Social Work Program
Social Work Program
Social Work Program
Prospectus
The University of Guam offers a four-year professional educational program in social work leading to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. The BSW is recognized by the National Association of Social Workers as the entry-level degree for the profession.
Through the integration of liberal arts education and the teaching of social work knowledge, values, and skills, the Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Guam prepares individuals to think critically, to develop a global perspective of social welfare and social development, to actualize the concept of social caring, to demonstrate belief in the intrinsic value and dignity of all humankind, to serve those in need, and to act with conviction in advancing the principles of social justice and human rights within the communities of Guam, Micronesia, and the neighboring regions of the Pacific and Asia.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work program at the University of Guam is the only Council on Social Work Education-accredited baccalaureate program in the Western Pacific. The program was founded in 1980, attained candidacy status in 1999, and was granted initial accreditation in 2003. The program's accreditation was reaffirmed in 2007 and 2015, and it will seek reaffirmation again in 2023.
What is Social Work?
Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledges, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance well-being.
Relevance and Demand
Why UOG?
Career Possibilities
Examples of employment agencies of UOG social work graduates include, but are not limited to, the following: Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, Department of Public Health & Social Services, Guam Memorial Hospital, Guam Regional Medical Center, the Department of Youth Affairs, Sanctuary Inc., Westcare Inc., GALA, Erica’s House, Department of Labor, Guma Mami, the Lighthouse Recovery Center, Oasis Empowerment Center, the Alee Shelter, I Famagoun-ta, Guam Superior Court, New Beginnings Drug and Alcohol Program, and UOG CEDDERS.
Post-Graduate Studies
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the BSW program demonstrate the integration and application of the following competencies:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice
- Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice
- Engage practice-informed research and research-informed practice
- Engage in policy practice
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
Admission Requirements
There are two levels of social work majors: Pre-BSW and BSW. A pre-BSW student is any declared social work major who has not yet completed the requirements for advancement to the BSW student status. A BSW student is one who has met these requirements and has been formally admitted to the BSW program.
To be eligible for the BSW junior level, applicants must:
- Complete at least 45 credits of General Education requirements
- Complete EN-111 Writing for Research
- Complete Mathematics General Education requirements
- Complete SO-101 Introduction to Sociology
- Complete PY-101 General Psychology
- Complete BA-110 Principles of Economics
- Complete SW-201 Social Welfare and Development: Global Challenges with a grade of “C” or better
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Submit a completed application form and related documents.
Applications for advancement to BSW student status are accepted annually in April. Upon receipt of applications with all necessary documents, the social work faculty reviews applications and notifies applicants by letter of the faculty’s decisions regarding admissions. Students must be advanced to BSW student status in order to take SW330 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods Overview. Social work application forms can be downloaded from the Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health webpage on the UOG website.
Advisement
Academic advisers assist students throughout their educational careers as they become competent entry-level social workers. The adviser monitors student progress, provides consultation in planning a course of study, and assists in problem solving with regard to both classroom and field coursework. The faculty adviser serves as an “anchor person” with whom students may confer regarding any program-related problem or question. In general, the chair of the Division of Social Work advises pre-BSW students and other program faculty advise BSW students.
To get connected with an adviser, visit the Academic Advisement section of the Catalog.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
| Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences Courses | 15 |
| Statistics Course | 3 |
| Social Work Courses | 50 |
| Elective Courses |
6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 74 |
Note: The University of Guam requires a minimum of 124 credit hours for graduation.
Social Science Courses (15 credit hours)
|
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Term Offered |
| PY101 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY + This course provides an introduction to the basic principles of psychology, to methods
for research in psychology, and to key finding from its subfields. Topics include
the biological bases of behavior sensation and perception, consciousness and altered
states, learning, human memory, problem-solving, motivation and emotion, development
across the life span, personality, stress and coping, psychological disorders, psychotherapy,
and social behavior.
|
3 credit hours | FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS |
| SO101 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY + This course is a study of human society, its diversity, its nature, structure, and
processes including foundations of culture, social interaction, social controls, social
change and cross-cultural relations. Special emphasis is given to social processes
in Micronesia and the Western Pacific.
|
3 credit hours | FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS |
| BA110 | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS + This course introduces the principles, terminology and fundamental concepts of microeconomics
and macroeconomics. It is a foundation for understanding the scope and methods of
the economic perspective applied to issues faced by modern capitalist societies. Topics
include the role of economics in society, the structure of economic activity, the
behavior of firms and households in a market economy, the role of government and institutions
of public policy in the United States. Relevant examples from Guam, Micronesia and
the Pacific Rim will be explored. Prerequisites: MA110.
|
3 credit hours | FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS |
In addition, two elective upper-division social sciences courses (300-level or above) may be drawn from the fields of anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, women and gender studies, and CHamoru studies or as approved by Social Work faculty advisor.
Statistics Course (3 credit hours)
|
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Term Offered |
| MA151 | INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS + This course presents statistical method as applied to the description and display
of data, and to drawing conclusions from statistical data, and introduces the basic
probability theory needed to understand use the techniques of elementary statistics.
