Social work research discusses research methods and practices. Students will learn different ways to collect data from their clients and how to interpret this information. Students will learn how to identify patterns and causal relationships as well as basic ethics and etiquette regarding research collection.
A core curriculum course on relationships and diversity will teach students about human behavior for individuals and groups such as a family unit. Students will learn how to support client rehabilitation, how to recognize dangerous behavior and how to evaluate risk. Major issues touched on in this class will include social justice, diversity, roadblocks to change and the relationship between nature and nurture.
Community and organization classes discuss human behavior at the macro level, examining the role of political, economic and social structures on individual lives. A community and organization core class will focus on discrimination, oppression and privilege as they operate within communities and societies.
Students focus on individual differences in this core curriculum course, learning about race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, age and class differences that affect the way individuals are treated within society. Students will view these differences through the lens of history and social science theory when evaluating the social work needs of individuals and family units.
Students will be required to complete field work to gain on-the-job experience. Field work typically consists of a work service and classroom-based component, where students serve in different work placements and discuss their field work learning in a weekly class. Field work may help a student decide which area to specialize in, or allow students a range of learning opportunities. Most schools require more than one unit of field work.