SWK 235: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM
SPRING SEMESTER 2016
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
INSTRUCTOR:
MAIL:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
CLASS TIME:
Karen Sandell, PhD, MSW
sandellk@uncw.edu (Preferred Contact)
PHONE: 910-962-2584
3094 McNeill Hall
By appointment; I am most reachable by e-mail.
Section 001 M/W/F 9-9:50am
McNeill Hall Room 1027
Section 002 M/W/F 10-10:50am
McNeill Hall Room 1024
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION SWK 235: Introduction to Social Work and the Social Welfare System
(3). Social welfare institution and the social work profession in the United States; the values, methods and
roles of social workers and the history of the system.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the nature and development of social welfare
policy, social services, and the social work profession. Students will read about, review, and discuss the
principal fields of social work practice and the typical social services available in American communities,
including mental health, child welfare, aging and health, and anti-poverty programs. The implications of
culture, social values, economics, governmental structure, and politics on policy and the structure and
operations of social services will be considered. Ethical considerations in policy and practice as well as issues
of social equality and economic justice will be themes throughout the semester. Limited international
comparisons of both service and policy also will be provided.
In addition, the development and status of the profession of social work will be considered. Specifically, the
course relates to objectives concerned with the range of social services, the history and development of
social welfare and social work, the impact of social policy, and human diversity as they relate to policy and
services.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1) Discuss major factors that influence the profession of social work.
2) Discuss and apply the Code of Ethics to case studies and social issues.
3) Discuss the concepts of generalist and strengths-based practice and person-in-environment
perspectives and apply them to in-class discussions/case studies.
4) Find scholarly research materials and be able to appropriately apply them in class discussions and
written assignments.
5) Explain the types of social services available in American communities and the roles that social
workers have in them.
6) Understand inequality, discrimination, cultural diversity, and how social work plays a role in addressing
these issues at micro-, mezzo- and macro-levels.
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING GOALS FOR SWK 235 (FROM IDEA EVALUATION)
Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends).
Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories.
Learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions).
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Developing specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by professionals in the field most
closely related to this course.
Acquiring skills in working with others as a member of a team.
Developing creative capacities (writing, inventing, designing, performing in art, music, drama, etc.).
Gaining a broader understanding and appreciation of intellectual/cultural activity (music, science,
literature, etc.).
Developing skill in expressing oneself orally or in writing.
Learning how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems.
Developing a clearer understanding of, and commitment to, personal values.
Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.
Acquiring an interest in learning more by asking my own questions and seeking answers.
REQUIRED READINGS & RESOURCES
Cox, L.E., Tice, C.J., & Long, D.D. (2016). Introduction to social work: An advocacy-based profession. Los
Angeles: Sage.
NASW Code of Ethics (In your text too). http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (6th Ed.). American Psychological
Association. SWK students should own a copy of this.
OTHER RESOURCES
Purdue OWL APA guide: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/664/01/
Self-Care Starter Kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ekvjhm5B5s
The Daily Regimen for Success: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRW_5S3C55I
Guided Imagery Resources for Stress Reduction:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBxXAYKgcPE&list=PLKm4LZ-jSVd9tZr9jAaW9JMjiit-3NtTU&index=5
NOTE: Additional readings for class homework and/or discussion will be assigned during the semester
and normally sent to you via campus e-mail.
STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR READING & FOLLOWING THE CONTENTS
AND REQUIRMENTS OF THIS SYLLABUS
The course and syllabus is fluid and likely will be adjusted to meet course
objectives during the semester. I will discuss changes with you as needed during your class sessions.
You are responsible for keeping current on agreed upon changes to the syllabus. If you miss a class,
please see other students for notes/info on what you missed.
Course Management, Being Successful, and the Fairness Code: All assignments are tied
to the learning outcomes for this course and are important for your understanding of the
course topics.
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Submit your assignments in their order due on the syllabus and on their due dates.
 Submit your papers in hard copy in class no later than ten minutes after the start of class on their
due dates. I will not accept papers after this time.
 Papers not submitted by this time on their due dates will not be accepted and the grade points
assigned will be zero. This policy is about fairness to those who do turn in their assignments according
to the format provided in this syllabus and on time.