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in MA085b or MA089, completed within the previous
3 semesters, or placement.
|
3 credit hours | FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS |
Note: These courses may count toward General Education requirements and toward the major in CHamoru Studies.
Social Work Courses (50 credit hours)
|
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Term Offered |
| SW201 | SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT: GLOBAL CHALLENGES + This introductory course critically examines social welfare and social development
from an international and comparative perspective with a focus on the importance of
institutional arrangements, cultural practices and values systems. The promotion of
social, racial, economic and environmental justice to advance human rights is an intrinsic
dimension of social development. Embedded in this global perspective, students learn
about the evolving mission and purposes, roles and functions of professional social
work. This course also assist students in reflecting on and learning the ethical use
of technology. The course is a General Education course; for social work students,
completing this course is a requirement to be admitted into the Bachelor of Social
Work program.
|
3 credit hours | FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS |
| SW313 | RESEARCH METHODS FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES + This course offers an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methods and
their application in health and social service systems to improve social work and
health care practice, programs and policy. Course content includes ethical, culturally
informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies that address inherent biases
in social work and health care practice; recognizing multiple ways of knowing and
indigenous bodies of knowledge. Students learn to evaluate and critique research literature,
develop research questions, collect and interpret data, and share research findings
appropriately. The course is a required course for social work students, recommended
to be taken in the first year of the BSW program. Prerequisite: MA151
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW330 | Generalist Social Work Practice Methods AND OVERVIEW + This is the first in a series of four social work practice methods courses, it offers
an overview of theories and practice methods underlying generalist social work with
individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students begin
to learn to integrate and and apply social work knowledge, social work ethics, and
skills in a culturally humble, competent and purposeful manner. Students learn to
professionally engage with client systems, to assess resources, to collaboratively
determine goals and to implement plans to achieve these goals, and finally to critically
evaluate professional social work practice. The course is required and restricted
to social work students who have been admitted into the BSW program. Students take
this course in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW331 | GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE METHODS WITH GROUPS + This social work practice methods course offers theories and practice methods underlying
generalist social work practice and has a strong focus on knowledge, values and skills
development for working with a variety of groups in diverse settings; including culturally
relevant meanings, practices and purposes of groups. Students learn professional social
work skills pertaining to engagements with groups and their members, to assessing
group structures and processes, to developing options for interventions and culturally
appropriate evaluations of outcomes, and to manage personal and professional value
conflicts and affective reactions. The course is required and restricted to social
work students who have been admitted into the BSW program. Students take this course
in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW332 | GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE METHODS WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES + This generalist social work practice methods course offers theories and approaches
underlying generalist social work practice with organization and communities, including
the ethical use of technology and the use of consultations. Students learn culturally
responsive ways of engaging with organizations and communities and managing value
conflicts and affective reactions; of assessing contexts, structures and processes
of organizations and communities; of developing and pursuing mutually agreed-on plans;
and of critically evaluating effects of interventions on multiple levels. The course
is required and restricted to social work students who have been admitted into the
BSW program. Students take this course in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW333 | GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE METHODS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES + This course is about generalist social work practice methods with families and individuals.
Guided and framed by the professional Social Work Code of Ethics, it offers theories
and approaches related to culturally competent engagement, assessment, intervention
and evaluation of practice with families and individuals. Emphasis is given to the
identification of inherent biases; the use of empathy, reflection and interpersonal
skills, to the development and implementation of agreed-on plans, and to the culturally
competent and critical evaluation of practice outcomes. The course is required and
restricted to social work students who have been admitted into the BSW program. Students
take this course in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW345 | SOCIAL JUSTICE + This course presents historic backgrounds that have led to the injustices pertaining
to contemporary social, racial, economic and environmental realities of today. It
describes the current dynamics and consequences of various forms of human oppression
and discrimination. Students learn to anchor generalist social work practice in advocacy
for universal human rights, to critically analyze justice issues from diverse points
of experiences, to identify structural foundations and barriers to change, to promote
social change and to implement interventions that advance social, racial, economic
and environmental justice. The course is a required course for social work students,
it is recommended to be taken in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW350 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I + This course explores the reciprocal relationship between human behavior and social
environments. Students learn theories of human behavior, person-in-environment, and
other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to understand human behavior. The particular
emphasis of this course is on human development from conception to young adulthood;
including physical, emotional and intellectual developments. Students demonstrate
cultural humility and competence when applying research findings to advance the understanding
of human behavior in Micronesian environments. The course is a required course for
social work students, it is taken in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW351 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II + This course explores the reciprocal relationship between human behavior and social
environments. Students learn theories of human behavior, person-in-environment, and
other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to understand human behavior. The particular
emphasis of this course is on human development from adulthood to death; including
physical, emotional and intellectual developments. Students demonstrate cultural humility
and competence when applying research findings to advance the understanding of human
behavior in Micronesian environments. The course is a required course for social work
students, it is recommended to be taken in the first year of the BSW program.
