Online Bachelor of Social Work: Curriculum
Curriculum Details
120 total credits required
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Our Lady of the Lake University’s (OLLU) online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) equip students with the skills, knowledge, and tools necessary for generalist social work practice through its time-tested curriculum over four years.
As a graduate of this program, you will be prepared to sit for the licensure exam at the bachelor’s level in Texas and other states*. You will also be eligible for a full membership in the National Association of Social Workers.
While pursuing your BSW degree online, you can earn certificates in Dismantling Oppression, Violence Prevention and Intervention or Administration and Leadership without taking additional credits. Each certificate allows you to choose electives to align with your professional aspirations.
*NOTE: Licensure requirements vary by state. Students are responsible for understanding the requirements for social work licensure in their resident state. Applicants seeking licensure are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements related to the respective occupational license per the Texas occupations code HB 1508.
Required Social Work Courses (40 total credit hours)
Credits
Overview of social work, its historical roots, the profession’s principles and values, fields of practice, and methods of intervention. Required before taking all other SOWK courses except SOWK 2300.
Descriptive overview of historical and contemporary social welfare policies and programs, and the role of social work in policy development and implementation. Required for social work majors.
Introduction to general social work practice with micro, mezzo, and macro systems. Emphasis on basic skill building, the need for culturally sensitive practice and theory-driven intervention.
Prerequisite: Admission to BSW program
Application of general social work practice knowledge, skills and values to professional intervention with individuals, families, and small groups. Emphasis on culturally sensitive practice, theory-driven intervention and evaluation of practice.
Prerequisite: SOWK 3311 and admission to the BSW program.
Study of social welfare policy, the processes that influence social policy, and on developing conceptual tools for social policy analysis.
Prerequisite: SOWK 2300 or equivalent.
Focus on process of human growth and development from pre-conception through death; cultural systems, family process and development are integrated.
Prerequisites: SOWK 1300 or equivalent.
Study of human behavior in groups, organizations and communities within the context of political, social economic, global, and cultural systems.
Emphasis on theoretical content focusing on diverse populations. Historical, political, and economic factors that contribute to privilege, power, oppression, and social injustices.
Introduction to quantitative and qualitative social work research methods and ethics including the political and cultural context impacting research studies and findings. Attention to assessment of social work practice and evaluation of social programs.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3381 or SOCI 3311.
Field placement in a human service organization under the instruction and supervision of a licensed master level social worker. Emphasis on effective application of general social work practice, values, skills and knowledge in an agency setting. A minimum of 450 agency-based clock hours must be completed.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of 27 hours in social work; social work GPA of 2.5 or higher, overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and completion of all other requirements for an OLLU degree. Must be taken concurrently with SOWK 5314.
Field placement in a human service organization under the instruction and supervision of a licensed master level social worker. Emphasis on effective application of general social work practice, values, skills and knowledge in an agency setting. A minimum of 450 agency-based clock hours must be completed.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of 27 hours in social work; social work GPA of 2.5 or higher; overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and completion of all other requirements for an OLLU degree. Must be taken concurrently with SOWK 5314.
Integrative capstone course with emphasis on application of knowledge, values and skills necessary for general social work practice. Emphasis on context, cultural diversity and evaluation of practice.
Prerequisites: Must be taken concurrently with SOWK 4452 and SOWK 4552.
Dismantling Oppression Certificate (DOC)
Choose 3 of the following elective courses:
Credits
Examines cultural styles of leadership and various leadership styles which can be employed in different cultural settings. Students will examine the role of culture in attitudes toward society, family and work.
Violence Prevention and Intervention Certificate (VPI)
Choose 2 of the following courses:
Credits
Administration and Leadership Certificate (ALC) Choose 3 of the following elective courses:
Credits
Study of the principles of project management in modern organizations. Subjects include work breakdown structures (WBS), critical path methods (CPM), resource allocations, PERT charts, Gantt charts, project earned value, budgeted cost of work scheduled (BCWS), budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP), and actual cost of work performed (ACWP) as they apply to project management. Using a desktop computer with current project management software, students will solve individual and organization wide problems. Includes supervised structured laboratory exercises.
Introduces students to the grant writing process including identifying a financial need, studying grant requirements, identifying potential funding sources, aligning projects with an agency, working in a team environment, establishing credible goals, developing a reasonable budget and time line, and reviewing applications on behalf of local non-profit organizations.
Administrative and health care professional challenges facing health care delivery are discussed in relation to legal, risk management, and ethical administrative practices.
Presents various types of organizational and management systems found in health care practice including ambulatory care, physician practice, profit versus nonprofit, long term care and specialty services such as hospice home health and procedural surgical facilities.
Introduces the student to the essentials of health planning for effective, efficient, economical and satisfying program development and health services delivery. Emphasizes marketing as a key component for a successful planning cycle.
Students are introduced to leadership qualities and traits, including integrity, dedication, magnanimity, humility, creativity, and fairness. The students will learn the difference between managers and leaders. Students are introduced to conflict management skills. The lessons are presented by using case studies, small learning teams, and guest lecturers. Upon completion of this course, students will have a good understanding of the leadership traits required to lead in today’s dynamic environment.
Introduction to the history and theory of leadership, to critical thinking and methods of inquiry as they bear on the subject of leadership, to the ethics of leadership, to basic leadership competencies, to relevant leadership contexts, and to leading groups and individuals.
History of theories of leadership. Analysis of historical concepts and contemporary theories of leadership. Emphasis on application of theoretical concepts, and to actual leadership situations.
Focus on leadership theory and research within and across formal organization settings such as public/private, profit/non-profit, professional/non-professional, and unitary/multi-divisional. Examination of rational, natural and open systems and how leadership differs in each system.
Examines cultural styles of leadership and various leadership styles which can be employed in different cultural settings. Students will examine the role of culture in attitudes toward society, family and work.
Examines gender issues by exploring how gender influences human development, achievement, self-concepts, family roles, work life and social institutions such as the legal system. Gender perceptions as they relate to leadership styles will be explored in detail.
Examination of leadership in non-profit sector organizations ranging from national to small neighborhood associations. Examination of responsibility for leadership as it pertains to voluntary organizations. Informal and formal processes by which power and authority are exercised and leadership is selected within a political system in various settings.
Focus on models and techniques that support effective and efficient decision processes. Provides experiential focus on the identification and avoidance of known cultural and cognitive biases, and other process pitfalls that can seriously hinder successful leadership decision-making.
Focus on strategic planning methodologies and issues leaders must address. Emphasis will be on application of contemporary theory, methods and techniques for developing and sustaining organizational strategies.
An introduction to the environment and management of today’s organizations. Overview of management functions, theory, organizational development and operational effectiveness. Emphasis on individual and team behavior, managerial decision-making and communication, social responsibility and ethical professional conduct.
Analysis of individuals, group and organization-level behavior as factors in organizational productivity. Emphasis on fundamental concepts crucial to effective utilization of human resources, including human learning, motivation, attitudes, communication, perception, cultural diversity and change.
Introduces application of scientific methods, theory and psychological principles in business and industry. Topics include motivation, job satisfaction, leadership and communication theory, organizational structure, performance appraisal, personnel testing and selection, training, workplace design, and work environment.
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