MSW BULLETIN | 2524 | 2023-2024
MSW COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The FSU College of Social Work regards many courses as clinical/
direct-practice courses that may apply towards licensure. As
dierent boards of licensure set these criteria, the College cannot
guarantee acceptance of all of these courses.
SOW 5034: The Social Work Profession - 3 credits
This course surveys the philosophy, history, and services of social
welfare and the purpose, objectives, values, ethics, methods, and
practice settings of the profession of social work. Attention is
given to the role that social work and social welfare policies play in
promoting social and economic justice for oppressed groups. This
course includes a required 30 hours of volunteer work (can be
credited for service learning).
SOW 5105: Human Behavior and the Social
Environment (HBSE) - 3 credits
This course focuses on reciprocal relationships between human
behavior and social environments. Content includes empirically
based theories and knowledge that focus on the interactions
between and among systems of all sizes, including individuals,
groups, societies, and economic systems. Theories and
knowledge of biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and
spiritual development across the life span are critiqued, especially
as they relate to populations-at-risk. In addition, theories and
knowledge about the range of social systems (individual, family,
group, organizational, and community) in which people live are
examined, including the ways social systems promote or deter
people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being.
SOW 5109: Women’s Issues & Social Work - 3 credits
This course is designed to acquaint students with individual
and social factors that aect women throughout the lifespan
using an interdisciplinary approach. Particular attention will
be given to the intersection of race, age, social class, sexual
orientation, and other systems of inequality that impact on
women’s lives. The role of the social work profession in changing
society’s view of women, as well as the role of practitioners
in enabling or empowering women will also be examined.
SOW 5116: Trauma Informed Social Work - 3 credits
This course is designed to develop students’ understanding
and skills in working with clients who have been personally or
systematically impacted by crises, disaster, or other trauma-
causing events. This course will introduce students to the
theoretical foundations and practice models associated with
trauma-informed social work.
SOW 5125: Psychopathology in Clinical Practice - 3 credits
The course provides an overview of mental health assessment
and diagnostic tools, including the Diagnostic Statistical Manual
diagnostic categories, and touches on treatment strategies
and techniques. Building on the knowledge base acquired in
the foundation course SOW 5105, this course examines the
relationship between the biological, psychological, social,
environmental, and cultural influences and emotional and mental
health from ecological context. Particular attention is given to
variations in the assessment process and access to treatment
for populations at social and economic risk. In addition, students
examine the political and social implications of mental health and
their relations to social work values and ethics. (Prerequisite:
SOW 5105 or BSW equivalent)
SOW5128: Cognitive-Behavioral Social Work Practice
- 3 credits
This course provides in-depth coverage of the cognitive-
behavioral model of social work practice. The empirical bases of
the theory and model will be examined, along with applications
to direct social work practice. Through participation in this
course, students will learn how to move from an assessment to
intervention using the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model.
(Prerequisite: SOW5308 or equivalent)
SOW 5153: Human Sexuality - 3 credits
This course surveys issues and attitudes associated with human
sexuality. It is primarily intended for social workers and other
helping professionals who currently work with clients or plan to
in the future. Using a biopsychosocial perspective, emphasis is
placed on the social, cultural, familial and individual dierences
in sexual and reproductive attitudes, values, and behavior.
Students are introduced to common sex-related issues and to
the particular concerns of various sexually oppressed groups.
Information will also be provided about childhood sexual abuse
and adult victimization and their relationship to intimacy issues
clients typically present in direct practice.
SOW 5235: Social Welfare Policy and Services - 3 credits
The course provides an initial opportunity to investigate the
relationships among individual and collective social welfare and
public policy in American society from a social work perspective,
with emphasis placed on understanding these relationships in
terms of social and economic justice. Particular attention is paid
to acquisition of skills necessary to engage in policy advocacy
and formulation consistent with social work values and ethics,
fostering an appreciation for the roles played by social workers in
the development of the American welfare state, and reviewing the
history of the social work profession.
SOW 5238: Advanced Policy Analysis - 3 credits
This course introduces students to the procedures and processes
of social policy analysis and evaluation. Attention is given to policy
originating within all levels and branches of government, as well
as within organizational settings. The course examines how issues
are brought to the attention of decision-makers and the methods
used in policy formulation. Students will learn skills central to
policy work, including problem-definition, development and
examination of policy alternatives, planning for implementation,
and evaluation. The course prepares individuals to participate in
the creation and assessment of social welfare policies that impact
populations-at-risk. (Prerequisite: SOW 5235 or equivalent)
SOW 5248: Homelessness in America: People,
Program and Policies - 3 credits
This course covers poverty in the United States with particular
emphasis on homelessness. It will include content related to
values and ethics in programs and policies as well as cultural
diversity among people in poverty. Particular attention will
be given to those who suer from poverty and other societal
oppression, such as those who are also people of color, women,
gays, lesbians, HIV positive, or disabled.
