Fall 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: SOCW-2361 (Section: 71, CRN: 91918)
Introduction to Social Work 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Kristi Clark
Email clarkkb@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6102
Office Madison Monroe Educational - Room: 119A
Office Hours Please email or call to schedule an office visit.  My email clarkkb@lamarpa.edu or call or text me at 409-698-0826.">Please email or call to schedule an office visit.  My email clarkkb@lamarpa.edu or call or text me at 409-698-0826.
Additional Contact Information By Appointment 409-698-0826
Course Information
Description Development of the philosophy and practice of social work in the United States, survey of the fields and techniques of social work.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Introduction to Social Work: An Advocacy-Based Profession, 3rd Edition, Sage Publishing, 2021. ISBN# 9781071839812
Additional Materials/Resources

Required Equipment:

Students must have a reliable computer and reliable internet connection. Mobile devices (cell phones and tablets devices) do not adequately support or run course content.

Computer Skills and Digital Information: All students are required to use a computer for this course. The required Browser is Google Chrome for Blackboard navigation.  Do not attempt to use Explorer or Safari for as they will not allow access to all Blackboard course content.  It is your responsibility to make sure that your computer is set up properly to navigate through all aspects of the class. 

All students should be able to use a word processor and its options such as spelling and grammar check and computer tutorials.
Corequisites/Prerequisites TSIA complete in English Language Arts and Reading.">TSIA complete in English Language Arts and Reading.
Learning Outcomes After completion of this school, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the historical development of social work in the United States.
2. Distinguish the profession of social work from other helping professions.
3. Identify core values of social work as stated in the National Association of Social Worker (NASW) Code of Ethics.
4. Identify the primary roles and functions of social workers (advocate, broker, facilitator, etc.)
5. Identify practice settings where social workers function and articulate how these settings influence the roles of social workers.
6. Describe the Generalist Intervention Model.
7. Describe how the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners Code of Conduct guides social work practice.
8. Describe how the NASW Code of Ethics guides social work practice.
9. Describe social work's goal of advancing human rights and justice.
10. Describe social work's obligation to serve diverse populations.
11. Articulate the importance of self-care to prevent burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma.
Core Objectives
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.

Lecture Topics Outline General Course Topics for Introduction to Social Work SOCW 2361

Chapter 1: The Social Work Profession

Chapter 2: The History of Social Work

Chapter 3: Generalist Social Work Practice

Chapter 4: Advocacy in Social Work

Chapter 5: Poverty and Inequality

Chapter 6: Family and Child Welfare

Chapter 7: Health Care and Health Challenges

Chapter 8: Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges

Chapter 9 & 10: Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Addiction

Chapter 11 & 12: Helping Older Adults and Criminal Justice

Chapter 13: Communities at Risk and Housing

Chapter 14: The Changing Workforce

Chapter 15: Veterans, Their Families, and Military Social Work

Chapter 16 & 17: Environmentalism and International Social Work
Major Assignments Schedule Week One:        Introduction and Orientation to the Course of Social Work 2361

Week Two:        Chapter 1: The Social Work Profession

Week Three:     Chapter 2: The History of Social Work

Week Four:       Chapter 3: Generalist Social Work Practice

Week Five:        Chapter 4: Advocacy in Social Work

Week Six:          Chapter 5: Poverty and Inequality

Week Seven:     Chapter 6: Family and Child Welfare

Week Eight:       Chapter 7: Health Care and Health Challenges

Week Nine:        Chapter 8: Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges

Week Ten:         Chapter 9 & 10: Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Addiction

Week Eleven:    Chapter 11 & 12: Helping Older Adults and Criminal Justice

Week Twelve:    Chapter 13: Communities at Risk and Housing

Week Thirteen:  Chapter 14: The Changing Workforce

Week Fourteen: Chapter 15: Veterans, Their Families, and Military Social Work

Week Fifteen:     Chapter 16 & 17: Environmentalism and International Social Work

