SWRK 1010 - Social Sustainability, Social Entrepreneurship, and Social Work
This course serves as an introduction to the profession of social work through the lens of social sustainability and entrepreneurship. Socially-sustainable communities have systems, structures, and relationships that are equitable, diverse, connected, and democratic, providing quality of life to current and future generations. Social entrepreneurs are leaders seeking to find innovative solutions to social problems. Social work is one of many professions that function as social entrepreneurs in their work with systems of all sizes. Students demonstrate the characteristics of social entrepreneurship by developing innovative strategies to sustainably meet social problems.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3000 - Generalist Social Work Practice
Prerequisite: SWRK 1010; and a C- or higher in any WC&IL II course or HON 1000
An orientation to the principles and overview of the problem-solving process of generalist social work practice (intake, engagement, data collection, assessment, planning, contracting, intervention, evaluation, termination, and follow-up.)
Credit: 3
SWRK 3003 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
Prerequisite: SWRK 1010; and a grade of C- or better in any WC&IL II course or HON 1000
This course will employ theories, models, and perspectives to understand individuals, families, and their interpersonal and group relationships, life span development, and well-being, stress, coping, and adaption. This course will emphasize knowledge about individuals and small social systems and the implications of this knowledge for all domains of social work practice. The knowledge presented will include the interrelationships between smaller and larger social systems and, in particular, how biological factors and the larger social and physical environments shape and influence individual and family well-being.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3005 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in any WCIL II course
This course examines theory and research knowledge about political economic and societal structures and process related to communities, groups, and organizations within contemporary society. Consideration is given to ways in which these social systems have significant social, political, economic, and psychological impacts on the functioning of individuals, families, and social group. The course provides a framework for understanding the influences of medium-to-large social systems on individuals, families, and groups with whom social workers practice. There is a focus on oppression, discrimination, prejudice, and privilege and their relationship to social and economic justice for populations served by social workers.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3010 - Social Work Practice with Individuals
Prerequisite: SWRK 3000; Program Director Permission
A closer examination of the social work skills and methods with individuals including diverse/special populations.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3025 - Sexuality in Health & Society
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course.
This course explores advanced understandings of human sexuality through a multi-disciplinary approach combining pedagogies, students, and faculty from different departments in the College of Heath and Society. Concentrations will include: 1) bio-medical sexuality: sexual and reproductive health and disease, anatomy, and physiology; 2) psychosexual development: relationships, marriage, and family systems; sexual dysfunction; and trauma; 3) sexuality education and other organizational efforts that impact sexual behavior and health; 4) sociopolitical issues: sexuality education and historical, legal, political, social and ethical issues impacting sexuality.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3300 - Writing and Research in Social Work
Prerequisite: MATH 1123 (concurrent enrollment allowed); and a grade of C- or better in any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
This course focuses attention on two essential skills of social work: (1) clear, correct, and professionally/legally-sound documentation and (2) integrating the results of social science research into professional practice/practice evaluation.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3570 - American Social Welfare Policy
Prerequisite(s): SOC 2000, and PSCI 1400, and any WC&IL II course (may be taken concurrently)
This course involves an exploration of the development of social welfare programs. It includes content about the history of social work; the history and current structure of social welfare services; and the role of policy in service delivery, social work practice, and the attainment of individual and social well-being. Students will understand and demonstrate social policy skills in regard to economic, political, and organizational system.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3700 - Special Topics in the Social World
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course
This is a special topics seminar providing students with the opportunity to participate in an in-depth exploration of current social problems impacting our society. Each semester the topic will change to focus on a contemporary social issue. Students will participate in class discussions, self-reflections, and oral presentations on contemporary social issues and debates. Course content will vary as set forth in the approved syllabus. Course may be repeatable as content changes.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3900 - Practice in the Profession
Prerequisite: SWRK 3010 (concurrent enrollment allowed)
This course focuses on the development and integration of the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a successful fourth year practicum experience in social work. Students will explore roles in various aspects of social work practice, network with area professionals, and engage in service learning at a social agency. Development of professional identity will be facilitated through exploration of ethics, professional writing, simulation experiences, and reflection. This course includes a lab portion for each class where students will practice skills and apply knowledge and values. Knowledge in this course is utilized in SWRK 4900 and 4910 courses.
