School of Social Work

Challenging Minds
Leading Change
Transforming Lives
SW3710

Social Welfare and the Social Work Profession:

History, Trends and Basic Concepts
Fall 2013
Welcome
Welcome to SW3710: Social Welfare and the Social Work Profession
Whether you are new to online learning or a seasoned online student you will find this course
to be extremely important in beginning to understand the intricacies of human interaction.
You, the participants will drive this course through asynchronous discussion and interaction
delivered totally online. The purpose of this course is intended to provide an introduction to
history of social welfare in this country. It will focus on a broad range of theoretical positions
and research findings concerning the emergence of social welfare and the social work
profession that provide the basis of the underpinnings of our profession.
Dates: Beginning August 29,2013 Ending December
SW 3710 Social Welfare and the Social Work Profession
Course Number: SW 3710
(3 credit hours)
Faculty: Introduction
Cassandra J. Bowers LMSW, PhD
Hello, my name is Cassandra J. Bowers; I will be your Facilitator for the semester.
Here is how you will be able to reach me. I will log on to the course 6 days a week. I try to stay
away on Sunday. I will typically log on in the morning around 6AM and evening around 8 PM.
You may however telephone me @ (248) 651-2963 Monday -Friday after 6 PM and
before 9PM and on Saturday anytime after 10AM and before 9PM.
I will generally respond within 24 hours. Graded assignments will be returned within 48 hours.
Office Phone: (313) 577-4433
E-mail
aa2083@wayne.edu
Contact Policy: Preferred Method:
Reply policy response times to emails
And phone messages will be responded to within 24 hours Mondays thru Thurs.
There will be no responses on Saturday and Sunday. Urgent messages should be marked in
Subject line.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a history of social welfare in the United States. This course provides
information relative to basic concepts of social welfare, the profession of social work in
historical perspective and current trends and issues in social welfare and the profession of
social work.

COURSE COMPETENCIES AND PRACTICE BEHAVIORS FOR THIS COURSE

2.1.2 Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
Practice Behaviors:
Recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice
make ethical decisions by applying standards of the NASW Code of Ethics; tolerate ambiguity in resolving
conflicts; apply concepts of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions

2.1.4 Engage diversity and difference in practice

Practice Behaviors:
Gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate the influence of personal bias and values in working with diverse groups;
recognize and communicate the importance of difference in shaping life experiences

2.1.5 Advance human rights and social and economic justice

Practice Behaviors:
Advocate for human rights and social justice; Engage in practice that advance social and economic justice

2.1.8

Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver
effective social work services.

Practice Behaviors:
Analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social well-being; Collaborate with colleagues and
clients for effective policy action
TEXT(S) AND REQUIRED MATERIAL
Segal, E. (2010) Social welfare policy and social programs: A values perspective (3rd ed.).
Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
ill.PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
A. Basic Technology Requirements
1.
You must be familiar with Blackboard. Orientation to Blackboard can be
accessed at http://computing.wayne.edu
2.
You must have access to a computer that connects to the internet. The course
materials are only accessible online by logging in to http://blackboard.wsu.edu - If you