Career Opportunities

This major provides an education for students wishing to enter the field of social work or improve their current skills. The B.S.W. can be a terminal degree or preparation for a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) or related master's degree. The B.S.W. is a professional degree.

Social workers are in high demand as team members in the helping professions and healing arts.

Government agencies, healthcare organizations, private industry, and educational institutions seek employees who possess college degrees.

The Social Work program at La Sierra University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Course Overview

A total of 190 quarter units (60 upper division) is required for graduation; 48 units of the last 56 (including 16 in the major) must be taken at La Sierra University. The curriculum is divided among four areas: general education requirements, major courses, required cognates, and electives.

The social work major consists of 15 courses which total 66 units plus required cognates (29 units):

Major Requirements (66 units)

SOWK 204	Colloquium
SOWK 205	Heritage of Am. Social Work
SOWK 214	Intro. to Social Work Practice I
SOWK 215	Intro. to Social Work Practice II
SOWK 286/386	Special Topics
SOWK 311	Human Behav. & Social Env. I
SOWK 312	Human Behav. & Social Env. II
SOWK 314	Social Work Methods: Individuals
SOWK 315	Social Work Methods: Groups
SOWK 316	Social Work Methods: Comm. & Org.
SOWK 317	Social Work Methods: Children & Families
SOWK 388	Field Practicum Orientation
SOWK 405	Social Work Policy
SOWK 488	Field Seminar
SOWK 498	Field Practicum

Required Cognates (29 units)

Course Descriptions

SOWK 204 Colloquium (1)
A seminar of selected topics on contemporary social work issues. Three units required.

SOWK 205 Heritage of American Social Work (4)
Analysis of historical development of the social welfare system within the context of economic political, religious, and sociocultural influence of each period; implications for social welfare services and policies; historical development of casework, group work, and community organization.

SOWK 214 Intro. to Social Work Practice I (4)
Theory and principles of generalist social work practice using systems theory and the ecological perspective (biopsychosocial) approach. Introduction to problem identification and analysis across the micro-macro continuum. Introduction to professional values, practice evaluation, and issues of diversity underlying generalist social work practice. Simulated practice activities, recording, and weekly laboratory assignments.

SOWK 215 Intro to Social Work Practice II (4)
Continuation of SOWK 214 with emphasis on generalist planning, intervention and follow-up across the micro-macro continuum. Special attention given to social work values and ethics, practice evaluation and issues of diversity underlying generalist practice. Prerequisite: SOWK 214.

SOWK 286/386 Special Topics
Topics of current interest in the field of social work. Each course covers the historical development, central theories, generalist practice assessment and interventions, and policy issues related to that specific topic. Different sections may be repeated for additional credit:

• SOWK 286A Substance Abuse
• SOWK 286B Gerontology
• SOWK 286C Criminal Justice
• SOWK 386A Mental Health
• SOWK 386B Medical Social Work

SOWK 311 Human Behav. and the Social Env. I (4)
Social systems and ecological approach to understanding human development and behavior from infancy through adolescence; patterns of abnormality of concern to social work; biopsychosocial and spiritual factors affecting individuals, households, families, groups, and communities; implications for generalist assessment, intervention and follow-up across the micro-macro continuum. Recommended prerequisite: PSYC 214 (or 224 and 225.)

SOWK 312 Human Behav. and the Social Env. II (4)
Social systems approach to understanding human development and behavior from young adulthood through senescence; patterns of abnormality of concern to social work; biopsychosocial and spiritual factors affecting individuals, households, families, groups, and communities; implications for micro, mezzo and macro assessment and intervention. Prerequisite: SOWK 311.

SOWK 314 Social Work Methods: Individuals (4)
Analysis and comparison of several methods of social work intervention; biopsychosocial factors affecting individuals, families, households, and other interacting social systems; assessment and problem-solving strategies across the micro-mezzo continuum; social work values and ethics, issues of diversity and practice evaluation underlying generalist social work practice. Prerequisite: SOWK 214, 215.

SOWK 315 Social Work Methods: Groups (4)
Survey and evaluation of theory and group work methods employed by social workers; analysis of micro, mezzo and macro issues in assessment and intervention; social work values and ethics, practice evaluation and issues of diversity in generalist practice with groups. Prerequisite:SOWK 214, 215.

SOWK 316 SOWK Methods: Communities & Organizations (4)
Exploration of the theoretical foundations of community organization as a focus of social work intervention; role of the social worker in identification, analysis, and evaluation of individual, group, and community problems; understanding of concepts of power, social policy, social change, and the community as a social system; comparison of community organization strategies with group and casework methods of intervention. Emphasis on ethnic and minority issues. Prerequisite: SOWK 214, 215.

SOWK 317 Social Work Methods: Children & Families (4)
Generalist assessment and intervention with families across the micro-macro continuum; historical overview of social work with families; analysis of approaches to family assessment and intervention with emphasis on systems theory and the ecological perspective; examination of social work values and ethics, practice evaluation and issues with diversity underlying generalist social work with families. Prerequisite: SOWK 214, 215.

SOWK 388 Field Orientation (1)
An orientation to senior field practicum. Required of all social work majors during spring quarter of the junior year.

SOWK 405 Social Work Policy (4)
Systematic analysis of major social problems of the modern world and the formulation of social policies, including social welfare policies, that influence social issues on all levels of society from individuals to communities and nations. Emphasis on policies and legislation relevant to ethnic and minority problems. Prerequisite: SOWK 205.

SOWK 488 Field Seminar (2)
Role of the generalist social work practitioner, responsibility to multilevel client systems, agencies, and the profession; concepts of sanction, authority, power, and ethical codes. Required each quarter of the senior year. Concurrent registration in SOWK 498 required. Prerequisite: SOWK 214, 215; completion of major admissions procedures; senior standing and consent of the field coordinator.

SOWK 498 Field Practicum (4)
Internship program involving generalist practice with clients in local service agencies; application of generalist social work practice skills. Required each quarter of the senior year. Prerequisite: SOWK 214, 215, and 314; completion of major admissions procedures; senior standing and consent of the field coordinator. Recommended: SOWK 315 and 317.