Week Sixteen:    Final Exam and Research Paper Due

FALL 2024 Calendar of Assignments 

ASSIGNMENT/EXAM   DUE DATE 
     
MODULE ONE     
First Week's Assignments   3-Sep
Chapter 1 Lecture Assign   5-Sep
Chapter 1 TTT Assign   5-Sep
Chapter 2 Lecture Assign   10-Sep
Chapter 2 TTT Assign   10-Sep
Chapter 3 Lecture Assign   12-Sep
Chapter 3 TTT Assign   12-Sep
Chapter 4 Lecture Assign   17-Sep
Chapter 4 TTT Assign   17-Sep
Major Exam One    23-Sep
     
MODULE TWO     
Chapter 5 Lecture Assign   24-Sep
Chapter 5 TTT Assign   24-Sep
Chapter 6 Lecture Assign   26-Sep
Chapter 6 TTT Assign    26-Sep
Chapter 7 Lecture Assign   1-Oct
Chapter 7 TTT Assign   3-Oct
Chapter 8 Lecture  Assign   8-Oct
Chapter 8 TTT Assign   10-Oct
Major Exam Two   14-Oct
     
MODULE THREE     
Chapter 9 Lecture Assign   17-Oct
Chapter 9 TTT Assign   22-Oct
Chapter 10 Lecture    24-Oct
Chapter 10 TTT Assign   24-Oct
Chapter 11  Lecture Part 2   29-Oct
Chapter 11 TTT Assign    29-Oct
Chapter 12  Lecture Assign   31-Oct
Chapter 12  TTT Assign   31-Oct
Major Exam Three   4-Nov
     
MODULE FOUR    
Chapter 13 Lecture Assign   5-Nov
Chapter 13  TTT Assign   5-Nov
Chapter 14 Lecture Assign    7-Nov
Chapter 14 TTT Assign   7-Nov
Chapter 15 Lecture Assign    12-Nov
Chapter 15 TTT Assign   12-Nov
Chapter 16 Lecture Assign   14-Nov
Chapter 16 TTT Assign   19-Nov
Major Exam Four    25-Nov
     
Working on Research Paper   Dec 2 thru Dec 6
Research Paper Due    9-Dec

Final Exam Date December 12, 2024 - 8:0 AM   Through  December 12, 2024 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale

A =

900 - 1000  

90 -100 %

B =

800 -  899

80 - 89  %

C =

700 - 799

70 - 79  %

D =

600 - 699

60 - 69  %

F =

500 - 599

50 - 59  %

 

Determination of
Final Grade		 The final class letter grade will be based on total points accumulated (not percentages) from exams, chapter writing assignments, critical thinking writing assignments, research paper, and assessment test.

Cheating/Plagiarism (intentional or unintentional) or assisting others to cheat will result in an F for the course.
Exams and assignments will be discussed individually with students upon request.
Each student's work must be original and their own work.
The instructor will be available for consultation during office hours or by appointment.
Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and will result in permanent expulsion from the class and the issuance of a grade of F for the class.

Grades will be posted for the Assignments, Exams, and Research Paper, etc through the MY GRADES link.

Once the assignment due date has passed, you will no longer see it on the Calendar.
Chapter Lecture Assignments = 150 points
Chapter "Time to Think" Assignments = 150 points
Five Major Exams = 500 points
Research Paper =200 points



A =

900 - 1000  

90 -100 %

B =

800 -  899

80 - 89  %

C =

700 - 799

70 - 79  %

D =

600 - 699

60 - 69  %

F =

500 - 599

50 - 59  %

 

Course Policies
Instructor Policies Cheating/Plagiarism (intentional or unintentional), or assisting others to cheat will result in an F for the course.

Exams and assignments will be discussed individually with students upon request.

Each student's work must be original and their own work.

The instructor will be available for consultation during office hours or by appointment.

Late work not accepted.

Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and will result in permanent expulsion from the class and the issuance of a grade of F for the class.
Attendance Policy Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. Students with more than three absences from the course will receive an academic penalty (which is spelled out by the instructor). Students must log into their Blackboard course weekly.

Each student is required to log into their Blackboard weekly.
Additional Information

Course Overview

Introduction to Social Work is an overview of the history and development of social work as a profession. The course is designed to foster a philosophical, historical, and critical understanding of the social work profession, including social work values, ethics, and areas of practiced utilized under a Generalist Intervention Model (SOCW 2631 is included in the Social Work Field of Study.)  

