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SW 730: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
Course provides foundation knowledge about bio-psycho-social aspects of individual and family behavior. Theoretical perspectives on well being dysfunction, and developmental processes are critically analyzed, especially concerning applicability to social work practice that supports client strengths, diversity, and social justice. A holistic conceptual framework is used to integrate these micro-system perspectives with larger environmental socio-political concerns. LEC
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SW 740: Social Work Research (3)
An examination of professionally relevant aspects of the nature of science: the nature of knowing, a constructed reality, the logic of explanation and inquiry, the nature of concepts, hypotheses, and assumptions. The content will include such issues as sampling, measurement reliability and validity, developing survey questions, types of qualitative and quantitative research, and an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics. LEC
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SW 755: Studies: _____ (1-3)
This course provides the opportunity for experimentation with innovative course content in accordance with guidelines established by faculty. Subjects offered as topics include Social Work with AIDS, Family Mediation, Family Violence. LEC
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SW 801: Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7)
Students are assigned to social service agencies that provide opportunities for advanced level clinical social work practice. All students work under the supervision of a qualified field instructor where they have the opportunity to integrate theory and practice and develop beginning competence in clinical social work practice. This course is generally taken for two semesters, with credit being given only after completion of the second semester. Open only to Advanced-level M.S.W. students. Enrollment must be concurrent with enrollment in SW 810 and SW 811. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. FLD
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SW 804: Advanced Field Practicum-Social Work Administration (7)
Students are assigned to social service agencies that provide practice opportunities in social work administration. All students work under the supervision of a qualified field instructor where they have the opportunity to develop beginning competence in social work administration. This course is generally taken for two semesters, with credit being given only after completion of the second semester. Open only to Advanced-level M.S.W. students. Enrollment in fall semester must be concurrent with enrollment in SW 840, SW 841, and SW 849 and in Spring semester enrollment must be concurrent with enrollment in SW 842, and SW 843. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. FLD
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SW 810: Clinical Social Work Practice (3)
Clinical social work practice occurs in a variety of settings, from large public and private agencies and institutions through many types of individual and group private practice situations. This course is designed to teach advanced knowledge and skills that transcend contextual factors in order to produce a variety of positive client outcomes in a range of practice situations. In addition, this course focuses on the commitment of social work practitioners to provide services to those groups who, by reason of class, race, sex, or other characteristics, are not ordinarily well served by the many institutions in this society. Course taken concurrently with SW 801 which provides an opportunity to integrate theory and practice in work with clients. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 811: Topics in Advanced Clinical Social Work: _____ (3)
The organizing theme of the advanced clinical selective emphasizes application of advanced theoretical and practice principles to client systems. This advanced selective provides students with the opportunity to critically consider the themes of the school as they relate to the need for assessment, diagnostic, and process evaluations with a variety of client systems. Every student will engage in activities designed to solidify their professional identity as clinical practitioners as they enter the workforce. Topics offered may include strengths-oriented, solution-focused brief therapy; narrative therapy; ego-psychology from a strengths perspective; social work practice and families. Prerequisite: Completion of SW 810. LEC
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SW 830: Social Work in Child and Family Settings (3)
An in-depth examination of social work in child and family settings. Students demonstrate the capacity to integrate research, policy, direct practice, and human behavior in considering the issues central to this area of practice. Students will also be able to explain how diversity issues manifest themselves at both the policy and direct practice levels. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 832: Social Work in Health Care and Mental Health Settings (3)
Content as in SW 830 focused on health care and mental health. LEC
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SW 833: Social Work and Aging (3)
Content as in SW 830 focused on aging. LEC
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SW 834: Social Work in Schools (3)
Content as in SW 830 focused on schools. LEC
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SW 840: Social Program Design and Management (3)
Introduction to client centered human service management, including the variety of tasks, roles, and functions of managers. Majority of the course is devoted to design and analysis of social programs within a specific analytic framework. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 841: Advanced Policy and Programs (3)
The focus is on the development of skills to stay abreast of and knowledgeable about critical federal and state policies, regulations, and funding structures and streams in students' chosen field of practice. Students will also learn how to research the literature on best practice and effective programs. All of these skills and consequential knowledge will be used to inform program design, resource acquisition, financial management, personnel management, outcome management, and other administrative functions. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 842: Using Outcomes for Administrative and Advocacy Practice (3)
Emphasis is on the use of information to improve human service program performance. Includes content for the design, implementation, and evaluation of information systems. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 843: Strengthening Staff Performance in a Diverse Workplace (3)
Builds knowledge and skills in effective supervision and human resource management with emphasis on maximizing client and community well-being by increasing job satisfaction, enhancing staff morale, and creating and maintaining workplaces that reflect, contribute to, and celebrate diversity in the larger community. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 844: Facilitating Organizational and Community Change (3)
Focus on the development and practice of strategies to influence agencies and programs to be client centered; identify client centered program enhancements, plan change efforts, and practice interpersonnel strategies to implement changes. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 846: Advanced Community and Advocacy Practice (3)
This course is designed to build on the content of the foundation course on community and organizational practice by further developing the theories, methods, and skills of community and advocacy practice. The course will help students know and further develop the analytical and empirical skills needed to effectively manage and advocate with and on behalf of different human service communities. Throughout the course, skill-based exercises are presented to aid in understanding theoretical concepts. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 847: Grantwriting and Fundraising (3)
This course is designed to acquaint students with the knowledge and skills necessary for human service programs to acquire resources through grantwriting and fundraising. Focus is on prospect research for public and private funding, the preparation of a fundable grant proposal, and other fundraising techniques used by agencies to support their client-centered mission. Prerequisite: Completion of foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 849: Mastering the Use of Financial Records for Social Work Practices (3)
Focus on the use of resources needed to operate a client centered program. Includes budgeting techniques and their application; use of budgets for decision making, and problems of reallocation. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 852: Social Work with Groups (3)
Theory and practice of social work in the wide range of groups in which social workers participate as workers and co-workers. Focus on the social worker's tasks and behaviors in establishing group services and in facilitating work in the group from the time of its formation to its termination as a service entity. Prerequisite: Completion of foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 855: Studies: _____ (3)
Course provides opportunity for experimentation with innovative content in accordance with guidelines established by faculty. Topics include Spiritual Aspects of Social Work Practice, Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse, Study Abroad opportunities in developed and developing countries such as Costa Rica, South Korea, India and Ireland, and other timely subject areas. LEC
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SW 860: Loss and Grief (3)
Examines the multiple faces of loss and grief throughout the human life cycle. Examines personal and societal attitudes toward death and dying and the processes of dying and grieving. Course includes exploration of assessment and interventions that enable individuals and their families to cope with loss. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 862: Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse (3)
This course will focus on sexual misuse that occurs within the family system. Students will obtain a comprehensive understanding of sexual misuse that occurs within the family system and develop assessment and helping skills needed when working with abusive families. Theoretical, assessment, and helping aspects of intrafamilial sexual abuse will be examined. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 863: Mental Health and Psychopathology (3)
Theories of mental health and psychopathology are compared concerning etiology, classification, assessment, and treatment of distress and mental disorders. Theories and practices are evaluated critically for their usefulness in a strengths approach to social work in mental health settings. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 866: Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3)
Developmental norms and processes in childhood and adolescence and related implications for assessment and intervention methods in work with children and adolescents. Topics include countertransference issues in work with children, working with parents and children, intervention tools, stress in childhood, special issues, and concerns in adolescence, sexual abuse of children. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 868: Crisis Intervention (3)
Principles of planned short-term intervention generally and of crisis intervention specifically are addressed. Empirical evidence bearing on crisis theory and outcomes of crisis intervention are examined. Anticipated and unanticipated crises, including disaster, are considered as they may affect individuals, families, or larger groups. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 869: Social Work with Clients with Alcohol and Drug-Related Problems (3)
Focus is on developing value consciousness and multidimensional understandings in relation to drug use and abuse. Patterns of drug use, sociocultural attitudes toward drug use and definitional issues in the drug field will be examined. Explanatory theories and contemporary interventions, including the applicability of generalist social work practice models are presented and critically assessed. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 870: Spiritual Aspects of Social Work Practice (3)
This course provides a framework of knowledge, values, and skills for spiritually-sensitive social work practice. In order to prepare students to respond competently and ethically to diverse spiritual perspectives, a comparative, critically reflective approach to content is employed. The role of religion and spirituality in supporting or impeding individual strengths and social justice is considered. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 872: Cultural Diversity in Social Work Practice (3)
Provides students with a framework of knowledge, values, and practice methodology for culturally competent social work practice. Emphasizes themes of oppression and empowerment, culture-specific strengths and resources, and multicultural/transcultural perspectives. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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SW 873: Social Work with Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Bi-Sexual Clients (3)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the basic knowledge, values, and skills needed to work effectively with people who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual. The course will reflect a person-environment perspective, focusing on strategies that empower lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals to develop personal and environmental resources from a strengths perspective. Throughout the course, attention will be given to issues of diversity within the lesbian and gay population. Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation requirements. LEC
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Principal Course Distribution Requirement

