University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Courses
SOWO
126 courses with the subject SOWO, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
SOWO 101Strategies for Social Good: From Analysis to Action3
This course focuses on social, economic, and structural factors that create and contribute to problems in daily living and explores solutions to foster positive social change. Using social work perspectives, students will engage in reflective assignments, social issue analysis, and solution-identification related to urgent human needs, strengthening communities, and promoting well-being.
SOWO 102Families in Focus: Navigating Challenges, Inspiring Change3
This course examines the social, economic, and policy issues shaping the lives of children and families in North Carolina and beyond. Using a Person-in-Environment framework, students will explore interventions at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to address social complexities and promote family well-being. Through reflective assignments, case studies, group projects, and policy discussions, students will gain an in-depth look at the intersection of policy, practice, and advocacy while connecting students to contemporary issues affecting families.
SOWO 300Human Development in Context I: Infancy to Adolescence3
This course provides an overview of child and adolescent development in an environmental context, using a social work lens to analyze major theoretical frameworks.
Through personal reflexivity and historical/systemic analysis, this course examines dynamics of institutional barriers through a critical theory lens. Students explore implications for social work practice, including professional complicity and resistance.
SOWO 305Human Development in Context II: Adulthood3
This course provides an overview of adult development in environmental and systemic contexts, using social work approaches to the analysis of major developmental frameworks.
SOWO 310Foundations For Evidence-Based Practice & Program Evaluation I3
This course introduces students to the foundational principles of social work research and evidence-based practice. Through critical engagement with research literature, students will learn how to identify, evaluate, and apply empirical evidence to inform ethical and effective social work interventions. Emphasis is placed on research design, community-engaged methods, and the role of data in advancing social work practice. Students will develop core skills in literature review, peer collaboration, and research communication, preparing them for evidence-informed social work practice.
SOWO 315Foundational Aspects of Engagement and Interviewing3
This course explores foundational theories, concepts, and skills related to engagement with individuals, groups, communities, and organizations. Emphasis will be placed on building rapport, reflexivity, critical discourse and dialogue, demonstrating cultural humility, and establishing professional helping relationships across micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
Explores the US social welfare system and its implications for social work practice. Social welfare policies are analyzed, yielding implications for advocacy and action.
SOWO 350From Classroom to Community: Developing Competencies for Practicum Education3
This course prepares students for successful social work practicum experiences by integrating theory and practice through reflection, skill-building, and community-engaged learning.
Variable content. Course examines international social issues, programs, and policies and their impact on client populations and cultures in a particular country or global region.
Course examines social issues, development strategies, health/mental health programs. Explores how country's fledgling democracy and people are redesigning organizations and interventions to respond to the needs of South Africans.
SOWO 410Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice & Program Evaluation II3
This course introduces students to the key components of evaluating interventions, which is necessary for evidence-based practice. These concepts include the scientific method, human ethics, development of research questions, measurement, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. Students will apply the concepts learned in this course to design their own evaluation project of a social work intervention.
In the undergraduate social work practicum, students practice social work knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes within a variety of human service settings.
SOWO 423Undergraduate Social Work Practicum Seminar2
This course assists students in integrating and applying classroom learning with their undergraduate practicum. Opportunities are provided for self-reflection, case presentation, discussion of social work values and ethics in practice, and peer consultation in alignment with standards of our professional accrediting body.
SOWO 440Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups3
This course provides the foundation for social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. It emphasizes basic knowledge, analytic and practice skills, and values necessary for practice.
SOWO 470Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities3
This course introduces students to macro-level social work practice with communities and organizations. Students will build on knowledge and skills gained in SOWO 101 and SOWO 315 to focus on assessment, design, and implementation of interventions with communities, organizations, and broader systems. The course will emphasize the use of evidenced-based, evidence-informed, and participatory approaches to change.
Course examines the role of volunteer involvement and citizen participation in community development, grassroots organizing, advocacy, and other efforts to create a more just and democratic society. Includes a service-learning requirement.
Course examines different types of advocacy strategies and their use in efforts both to enhance the delivery of services to disadvantaged populations and to promote social change in communities.
Participants explore frameworks, values, and skills around the democratic principles of service, citizenship, and social justice. Accompanies an intensive, paid internship in a local nonprofit agency.