 A unique aspect of Introduction to Social Work continues to be its advocacy framework for understanding the historical development of social work, important figures influencing social work history, multiple practice settings, and the types of practice performed. In our textbook, social work is organized into three parts. Part One introduces reader to a definition of social work, reviews the history of the profession, and describes the advocacy as a major aspect of social work. Part Two examines how social workers respond to human needs – poverty and inequality, family and child welfare, health care and health care challenges, physical and mental challenges, mental health, substance use and addiction, helping older adults, and criminal justice. Part Three goes beyond the standard text coverage by including chapters on communities at risk and housing; the changing workplace; veterans, their families and military social work; environmentalism; and international social work. 

Please read and review your syllabus thoroughly. Pay close attention to the grading scale, the structure of the course, and what is expected from you during the semester. Below you will find how this course is structured in Blackboard. You may want to print these ORIENTATION NOTES and have them handy throughout the semester. 

 CONTENT LINK

  • ORIENTATION INFORMATION/START HERE: You will find your instructions on your Syllabus, Orientation Notes, and your Introduction Paragraph Blog, and Syllabus and Orientation Exam
  • MODULES: Each Module includes chapter lecture assignments, “time to think” exercises, major exam reviews, and major exams. You will also find helpful videos and chapter power points.  Below please find a description of each:
  • CHAPTER LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS are equivalent to lectures if you were taking this course as a “face to face” class. CHAPTER LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS are chapter postings that give particular topics of interest. You will be given “posting instructions” which instruct you on what you need to discuss. These lecture assignments will only benefit you. You will see the information again on your exams. Please use the required textbook when completing these particular assignments. Please do NOT use “Google” or “Wikipedia” to complete these lecture assignments. You may use any format when completing these assignments, such as paragraph form, bullets, highlighting terms, whatever helps you to remember the information.  Each lecture assignment is worth 10 points. You will have 15 Chapter Lecture Assignment which totals 150pts. The due dates will be on the CALENDAR.
  • TIME TO THINK ASSIGNMENTS can also be found through the MODULES link. Each journal will be worth 10 points and there will be a total of 15 of these assignments which totals 150 points. These assignments MUST be at least 300 words in length in order to receive credit. Due dates will be posted on the CALENDAR.
  • ASSESSMENTS/EXAMS: There will 4 major exams worth 100 points for each exam. These exams will NOT require a proctor. You will find the exams under each Module. You will also be given and PRE-TEST and a POST-TEST. These tests DO NOT count toward your grades. However, they will be in your grade book. Please do not count these grades in with your total points. I will give you extra credit for completing both tests. 
  • RESEARCH PAPER: The research paper will require each student to choose stated in the Part Two section of the book.   This topic must be approved by the instructor. This paper is worth 200 points and will be due at the end of the semester. The specific due date will be placed on the CALENDAR. Further instructions, including a detailed outline will be provided in the Blackboard course. 

 CALENDAR: You will find ALL due dates on the calendar. Please refer to CALENDAR for ALL dates.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: I will send weekly course information through this link. It will show up when you enter the course and it will also go to your MyLamar student email. 

DISCUSSIONS: In this link, you find Discussion Posts that you are required to respond to.

GRADEBOOK: Grades will be posted for the Assignments, Exams, etc., through the MY GRADES link. Once the assignment’s (lecture, time to think, and exams) due date has passed, you will no longer see it on the Calendar. Please refer to the SYLLABUS regarding your points and for the grading scale.

MESSAGES: Blackboard Ultra allows both the instructor and the student to communicate within the course. I will send weekly information through the Messages link and the Announcement link. As a student, you too can send your instructor a message through the Blackboard course. I will check my Messages each day. I do not always check my Messages on the weekend. 

EMAIL You can also email me. If you choose to email me, please email me through the “MYLAMAR email. I will only respond to students through their MYLAMAR email. You may also call or text me at 409-698-0826.

 Many assignments in this class require research and your own thoughts and opinions. We will identify and address many of American’s social problems and how social workers fit in to these problems. The material in this class can be sensitive topics. There will be topics that you feel strongly about and there may be information that you do not agree with. Therefore, we want to remain respectful and sensitive to others throughout this course. 
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Shirley MacNeill
Email:macneisb@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6365