Course Descriptions

G5083 Social Work Research Methods I. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in social work and an introductory course in statistics. The course is an introduction to the design and implementation of quantitative and qualitative research methods that are appropriate to social work and human services program evaluation. (F) 

G5093 Social Work Research Methods II. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in social work and 5083. The course is a continuation of 5083 and is an introduction to applied data analysis methods that are appropriate to research in social work practice and human services program evaluation. (Sp) 

G5103 Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in social work. The first of two required foundation year method courses in generalist social work practice. The course explicates a generalist perspective that focuses on the knowledge, values, skills, and techniques appropriate to assessment and interventions with individuals, families, and groups. (F) 

G5113 Generalist Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities. Prerequisite: 5103. The second of two required foundation year method courses in the generalist social work practice. Continuation of the exploration of the generalist perspective focusing on the knowledge, values, skills, and techniques appropriate to assessment and interventions with groups, organizations, and communities. (Sp) 

G5233 Human Behavior: Individuals and Families. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in social work. Within a social systems framework and biopsychosocial perspective, students learn empirically-based theories which deal with life-span development and family behavior. This course provides a theoretical foundation for micro and mezzo level generalist practice. (F) 

G5243 Human Behavior: Groups, Organizations, and Communities. Prerequisite: 5233. Building on the theoretical content in S WK 5233, students learn theories related to group, organization, and community dynamics and behavior. Special attention is given to establishing theoretical foundations for the assessment of mezzo and macro level systems. (Sp) 

G5313 Social Welfare in a Changing World. Prerequisite: graduate standing in social work. An historical and descriptive review of U.S. social welfare programming, introduction to social welfare policy analysis, and the role of the social work profession in affecting change in social welfare policy. (F, Sp) 

G5333 Human Diversity and Societal Oppression. Prerequisite: graduate standing in social work. Focuses on social work practice issues in the context of human diversity, differential power, societal oppression, and discrimination. Emphasis is on the interpersonal transactions between and within groups who differ by race, ethnic/cultural heritage, religion, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, physical limits, and generational status. (F) 

G5413 Social Work Practicum I. Prerequisite: graduate standing in Social Work; 5103 or concurrent enrollment; permission of practicum coordinator. Professionally supervised foundation year practicum placement in an area social service agency. (F, Sp, Su) 

G5423 Social Work Practicum II. Prerequisite: graduate standing in Social Work; 5103, 5113 or concurrent enrollment; 5413 or concurrent enrollment. A professionally supervised practicum placement in an area social service agency; continuation of 5413. (F, Sp, Su) 

Required Direct Practice Concentration Course Descriptions

G5503 Advanced Direct Practice with Populations at Risk. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing in social work in direct practice concentration. This course will focus on a critical analysis of traditional and emerging social work practice approaches as well as advanced interviewing and assessment skills and techniques. Specific attention is focused on the application of practice models in complex situations, particularly those involving populations at risk and diverse clients, behaviors, strengths, needs and values. (Su, F) 

G5613 Advanced Group Work. Prerequisite: second year graduate standing in social work. Advanced social group work practice using a social systems perspective to enhance well-being in the group context. (F) 

G5623 Advanced Social Work Practice with Families. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing in social work. Provides an integrated learning experience in the theory and practice of social work with families. An overview of theories of family functioning and contemporary approaches to family-oriented practice which provides a systemic base for understanding and utilizing the helping process with special attention given to the design and implementation of practice evaluation. (F) 

G5973 Advanced Integrative Seminar for Direct Social Work Practice. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing in direct practice concentration; concurrent enrollment in 5820. Drawing on material from all previous required courses, this seminar provides students in the direct practice concentration with an opportunity to integrate theories and techniques of social work practice and to develop knowledge and skills in the evaluation of practice methods and outcomes. (Sp) 

G5820 Social Work Practicum III. 6 to 12 hours. Prerequisite: for direct practice concentration: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 5503, 5613, 5623 and 5973. For administration and community practice concentration: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 5553, 5633, 5763 and 5983. Permission of practicum coordinator is required. May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. Concentration-focused candidacy year professionally-supervised practicum placement in an area social service agency. (F, Sp, Su) 

Required Administration and Community Practice Concentration Course Descriptions 

G5553 Administration in Social Work. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing in social work, concentration in administration and community practice, concurrent enrollment in 5763 and 5633. First in a sequence of two advanced practice seminars in the school's administration and community practice concentration. Course content is based on a social systems model. Primary attention is given to the roles of administrator and planner in social work/social welfare settings. (F) 

G5763 Community Analysis and Organization. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing in social work and concentration in administration and community practice, concurrent enrollment in 5553 and 5633. Examines the community and the state as a social system. Within this framework, several concepts, theories and approaches to practice are examined. Special attention is given to social problem identification, assessment, funding advocacy and related matters. (F) 

G5633 Program Planning and Implementation. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing in social work, concentration in administration and community practice, concurrent enrollment in 5553 and 5763. Designed to enable students to obtain skills in planning and program implementation through development of funding proposals. (F) 

G5983 Social Service Monitoring and Evaluation. Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing and concentration in administration and community practice concentration; concurrent enrollment in 5820. This seminar is designed to enable students to integrate learning experiences in the administration and community practice concentration through monitoring and evaluation. (Sp) 