SOW 5281: Ethics in Social Work Practice - 3 credits
This course provides students with a framework of knowledge
and skills to prepare them for eective and ethical decision-
making that are congruent with codes of ethics and standards
of practice in the social work profession. The principles of
ethical decision-making and various value systems will be
explored as students approach various ethical issues. Ethical
decision-making is a complex process, particularly as it involves
consideration of personal identities of self and others particularly
in the areas of spirituality, race/ethnicity, gender, culture,
sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class. Ethical decision-
making must be congruent with standards and principles of
the social work profession. (Panama City Campus Only)
SOW 5282: Legislative Advocacy - 3 Credits
This course exposes graduate students to the skills necessary to
become eective human service advocates dealing with unmet
needs, resolving social problems, or working to ameliorate unjust
or inequitable conditions in society. As more decisions about
social welfare programs have shifted from the federal to the
state and local community levels, it is increasingly important for
social workers to develop lobbying and advocacy skills to ensure
social and economic justice. Such skills can help bring about
much-needed policy changes for clients, promote and protect
social work ethics and values, and positively aect human service
funding during the budget appropriation process.
SOW 5308: Social Work Practice - 3 credits
The course provides students with an understanding of the
social work profession’s history, mission, values, ethics, and
roles. Content on generalist social work practice with individuals,
families, groups, and communities is covered, and attention is
given to working with ethnic minorities, women, gays and lesbians,
and disabled people. A weekend workshop in Tallahassee is
required for online students enrolled in this class.
SOW 5324: Social Work Practice with Groups and
Communities - 3 credits
This course focuses on the development of the generalist group
practice skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and
evaluation with social work clients, community groups, and
organizations. This class covers practice skills that contribute
to group eectiveness, including composition, structure,
dynamics, goal setting, and evaluation. Students will learn to
respond to contexts that shape practice by recognizing social,
political, economic, and environmental influences and applying
them to social work practice. Content also includes examining
the empirical base of a range of theories and models of group
facilitation with clients, community groups, and organizations.
A weekend workshop in Tallahassee is required for online students
enrolled in this class.
SOW 5334: Organizational and Community Systems Change
(Organizational Development) - 3 credits
The course provides students with an advanced understanding of
the models for planned change in organizational and community
systems. In accordance with systems theory, organizations and
communities are understood as interdependent, complex, open
systems influenced by other micro, mezzo, and macro systems in
the larger environment.
SOW 5369: Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work
Practice - 3 credits
This course integrates theoretical models and concepts with
practice gained in internships. The course utilizes an ecosystems
perspective, focusing on the dynamic interaction between the
individual, family, communities, organizations and other social
systems. A major focus is on the social worker’s role in responding
eectively to the challenges of working with these systems, and
exploring their own personal views of such issues as ethics,
gender, ethnic minorities, gays, lesbians, and disabled people.
(Co-requisite: SOW 5535)
SOW 5376: Budgeting and Finance in Social Services
- 3 credits
This course emphasizes the political and technical skills of
budgeting and financial management, source development via
grant writing and fundraising, government contracting, fiscal
reporting, and payroll management.
SOW 5377: Personnel Administration in the Social Services
(Social Work Administration) - 3 credits
This course develops students’ skills in personnel management in
human service organizations to ensure eective service delivery
to clients. Attention is given to sta management approaches,
sta supervision, employee recruitment and retention, motivation,
job design, sta development and issues of diversity.
SOW 5404: Introduction to Social Work Research - 3 credits
This course introduces students to qualitative and quantitative
research methods in order to provide an understanding of a
scientific, analytic, and ethical approach to building knowledge
for practice. Students’ mastery of course content prepares them
to develop, use, and eectively communicate empirically based
knowledge. Research knowledge is used by students to provide
high-quality services; to initiate change; to improve practice,
policy, and social service delivery; and to evaluate their own
practice from an evidence-based perspective.
SOW 5432: Evaluation of Social Work Practice - 3 credits
Major emphasis is given to the use of single systems designs
in client assessment and evaluation. Students consider the
philosophical and ethical aspects of an evaluative approach to
treatment and examine the policy implications of professional
participation (or lack thereof) in evaluation processes. Topics
will include the operational ‘diagnosis’ of client problems;
measurement and monitoring of symptoms, goals, and
interventions; and analysis, interpretation, and reporting of case
material for accountable social work practice. Issues of ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, and disability will be explored through
application of course content to appropriate case examples.
(Prerequisite: SOW 5404 or BSW equivalent)