 All papers must be submitted in with my required face sheet, stapled in the upper-left hand
corner, and double-spaced using Comic Sans MS 11 point font. Points (5) will be deducted for each
instance of papers not meeting any of these criteria.
 I do not accept papers that are sent online unless I request them.
Grading: Grades are based on your ability to use critical thinking to integrate course materials, readings,
and class lectures, exercises, and discussions in your papers and exams. Your work must address all required
aspects of each assignment. It also must be logical, reflective of your analytical thinking, cohesive, without
spelling and grammatical errors, properly referenced, and well written according to APA guidelines and my
specific formats/requirements. Your consistent attendance, participation, and unbiased interaction is crucial
to the success of the class.
Always Submit Your Own Original Work: Papers must represent your original work, with citations given
where needed. Do not cut and paste from other sources – this work must be yours and follow the UNCW
Honor Code. (See Grading Rubric for Papers and Presentation). Do not recycle papers or parts of papers you
have done for other assignments; that is self-plagiarizing!
“Self-plagiarism” refers to the practice of presenting one's own previously published/submitted work as
though it were new". https://library.peirce.edu/APA/whentocite#selfplagiarism
Succeeding in this Course: I want you to succeed in critical thinking, analysis, and learning in SWK 235. This
is a demanding course that requires you to read the text, be prepared to both attend talk in class, engage
with the material, and to complete your assignments according to directions in the syllabus. You will need
the required edition of your text for discussions, in class exercises, and to prepare for quizzes/tests.
Realistically, we can’t cover everything in the text in class, so your time management, organizational abilities,
and study skills are vital to your success; this is adult learning! If you have questions about the material as
you are reading, bring them up in class. You can expect to be actively involved in discussions of concepts
presented in class and in your textbook.
As adults attending an institution of higher education, you are responsible for your own learning. This comes
through reading, understanding and asking questions about the material, and being present and engaged in
each class. My best advice to prepare for classwork is to read everything and take good notes. There is an
old motto that says “once written, twice learned”! As a general rule, minimally expect to put in 1-2 hours of
reading/preparation for each class session
Currently, I do not use Blackboard and I do not give copies of my slides, notes, presentations, etc. to anyone.
If you miss a class you will need to contact classmates for the information you did not get.
Please read the syllabus before the first class to see if you are prepared to do the work the course
requires. There is no fault or blame if you choose to drop the course by the withdrawal date. Social work
isn’t for everyone, although everything in this course is an excellent preparation to be a critical thinker and
savvy, informed citizen. This is definitely not an easy-A course; students are expected to be in attendance
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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for every class, engaged, prepared, and able to meet the stated requirements of the course. Students who
are prepared and on top of the work most often find themselves doing quite well.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES FOR THIS SEMESTER
Name/Info on Interviewee Due in Class 1/22/16
Interview Questions Due in Class 1/29/16
Assignment 1: Professional Interview & Reflection Paper (40 Points) Due 2/12/16
Assignment 2: Most Pressing Social Issue Paper (40 Points) Due 3/1/16
Assignment 3: Student Presentations (20 Points) To Be Scheduled
A
B
C
D
91-100
81-90
71-80
61-70
F
60 & Below
GRADES DEFINITIONS EXPLAINED
Superior. Exceptional performance. Not the average grade.
Good. Meets and occasionally exceeds expectations
Average to poor. Uneven or inconsistent grasp of content and experience.
Poor. Falls well below expectations.
Barely & inconsistently meets normal expectations for the course.
Does not meet minimal expectations.
Complete lack of grasp of content, experience
ASSIGNMENTS
PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW AND REFLECTION PAPER (40 Points)
DUE FEBRUARY 12, 2016 IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF CLASS
Exercise Objectives: The primary purpose of this exercise is to familiarize you with social service
organizations, their purpose(s), structure, client populations, and methods of operation. The secondary
purpose of the exercise is to provide you the opportunity to learn about local social services agencies and
encourage professional networking. This assignment requires critical thinking and evaluation, assertiveness,
time management and organization, and good writing and communication skills.
1) In order not to inundate the social work community, I will allow you to interview in pairs, if your
interviewee is agreeable to this. However, the paper that you do must be your own work entirely.
2) Research and choose a social worker from any social service agency in the Wilmington area or your
home/another community. Your interviewee must be a person with a BSW or MSW from an accredited
program who is currently employed in the field. Interviewees cannot be a friend or relative.