G5820 Social Work Practicum III. 6 to 12 hours. Prerequisite: for direct practice concentration: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 5503, 5613, 5623 and 5973. For administration and community practice concentration: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 5553, 5633, 5763 and 5983. Permission of practicum coordinator is required. May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. Concentration-focused candidacy year professionally-supervised practicum placement in an area social service agency. (F, Sp, Su) 

Electives, Readings & Thesis Descriptions

All non-thesis MSW students take six hours of electives. Students should recognize that some elective courses are not offered every year. Further, some electives are offered only in Norman or only in Tulsa. Non-social work electives need to be approved in advance by the social work graduate coordinator. Transfer credits from other institutions must be approved by the Graduate College dean as well as by the social work graduate coordinator. Elective courses include but are not limited to:

G4333 Alcohol and Drug Abuse (3 hours) Prerequisite: Junior standing or above. Survey of theoretical and research writings on the etiology, dynamics and social work treatment of substance abuse (alcohol and drugs) in contemporary American society. Considerable emphasis on social work practice (casework and group work) with substance abusers. (F) 

G5163 Child Abuse and Neglect (3 hours) This general introduction to the field of child abuse and neglect examines: the history of the field; different forms of abuse and neglect; causative factors; abuse and neglect dynamics; treatment approaches; the social services system; and prevention strategies.

G5170 Special Topics in Social Work and Social Welfare (Slash listed with 4170) (2 to 3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit 12 hours. Focus is on issues significant to social work or social welfare. Non student may earn credit for both 4170 and 5170. (F, Sp, Su) 

G5170 Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (3 hours) Course will introduce students to the philosophy, theory, techniques, and applications of cognitive behavioral intervention. Through review of the literature and in-class presentation of published clinical research, students will become critical consumers of both the techniques and applications of cognitive behavioral therapy. (Summer) 

G5173 Social Gerontology (3 hours) Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor. This course overviews the sociological aspects of aging. It examines the institutions of society that affect the older population and that are affected by them. (Irreg.)

G5183 Child Welfare and Sexually Abusive Families (3 hours) Focus on child sexual abuse as a special content area of social work practice in child welfare services. Emphasis will be placed upon intervention. (Spring) 

G5193 Social Work Practice-Aging (3 hours) Practice issues in the care, treatment and delivery of social and health care services to elders. The purpose of this course is to increase knowledge and understanding of social work practice skills, issues and ethics in the care and treatment of elders that come to the attention of social workers and allied professionals. (Irregular) 

G5203 Social Work and the Law (3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. Examines law and the legal system. Special attention is given to legal issues impacting social service programs, clients, and the profession of social work. (F) 

G5253 Alcohol and Other Drugs (3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing in social work or permission of instructor. Provides an integrated focus on the action of drugs and the consequences of AOD use, abuse, and addiction. Historical and current policies as well as issues are also examined. Attention is given to diverse populations, research finding and theoretical perspectives.

G5273 School Social Work (Tulsa only-Elective) (3 hours). Course is designed to assist the masters level social work student in developing a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of current school social work practice. The values, purpose, knowledge base and sanctions which under-gird the specialized practice of school social work will be discussed and analyzed. (Irregular) 

G5490 Research Investigations in Social Work (1 to 6 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of instructor, advisor, and graduate program coordinator. May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. Initiation and completion of an individual or group research project dealing with some aspect of social work. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method as applied to social work. Emphasis will be on student's capacity to elaborate implications of research findings for social work theory and practice. (F, Sp, Su) 

G5603 Supervision and Consultation (3 hours) Prerequisite: second-year graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Addresses the development of skills in supervision and consultation of social work practice in agency context. The tasks of supervision and consultation are addressed in a social systems context and address the issues confronting supervisors in a multicultural society. (F) 

G5713 Adult Psychopathology (3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. The study of adult psychopathology based on the current diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Several diagnostic categories will be addressed from a biopsychosocial perspective, emphasizing the theoretical foundation for these mental illnesses. (F) 

G5733 DSM-IV in Social Work (3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. Designed to assist the student in understanding and using the prevailing psychiatric taxonomic system, the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Prepares students to function in clinical settings where familiarity with the DSM-IV-TR criteria and the multi-axial diagnostic framework is fundamental knowledge. Additionally, students will examine the benefits and risks of this psychiatric taxonomy in relationship to diversity, culture, prevention, treatment, and recovery from a mental illness. Therapeutic interventions including psychopharmacological strategies will be critically examined.

G5743 Perspectives on International Social Work (3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing in social work or permission of the instructor. Designed to help students acquire knowledge about international social work, models of practice, developmental processes, and strategies. Specific attention is given to the methods and skills of social work practice with international communities. Emphasis is given to social problems adversely impacting at-risk international populations.

G5753 Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (3 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing in social work or permission of instructor. Provides an overview of clinical information necessary to effectively assess, diagnose and provide social work treatment for children and adolescents in need of mental health services. 

G5960 Directed Readings (1 to 4 hours) Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of instructor, advisor and graduate program coordinator. Directed readings and/or literature reviews under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. (F, Sp, Su) 
5980 Research for Master's Thesis (2-6 hours) Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Research for Master's thesis. Maximum credit applicable toward degree: six hours. (F, Sp, Su)