SOWO 500Human Development in Context I: Infancy to Adolescence3
This course provides an overview of child and adolescent development in an environmental context, using an anti-oppressive lens to analyze major theoretical frameworks.
Through personal reflexivity and historical/systemic analysis, this course examines dynamics of institutional oppression through a critical theory lens. Students explore implications for social work practice, including professional complicity and resistance.
SOWO 505Human Development in Context II: Adulthood3
This course provides an overview of adult development in environmental and systemic contexts, using critical and anti-oppressive approaches to the analysis of major developmental frameworks.
SOWO 510Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice and Program Evaluation3
Develop knowledge of evidence-based practice, including skills needed to identify, acquire, and assess appropriate interventions for practice and skills required to evaluate their own social work practice.
Students learn generalist competencies and behaviors by demonstrating core knowledge, skills, and values through direct (individuals, families, small groups) and macro (organizations, communities) practice in an agency setting (Field Fee: $300).
A continuation of SOWO 520, students demonstrate an increased knowledge of generalist competencies and behaviors through direct (individuals, families, small groups) and macro (organizations, communities) practice in an agency setting. (Field fee: $300.)
SOWO 522Pre-Specialization Practicum for Advanced Standing Students4
Introduces advanced standing students to specialization competencies and behaviors by demonstrating knowledge, skills, and values in direct (individuals, families, small groups) or macro (organizations, communities) practice in an agency setting. (Field fee: $300.)
Assist students in integrating and applying classroom learning with the generalist practicum. Opportunities are provided for self-reflection, case presentation, discussion of social work values and ethics in practice, and peer consultation in alignment with standards of our professional accrediting body.
Assist students in integrating and applying classroom learning with the generalist practicum. Opportunities are provided for self-reflection, case presentation, discussion of social work values and ethics in practice, and peer consultation in alignment with standards of our professional accrediting body.
Explores the US social welfare system and its implications for social work practice. Social welfare policies are analyzed, yielding implications for advocacy and action.
SOWO 540Social Work Practice with Families, Individuals, and Groups3
Provides the foundation for social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. It emphasizes basic knowledge, analytic and practice skills, and values necessary for practice.
SOWO 570Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities3
This course focuses on developing knowledge and skills in engagement, assessment, and intervention design and implementation within the context of communities, organizations, and broader systems.
SOWO 610Introductory Spanish for Health Professionals3
This course is intended for students who know no Spanish or so little that they feel the need to start over. Students with more than two semesters of college Spanish are not eligible. The course covers the curriculum of first-semester Spanish taught within a health context, with a focus on speaking.
This intermediate course is the equivalent of the third semester of college Spanish. Students will hone their listening and speaking skills in class primarily through role-playing activities and class discussion. Activities center on an original film set in a health clinic in rural North Carolina.
Required preparation, third semester Spanish or equivalent. This advanced course reviews the grammar of the third and fourth semester of college Spanish. Students hone their listening and speaking skills through role-playing activities and class discussion. Activities center on an original film set in a Latino-run health clinic.
SOWO 700Treatment Foundation for Problematic Substance Use and Process Addictions3
Introduces students to the field of problematic substance use and process addiction. Explores historic and current theories of addiction, the key domains of addiction counseling, and applicable ethical and legal considerations.
This course provides an overview of human development in an environmental context, surveying major theoretical frameworks and highlighting the impact of different systems on the development, functioning and health of individuals, families and communities. Course frameworks will include definitions, structural variations, theories, strengths, stressors, and changes that affect functioning needed to carry out practice with clients.
SOWO 705Mental Health Recovery and Psychiatric Rehabilitation1.5
The concept of mental health recovery is introduced, exploring theoretical foundations and lived experiences of consumers. Psychiatric rehabilitation is discussed as a framework and set of interventions supporting recovery.
SOWO 712Foundations for Evidence-based Practice and Program Evaluation1.5
Students will develop knowledge of evidence-based practice, including skills needed to identify, acquire and assess appropriate interventions for practice and basic skills required to evaluate their own social work practice.
Course provides familiarity with legal processes, legal research, and legal analysis within the context of socio-legal issues important to social work practice.
This course addresses foundational understandings of social welfare policies and the institutional oppression of marginalized groups, focusing on core theoretical frameworks and policy analysis skills.
SOWO 740Implementing Evidence-Informed Practice w/ Individuals, Families Groups3
Using a multi-cultural lens, this course introduces students to core evidence-based interventions common to most theoretical approaches. Focus is on building effective direct practice skills applicable across settings and populations.
