Sociology deals with the problems and challenges people face in dealing with others in society. Students will take a variety of sociology courses with topics focusing on diverse populations, minorities and how discrimination affects culture and society. As students progress in their education they will take more advanced sociology courses.
Psychology courses will mainly focus on how and why people act and feel the way they do. There are biological psychology classes and cognitive psychology classes that focus on different aspects of the science that a social care worker will be expected to understand.
A social care worker relies upon the research of others in the field to ensure that their practices are current and effective. Some social care workers dedicate part or all of their careers to conducting new research studies. At the University of Tennessee, for instance, students will study Foundation Research and Social Work Research.
Social care workers need to learn about the environment in which they will be working. By applying knowledge gained in the classroom, students will practice their oral and written communication skills, and problem-solving abilities in a realistic environment.