3) You must ascertain that the person you interview is a degreed social worker. Other degrees are not
acceptable for this assignment. Some people may have the title of social worker without the requisite
training. This is not who you want to interview.
4) Take a step out of your comfort zone to be sure you have the right person for your interview. You
may use social workers outside of the Wilmington area; however, a face-to-face interview is
required.
5) To check for accreditation of degree programs visit: http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/AccreditedPrograms.aspx
6) You must give me a 3x5 NOTECARD that identifies your name(s), the name of the person you plan to
interview, where he/she works, and his/her SOCIAL WORK academic/licensing credentials in class
on 1/22/2016. I must give prior approval to be assured that your intended interviewee is a trained
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social worker before you can proceed with the interview. It is your responsibility to research local
agencies, contact the desired agency and schedule a face-to-face interview with a currently employed
social work professional.
7) Do not go to someone’s private residence for your interview. Keep it professional. Keep it safe.
8) You must arrange for your own transportation – plan ahead!
9) Include a cover/face sheet for each of your written assignments. (See my face sheet format
requirements for this course).
10) This Interview/Reflection paper must be 5-7 pages EXCLUDING cover sheet, abstract and reference
page.
FOR GUIDANCE ON APA FORMAT FACE SHEET: http://custom-writing.org/blog/writingtips/11524.html; in addition, please be sure to integrate/provide the information requested below.
CUSTOMIZED FACE SHEET: Submit every written assignment with the following
information centered on the cover sheet including:
Your name, SWK 235 and section #, assignment title, date of paper, Submitted to Dr. Karen
Sandell, an email or phone number where I can reach you if I have questions about your
assignment, and the following words in the bottom right corner of the face sheet: Honor Code Submission
followed by your written signature. The honor code submission statement means you are confirming your work
is original, properly cited as required, and reflects your own efforts, writing and thinking.
5 points will be deducted for papers not having my customized cover sheet stapled to the front.
5 points will be deducted for papers not having a staple holding the paper together.
PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERVIEW AND PAPER
A) Research local social services agencies online or in the yellow pages. Talk to people. Get your intended
interviewee approved by Dr. Sandell. Contact desired agency or agency representative and schedule a faceto-face interview. Allow at least an hour for the interview. Plan time for travel. Be prompt, courteous,
professionally attired, and prepared to conduct the interview. Be ready to listen and learn.
B) Type a list of at least 30 questions you plan to ask your interviewee. (Sample Questions: Information
concerning agency structure: Is it a profit or non-profit organization? Where does funding come from? How
are decisions about the structure and function of the agency made? How does the social worker / agency
utilize generalist practice? What is the education level of the social worker(s), what does s/he do? Does the
agency conduct research? If so, what, and how is it used? What kinds of clients are served by the agency:
age range, gender, ethnic background, needs of the clients? What additional services might the agency
provide? What are the governmental policies that influence agency operations? For additional questions see:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081124180854AALy7sz
C) Give me a copy of your typed list of questions in class on 1/29/16. This will be the basis for your interview
guide.
D) Conduct your in-person interview. Quickly follow it up with a thank-you note!
E) Write Paper: Content of the paper must include but not be limited to the following information:
Discuss how you picked your interviewee; where you met; how you prepared for the interview; how the
interview began; how you felt at the beginning of the interview; what your reactions/thoughts, questions, and
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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inspirations were about aspects of the interview and your interactions with the interviewee; what you learned
about the agency, the social work role within the agency, the clients served; what are the joys and pitfalls of
being a social worker according to your interviewee; any advice your interviewee gave you; your reactions to
the information, shared stories provided by your interviewee; make clear connections about how interview
information relates to our course readings and discussions; explain how it affected your ideas and feelings
toward social work/a social work career; how the discussion resonated with your own ideas about social work;
and write about how the interview positively or negatively changed your perception of social work and social
workers.
F) Make sure your paper is thorough, well-written, proofed & edited for coherence, spelling and grammar,
etc. Double check to make sure you have addressed all aspects of the assignment completely.
G) USE THE WRITING CENTER IF YOU NEED SUPPORT FOR YOUR WORK.
