SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND NURSING
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B.S. IN SOCIAL WORK

The bachelor’s degree in Social Work at LIU Brentwood is a unique program designed for junior transfer students interested in launching a career in a fast growing and rewarding helping profession. In this afternoon/evening program you will learn to be an advocate, educator, counselor, mediator, mobilizer, facilitator, coordinator, and manager. You will be educated to promote the changes needed to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations.

In our relationship-centered education, you will learn through:

  • Small class engagement with stimulating topics using role plays, case studies, videos, TED talks, close reading and reflective writing
  • Field practice in diverse settings including schools, homeless shelters, child and family counseling centers, charitable organizations, senior citizen facilities, and social service agencies

Graduation from the program allows you to:

  • Enter the workforce as a generalist professional from a highly respected program
  • Apply for advanced standing, one-year MSW anywhere, including LIU’s program with specializations in child and family, substance abuse, gerontology, forensic social work and non-profit management

BSSW Student Handbook

BSSW Field Manual

Admissions Requirements

Transfer Admission Requirements

The upper-division B.S. in Social Work is open to students who hold associate degrees or have completed approximately 54 credits of a liberal arts-based college degree program. Students who completed their freshman and sophomore years at a community or four-year college apply for their junior and senior years at LIU Brentwood. Students with an associate’s degree from Suffolk County Community College may seamlessly transfer into the program. Students transferring from other colleges will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be required to complete additional specific course work.

Admission to the upper-division B.S. in social Work requires:

  1. Application for Transfer admission
  2. ALL official college transcripts
  3. A minimum college G.P.A. of 2.75

Advancement to field placement (second semester of the junior year) requires:

  1. Completion of the prerequisites (if not transferred) PSY 1, 2; SOC 1; BIO 1; ECO 10 or 11; PHL 13
  2. Completion of SWK 1 (if not transferred) & SWK 50
  3. An academic performance review and a GPA of 2.75

Degree Requirements

LIU BRENTWOOD PLAN OF STUDY***


Fall 1 Junior (13  SWK credits)

Spring 1 Junior (17 credits)

SWK 79 Introduction to Field   Placement

SWK 50 Social Welfare Programs & Policies I

SWK 60 Human Behavior in the Social Env. I

SWK 70 Social Work Practice I

SWK 01 Introduction to Social Work**

**unless transferred in

SWK 61 HBSE II

SWK 71 Social Work Practice II

SWK 80 Field Instruction I

SWK 18/HPA 18 Research Methods

Liberal Arts Elective (4 credits)

 

Fall 1 Senior  (15 Credits)

Spring 1 Senior (15 credits)

SWK 90 Field Instruction II

SWK 51 Social Welfare Programs & Policies II

SWK 75 Diversity Sensitive Social Work Practice

POL 80 Administration Behavior or HPA 40      Organizational Behavior

SWK 19/HPA 19 Statistics                                                        for Administrators

SWK 91 Field Instruction III

SWK Elective

HPA 20 Computer- Based Mgmt Systems
 

*POL 80 is cross-listed to HPA 40 Organizational Leadership

 ***Students at the Brentwood Campus must take at least 3 credits of the degree requirement on the Post residential campus.

Required Social Work Major Courses

SWK/HPA 18 Research Methods

SWK/HPA 19 Statistics for the Administrators

HPA 20 Computer-Based Management Systems

SWK 1* Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare

SWK 50, 51 Social Welfare Programs & Policies I & II

SWK 60, 61 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I & II

SWK 70, 71 Social Work Practice I & II

SWK 75 Diversity-Sensitive Social Work Practice

SWK 79 Introduction to Field Instruction

SWK 80, 90 & 91 Field Instruction I, II, & III

Completion of the prerequisites (if not transferred) PSY 1; SOC 1; BIO 1 or BIO 7; ECO 10 ; PHL 13

*course may transfer from SCCC
Transfer students from community colleges will be given credit for courses that are judged equivalent to LIU Post courses and may need to take additional prerequisite courses concurrent with foundation Social Work courses. Transfer of students from Suffolk Community College is facilitated by an articulation agreement with the program.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in the foundation and related social work courses to retain standing in the program. The Program makes every attempt to assist and address students’ difficulties in both the classroom and the field, before a problem affects performance. One semester of probation is granted to students to bring up grades to the designated standards. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements by the last semester of the Senior year are not allowed to graduate unless courses are repeated and the GPA requirements are met. There is one exception to this allowance for probationary students.

