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The Social Work Minor will provide students who are majoring in something other than Collaborative Health and Human Services (CHHS) with beginning knowledge and skills in social work practice, a solid foundation in professional ethics, and an understanding of human behavior from a number of disciplinary perspectives. Although not required for the minor, students may also select additional coursework in advanced social work practice and health & social policy, for which the minor will prepare them.

Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs) for the Social Work Minor

The academic minor adapts two learning outcomes from the CHHS major. The first is the social work part of the Knowledge of Health and Human Services MLO. The second is the Personal and Professional Ethics MLO. These are described below:

Outcome 1. Knowledge of Health and Human Services/Social Work:

Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles and issues common to the field of social work and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities as defined below:

Knowledge: The student knows about diversity, is well versed in the history of social movements, understands fundamental theories of human behavior, knows the social policy foundations for social programs, and is conversant with human development issues.

Skills: The student knows how to work with individuals, groups, and communities; how to interview; how to assess, plan, and evaluate; how to think critically; how to use self effectively; and to manage time and priorities well.

Attitudes: The student approaches her or his work with an open, curious mind and with an appreciation for self while valuing the differences of others. He or she challenges inconsistencies and promotes growth and development for self and for others in an ethical manner.

Outcome 2. Personal and Professional Ethics:

Demonstrate the ability to articulate the values and ethics which are the foundation for social work practice, to recognize areas of conflict between the professional values and the student's own, and to clarify conflicting values in the delivery of social welfare services. The specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes are defined below:

Knowledge: The student knows the core values and principles common to all the helping professions.

Skills: The student applies the values and principles of the helping professions (especially as delineated in a relevant code of ethics) appropriately in professional settings and analyzes ethical dilemmas and arrives at appropriate solutions.

Attitudes: The student recognizes (1) a personal and professional responsibility to be proactively involved in the identification and resolution of ethical issues and to promote the well being of individuals, families, and communities and (2) the responsibility to act in a manner consistent with ethical principles.

Courses designed to assist students in achieving the outcomes

Lower Division Prerequisite: Students must take a lower division introductory course in the study of human behavior as a prerequisite to the Minor. Presently (Fall 2005), the only such course offered at CSUMB is Psychology 100. Other introductory courses in sociology or cultural anthropology, once established, can also be proposed and taken by the student to fulfill this requirement with advisor approval.

Introductory courses in human behavior are foundational and do not meet any of the MLOs for the minor.

• Psychology 100
  
  

Upper Division Courses: Students in the Minor would also take fourteen units to introduce them to the profession of social work and to basic practice skills. These are:

• CHHS (SW) 310 - Introduction to Social Work. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• CHHS (SW) 310S – Introduction to Social Work – Field Practicum Service Learning Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• CHHS (SW) 350 – Personal and Professional Ethics. Addresses Outcome #2.
  
  
• CHHS (SW) 396 – Field Studies – Junior Field Placement Seminar. Addresses Outcome #1.

In addition, students in the minor will select one more upper division course that enhances their knowledge and skill in human behavior and/or human development. The following list of courses provides students with a wide range of choices. An additional course may be substituted for one on this list with the consent of the advisor:

• PSY 320 – Cognitive Psychology. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• PSY 329 – Psychology of Health. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• PSY 330 – Intro to Bio Psychology. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• PSY 338 – Social Psychology. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• PSY 340 – Cross Cultural Human. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• PSY 374 – Abnormal Psychology. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• LS 351 -- Human Dev – Lifespan. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• LS 356 – Infancy/Early Childhood. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• LS 360 – Child Development. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• LS 365 – Adolescence: Context, Culture, and Development. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• LS 371 – Adulthood and Aging. Addresses Outcome #1.
  
  
• Recommended (not required for the minor): CHHS (SW) 410

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brian Simmons serves as the faculty advisor for the Minor in Social Work. You can reach him at 582-3898 or at brian_simmons@csumb.edu