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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
Degree offered:
Bachelors in Social Work (BSW)
Kathryn Kidd, MSW, PhD, Chair, Practicum Coordinator
Josie Chase, MSW, PhD, Faculty
Devona Lone Wolf, MA, Faculty
Vision Statement
In line with the OLC vision, the Department of Social Work seeks to educate students to be part of
social change processes that more equitably distribute scarce economic and social resources as part of making
life better for members of the Oglala Lakota Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Mission Statement
The Department of Social Work’s mission is to facilitate students to develop the necessary ethics,
skills and knowledge to enter beginning social work practice, and over time to move into leadership roles within
tribal, state, and federal organizations that focus on the health and well-being of the Lakota people.
BSW Program Competencies
Graduates of the BSW program are expected to:
1.
Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly,
2.
Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice,
3.
Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments,
4.
Engage diversity and difference in practice,
5.
Advance human rights and social and economic justice
6.
Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research,
7.
Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,
8.
Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective
social work services,
9.
Respond to contexts that shape practice, and
10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities.
Application Procedure - BSW
Tracking and Advanced Majors
Initially, students who declare social work as a major are designated as Tracking Majors. In the
weeks prior to completing the Introduction to Social Work and Professional Writing courses during the spring
semester of a student’s sophomore year, the student must apply for admission to Advanced Major in order to
continue taking Social Work courses.
Application for Advanced Major
Students must meet the following criteria to be admitted as Advanced Majors:
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Students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on all OLC course work as well as
all course work completed at other academic institutions,
Students must have their non-social work core (general and Lakota Studies) courses completed prior to
being admitted to the advanced major,
Students must earn a C or better in SOWK 203 and SOWK 213,
Students must adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics,
Students cannot exhibit behavior that will infringe on the student’s present or future ability to fulfill
professional responsibilities as a social work professional,
Students cannot have documented instances of academic dishonesty on their records,
Criminal convictions may result in denial of the candidate for admission to Advanced Major. (See
Policy for Students with Criminal Records in the student handbook.)
The student should begin working with the Social Work Department Chair during the spring semester.
Qualified students should submit the application for Advanced Major to the BSW Program Director by the 13th
week of the spring semester in which SOWK 203 and SOWK 213 are taken.
1.
Application procedure
a) Applications are submitted electronically to the social work chair.
b) The full faculty reviews each application to determine acceptance or not into the major.
c) Students are notified by email by the department chairperson whether they have been accepted
into the advanced major or not. If a student is not accepted, the notification will state the reasons
for said decision.
d) A student may appeal the decision per section, “Grievance Regarding Advanced Major.”
If a student meets the seven criteria above, the BSW Department Chairperson will notify students that
have been accepted as an Advanced Major. If any of the seven criteria are not met, the Department Chair will
so notify the student. This decision may be appealed, with a plan to address how to meet any criteria not met;
the Department Chair will consult with the social work faculty and notify the student of the Department’s
decision.
The social work major is offered as a sequence of courses that take two years to complete. A full-time
student takes a Methods course in each of the four semesters of the junior and senior year. HBSE II is taken in
the spring of the junior year. The social work elective is taken in the fall of the junior year. Social welfare and
social work history is taken in the spring of the junior year. Introduction to Research and Evaluation is taken
during the fall of the senior year. The Research Project is conduced in the spring of the senior year. The
practicum is taken in both fall and spring semesters of the senior year.
Part-time programs of study can easily be constructed. Contact the department chair for the particulars
of part-time completion of the BSW.
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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
120 Credits required for graduation (All courses passed with C or better)
A.
B.
Core (27 Credits)
Where taken Date Grade
SpCm 103
Engl 103
Engl 113
Humanities
Literature
Math 103
Computing
Biol 103, 224
Social science
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Lakota Studies Core (15 Credits)
Lak 103
Lak 233
Lsoc 103
Elective
Elective
C.
Lakota Language I
Lakota Language II
Lakota Culture
(Suggest Lpol 223)
(Suggest Native Am Psych)
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Professional Study Requirements (21 credits)
Sowk 203
Sowk 213
Psy 103
Psy 313
Lhis 203
CD 103
Quantitative
D.