Credit: 3
SWRK 3990 - Internship
Prerequisite: At least a 2.7 GPA for undergraduate level and a 3.0 for graduate.
Internships provide students with applied, experiential learning opportunities so that they can make connections between academic study and the practical application of that study in a professional work environment. Academic internships are supervised by a faculty member and an on-site professional supervisor. All academic internships must be approved in advance by the department or program. Unless stipulated otherwise by the department or program, credit hours are defined by the university's credit hour policy (for example, a 3-credit internship will require a minimum of 120 hours onsite). Internships may be repeated for a total of 9 credit hours.
Repeatable for up to 9 Credits.
Credit: 1 to 3
SWRK 4000 - Social Work Practice with Families and Groups
Prerequisite: SWRK 3010
A closer examination of the social work skills and methods with families and groups, including diverse/special populations.
Credit: 3
SWRK 4010 - Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
Prerequisites: SWRK 3010
A closer examination of the social work skills and methods with organizations and communities, with special attention to evaluation. This course also serves as a “capstone,” in which students return to the generalist model as a whole.
Credit: 3
SWRK 4900 - Social Work Practicum I
Prerequisite: SWRK 3010 and SWRK 3900
Students apply and integrate classroom theory in social agencies under close supervision. Required for all social work majors.
Credit: 3
SWRK 4910 - Social Work Practicum II
Prerequisite: SWRK 4900
Students apply and integrate classroom theory in social agencies under close supervision. Required for all social work majors.
Credit: 3 to 4
SWRK 4960 - Social Work Capstone
Prerequisite: SWRK 4000, 4010 and 4900; or permission of program director
The social work capstone is intended to provide senior social work students with an opportunity to integrate and apply previous learning (academic and field) through the creation and implementation of project at their practicum agency in order to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, ethics, and values necessary for evidence-based generalist social work practice.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6001 - Fundraising and Resources Development for Non-Profit Organizations and Agencies
Course Restrictions: Graduate standing.
Fundraising and Resources Development for Non-Profit Organizations and Agencies is a macro elective that covers resource development and grant writing for non-profit agencies. It affords students the opportunity to assist agencies to expand their funding base in difficult economic times.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6003 - Global Social Work Practice
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program or with permission from the MSW Program Director.
This is an elective course that will provide opportunities for one-to-one direct practice within a host culture. Students will be provided the foundation knowledge about the importance of how globalization has impacted social work practice and what are the developing trends. This course will allow students to examine the global dimensions of social work profession while directly engaging with individuals, families, and groups while at the same time becoming exposed to social justice and policy.
Credit: 1 or 3
SWRK 6100 - Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals
Course Restriction: Graduate standing.
This course is designed to teach students about methods of generalist social work practice at the micro level, with individuals.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6102 - Generalist Social Work Practice with Families and Groups
Prerequisite: SWRK 6100
This course is designed to teach students about methods of generalist social work practice at the mezzo level, with families and small groups.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6103 - Generalist Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or SWRK 6102
This course is designed to teach students about methods of generalist social work practice at the macro level, with organizations and communities.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6200 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
This course is designed to teach MSW students about human development from birth to death, including physical, cognitive, and social aspects. The course will focus especially on aspects of development that have implications for social work practice.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6201 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
This course is designed to teach MSW students about family, group, and community influences on the behavior of individuals.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6300 - Social Work Research I
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
This course is designed to introduce MSW students to the principles of practice evaluation and “evidence-based practice.”
Credit: 3
SWRK 6500 - Social Welfare Policy I
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
This course is designed to introduce MSW students to the field of social welfare policy and to specific policy issues and programs in the United States and abroad.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6510 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Social Work
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Consideration of current laws/legal decision affecting the practice of social work. Application of ethical principles to practice dilemmas.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6900 - Graduate Practicum I
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to put social work values, skills, and knowledge into practice through supervised work in a social services agency.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6901 - Graduate Practicum II
Prerequisite: SWRK 6900.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
This is the second semester of practicum for students in the MSW program. This course is designed to give students the continuing opportunity to put social work values, skills, and knowledge into practice through supervised work in a social services agency.
