Online Courses
The Department of Social Work at Washburn University offers the BSW and MSW degrees. The emphasis in the BSW Program is on generalist social work practice. The "concentration" in the MSW Program is on clinical social work practice. Given our pragmatic, practice focus, social work faculty members collectively believe that while some courses can be taught online, others should not. There is no substitute for direct observation, practice, and "hands-on" learning, particularly in social work practice courses. Perhaps as online learning technologies improve, we will be in a better position to include practice courses in the mix.
Lecture-discussion courses that social work faculty members believe can be taught online include the following:
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BSW Program |
MSW Program |
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Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
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Micro Human Behavior and the Social Environment (SW 325) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Macro Human Behavior and the Social Environment (SW 326) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Micro Human Behavior in the Social Environment (SW 500) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Macro Human Behavior in the Social Environment (SW 501) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
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Social Policy and Program Analysis I (SW 350) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Social Policy and Program Analysis II (SW 351) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Foundations of Social Policy (SW 510) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Social Policy and Advocacy (SW 511) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
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Generalist Quantitative Social Work Research (SW 362) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Generalist Qualitative Social Work Research (SW 363) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Quantitative Social Work Research (SW 520) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
Qualitative Social Work Research (SW 521) 1 section online, 1 section seated |
It should be noted that ALL social work courses are web-assisted. This simply means that instructors make the syllabus, handouts, and some other course materials available to students online. However, seated courses meet in a face-to-face format whereas online courses do not.
For some time, department faculty members have been experimenting with various "blended" or "hybrid" course formats, especially in some elective courses. For example, Dr. Jay Memmott has offered graduate electives in Couples Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming in which the didactic portion of the course is managed online. In addition, students have met as a group for two all-day Saturday experiential workshops. Students seem to like this way of packing course material and faculty members are able to observe students directly as they master specific practice knowledge, skills, and values. Professional Writing in Social Work and Spirituality in Social Work Practice, which will be taught in a similar fashion, are planned for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Questions about online courses in the Department of Social Work at Washburn University should be directed to the Department Chair at (785) 670-1616 or social-work@washburn.edu.