Speech Communications
Freshman English I
Freshman English II
Any humanities course
Any Literature course
Elementary Algebra (or higher)
IT 103 or MIS 113
Human Biology
Any social science course
Foundations of Social Work
Professional Writing
Prereq: Engl 113
General Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Lakota History
Introduction to Alcoholism
Statistics (Sosc 313 or Math 123)
or Math 134
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Social Work Advanced Major Requirements (39 Credits)
Sowk 303
Social Welfare and Social Work History
Prereqs: OLC Core, Sowk 203
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Sowk 313
Social Work Methods I
Prereqs: OLC Core, Sowk 203
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Sowk 323
Social Work Methods II
Prereqs: Sowk 313
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Sowk 413
Social Work Methods III
Prereq: Sowk 323
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Sowk 423
Social Work Methods IV
Prereq: Sowk 413
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Sowk 343
Human Behavior in the Soc Environ II
Prereqs: Psy 313
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E.
Sowk 403
Introduction to Research
Prereq: Sowk 323 & 343, Math 134 or
Sosc 313
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Sowk 443
Research Project
Prereq: Sowk 403
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Sowk 406
Social Work Practicum I
Prereq: Sowk 323, 343, and concurrent
with or after Sowk 413
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Sowk 416
Social Work Practicum II
Prereq: Sowk 406, and concurrent with
or after Sowk 423
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Sowk 433
Social Work Elective
Prereq: Sowk 203 or Instructor Permission
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Two options – choose only one option
1.
Social Work General Studies Requirements - 18 Credits
Free electives
6 credits
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Upper Division (300 or 400) Humanities or Social Science
Free Electives - 12 credits
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2.
Chemical Dependency Emphasis - 18 credits
(15 credits CD courses and 3 credits upper division Humanities or Social Science electives)
CD 113
Introduction to Drug Abuse
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CD 233
Foundations of Individual Counseling
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CD 313
Ethical and Legal Issues for CD Professionals
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CD 343
Methods of Group Counseling
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CD 223
Native American Substance Abuse
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Upper Division (300 or 400) Humanities or Social Science
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Social Work Course Descriptions
Social Work 203 Foundations of Social Work
This course provides an overview of the profession of social work. A third of the course is spent learning the
OLC Generalist Model. Another third is spent in discussion of the various roles social workers perform. The
final third explores the centrality of professional values and ethics and teaches how to read a research article.
The course is designed for sophomores considering this major. Particular emphasis is placed on asking what the
practice of social work would look like within the context of Lakota values, traditions and history. A core
theme running through all content concerns the role of values and ethics, both personal and professional.
Prerequisites: MIS 113, 3 credits.
Professional Writing, Sowk 213
This writing intensive course is designed for students intending to pursue a professional career in social work.
Using a writing-to-learn approach, students will write in response to written, audio, and video works with an
emphasis on deepening understanding, exercising critical thinking, and enhancing clarity and specificity of
written communication. Students will learn to maintain clarity about the boundaries between personal and
professional writing. They will learn to enhance observational skills; describe in writing what is observed
completely, accurately, and professionally; and distinguish between reaction, opinion, and argument. Written
works will include literary prose and poetry as well as writings from the professional discipline (peer-reviewed
journal articles). All readings and exercises will reflect professional social work values and concerns.
Prerequisite: Engl 113
Sowk 303 Social Welfare & Social Work History
This course seeks to add to generalist social work orientation by focusing on the connection between the history
of social work practice and social welfare policy and the issues that lead to policy formation. Social workers
need to possess knowledge and understanding of the development of social welfare policies in response to
social issues from the local tribal level to the federal level. To this end a major focus of the course is social
welfare history from the Poor Laws forward. A particular focus is health and social welfare policies affecting
the Lakota people.
Macro-level social welfare policies have existed as long as people have collaborated to meet their social needs.
Social workers must grapple continually with the policy questions of "Who should get What? How? When?
Where? On what Basis and Why?" The role of professional values and ethics in policy formation is explored in
relation to all course content.
By the end of the course, students should understand that policies define the context within which social work is
practiced and affects all aspects of social work intervention from the smallest client system (micro practice) to
the largest (macro practice). Policies, for example, define who becomes clients, and how services are to be
delivered including when, where, why and how much. It is essential that social workers be knowledgeable
about this larger context for the practice of social work in order to become proficient in assisting those clients
who seek social work services. To this end students are asked to understand policy from within the OLC
Generalist Model.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 203, OLC Core, 3 credits
Sowk 343 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (HBSE II)
This course focuses on the normative structures constituting the social, natural, and cultural environments in
which we live. The course is based in the person-first perspective laid out in the Oglala Lakota College
Generalist Model. Students will learn to understand the historical, cultural and social worlds by using critical
and post-modern understandings of power relations. An emphasis will be how relations of power make up
social norms that determine distribution of economic and social resources. Once critical thinking skills are
enough developed, a number of perspectives on the natural, cultural and social environment are integrated.