SOWO 741Integrated Behavioral Health Care with Underserved Populations1.5
This course teaches practical skills for behavioral health care delivered in primary care settings. In this course you will develop expertise in providing brief interventions as part of an interprofessional care team.
SOWO 742The Satir Growth Model: Enhancing Individual, Couple, Family and Organizational Health1.5
This practice course will apply Satir Growth Model interventions to help students facilitate the healthy functioning of individuals, couples, families, and organizations.
In this course, students will learn and apply the universal skills of community change and broad-based community organizing. Students will learn and practice the skills needed to effectively organize communities.
SOWO 745Facilitation Skills Within the Organizational and Community Context1.5
Building from group relations theory, this course develops facilitation skills (e.g., agenda setting, process checking, participatory planning, navigating conflict) to engage culturally diverse task group members to achieve identified objectives.
SOWO 746Autism and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice1.5
This course provides an overview of the core vulnerabilities faced by autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Selected neurodiversity-affirming evidence-based interventions will be reviewed with ASD across contexts. Disability and social justice issues faced by this population will be discussed throughout the course.
This course will use the cognitive behavioral therapy CBT framework to teach students how to move from an assessment to intervention using the CBT model.
This course teaches basic principles of behavior theory and intervention, current applications, and how to assess, design and implement behavior plans for children.
This practice course focuses on interpersonal psychotherapy, an empirically supported intervention for depression in adolescents and adults. Adaptations for other mental health disorders are discussed.
SOWO 758Differential Diagnosis of Mental Health Disorders1.5
This course focuses on the process of conducting a differential diagnosis of mental health and substance use disorders using the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
SOWO 760Clinical Practice with Addictive Disorders3
Students develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes specific to clinical practice with clients experiencing Addictive Disorders. This will include effective interventions in a variety of clinical settings utilizing evidence-based and evolving best-practice methodologies.
SOWO 761Practice with Diverse Populations Affected by Addiction3
This advanced practice course provides an overview of the unique problems and needs of diverse populations living with addictive disorders and focuses on the application of culturally sensitive intervention strategies.
SOWO 764Motivational Interviewing for the Treatment of Addictive and Mental Health Disorders1.5
This course presents the theoretical basis of motivational interviewing (MI), the principles of this counseling approach, and the key strategies for facilitating effective discussions about behavior change with a particular focus on addictive disorders.
SOWO 766Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Theory and Practice1.5
This course provides an introduction to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), exploring both its theoretical underpinnings as well as its practical application.
SOWO 767Differential Diagnosis and Case Formulation3
This course prepares students to take psychiatric histories, conduct mental status examinations, engage in differential diagnosis decision-making using the DSM-5, write mental health reports, and begin case formulation for treatment planning.
SOWO 770Implementing Evidence-Informed Practice with Organizations and Communities3
This course provides an introduction to evidence-informed and best practices for program management. Focus is on building effective organizational and community practice skills in implementing new programs and interventions.
SOWO 772Integrative Bridge Course: Practice Overview1.5
Course is a brief overview of direct and macro practice social work. First half will focus on fundamentals of direct practice with individuals, families and groups and review assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and intervention selection. Second half will review the fundamentals of macro social work practice. Including exposure to methods that groups, organizations and communities utilize to assess communities and address needs of individuals and families, and the impact of interagency functioning on service delivery.
SOWO 790Population Health: Interprofessional Management in a Changing Healthcare System3
This interprofessional education course focuses on preparing healthcare professionals with the foundational skills needed to work in teams to effectively collaborate and coordinate care in population health. Admission to the School of Nursing graduate program or graduate students in any of the Health Affairs Schools with permission of instructor required.
SOWO 792Program Development and Proposal Preparation1.5
In this skills-oriented course, students will learn to apply three approaches to program development and prepare a proposal draft suitable for submission to a foundation or governmental organization.
This course explores community-based efforts and social policies to help lower-income individuals and families build wealth through increased access to financial services and asset-building opportunities.
SOWO 805Social Work Study Abroad: Global Immersion1.5
Examines social issues, development strategies, health problems, and delivery of social services in Ghana and the influence of world view in the conceptualization of and approaches to social problems. Students who partake in this course will gain skills and knowledge relevant to addressing real-world challenges at the direct, mezzo, and macro scopes.