Credit: 3
SWRK 6990 - Internship
Prerequisite: At least a 2.7 GPA for undergraduate level and a 3.0 for graduate.
Internships provide students with applied, experiential learning opportunities so that they can make connections between academic study and the practical application of that study in a professional work environment. Academic internships are supervised by a faculty member and an on-site professional supervisor. All academic internships must be approved in advance by the department or program. Unless stipulated otherwise by the department or program, credit hours are defined by the university's credit hour policy. Internships may be repeated for a total of 9 credit hours.
Credit: 1 to 3
SWRK 6997 - Directed Readings in Social Work
Directed individualized readings.
Credit: 1 to 3
SWRK 7100 - Culture and Diversity in Advanced Generalist Practice
Prerequisite: SWRK 6100, 6102, 6103, 6200, 6201, 6900, and 6901; or SWRK 6050.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Social Work approaches to meet the needs of special and diverse population. Students will also study the elements of “cultural competence’ as defined by the National Association of Social Workers.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7101 - Advanced Practice with Diverse Individuals
Prerequisite: SWRK 6100 or SWRK 6050
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Introduction to counseling knowledge, ethics, and skills appropriate for multicultural advanced social work practice.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7102 - Advanced Practice with Diverse Families and Groups
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or 6102; and SWRK 7100.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
The focus of this course is on the knowledge, ethics, and skills appropriate for culturally-competent advanced social work practice with diverse families and groups.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7103 - Advanced Practice with Diverse Organizations and Communities
Prerequisite: SWRK 6103 or SWRK 6050; SWRK 7100.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Knowledge, ethics, and skills for culturally-competent advanced social work practice with organizations and communities.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7300 - Social Work Research II
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or 6300.
Research methods applied to knowledge generation in social work.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7301 - Research Methods in Military Social Work and Veterans Affairs
This course focuses on research methods in a military social work and veterans affairs context. Students develop research questions around military social work and veteran affairs. Several approaches to social work research methods are examined. The goal is a research proposal focused on military social work or veterans affairs.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7350 - Integrative Seminar in Advanced Generalist Practice
Prerequisite: SWRK 7300^. (^May be taken concurrently.)
A capstone course in which MSW candidates synthesize their work and research relating to social work practice with a cultural group and create a paper suitable for publication.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7351 - Integrative Seminar in Military Social Work and Veteran Affairs
Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program.
Capstone course for MSW Military and Veteran Affairs students. The course gives students the opportunity to enhance professional presentation skills through the creation of a high-quality professional paper and delivery of a poster presentation.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7401 - Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being
Prerequisite: SWRK 7100
Course Restrictions: Restricted to MSW students in their advanced year or with advanced standing.
This course explores Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing which acknowledges not only knowledge development, but also how people interact with the world around them. Emphasis will also be placed on personal identity/positionality in relation to Indigenous knowledge development and creating opportunities to interact with the environmental, spiritual, and human realms. In this course, students will also recognize the importance of their personal identity, particularly cultural identity, belonging, and insistence/resistance from an Indigenous perspective and also for themselves. Through in-depth reflection, direct engagement in the community including a culturally immersive experience, class discussions, and course readings, students will gain awareness and insight into the importance of cultivating well-being and balance when considering issues of socio-cultural change for themselves and for Indigenous communities in Hawaiʻi and around the world.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7402 - Trauma, Healing and Reconciliation
Prerequisite: SWRK 6100, SWRK 6102, and SWRK 6103
Course Restrictions: Restricted to MSW students in advanced year or with advanced standing
This course explores different levels of traumatic injuries, the methods of recovery, reconciliation, and healing interventions at the micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels of practice. Special emphasis of the course will include intergenerational, historical and cultural trauma, cultural reclamation, community outcomes, and cultural ramifications as it relates to Indigenous communities and community members. Further content includes trauma, resilience, and posttraumatic growth at the individual, family, and community levels. Students will learn about how traumatic events have continued to occur historically and currently within Hawai‘i, across the US (United States) and globally. For context, students will be asked to understand their own familial history as it relates to past traumatic events and critically analyze the impact of current local, national, and international efforts towards healing and reconciliation, as well as environmental and restorative justice. Lastly, students will learn about current interventions used towards traumatic stress recovery among individuals.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7403 - Program Sustainability: Funding, Administration, and Evaluation
Prerequisite: SWRK 6300 and SWRK 6500
Course Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Social Work students.