These include traditional Lakota understandings of nature, culture and society, positive psychology and a
combination of ecosystems and deep ecology theories. Pre-requisite; Psy 313
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Sowk 313 Methods I
Sowk 313, the first of the four methods courses, is an introduction to the common core of essential concepts,
skills, values, tasks, and activities important to generalist social work practice with individuals and families.
The course will introduce students to the generalist perspective of social work practice including the
relationship-building/problem-solving process within an ecosystems (person-in-environment) framework.
Special emphasis will be placed on assessment of biological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors (e.g.,
class, race, gender, and sexual orientation) and how they interact with elements of the environment, and
influence intervention. This course also contains content stemming from Lakota values, beliefs and practices.
This course contributes to the foundation on which the BSW curriculum builds its generalist practice model.
The sequence emphasizes the strengths perspectives which promotes empowerment and social justice for
marginalized individuals, groups and communities.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 203, OLC Core, 3 credits
Sowk 323 Methods II
This course is the second in a practice sequence that provides a conceptual framework for generalist social work
practice and introduces students to the knowledge, values and skills needed to work with task & treatment
groups. The sequence emphasizes the strengths perspective which empowers and promotes social justice for
marginalized individuals, groups, and communities.
Social Work 323 is designed to teach students the theory and skills necessary to effectively design, implement,
and evaluate task & treatment groups within the context of Lakota culture. This course frames task & treatment
group work within the OLC generalist model. While specific class activities and learning objectives do not
mention the emphasis on Lakota culture and its understandings of group process, this perspective is infused
throughout the curriculum. The question, “How would this work with different populations on the
reservation?” is an always present question.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 313, 3 credits
Sowk 413: Methods III
This course is the third in a practice sequence that provides a conceptual framework for generalist social work
practice and introduces students to the knowledge, values and skills needed to work with community groups,
organizations, communities, and the Lakota tribe. Introduction to the roles, tasks and functions of the social
welfare practitioner as well as theories and methods of assessment, intervention, and evaluation are provided.
The sequence emphasizes strengths and empowerment perspectives as laid out in the theory section of the
OLCGM.
The challenges facing the macro-practitioner in generalist practice are explored. Practice skills presented in this
course build on the OLCGM and content presented in HBSE II. Issues regarding social and economic justice,
the value of diversity, and populations-at-risk unique to this region and the role of professional ethics are
integrated throughout the course. The student will learn the skills and knowledge necessary to enter beginning
practice in the role of change agent.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 323, 3 credits
Sowk 423: Methods IV
This course is the fourth and last in a practice sequence that provides a conceptual framework for generalist
social work practice and introduces students to the knowledge, values and skills needed to work with tribal and
other governments. Introduction to the roles, tasks and functions of the social welfare practitioner as well as
theories and methods of assessment, intervention, and evaluation are provided. The sequence emphasizes
strengths and empowerment perspectives.
Methods IV is a policy-practice course in which students learn how to engage in legislative advocacy, grant
writing, and to analyze government and tribal policies relevant to the health and welfare of the Lakota people.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 303 & 413, 3 credits
Sowk 403 Introduction to Research
This course provides the student with the foundations of social work research, preparing the student to become
an informed consumer of research. Emphasis is placed upon application: preparing the student to be a
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consumer and producer of practice-based research, especially evaluation research. Students will learn the
design and planning of research, methodologies, and their applications. Both qualitative and quantitative
research methodologies will be examined. Ethics of research and cultural competence of research will be
emphasized. How tribal values relate to research, especially within the Lakota cultural framework, will be
explored.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 343 & Math 123 or Math 134 or Sosc 313; 3 credits
Sowk 443 Research Project
This is the second course in the two course research sequence and is offered in the spring semester of the senior
year. It provides students with the opportunity to work on a research project. The research project is a group
project arranged by the course instructor with an agency on the reservation or in Rapid City, and involves
conducting research (generally needs assessment or program evaluation) on a topic of interest to the agency.
Each student will assume leadership for one phase/segment of the research project; all students will participate
in all phases and activities. Student input into population to be studied will be obtained spring semester of the
preceding year; actual population/agency will be dependent upon agency availability and interest.
Pre-requisite: Sowk 403, Introduction to Research, 3 credits
Sowk 406 & 416 Practicum I & II – 6 Credits each
This course represents the culmination of preparation for entry-level generalist social work practice. The course
consists of supervised practice of the social work knowledge, values and skills learned in the classroom.
Grading is Pass/Fail only.
The generalist practitioner operates within the ethical guidelines prescribed by the NASW Code of Ethics and
utilizes the six-step, relationship building/problem-solving process and person-in-environment framework that
make up the OLC generalist model.