Students apply knowledge of research methods and evidence-based practice to evaluation of social work interventions, by developing and conducting a detailed evaluation of specific social work intervention.
Students learn specialization competencies and behaviors by demonstrating advanced knowledge, skills and values through direct (individuals, families, small groups) OR macro (organizations, communities) practice in an agency setting. (Field fee: $300.)
A continuation of SOWO 820, students demonstrate mastery of specialization competencies and behaviors through direct (individuals, families, small groups) or macro (organizations, communities) practice in an agency setting. (Field fee: $300.)
SOWO 822Online MSW Program Specialization Practicum I4
Online MSW Students learn specialization competencies and behaviors by demonstrating advanced knowledge, skills and values through direct (individuals, families, small groups) or macro (organizations, communities) practice in an agency setting. (Field Fee: $300)
SOWO 823Online MSW Program Specialization Practicum II4
A continuation of SOWO 822, students demonstrate an increased knowledge of specialization competencies and behaviors by demonstrating advanced knowledge, skills, and values through direct or macro practice in an agency. (Field Fee: $300.)
SOWO 824Online MSW Program Specialization Practicum III4
A continuation of SOWO 823, students demonstrate mastery of specialization competencies and behaviors through direct or macro practice in an agency setting. (Field Fee: $300.)
SOWO 831Addiction and Public Policy: Implications for Practice1.5
The course will examine alcohol and drug policies, particularly as they relate to the exacerbation and resolution of health and social inequities for those with substance use disorders.
SOWO 832Child Welfare Policy Practice and Advocacy1.5
This course engages students in the process of child welfare policy practice and advocacy to formulate, analyze, implement, evaluate, and disseminate evidence-informed policies and interventions at all system levels.
SOWO 833Social Work and Policy Practice: Theory, Analysis and Advocacy3
This policy practice course prepares students to become skilled in analyzing, formulating, implementing, and evaluating social welfare policies. The course equips students with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to navigate the complex landscape of social welfare services and advocate for social change through policymaking.
This class will explore decision-making and strategy models that will engage students in the development of practical knowledge and skills in the areas of policy analysis and advocacy.
Course provides students with a framework for advanced policy analysis and strategies for policy change, focusing on national and state poverty policy, focusing on legal, socio-political, and economic factors influencing financing, access, service delivery. Course explores skills and strategies for policy analysis and change.
Examines disparities in health outcomes as a function of access to and quality of care for persons disadvantages by income, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other factors. Critically evaluates health and social policies related to exacerbation and resolution of health inequalities.
Using an advanced policy analysis framework, this course focuses on strategies for policy change, national and state policy, and legal and socio-political factors influencing financing, access, and service delivery.
This course focuses on mental health social work practice with adults, covering assessment and several theoretically based interventions with an emphasis on gaining practice skills.
SOWO 841Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Theory and Practice3
This course presents knowledge and practice theories to understand mental health and well-being in children, adolescents and their families. It emphasizes practice skills and theories relevant to assessment and evidenced-based interventions.
This course fosters understanding of normal aging, illness, and common challenges associated with aging, and also practice skills to treat older adults and their families.
This course focuses on social work practice in healthcare covering the social context of health problems, and the theories and interventions that facilitate prevention of and coping with health problems.
SOWO 851Core Components and Skills for Trauma-informed Practice3
This course facilitates students' acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to effectively use 12 common trauma-informed practice elements in interventions for and the treatment of traumatized children and their families. The course highlights consideration of the impact of trauma, intervention objectives, and the practice elements needed to accomplish the intervention objectives. This course is taught using an inquiry-based learning (IBL) pedagogy to enhance students' engagement and learning using full-length cases that exemplify the diverse clients a clinician might encounter in practice.
This advanced practice elective course covers theories and application of three models of brief psychotherapy. Skill building, critical thinking, and utilization of empirical support are emphasized.
This course focuses on the assessment and treatment of trauma and the impact of violence within the biopsychosocial context. You will learn foundation skills for intervening in direct practice settings with diverse client populations.
This interdisciplinary clinical course addresses issues and practice models relating to terminal illness and bereavement faced throughout the life span.
This comprehensive course explores the fundamentals and advanced strategies of community organizing, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application. Students will learn to analyze power dynamics and engage in effective community-led public action. The curriculum covers relational power, strategic planning, policy advocacy, and ethical considerations, preparing students with skills to engage in sustained grassroots change.