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW406 | SOCIAL POLICY + This course focuses on current social policies within the context of historical and
contemporary factors that shape social policy in U.S. territories. Students analyze
political and organizational processes which influence policy formulation, implementation
and evaluation within practice settings with individuals, families, organizations
and communities. Students learn to use anti-racist and anti-oppressive lenses to identify
inherent biases and to advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental
justice. The course is a required course for social work students, it is taken in
the second year of the BSW program. Pre-requisite SW330 and SW345.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW408 | ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE + This course is about practical ways of advancing social justice and human rights;
including racial, economic and environmental justice on individual and system levels.
Using the Social Work Code of Ethics, students learn to identify justice issues for
diverse client systems, assess potentials for change and choose issues for justice
advocacy. Students collaborate with each other and/or interest groups in the community
to articulate goals and objectives for advocacy, they develop and implement action
plans, use technology ethically, and they critically evaluate their advocacy efforts.
The course is taken in the second year of the BSW program. Pre-requisite SW406.
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW410 | SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN MICRONESIA + This course provides a brief historical review of Micronesia leading to a comparative
description of young island nations in the Micronesia region. The course outlines
how indigenous welfare practices have persisted, been destroyed, altered and reinvented
in recent time periods. Students learn to use anti-racist and anti-oppressive social
work lenses and practice approaches in the Micronesian context, to assess how welfare
policies affect delivery and access to social services, and how to practice cultural
humility and competence in Guam and the Micronesian Region. The course is a required
course for social work students.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW460 | BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS + This course explores the roles of social workers in behavioral health settings, specifically
as multi-disciplinary team members. It provides the basics in assessment, treatment,
and evaluation of clinical disorders contained in the DSM-5. Students learn selected
policies that govern this field of practice, to demonstrate professional behavior,
to manage personal and professional value conflicts and affective reactions, to demonstrate
respect for client self-determination, to use supervision and consultation, and to
collaborate interprofessionally and interculturally. The course is a required course
for social work students. Prerequisite SW333.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW480 | FAMILY VIOLENCE + This course examines family violence and family resilience in Guam and the Micronesian
region from a cross-cultural, interactional and interdisciplinary practice perspective.
Students learn about issues of family violence from the viewpoints of victims, members
of their extended family, perpetrators, and those who intervene in pursuit of human
rights and social justice for children and adult members of families. The course content
is heavily based on local data and the practice experiences of local social workers.
Students learn to engage with client systems, to respect client self-determination,
assess challenges and opportunities, intervene and critically evaluate practice pertaining
to family violence. The course is a required course for social work students.
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW485A | FIELD INSTRUCTION + Each student collaborates with his/her assigned field instructor to develop and carry
out an individual learning contract for beginning generalist social work practice,
through 210 field contact hours and 45 in-class seminar hours. In field instruction
students demonstrate the mastery of all social work competencies which they learned
in social work courses. Field instruction is required and restricted to BSW students.
|
4 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW485B | FIELD INSTRUCTION + Each student collaborates with his/her assigned field instructor to develop and carry
out an individual learning contract for beginning generalist social work practice,
through 210 field contact hours and 45 in-class seminar hours. In field instruction
students demonstrate the mastery of all social work competencies which they learned
in social work courses. Prerequisite: SW-485a Field instruction is required and restricted
to BSW students.
|
4 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
Elective Courses (6 credits)
|
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Term Offered |
| SW344 | AGING: MYTH & REALITIES + This course explores the major issues and concepts pertinent to gerontology, the study
of the aging process. The prevailing theories of the social/biological aging process,
and the economics, physical and psychological problems that might arise in late life
are presented, and students learn how these factors impinge on the well-being of the
older person and the social structure of a community. Aging as it occurs in different
societies and throughout history are discussed. Social myths and stereotypes are explored.
An overview of existing aging policies and special programs for the older population
is included, as is a section on dying, death and grieving.
|
3 credit hours | FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW355 | HUMAN SEXUALITY + This course offers a broad overview of human sexuality from a multidisciplinary perspective:
including biological, psychological, sociological, cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural
frameworks. It provides current information in the field today and contextualizes
human sexuality within human rights and social, racial, and economic justice. The
course provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their personal values, attitudes,
beliefs, and behaviors regarding sexuality and to discuss and examine critical practice
issues in his/her professional field. The course is an elective course for social
work students.
|
3 credit hours | SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS |
| SW400 | FIELDS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE + Each semester, this course examines the history, current policy issues and practice
trends in a different field of social work practice; such as family and children's
services, youth services, older adults, substance abuse, health care, disabilities,
school social work, social work in the workplace, indigenous and international social
work, etc.. Course offerings are based on an assessment of community needs and student
interests. Students learn about the goodness of fit between their personal interests
and the professional requirements of these fields for possible future career choices.
The course is an elective course for social work students; with different subject
matters every semester, this course may be taken more than once for credit.
|
3 credit hours | FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS |
Note: Due to the nature of the course, SW400 Fields of Social Work Practice can be taken more than once.
Program Chair
Program Faculty
Natividad S. Lisalinda
Office Location: Expertise