Social Work Courses
Course Code and Number, Course Title, Credit(s) SOWK 804 Research Methods in Social Work I (3)
Introduction to conceptual understanding, fundamental research skills, and design and measurement necessary for students to do advanced social work research. The course covers historical trends in social work research problems, hypothesis formulation, selection and testing of measurement strategies, and diverse research designs, including experimental, quasi-experimental, single subject, survey, and quantitative design. SOWK 805 Statistics I (3)
Focus is on how to select and do the appropriate quantitative data analysis strategies. The course provides conceptual understanding and skills necessary for selection of appropriate statistical procedures, computer computation of procedures, and appropriate interpretation of statistical measures. Content includes basic descriptive statistics through an introduction to the General Linear Model using multiple regression and correlation analysis.
Prerequisites: permission of instructor SOWK 806 Research Methods in Social Work II (3)
Advanced conceptual understanding of skills used in complex research design and measurement as part of advanced social work research. The course covers advanced hypothesis formulation development, selection and testing of measurement strategies in complex research designs, including experimental, quasi-experimental, single subject, survey, and quantitative design.
Prerequisites: grade of B or better in SOWK 804 and 805 SOWK 807 Statistics II (3)
Provides conceptual understanding of Ordinary Least Squares and logistic regression. Students develop skills to do computer computation and interpret the statistics. The course covers the relationship of these techniques to specific measures, such as ANOVA/ANCOVA, MANOVA/MANCOVA, repeated measures, and principle components analysis. Students become skilled in using these techniques to analyze results of research designs used for social work research. Emphasis is on the relationship of data analysis and research design.
Prerequisites: SOWK 804 and grade of B or better in SOWK 805 SOWK 808 Social Work Knowledge and Theory (3)
Examines the nature of knowledge and the processes of knowledge building within the context of application of scientific methods and development of generalizations from social work practice wisdom and experience. Focus is on knowledge and theory construction, history of ideas, and knowledge-building in social work. Psychological and social science perspectives help students examine theory development in social work. SOWK 810 Research Practicum I (3)
Enhances students' ability to independently undertake significant and methodologically rigorous social work research in a substantive area. Each student participates as part of a research team to design, carry out, analyze, and distribute a research project. Students select the research topic, design, and measures for the study.
Prerequisites: 804, 805, 806, and 807, and successful completion of qualifying exams in research and statistics. SOWK 811 Research Practicum II (3)
Expands knowledge learned in SOWK 810 to enhance ability to undertake significant and methodologically rigorous social work research in a substantive area. The student research team will finish collecting data as planned during SOWK 810; enter, organize, and analyze the data collected; and write a journal article that is ready to submit for publication review.
Prerequisite: SOWK 810 SOWK 822 Structure and Content of Social Work Education (3)
Covers the evolution of social work education as part of the American university. Attention is on seminal issues that have been of concern to social work educators and curriculum development and educational structure, rather than teaching methodologies or techniques.
Prerequisite: completion of core courses SOWK 826 Qualitative Research Methods in Social Work (3)
Introduction to qualitative research and its role in the development of social work knowledge. Covers material on paradigms underlying qualitative inquiry, basic ideas, and major methods. The course fosters students' ability to conduct qualitative research through gathering and analyzing data.
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and successful completion of qualifying exams in research and theory SOWK 834 Comparative Social Policy (3)
Emphasizes comparative analysis of national approaches to social policy in different societies. Comparative analysis of dimensions of various social welfare systems including social security, social services, and health care policy. Covers methodology of comparative analysis with attention to governmental involvement in social policy, the nature of public and private sector relations, and the assessment of social policy regarding the analytical ideas of adequacy, equity, inclusiveness, comprehensiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency.
Prerequisite: completion of core courses SOWK 835 Theory and Practice of Social Work Teaching (3)
Focuses on the development of teaching skills used for social work education. Students learn teaching strategies and classroom methodologies. Students develop and deliver sample lectures that include use of audiovisual materials.
Prerequisite: completion of core courses and qualifying examination SOWK 836 Survey Research in Social Work (3)
Provides the advanced student with hands-on experiences in the design, use, and analysis of survey research. Students learn to write a report interpreting findings from the research.
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and successful completion of qualifying exams in research and statistics. SOWK 837 Teaching Practicum in Social Work Education (3)
Provides students with a mentored teaching experience in the BSW program at UMBC or MSW program at UMB. Each student serves as a teaching intern and is assigned to work with a professor in a specific course. The student has opportunities to participate in all aspects of teaching, including curriculum development, leading group discussions, preparing AV materials, developing assignments, and evaluating student progress. Students are also exposed to and participate in other academic responsibilities in which the specific faculty member is engaged such as academic advising and field liaison. Active participation in a monthly seminar is a requirement of the course. Students develop a professional paper on some aspect of teaching.
Pre or co-requisite: SOWK 835 SOWK 838 Selected Topics in Social Work (3)
Faculty members design and carry out a course devoted to a special topic area. To monitor content and quality, faculty members submit a detailed course outline to the program director before the course is added to the semester course schedule.
Prerequisite: completion of core courses and qualifying examination SOWK 898 Independent Study Doctoral Level (1-3)
Students select topics of professional interest and study with a graduate faculty member who has competence in the subject. Study plan must include provision for tutorial conferences and a formal paper or report. The student's adviser, instructor, and doctoral program committee must approve the study before registration. Repeatable to a maximum of 6 credits.
Prerequisite: completion of core courses SOWK 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-12)
Students develop research competence, scientific method and research technology, and analysis of compiled data while completing the doctoral dissertation.
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and successful completion of qualifying exam
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