SUBMIT PAPER ON 2/12/16 IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF CLASS
The reflection paper should be typed, double-spaced, include my required face sheet, be stapled in the top
left-hand corner, and be in APA style and requested font. I will not accept papers that do not meet this
minimum criteria. 5 points each will be taken off for no staple; improper face sheet; or other required
conventions. GRADING: This assignment constitutes 40 percent of your final grade in this class.
PAPER 2: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MOST PRESSING SOCIAL ISSUE (40 Points)
DUE 3/1/16
Please provide thorough and well-crafted responses to the essay questions. You may use examples from your
personal life, employment, or volunteer experience to help illustrate and support your views and statements.
Use APA format.
Be sure to include a Reference List page at the end of your essay. Use 6 differently sourced scholarly
references in completing this paper. This can include your text, but should have at least 5 other sources
including current and relevant scholarly journal articles, and the NASW Code of Ethics. It cannot include
non-scholarly references like Wikipedia, or online magazines/reports or Web sites that are not research
based and peer reviewed. This paper should be 5-7 pages in length, excluding cover sheet, abstract and
reference pages. Critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation should be a major focus of your work in this
paper.
1) Social workers have a specific set of professional values that guide them in their work – the NASW Code
of Ethics. The following are the core values of social work according to the Code of Ethics: service, social
justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
Choose any TWO of the core values and explain how each of these values relates to your understanding
and ideas on how to be an ethical social worker. You will need to reference the Code of Ethics, available
at http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp or at the end of your text.
2) Explain how your personal values, beliefs, and strengths make you compatible with/supportive of the field
of social work.
3) Describe what you consider to be the most pressing social problem in America today. (Document via
6 social work or other professional social science citations/references/articles). Be sure to address:
 How pervasive is the problem?
 Who is affected? What are the impacts on various populations?
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 What, based on the literature and your critical analysis, causes this problem? (Document the scope,
causes, implications, etc., as presented in the social work literature in answering this question).
 What does the social work profession have to offer to solve this? What are programs, services, etc.
that are in place to deal with this issue?
 What qualities, skills, and attributes do you have that would contribute to the solution of this
problem? (Be specific).
GRADING: This assignment constitutes 40% of your final grade in this class.
ASSIGNMENT 3: IN-CLASS PRESENTATION (20 POINTS) SCHEDULE TBD
Make a 15-minute presentation on the work you did for assignment 2.
Describe what you consider to be the most pressing social problem in America today. How
pervasive is the problem? Who is affected? What are the impacts on various populations?
What, based on the literature and your critical analysis, causes this problem? (Document the scope, causes,
implications, etc., as presented in the social work literature in answering this question). What does the social
work profession have to offer to solve this? (Document via 6 social work or other social science
citations/references/articles). What qualities, skills, and attributes do you have that would contribute to
the solution of this problem? (Be specific).
GRADING: This assignment constitutes 20% of your final grade in this class. FOLLOW GRADING RUBRIC
TO GET MAXIMUM POINTS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
METHODS TO ATTAIN OBJECTIVES
The primary learning format is discussion and classroom activities that involve all students as active learners.
Class lectures and exercises are based on the understanding that all readings assigned for that topic have
been completed prior to class. I am responsible for organizing and presenting primary course material,
assisting you with course-related material and assignments, and for assessing your progress. Our weeks may
often run like this: Monday, introducing course concepts/material; Wednesday, critical analysis of current
article from news; video and discussion, or other discussion material relevant to topic being studied; Friday,
applying theory to practice via team work on case studies/relevant articles.
Students in SWK 235 are responsible for attending all classes, taking responsibility for their own learning,
sharing ideas, making observations, initiating discussion, asking questions, and completing all assigned work on
time.
All assignments must be turned in during the first 10 minutes of class on the dates specified, No late
papers will be accepted. Your work must be presented in the outlined professional format (typed, edited,
double-spaced, grammar-and-spell-checked, properly formatted, stapled in the upper left-hand corner with
the required face sheet, and written in the accepted American Psychological Association style).
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students who miss more than 3 classes, or who arrive late or leave early will have
5 points taken off the final grade for each event. If you are late to class (after 10 minutes) you will not be
permitted to sign the login sheet. Plan your time wisely.