Total Degree Credit Requirements: 120 for transfer students


   


Course Descriptions

SWK 1 Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare

This course presents Social Work as a helping profession that has a unique combination of values, knowledge and skills with the purpose of improving the well-being of people and creating a more just society. Students are introduced to the various fields of practice where social workers address client needs and social problems. The course offers discussions of current events from the multiple perspectives of social work and case studies of social workers serving individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. There are also guest presentations of professionals who are engaged in activities such as combating hunger, assuring equal access to mental health services and assisting those involved in domestic violence. The course aids students in determining whether social work is a possible career choice for them. 

3 credits

SWK 18/ HPA 18  Research Methods

This course provides an overview of the scientific method as it applies to social work. In this writing intensive course students learn to read and interpret quantitative and qualitative research reports and to design sound and ethical research to increase the profession’s knowledge base with respect to human behavior and service development and delivery. Students learn to use research to guide their professional practice and to employ research methodology to evaluate their individual and their program’s effectiveness.

(Prerequisite: Junior Status), 3 credits

SWK 19/HPA 19 Statistics

Statistical procedures, research design, sampling techniques, descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation, regression, tests of significance and reliability are all discussed as they apply to the specific needs of the health and human services. 

(Prerequisite: SWK/HPA 18), 3 credits

SWK 50 Social Welfare Programs & Policies I

SWK 50 provides information about the development of social work as a profession including its tradition of advocacy, reform and commitment to policies inherent in the values of the profession. Students will gain an understanding of historical and contemporary social welfare services and examine how economic, political, and organizational systems influence social policies and diverse and at-risk populations. This course also provides students with knowledge of distinct social issues, and social service programs. It challenges students to interpret basic characteristics of social programs and policies in order to improve services for clients. Throughout the semester students explore inequitable treatment of specific groups and learn of the need for social justice to meet social needs. In addition, this course provides a basic understanding of the specific role of the social worker in policy practice. 

(Prerequisite SOC 1), 3 credits

SWK 51 Social Welfare Programs & Policies II

SKW 51 has two major foci: a) how and under what circumstances the definition and typification of social problems trigger policy responses and b) social work’s role in analyzing, evaluating and influencing policy. Students conduct an analysis of a policy that responds to any social problem of their choosing, and then deconstruct the historical, theoretical and ideological forces shaping the policy as it affects a population at risk. The uniquely-related class, age, gender, racial and cultural issues of oppressed populations and the barriers they experience when confronting the political and organizational processes that influence policy development are at the core of this semester’s inquiry.

(Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Status), 3 credits

SWK 60 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I

The first in the 2-sequence course on understanding human behavior in the social environment, this course provides foundation knowledge of the multiple theoretical perspectives required for generalist social work practice. The focus is on understanding individual behavior across the life-span from conception through late childhood within the context of social systems including families, groups, organizations and communities. Biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors that affect human growth and development are examined along with problems including, child abuse/neglect, oppression, marital conflicts, mental illness, developmental disabilities, addictions and deviant behaviors. Special attention is given to social and economic justice and diversity variables including gender, ethnicity, culture and class as related to individuals’ ability to reach or maintain optimal health and well-being. Case material is introduced throughout the course to illustrate theoretical concepts. 

(Prerequisite: Junior Status; Soc 1, Bio 1 or 7, PSY 1, 2, SWK 1, 50 - Junior transfers can take as co-requisites), 3 credits

SWK 61 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II

This writing intensive course is the second in the human development sequence and covers the understanding of individual behavior from adolescence through late adulthood within the context of social systems including families, groups, organizations and communities (SWK 60 covered infancy through pre- adolescence). Based on the theories learned in SWK 60, biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors that affect human growth and development are examined along with social problems including, substance abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse. The focus is on normal developmental challenges and growth, but the course also addresses common mental health difficulties. Special attention is given to social and economic justice and diversity variables including gender, ethnicity, culture and class as related to individuals' ability to reach or maintain optimal health and well-being. Case material is introduced throughout the course to illustrate theoretical concepts. 

