IN THIS SECTION
Prepare for a career helping others with a minor in social work and social policy.
In the Social Work and Social Policy Minor, you will get an introduction to the changing concepts, terms, and theories about the field and practice of social work, how social workers interact with individuals and society, and the different roles social workers play in our diverse, ever-changing society. You will learn about the historical and current understanding of the role of social work practitioners and examine your own concepts, beliefs, and ideas of what “social work” and “social worker” mean. These experiences will enhance your skills in cognitive thinking, reading, writing, and speaking.
Explore sample courses in this program.
UR-101 Introduction to Urban Studies
A broad contextual overview of urban life that examines from a systems perspective the relationship of humans to their environment.
3 credits
UR-213 Human Identity and Urban Environment
Examination of historical experiences, cultural patterns, and social advantages and disadvantages of different groups within society; social problems such as racism, prejudice, discrimination, and exploitation as both mainstream and non-mainstream groups experience them; and diversity of different groups and their changing dynamics. The course helps students become knowledgeable about diversity issues and materials written by and about diverse groups and develop the ability to distinguish facts from interpretations and opinions.
3 credits
UR-305 Group Conflict in the Urban Community
Study of conflict and its resolution in contemporary urban settings. Personal, small group, and societal strategies for conflict resolution are explored.
3 credits
UR-311 Urban Politics and Policies
Political behavior and perceptions in cities and towns from a multi-disciplinary perspective with emphasis on how policy is initiated, developed, and implemented in various governmental forms.
3 credits
UR-315 Oral History for Urban Areas
Often powerful and rich personal narratives, oral histories provide insight into a past event or series of events, often communicating unofficial or previous unknown or misunderstood stories especially in urban areas. This class explores the theoretical underpinnings of memory and remembering, and best practices for oral history. Students engage in oral history work, including interviewing, recording, transcribing, analyzing, and preparing oral histories for research and dissemination.
3 credits
UR-320 Power and Urban Insecurity
This class looks at how public policy relates to the social construction of race, class, and gender categories and how urban residents navigate such policies as part of their everyday struggle for survival and stability. The course considers how popular discourse features dominant narratives of security, insecurity, and human worth when it comes to questions of how the social safety net is allocated. How do these narratives contribute to the way urban residents experience and interpret government on an everyday level? How do these narratives affect the way urban residents interact with the state and public institutions?
3 credits
UR-321 Advanced Social Work
This course builds upon basic social work skills and enhances students’ understanding about the changing concepts, terms, and theories about what the field and practice of social work is. It is a more in-depth examination of the approaches used by social work professionals in assessing and meeting the needs of increasingly diverse, complex, and complicated populations.
3 credits
UR-340 Urban Housing Dilemma
Analysis of the factors that shape the nature, location, and supply of urban housing with special focus on federal policies and the housing needs of elders.
3 credits
UR-347 Refugees in American Society
This course assesses the place of refugees in United States cities, historically and currently. Students look at the experience of refugees in the US, relevant policies pertaining to this population, and the various popular debates circulating about refugee settlement and asylum in the US. The course also explores the nature of exile, displacement, and struggle in relation to urban inclusion and exclusion.
3 credits
UR-350 Urban Youth in American Society
Role and problems of youth in urban societies viewed from a variety of social science perspectives with additional employment of contemporary music and literature.
3 credits
UR-351 Public Policy and Youth Services
Role of theory, attitudes, and public opinion in the formation of policies concerning delinquency with exploration of current practices and innovative strategies.
3 credits
UR-380 Public Policy and Cultural Diversity
This course examines contemporary policy issues and problems deriving from cultural diversity. These include areas such as immigration, population, demographics, affirmative action, public assistance, integration, separatism, political correctness, gender equality, and the role of organized religion in contemporary politics.
3 credits