Focus on the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary for effective practice in child welfare. Students examine their own perspectives regarding pertinent research, current events, and initiatives in the state.
SOWO 861Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Essential Practices3
This course offers an introductory exploration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), delving into their theoretical foundations and practical implementation within each model.
SOWO 874Administrative and Management: Theory and Practice3
This course explores contemporary theories, models, and practices for managing human service organizations, emphasizing skills in human resources, leadership, fund management, program implementation, partnerships, equity, organizational change, stakeholder engagement and cultural humility.
SOWO 875Interorganizational and Community-Level Theory and Practice3
This course focuses on social planning, intervention design, and implementation within a complex inter-organizational environment. Theoretical frameworks and historical, sociopolitical and economic contexts of human service delivery systems are discussed.
Examines perspectives and models of sustainable development. Students will analyze a project and present a participatory plan for engaging in sustainable development work.
SOWO 881Development Theory and Practice in Global Settings3
This course is designed to assist students to learn skills, methods, theory, and research in development practice in global settings. Focus is on competent practice with marginalized populations globally.
SOWO 883Marketing and Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations3
This course helps students to develop skills and practices associated with marketing and fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations at the macro level.
An in-depth analysis of the executive role in nonprofit organizations, particularly in leadership transitions, strategic planning, board development, policy administration, governance, employee relations, and resource planning and acquisition.
SOWO 885Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations3
Provides basic financial skills for leaders of nonprofits, including bookkeeping fundamentals, interpreting financial statements, budgeting, cash management and investment, and legal compliance.
SOWO 887Program Design and Proposal Development and Pre-implementation Planning3
Students will learn to develop proposals to fund programs and interventions that address an organizational or social problem or condition and build skills in problem theory, program theory, proposal development, and pre-implementation assessment and planning.
SOWO 900Conceptualizing Social Problems to Inform Interventions3
An application and critical analysis of behavioral and social science theories and theory- driven research for understanding the etiology of social problems for purposes of social intervention.
An introduction to the basic principles of research for planning and evaluating social interventions. Topics include problem formulation, design, measurement, analysis, and the application of findings to theory and practice.
SOWO 911Introduction to Social Statistics and Data Analysis3
Designed to explore basic principles and to provide advanced instruction in data analysis, including the construction and analysis of tables, statistical tests, and an introduction to the use of computer programs.
SOWO 913Advanced Research Methods in Social Intervention3
Students build advanced competence in research design, data collection, data analysis, and statistics by analyzing exemplary social work research and presenting independent learning projects within specialized areas of study.
This course focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in measuring social, psychological, environmental, and other factors related to intervention with individuals, families, groups, and organizations.
SEM is a general statistical method that can be employed to test theoretically derived models. In this course, students will learn fundamental concepts and skills to conduct SEM, and how to apply these techniques to social work and related areas of research.
This course introduces the context and intuition for longitudinal and multilevel models, and the statistical frameworks, analytical tools, and social behavioral applications of multilevel modeling (MLM) and longitudinal analysis.
SOWO 918Applied Regression Analysis and Generalized Linear Models3
Permission of the instructor. This course introduces statistical frameworks, analytical tools, and social behavioral applications of OLS regression model, weighted least-square regression, logistic regression models, and generalized linear models.
SOWO 923Systemic Reviews and Introduction to Meta-Analysis3
This course focuses on conducing and writing systematic reviews in social work and related behavioral/social sciences, as well as an introduction to meta-analysis.
SOWO 924Professional Development Seminar: Navigating Doctoral Studies and Beyond1.5
This seminar-style course seeks to bolster the explicit and implicit curriculum of preparing social work scholars. The course focuses on preparing students for a successful doctoral education experience and individual development of their scholarly identities. The course will also introduce students to specialized knowledge and skills that will allow them to develop and implement a program of research in their future careers. This course is required for first year doctoral students in the School of Social Work. Other doctoral students are welcome to attend sessions of interest with permission from the instructor.
SOWO 940Development of Social Intervention Models3
This PhD-level course focuses on preparing advanced graduate students with the knowledge and skills needed to design and develop interventions that address social needs, problems, and conditions.
This practicum provides a range of supervised classroom or training opportunities designed to prepare advanced doctoral students for faculty positions in undergraduate- and graduate-level social work education.