During a supervised field experience students are expected to have opportunities to further integrate all
educational facets, as articulated in the objectives, for a beginning level of generalist social work practice, with
an emphasis on working with the Lakota people in systems of all sizes to promote, maintain and/or restore wellbeing. This course also emphasizes the professional attributes of the individual in professional practice, e.g.
self-awareness, oral and written skills, accuracy and precision, empathy and genuineness, and organization and
planning.
Students also participate in six hours per semester of seminar, which helps to integrate the field practicum
experience with the BSW classroom knowledge and which allows the exploration of additional knowledge. In
the field seminar, students will learn the principles of the logic model and its application to the field setting.
There are three papers associated with the two-semester field seminar.
Pre-requisites: Sowk 406 - Concurrent with, or after Sowk 413
Sowk 416 - Sowk 406 and concurrent with, or after Sowk 423, 3 credits
Sowk 433 Elective
The social work elective can change depending on interests of students and instructors.
Pre-requisites – Sowk 203 or Instructor Permission
3 credits
CD Course Descriptions
CD 103 Introduction to Alcoholism
This course introduces the study of alcoholism and the wide range of current approaches to treating and
preventing it. It surveys the symptoms and effects of alcohol and abuse and addiction and introduces leading
theoretical models of alcohol addiction. It affords students the opportunity to assess their learning in relation the
phenomena of alcohol abuse and addiction in their communities. Prerequisites: Engl 103 or higher. 3 credits
CD 113 Introduction to Drug Abuse
The material in this course will introduce you to the fascinating study of a wide range of mood-altering
chemicals, both legal and illegal. You will learn about the symptoms that drugs produce, and about their effects
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on individuals. You will also explore various approaches to treating and preventing drug abuse and will
consider their applicability to the Lakota community.. Prerequisites: Engl 103 or higher. 3 credits.
CD 203 Family Counseling and Chemical Dependency
This course will engage you in the study of the effects of alcoholism and drug abuse on families. You will
consider the special needs of individual family members that alcoholism and drug abuse give rise to and you
will learn about methods for addressing those needs. You will learn about self-help techniques for family
members, about methods of family intervention, and about methods for helping the active alcohol or drug
abuser.
Prerequisites: PSY 103 and either CD 103 or CD 113 or instructor permission. 3 credits
CD 223 Native American Substance Abuse
This course surveys the extent and the consequences of alcohol abuse among American Indians. The causes of
origins of the disease of Alcohol will be explored as well as the different theories of addictions. In addition to
the reservation experience the urban setting will be discussed. The prevention, treatment and recovery for
American Indian Alcoholics will be addressed. Prerequisite: CD 103 or CD 113 or instructor permission. 3
credits.
CD 233 Foundations of Individual Counseling.
This course is designed to cover the skills, concepts, and issues of chemical dependency counseling of
individuals. The content provides students with knowledge of the counseling relationship, factors involved in
chemical dependency, understand diagnosis, assessment and treatment plans. In addition to examining traits of
an effective counselor, the student will work to develop and practice using a theory of counseling.
Prerequisites: CD 103, CD 113. 3 credits
CD 313 Ethical and Legal Issues for Chemical Dependency Professionals
This course will explore the ethical and legal issues as they apply to Chemical Dependency Counseling. These
issues include: confidentiality, dual relationships, competency and referral, counselor values and conflicts,
legality and ethics, client welfare, establishing appropriate limits and boundaries in the client relationship,
informed consent, and other issues identified. Students will review the professional codes of ethics, values
underlying coded of ethics and will focus on the process of ethical decision making. Students will have the
opportunity to identify and discuss the ethical and legal issues frequently encountered by prevention and
treatment professionals.
Prerequisites: CD 103, CD 113. 3 credits
CD 343 Methods of Group Counseling
This course covers group leadership skills and various therapeutic techniques of group counseling through
lecture and practical application. It focuses particularly on learning about the dynamics of group therapy as a
helping and healing process. It covers theories that apply to groups and to addictions work. It introduces related
topics of research, ethics, planning, leadership styles, multicultural considerations, and relevant Lakota
practices.
Prerequisites: CD 103, CD 113, CD 233. 3 credits
CD 403 Continuum of Care
This course will cover the relationship between intake, case management, discharge planning and clinical record
keeping. Students will learn how to implement plans used in addictions counseling, and about screening,
assessment and evaluation procedures. Students will develop an understanding of relapse, including its
relationship to the recovery process and the role of the counselor in relapse prevention. The course will cover
treatment services provided to Native Americans and to the Lakota in particular.
Prerequisites: CD 103, CD 113, CD 233, CD 313, CD 343, 3 credits
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