Social Welfare Minor

Program Overview

The Social Welfare Minor provides students with a comprehensive
background in the social welfare system in the United States, its
relationship to the market economy, and the historical, political, and
cultural factors that shape its course. It also offers the opportunity
to explore in depth some of the challenging issues confronting society
in the alleviation of poverty and the delivery of health and welfare
services to families and children, older adults, and people with
physical and mental challenges. This knowledge will be of particular
importance to students planning careers in government, the private
non-profit sector, law, health, and all areas of planning.

Requirements for the Minor

To attain a Social Welfare Minor, students must complete 18 credits
of coursework with a grade of “C” or better.

Note: The Social Welfare Minor cannot be taken in
conjunction with the Social Work Major.

Core Requirements (9 credits)

All three of the following courses are required:

  • SOWK 250 — Introduction to Social Work (3 credits)
  • SOWK 260 — Introduction to Social Welfare, Social Policy and
    Social Work I (3 credits)
  • SOWK 388 — Human Behavior I (3 credits)

Electives (9 credits)

Choose any three of the following courses to complete the remaining
9 credits:

  • SOWK 311 — Introduction to Field Experience in Social Work
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 360 — Social Welfare, Social Policy, and Social Work II
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 369C — Contemporary Issues, Cultures and Social Work
    Practice in Aging (3 credits) Fulfills Culture
    requirement
  • SOWK 370 — Social Work and the Criminal Justice System
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 372 — Social Work and Health Care (3 credits)
  • SOWK 373 — Demystifying the DSM: A Social Work Perspective
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 374C — Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees
    (3 credits) Fulfills Culture requirement
  • SOWK 376 — Intimate Partner Violence: A Social Work Perspective
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 377 — Women and Social Policy (3 credits)
  • SOWK 386 — Strengthening Family Structure (3 credits)
  • SOWK 387 — Policies, Programs, and Services to Children
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 389 — Human Behavior II (3 credits)
  • SOWK 390 — Special Topics (3 credits)
  • SOWK 395 — Addictive Behavior and Social Functioning
    (3 credits)
  • SOWK 470 — Social Work Research (3 credits)
  • SOWK 499 — Independent Study (1–3 credits)