This course will focus on helping students to develop grant writing and grant management skills, learn to work with non-profit social service agencies towards developing strategic plans, business plans, and consider various sources of revenue. Emphasis will be placed on understanding grant writing and reporting on grant deliverables. Students will learn social entrepreneurship models as well as western and Indigenous approaches to program evaluation. Through course assignments, in-depth class discussions, and course readings, students will develop increased insight about their role in program development, funding, sustainability, and evaluation and its implications for community wellbeing.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7500 - Social Welfare Policy and Services II
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or 6500.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
A continuation of SWRK 6500, this course focuses on policy analysis. Special emphasis is placed on public policies affecting diverse clients/client groups, and on the role of the social worker as a public policy change agent.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7601 - Military and Veteran Social Work Practice
Course Restrictions: Restricted to Graduate Students.
The purpose of this course is to enhance understanding of the military and veteran cultures which impact on assessment, engagement, and interventions for clients and families seeking social services. This course takes into account various stressors that impact from military active-duty service, such as deployments diversity of military family structures, and a variety of readjustment issues post-deployment or post-discharge. Different military contexts (i.e., active-duty, guard/reserve, veteran, gender) and ethical issues for working in this environment are discussed; as well as research-informed interventions with active-duty, veteran, and families. Students completing this course will have a more in-depth understanding and ability to work with the active-duty military and veteran community, all of whom are an integral part of our society.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7602 - Crisis Intervention
Prerequisite: SWRK 6100
Course Restrictions: Restricted to Graduate Students.
Students will be provided with broad based, holistic information about the nature of crisis intervention and prevention work, and the theoretical rationale necessary for making informed practice decisions. The specific application of crisis theory onto advanced generalist practice is intended to inform students of issues relevant to conducting the practice of social work during a crisis situation, immediately following crisis, and in situations where the social worker may be faced with the task of assisting an individual, family, group, or community in dealing with the long- term effects of a crisis experience.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7603 - Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment
Prerequisite: SWRK 6100
This course will provide an overview of DSM-5 diagnoses that social workers are likely to see in different arenas of practice or on the ASWB exam. This course will teach students how to use the DSM-5 to make a diagnosis, how to write appropriate time limited and measurable treatment goals, and how to match appropriate treatments with the assigned diagnoses.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7900 - Graduate Practicum III
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or 6901.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Supervised work in a community social agency with special focus on a cultural group.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7901 - Graduate Practicum IV
Prerequisite: SWRK 7900.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Continuation of supervised work in a community social agency with special focus on a cultural group.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7902 - Military and Veterans Affairs Practicum III
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or 6901, Agency with special focus on a cultural group.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Use of a peer supervision model based on reciprocal arrangements whereby peers work together for mutual benefit, developmental feedback is emphasized, and a self-directed learning and evaluation is encouraged. Over two semesters, the class develops a peer-supervision model that can be used if conventional supervision is ineffective.
Credit: 3
SWRK 7903 - Military and Veterans Affairs Practicum IV
Prerequisite: SWRK 6050 or 6901, Agency with special focus on a cultural group.
Course Restriction: Restricted to students in the Master of Social Work program.
Continuation of a peer supervision model based on reciprocal arrangements whereby peers work together for a mutual benefit, developmental feedback is emphasized, and self-directed learning and evaluation is encouraged. Over two semesters, the class develops a peer supervision model that can be used if conventional supervision is ineffective.
Credit: 3