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF TOPICS, READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
WEEKS 1-2 READ TEXT Chs. 1-3
VIEW: BRIEF HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeqbxwDheJI
IN CLASS FILM ON WHITE PRIVILEGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zjj1PmJcRM
UNPACKING THE INVISIBLE KNAPSACK. Peggy McIntosh. http://www.fjaz.com/mcintosh.html
WHITE LIKE ME: Tim Wise.
http://libcat.uncw.edu/search~S1?/awise+tim/awise+tim/1%2C1%2C3%2CB/frameset&FF=awise+tim+j
&3%2C%2C3
WHAT IF YOU WERE AN IMMIGRANT? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi1TjE13S3s
VIEW POVERTY IN AMERICA: http://www.c-span.org/video/?311538-2/poverty-americas-untoldcrisis
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF REALITY: MANY WAYS TO SEE THE WORLD MAP MAKING:
http://uncw.kanopystreaming.com.liblink.uncw.edu/video/many-ways-see-world
WEEKS 2-3 READ TEXT CHS. 4-6 CRITICAL THINKING, VALUES & ETHICS, CULTURAL
COMPETENCY
HOW THINKING WORKS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUqRTWCdXt4
WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLyUHbexz04
CRITICAL THINKING: DOES IT MATTER? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJThuYWUOM
THE MYTH OF THE LIBERAL MEDIA: THE PROPAGANDA MODEL OF NEWS
http://uncw.kanopystreaming.com.liblink.uncw.edu/video/myth-liberal-media-propaganda-model-news
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT:
http://blacklivesmatter.com/11-major-misconceptions-about-the-black-lives-matter-movement/
CLASS DISMISSED: HOW TV FRAMES THE WORKING CLASS:
http://uncw.kanopystreaming.com.liblink.uncw.edu/video/class-dismissed-how-tv-frames-working-class
ETHICS: LISTEN; SOCIAL WORK ETHICS ALAN BARSKY PODCAST
VIEW: BARSKY FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING ETHICAL DILEMMAS
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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APP FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTION: “What characteristics do you possess that make you behave
ethically? Think of a time when perhaps you or someone you know did not act in an ethical manner.
What was the rationale for the unethical behavior? Looking back, was that a good rationale? Why or
why not?”
WEEKS 4-6
LISTEN:
READ TEXT Chs. 7-10
WHAT DOES LIVING IN POVERTY REALLY MEAN?
ORPHAN TRAINS PODCAST 2015
VIEW:
SHORT CLIP ON ORPHAN TRAINS
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
READ:
POVERTY IN THE US: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
STORY OF MARY ELLEN MC CORMACK
ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL WORK
COMPLETE IN-CLASS EXERCISE ON LIVING AT THE POVERTY LEVEL
WEEKS 7-9
READ TEXT Chs. 11-END OF TEXT
VIEW: ACTIVISM 2.0 REBIRTH OF ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT
WEEK 9 TO END OF SEMESTER: IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All members of UNCW’s community are expected to follow the academic Honor Code. Please
read the UNCW Honor Code carefully (as covered in the UNCW Student Handbook).
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in the class. Please be especially
familiar with UCNW’s position on plagiarism as outlined in the UNCW Student Handbook.
Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty in which you take someone else’s ideas and represent them as
your own. I take this matter very seriously.
a.
You write about someone else’s work in your paper and do not give them credit for it by referencing
them.
b. You give a presentation and use someone else’s ideas and do not state that the ideas are the other
person’s.
c. You get facts from your textbook or some other reference material and do not reference that
material.
d. You cut and paste materials from web sites or other sources and fail to acknowledge the source.
e. Do not use information created by others to substitute for your own thinking; this constitutes a form
of plagiarism EVEN IF the information is properly cited.
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f.
Do not submit papers you have written in other courses as original work for this course. You can
plagiarize yourself!
You have been given the tools to study and understand APA format. Please make sure you understand original
work and proper citation.
Do not place long quotations in your paper; you can summarize the major points and reference the
author/date. If you need assistance in writing please use the Campus Writing Center.
CAMPUS ASSISTANCE FOR THIS COURSE
Assistance is available to help you succeed in this course. The Randall librarian assigned to the School of
Social Work is John Osinski. He can help you learn how to search for articles that are relevant to your
assignments.
The Writing Place is available for paper-writing assistance: http://uncw.edu/ulc/writing/center.html
Evidence of seeking support from the Writing Place to improve your writing is viewed positively by me.