Principal courses offer introductions to the breadth of disciplines in the College. They acquaint students with the subject matter in an area, with the types of questions that are asked about that subject matter, with the knowledge that has been developed and is now basic to the area, and with the methods and standards by which claims to truth are judged.

Students must complete courses in topical groups in three major divisions (humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, and social sciences). For the B.A., three courses are required from each division, with no more than one course from any topical group. The B.G.S. requires two courses from each division, with no more than one from any topical group. To fulfill the requirement, a course must be designated as a principal course according to the codes listed below.

These are the major divisions, their topical subgroups, and the codes that identify them:

Humanities

  • HT: Historical studies
  • HL: Literature and the arts
  • HR: Philosophy and religion

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

  • NB: Biological sciences
  • NE: Earth sciences
  • NM: Mathematical sciences
  • NP: Physical science

Social Sciences

  • SC: Culture and society
  • SI: Individual behavior
  • SF: Public affairs

No course may fulfill both a principal course distribution requirement and a non-Western culture or second-level mathematics course requirement. Laboratory science courses designated as principal courses may fulfill both the laboratory science requirement and one of the distribution requirements. No free-standing laboratory course may by itself fulfill either the laboratory science requirement or a principal course requirement. Students should begin taking principal courses early in their academic careers. An honors equivalent of a principal course may fulfill a principal course requirement.

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Non-Western Culture Requirement

A non-Western culture course acquaints students with the culture, society, and values of a non-Western people, for example, from Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East, or Africa. Students must complete one approved non-Western culture course.

One approved non-Western culture course is required. Occasionally courses with varying topics fulfill the non-Western culture course requirement. See the Schedule of Classes for details. These courses are coded NW.

View all approved non-Western culture courses »

Transfer and Earned Credit Course Codes

These codes are used to evaluate transfer credit and to determine which academic requirements a course meets.

  • H: Humanities
  • N: Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • S: Social Sciences
  • W: World Civilization and Culture
  • U: Undesignated Elective Credit (course does not satisfy distribution requirement)

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.