(Prerequisite: SWK 60), 3 credits

SWK 70 Social Work Practice I

The first of a two-course sequence, this course is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and values essential for beginning generalist social work practice and entry into field placement. The course presents a generalist approach to social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. This course emphasizes generalist practice with individuals and organizations and the knowledge and skills applicable to intervention with these two target systems. The beginning phase of the helping process is highlighted. 

Prerequisite of SWK 1 & SWK 50 and Co-requisite of SWK 79 or Co-requisite of SWK 1, SWK 50, & SWK 79 if student is in Junior status, 3 credits

SWK 71 Social Work Practice II

The second of a two-course sequence, this course is designed to continue teaching the knowledge, skills and values essential for beginning generalist social work practice. Whereas the first course focused on practice with individuals and organizations, this course concentrates on practice with families, groups and communities. Social Work Practice II identifies variations in engagement, assessment and contracting with these three types of systems. All levels of intervention are discussed as they apply to practice with families, groups and communities. The middle and ending phases of the helping process are highlighted. 

(Prerequisite: SWK 70 and Co-requisite of SWK 80), 3 credits

SWK 75 Diversity Sensitive Social Work Practice

This course is designed to draw a bridge between generalist social work practice and the impact of ethnicity, social class, and minority status. Students will be provided with the tools to make ethnic sensitive social work assessments and interventions. The focus of this course will be on examining the problems that face diverse cultures and populations at risk for discrimination and oppression as they attempt to negotiate their environment and to ameliorate the stressors that they confront. Through the use of the case method model of learning, students will be presented with material that presents dilemmas faced by diverse populations as they strive to function and survive in the United States. This course makes a linkage between material on diverse cultures and the social work role and demonstrates the connection between cross-cultural values, beliefs and the profession.

(Prerequisite: Senior Status; SWK 71), 3 credits

SWK 79 Introduction to Field Placement

The purpose of this class is to orient junior level social work majors to the field practicum. The course requires one interview with the field director and at least one to two field agency interviews. SWK 79 prepares students for entry into the field practicum experience, and the concurrent Field Seminar class (SWK 80), by anticipating and responding to common concerns among entry-level students, explicating field program policies, and practically preparing the student for the agency selection and initial interviewing process. Students are introduced to and acquainted with the various roles and responsibilities of each of the field team members. In addition, the field contract, task/ assignment form, the learning contract, the process recording, the supervisory process, diversity and cultural competence issues in the field and the qualifications and challenges of developing ethical and professional behavior are explored. In preparing students for the “mechanics” of fieldwork, the seminar also takes time to validate the developmental challenges that students experience in mastering the demands of the field placement. 

Prerequisite of SWK 1 & SWK 50 and Co-requisite of SWK 70 or Co-requisite of SWK 1, SWK 50, & SWK 70 if student is in Junior status, 1 credit

SWK 80 Field Instruction I

Field Experience involves placement of the student in a social service agency or social work department of a larger institution. The student is required to intern for a minimum of 100 work hours during the standard Spring semester of the Junior year. The student is required to offer social work service to diverse clients or client systems under the direct, regular supervision of an agency field instructor agreed upon by the agency and the program. 
The instructional techniques in the seminar parallel processes students will be utilizing in the field as a student and as a social worker. Students’ field experiences are processed using the problem-solving process. Developmental tasks are partialized or deconstructed into manageable parts; agency analysis, the supervisory process, the formulation of learning goals, struggles with diversity and ethical dilemmas, etc. These tasks are processed through journals and assignments that require reflection on the intersection between experience, knowledge, skills, and self. In class, students are also encouraged to collectively utilize the problem-solving process to help their peers’ in the resolution of learning dilemmas. Students are also continually reinforced to prepare agendas and actively assert their own learning needs in class and in supervision. 

(Prerequisite: SWK 79, co-requisite: SWK 71), 4 credits

SWK 90, 91 Field Instruction II & III

Taken during the senior year (approximately 400 hours), these two courses provide students with opportunities to test in the field setting the principles and concepts learned in the classroom. Students are assigned to social work agencies or social work programs. Students receive on site field supervision from a professional social worker and participate in individual and group faculty advisory seminars. 
(Prerequisite: Senior Status, SWK 80), 6 credits each

CONTACT

LIU Brentwood
Brentwood-info@liu.edu
631-287-8500

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Email: brentwood-info@liu.edu
Phone: 631-287-8500