It is very important that you be able to write competently, coherently, and following APA style
requirements. You should have a non-social work friend or colleague proof your papers without writing it for
you. Do write in first-person for all assignments. Write as if you were going to present your paper to a
scholarly audience.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
I am more than happy to make appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with
diagnosed disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (962-7555). Please give me a copy of
the letter you receive from Office of Disability Services detailing class accommodations you may need by
the second week of class. If you require accommodation for test-taking please make sure I have the referral
letter no less than three days before the test.
UNCW STUDENT GENDER-BASED/SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY
UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose (verbally or in writing)
to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking against
themselves or another student, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure
that student’s rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further
investigation is explored to maintain campus safety. This means that if you tell the instructor about this kind
of misconduct, the disclosure cannot remain confidential and the instructor must share that information.
This is required by federal law and UNCW policy.
The following three confidential resources do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the
Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these
resources are available, including CARE’s 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821). For more information, please
visit www.uncw.edu/sexualmisconduct or www.uncw.edu/care.
VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT
UNCW practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing behavior within and outside of
the classroom, and includes e-mail communications. If you are experiencing an emergency of this type contact
the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at 962-2273. If you are concerned with violent or harassing situations
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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please see http://www.uncw.edu/wsrc/crisis.html If such behavior is going on in this class, please let
me know.
CAMPUS RESPECT COMPACT
UNCW is committed to a civil community, characterized by mutual respect. Individuals wanting more
information about the Respect Compact can contact the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. See:
http://uncw.edu/diversity/
MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
I believe learning can occur in every situation if we are open and attuned to such
opportunities. In the classroom I consider all of us to be students and teachers. We learn
from each other when using critical thinking skills and engaging in respectful and informed
discussions.
My approach to teaching is to share information, raise questions, and work with you to facilitate your
developing a deeper understanding of issues through critical thinking and analysis, and exploring ideas via
small and large-group discussions and presentations. I do very little didactic lecturing because it is not as
helpful as engaging prepared students with issues and case examples. It’s more important for you to be able
to think through an issue and come up with plausible explanations for and approaches to a situation instead
of memorizing material for a test, quiz, etc. We will also explore how our values, ethics, and beliefs impact
our ability to work with diverse populations in social work practice.
Some of the issues associated with the populations served by social workers may be shocking and disturbing
to you. At the same time we believe people are strong, resilient, and doing the best they can in dealing with
the challenges they face. As you will learn, many people have life struggles that are beyond their control and
they lack the support and resources needed to improve their situations. Blaming people for their life
conditions is not helpful; engaging them in coming up with viable solutions is!
I believe in providing a realistic view of the world of social work to ensure you are well-prepared and ready
to practice social work that is competent, ethical, and accepting of people from diverse backgrounds and
experiences. I trust you as adult learners to read and think about the content of this course as presented in
your text, lectures, films, discussions, case studies, etc.
I use established adult-learning concepts in my teaching. This means I solicit and value your informed opinions,
your willingness to engage with challenging material, and your ability to tolerate the uncertainty and
environmental limitations that face social workers every day.
I am here to guide you in your learning. You are responsible for how much and how well you learn. Really, I
have no power to “make” you learn. To say that you learned nothing means that you did not read, take notes,
attend class, talk to me or other students, or produce the required work.
GROUND RULES (and other important stuff) FOR THIS COURSE
 Mutual courtesy and respectful behavior is modeled and expected at all times. Speak one at a time and
do not talk over others. Please wait to be called on. I want to give every student the opportunity to
express her/himself.
 Academic integrity is expected from everyone at all times. When in doubt, talk to me!
 All students are encouraged to express their ideas and opinions in a manner that is non-judgmental and
respectful of diverse opinions.
 Students are expected to be present in every class for the full duration of the class.
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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 Grade points are deducted for absences, leaving early, or failing to return to class after breaks.
 Your enthusiasm and engagement is important for our work together.
 All required work must be submitted no later than 10 minutes after the beginning of each class on the
assigned due date. No late papers will be accepted. Plan your work wisely.
 The use of computers, cell phones and other fun electronics is prohibited in this class unless I ask you to
use them for an in-class assignment. Please be adult about this; your surfing, texting, tweeting, posting
selfies, etc. is rude and distracting to me and the class. Please silence your phones for the duration of
class.
