIONS 3
Approaches to individual situations
and cultural variations in compulsive and addictive behaviors
related to such matters as drugs, gambling, love, work, and
material success. This course uses a comprehensive view of human
addictions that involves a person's expectations, values, sense
of self-worth, and alternative opportunities for gratification
and treatment. P. McCarthy
SW 218. PRISONS
IN AMERICA 3
An examination of the American
prison system. The course presents an historical review of prisons,
as well as theoretical and practical perspectives on the current
state of penal institutions. Specific topics include prison
reform, the purpose of incarceration, and a variety of criticisms
currently directed at the prison system. The Department
SW 219. VOLUNTEERISM 3
A course designed to involve
the students in community service and to encourage reflection
on their experiences. Students volunteer their services in local
nonprofit agencies for six to eight hours a week. Students learn
to assume the role of a volunteer: to understand the history
of the voluntary sector; to examine the role of voluntary activity
on American life; to research the needs and problems of the
population they serve; and, to demonstrate an awareness of the
salience of race, ethnicity, gender, and class in the performance
of community service. The Department
SW 222. INTRODUCTION
TO SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE 3
Introduction to social welfare
and the field of social work from a historical, educational,
and theoretical perspective. The course explores the values,
knowledge and skills required in the profession, along with
their practical application in the field, and factors affecting
social work practice, e.g., class, gender, race. (Fulfills social
sciences requirement.) The Department
SW 224. SPECIAL
STUDIES IN SOCIAL WORK 3
One topic of current interest
in an area of social work. Topics will vary from year to year
depending on interests of faculty and needs of students, and
might include social work practice with alcoholism and narcotic
addiction, social work in correctional settings, social work
with the developmentally disabled, social work with the aged,
advocacy in social work, or the dynamics of racism in social
work practice. The Department
SW 225. SOCIAL
WORK WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS 3
Reviews conceptions of and approaches
to working with troubled children and adolescents. Topics include
divorce, child abuse, learning difficulties, substance abuse,
delinquency, foster care, and parent-child conflict. P. McCarthy
SW 241. RESEARCH
FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES 4
Examination of the research process
used by human service professionals. Students learn about social
science methodology from the perspective of a future practitioner
and research consumer. Topics include: problem formulation,
measurement, design, qualitative and quantitative modes of observation,
data collection and analysis. The course addresses practical
issues such as single-subject design, program evaluation and
the ethical dilemmas involved in conducting human subject research.
Laboratory time is used for students to work directly with instruments
and data. The Department
SW 253. HUMAN
BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 3
A multidisciplinary examination
of theories and knowledge of human bio-psycho-social development
from birth through later years. The course draws on research
from biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political
science to study the impact of biological, psychological, social,
and cultural systems on health and well-being. Students explore
the range of social systems in which individuals live (families,
groups, communities, and organizations) and study the importance
of ethnicity, culture, gender, disability, and other elements
of diversity in human development. The Department
SW 298. EXPLORATIONS
IN SOCIAL WORK 1
A topical workshop, seminar, discussion group, service
learning experience, or research project that can link to a
regular Social Work course or serve as a freestanding course.
Courses integrating an exploration in social work carry four
rather than three credit hours. The course may be repeated.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. The Department
SW 299. PROFESSIONAL
INTERNSHIP IN SOCIAL WORK 3 or 6
Internship opportunity for students
whose academic and cocurricular work has prepared them for professional
activity related to social work. With faculty sponsorship and
department approval, students may design experiences in such
areas as direct work with specific populations, community organizations,
and social welfare management, administration, and research. Prerequisite:SW333 or
334 or permission of faculty sponsor.
Non-liberal arts. The Department
SW 333. SOCIAL
WORK PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES 4
Course designed to prepare students
for entry-level generalist social work practice with diverse
individuals and families. Students will gain the knowledge,
skills, and values needed for beginning practice during all
phases of the helping process. Critical thinking skills and
the use of research-based knowledge will also be emphasized.
The additional credit hour will provide students with opportunities
to observe micro social work practice in a field setting and
complete integrative assignments. Prerequisites:SW212,
222, and permission of instructor.
Non-liberal arts. The Department
SW 334. SOCIAL
WORK PRACTICE WITH GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES 4
Course designed to prepare students
for entry-level generalist social work practice with treatment
and task groups, organizations, and communities. Students will
gain the knowledge, skills, and values needed for beginning
practice during all phases of the helping process. Critical
thinking skills and the use of research-based knowledge will
also be emphasized. The additional credit hour will provide
students with opportunities to observe social work practice
in a field setting that facilitates observation of practice
at mezzo- and macro-levels and completion of integrative assignments. Prerequisites:SW212,
222, and permission of instructor.
Non-liberal arts. The Department
SW 338. SOCIAL
POLICY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 3
The study of social policy, welfare
program planning, and social service implementation, evaluation,
and analysis. Included are reviews of selected policies on federal,
state, and local levels. Students will compare the social policies
of the United States with those in other countries. The value,
political, and societal issues that underpin policies and programs
are questioned and specific attention is given to the evaluation
of policies by using research skills and by applying the principles
of social justice. Prerequisite:SW222 or permission of instructor. The Department
SW 340. FIELD
PREPARATION SEMINAR 2
Provides historical and current
context for understanding the requirement of field instruction
in social work programs. Students
explore social work partnership with community agencies, the
supervision process, and ways to enrich the practicum experience.
Through in-class discussion, individual meetings with the instructor,
and on-site agency interviews, students assess their areas of
interest, professional and academic goals, and potential field
practicum placements for SW 382, offered during the spring semester.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Open only to
senior social work majors. Non-liberal arts. P. McCarthy
SW 371, 372. INDEPENDENT
STUDY 3, 3
Individual reading and/or research
in social work under the guidance of a member of the department.
Open with consent of the department to qualified students. Individual
conferences to be arranged. The Department
SW 381. SOCIAL
WORK FIELD PRACTICUM SEMINAR 3
Provides discussion and analysis
of practicum-related experiences and professional issues. A
major purpose of the seminars is the development of professional
judgment through examination of cases and practice situations
encountered in field instruction. Prerequisites: all
required social work courses and permission of instructor. Open
only to senior social work majors. Non-liberal arts. P. McCarthy
SW 382. SOCIAL
WORK FIELD PRACTICUM 12
Thirty-five hours per week spent
in social service agencies and related organizations in Saratoga
County and the surrounding area. Specific placements made according
to academic interests and needs of individual students. Prerequisites:
all required social work courses and permission of instructor.
Offered only to senior social work majors. Non-liberal arts.Must be taken S/U. P. McCarthy
SW 398. ADVANCED
EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIAL WORK 1
A topical workshop, seminar, discussion group, service
learning experience, or research project that can link to a
regular Social Work course or serve as a freestanding course.
Courses integrating an exploration in social work carry four
rather than three credit hours. The course may be repeated.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. The Department
