This course teaches students the basic writing skills needed for college success, including grammar and composition. Students practice sentence construction (in the context of short writing assignments), paragraph construction, and the organization of ideas. They build on these basic skills by planning, writing, and revising short essays and experiencing writing as a multi-step process. The course also teaches several types of, purposes of, and audiences for general essays. Required for the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Fall and spring semesters. 3 credits.

Students develop critical thinking skills in writing, reading, and speaking through the context of multiple points of view about cultural identities. Prerequisite: C- or better in SLA100 or score of 8 or higher on essay portion of SAT or ACT. Required for the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Fall and spring semesters. 3 credits.

Component of first year experience; incorporates academic strategies and orientation to college life and resources. Fall and spring semesters. Corequisite: SLA100 or SLA101. 1 credit.

An exploration of the foundational roles of faith and spirituality in human growth and development and in the shaping of human cultures. Opportunity to engage with the spiritual traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. This course is strongly recommended for the first semester of enrollment. Fall and spring semesters, J-Term. 3 credits. Fee.

A capstone seminar which provides students an opportunity to examine personal values in relationship to society. Students reflect on their discipline, pursuit of knowledge, and personal life philosophy. Seniors only. Fall, spring and summer, J-Term. 3 credits.

Students will use an inquiry-based approach to become informed evaluators of an unorthodox medical therapy. Studies in the scientific disciplines of physiology, immunology, nutrition, and pathology will enable students to formulate and articulate rational conclusions concerning the validity of specific medical practices. Group investigative activities will be emphasized. Satisfies the Science requirement of the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Fall semester. 3 credits.

An introduction to the history, concepts, principles, and problems of modern psychology including experiential study. This course is a prerequisite for many psychology courses numbered above 225. Fall and spring semesters. 3 credits.

Examines the social and cultural forces that shape the lives of individuals and groups; the socialization of the human person throughout the stages of life; the multiple functions of social groups, institutions, and culture; and introduction to sociological theories. Fall semester. 3 credits.

Reviews research on cultural definitions of race, class, and gender and their consequences for social life; institutional stratification and efforts to reduce inequalities; and attempts to revise the meaning of race, class, and gender in American culture. Spring semester. 3 credits.

Designed to enable students to read as well as do research. Explores descriptive and inferential statistics. Treats small and large samplings with such parametric and non-parametric probability distributions as Z, t, F, and chi-squared. Uses statistical computer software. Satisfies the Mathematics requirement of the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Fall and spring semesters and ADP sessions 1, 3, and 4. Prerequisites: SMA100 or higher, sophomores or above. 3 credits.

Offers instruction in quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Includes the examination of ethical standards guiding research, issues of measurement and sampling, and methods of data collection and analysis. Substantial emphasis is placed on student- designed research projects. Writing Intensive course. Prerequisites: SPY110 or SSO100, and SSS250. 3 credits.

Introduction to the development of the social work profession, the current state of the profession, the generalist practice method, and the populations currently served by the profession. Students learn to identify common human needs and recognize some of the internal and external obstacles that interfere with optimal social functioning. A 15-hour service learning component introduces students to various methodologies and fields of social work practice. Fall semester. 3 credits. Fee.

An examination of the historical and contemporary social purposes, values, and policies of the institution of social welfare. Considers the social, political, and economic origins and consequences of societal provisions for economic security and social services. Satisfies the U.S. Cultures requirement of the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Fall semester. 3 credits.

Integrates knowledge obtained from the Liberal Arts Curriculum to understand the biological, psychological, social, and cultural determinants of human behavior for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Theories of human development and human behavior are critically examined to determine their applicability to diverse populations. An ecological life model perspective is integrated with systems theory in order to help students recognize the relationship among micro (individual), mezzo (family and group), and macro (organizations, communities, and society) level problems. Tubercular check, Act 33 Child Abuse, Act 34 Criminal Record check, Act 114 FBI Federal Criminal History Record, and PDE-6004 (Arrest or Conviction Report and Certification Form) required before the course begins. Pre- or co-requisite: SSW150. Fall semester. 3 credits.

Continuation of SSW250 with an integrated biological, psychological, social, and cultural approach to understanding human behavior in middle and late adulthood, including the elderly. An ecological life model perspective is utilized in studying theories and concepts of group and community behavior. Prerequisite: SSW150. Spring semester. 3 credits.

Introduces students to policy practice in public and private organizations and in community and legislative arenas. The student learns to analyze policy problems and determine policy options and strategy and to implement and evaluate policies in various settings. The student writes a paper describing and analyzing a policy project. Pre- or co-requisite: SSW251. Spring semester. 3 credits. Fee.

Introduces students to the theory and skills required for working in and managing public and private human service organizations, including planning, design, human resources, supervision, finance, development, information systems evaluation, quality improvement, organizational change, and leadership. Students write a proposal for a program of their choice. Prerequisite: SSW251. Fall semester in odd-numbered years. 3 credits.

Establishes both a theoretical and practical, skills-based foundation for social work practice with individuals. A strengths-based, culturally competent perspective is emphasized. A 15-hour service learning component introduces students to individual practice in public and/or private human service organizations. Only open to students who are candidates for BSW degree. Corequisite: SSW251. Spring semester. 3 credits.

Establishes both a theoretical and practical, skills-based foundation for social work practice with families and groups. A strengths-based, culturally competent perspective is emphasized. A 15-hour service learning component introduces students to family and group practice in public and/or private human service organizations. Open only to students who are candidates for BSW degree. Prerequisite: SSW330. Fall semester. 3 credits. Fee.

Establishes both a theoretical and practical, skills-based foundation for macro level generalist social work practice. Formal organizations and ad-hoc community groups within neighborhoods and communities will be analyzed. Students learn the mediating role of organizations within both urban and rural communities and focus on macro level concerns including oppression, discrimination, social change efforts, the role of partisan politics, and the uses of power to affect community change. A 15-hour service learning component introduces students to macro practice in both public and/or private human service organizations and in communities. Open only to students who are candidates for BSW degree. Prerequisite: SSW331. Spring semester. 3 credits. Fee.

A capstone course which integrates theory, research, and practice in social work with the liberal arts knowledge base. Review of key social work principles applicable to generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities occurs in seminar discussions and through the execution of an independent research project. The capstone requirements are completed. Prerequisite: SSW440. Spring semester. 3 credits. Fee.

Provides 500 hours of directed field learning for seniors majoring in social work. A field placement in a public or private human service organization provides the opportunity for students to relate theories and principles of social work to generalist practice. A concurrent, weekly, on-campus seminar is also required. The seminar is designed to strengthen the student’s experiences as an individual, family, group, or macro systems change agent. The weekly seminar does not count toward the 500 hours of field experience. Open only to students who are candidates for BSW degree. Prerequisite: SSW332. Permission required. Fall semester. 12 credits. Fee.