 How hard you work on any assignment does not automatically equate to a high grade. Please don’t tell me
of others who do not do their work until the last moment. Some people can do this and make good grades.
Most of us cannot.
 You don’t have to like my grading system, but you should understand it.
 If you have a problem with the grade you earned, do not discuss it in class - see me after class. It is a
breach of confidentiality for anyone’s grades to be discussed in class.
 We will have fun! Learning is exciting, dynamic, and interesting. We are all teachers and learners.
 Please come to me with concerns about class or your learning during office hours or by appointment.
 Please do not breach confidentiality by talking about other students or professors.
 Please do not wheedle for grade changes. My grading scale is not difficult. I expect your best work and
hope you do too. Be engaged in your own learning!
 I don’t “give” grades; you earn them. I will not offer extra credit or any other additional points because
you tell me you “need” a certain grade.
SWK 235 GRADING RUBRIC FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS (40 POINTS)
NAME OF STUDENT ____________________________________________________________
Fully addresses each requirement of assignment
5
4
3
2
1
0
Work is original, interesting, & properly cited
5
4
3
2
1
0
Clearly exhibits critical thinking skills throughout
5
4
3
2
1
0
Student shows ability to reflect on own learning
5
4
3
2
1
0
Written well, well-edited, & uses APA correctly
5
4
3
2
1
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
3
2
1
0
2
1
0
Reflects comprehension & integration of course
& scholarly reference materials
Work is connected, flows well, uses summaries,
transition statements, & conclusions.
Face sheet is complete as required
Propoer font used throughout
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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SWK 235 PRESENTATION GRADE SHEET (20 POINTS)
NAME OF STUDENT:_____________________________________________________________
HOW YOU PRESENT: On time! Professional appearance/dress. Clarity and confidence in presentation.
Uses appropriate language/body language. Obviously well prepared.
2
1
0
USE OF TIME: Presentation that meets time expectation; not short or long.
2
1
0
ORGANIZATION AND PREPARATION: Organized, clear, focused, succinct. Able to stay on topic.
Excellent preparation. Covers all aspects of the assignment.
CLEAR USE OF CRITICAL THINKING AND EVALUATION.
3
2
1
0
2
1
0
DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM: Defines the nature and scope of the chosen pressing social issue.
What are the causes of the problem? Who is affected? What are the demographics of those affected?
What are the impacts of this issue on various identified populations? (Use the literature here to inform
your presentation.)
3
2
1
0
SOCIAL WORK RESPONSE: What programs/services/ethics/values does the SWK profession have to
offer to solve this question? (Use the literature).
3
2
1
0
PERSONAL STRENGTHS/QUALITIES YOU HAVE TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEM? 2
1
0
ABILITY TO ENGAGE AUDIENCE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS
2
1
0
ORIGINAL – NO OVER-RELIANCE ON DATA FROM POWER POINTS
2
1
0
COMMENTS:
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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UNIVERSITY CALENDAR SPRING, 2016
Registration and SeaNet dates – Please refer to the Calendar of Events at www.uncw.edu/reg
January 11, Monday
Classes begin
January 18, Monday
Martin Luther King, Jr. state holiday; no classes.
January 19, Tuesday
Last day for registration/Last day to drop (without a
grade) or add a class.
January 20, Wednesday
Late Registration Fee for Reinstatement
January 25, Monday
UNC census day
February 26, Friday
Last day to withdraw with a W – undergraduate students
March 4, Friday
Graduation Application Deadline – Spring 2016 –
undergraduate students
March 4-7, Friday-Monday
IT Maintenance Weekend (Friday 5 p.m. - Monday 8 a.m.)
March 5, Saturday
On-campus housing closes 10 a.m.
March 5-13, Saturday-Sunday
Spring Break; no classes
March 14, Monday
Classes resume 8 a.m.
March 24, Thursday
No classes
March 25, Friday
Good Friday state holiday; no classes
March 28, Monday
Classes resume 8 a.m.
April 12, Tuesday
Graduation application deadline – undergraduate and
graduate students
April 27, Wednesday
Last day of classes
May 5, Thursday
Spring semester ends
May 6-7, Friday-Saturday
Commencement
May 7, Saturday
Academic year ends
SWK 235 SPRING SEMESTER 2016: DR. KAREN SANDELL
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