University of North Texas

Undergraduate Catalog 2005-2006 Bulletin

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Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions

Main Office
Chilton Hall, 218
P.O. Box 311456
Denton, TX 76203-1456
(940) 565-2488
Fax:(940) 565-3960

Web site: www.unt.edu/rswa

Paul Leung, Chair
Shane Koch, Director of Undergraduate Rehabilitation Program
Harriet Cohen, Director of Social Work Program

Faculty

Professors Leung, Quinn. Associate Professors Barton, Bodenhamer-Davis, Evenson, Holloway, Isom, Williamson. Assistant Professors Cohen, Koch, Sandel, Thomas. Lecturers Flores.

Introduction

The Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions offers a graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling. Undergraduate degrees are offered in rehabilitation studies (BS) and in social work (BSW). In addition, a minor and a certificate in substance abuse and addictions are available.

Upon graduation, students are qualified for positions in a variety of human service settings, including mental health centers, hospitals, mental retardation programs, rehabilitation programs, child welfare settings, correctional facilities, aging programs, community living facilities, private nonprofit human service programs and alcohol and drug abuse programs, among others. Labor market trends forecast continued growth in human service professions. The undergraduate degrees also prepare students for entry into graduate programs in rehabilitation or social work, often with advanced standing.

The department’s undergraduate programs are structured to meet the needs and interests of students transferring from community colleges. Transfer students receive close advising to facilitate articulation.

Extensive practical experience in community placements is combined with comprehensive classroom curricula to build an in-depth and well-rounded program. A low faculty/student ratio allows students to receive highly individualized academic support from instructors. A PACS degree program adviser plays a significant role in the development of a degree plan that meets the individual student’s needs and interests.

Social work majors are eligible to take the examination for licensure as a social worker by the State of Texas. Students completing either degree program can meet the educational portion of the requirements for licensure as a chemical dependency counselor.

Programs of Study

The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:

• Bachelor of Science with a major in rehabilitation studies;
• Bachelor of Social Work;
• Master of Science with a major in rehabilitation counseling.

The department also offers minors in human services, rehabilitation studies, and substance abuse and addictions, as well as a certificate in addictions.

Rehabilitation

Bachelor of Science with a Major in Rehabilitation Studies

The Bachelor of Science with a major in rehabilitation studies is approved by the Undergraduate Rehabilitation Registry [Council on Rehabilitation Education, 1835 Rohlwing Rd., Suite E, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008, (847) 394-1785].

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in rehabilitation studies must meet the following requirements:

1. Hours Required and General School Requirements: A minimum of 124 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Public Affairs and Community Service requirements.

2. Major Requirements: Major of 39 hours, including 21 hours in rehabilitation studies, plus 3 hours of course work in addictions (RHAB 4450 is recommended for all majors); 3 hours of RHAB 4860, Professionalism and Leadership; RHAB 4880, Practicum in Rehabilitation; RHAB 3500 or PSYC 3620; PSYC 4610.

3. Other Course Requirements: Students are advised to take:

• PSYC 1630;
• a biology course with content in body systems; and
• a course on cultural diversity in the United States as a part of the University Core Curriculum requirements.

If these recommended courses are not taken to fulfill university core requirements, they must be taken elsewhere in the degree plan.

4. Minor: Minor of 18 hours, of which 6 must be advanced, may be selected with the approval of the academic adviser. Students are advised to give careful consideration to career goals when selecting their minor area of study. A minor is not required.

5. Electives: Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement and/or the minimum total hours (124) required for the degree.

6. Other Requirements:

• Minimum overall grade point average of 2.3 is required for graduation.

Students interested in majoring in rehabilitation studies should make an appointment with the under-graduate program director for an initial interview, which will provide information about the program and its appropriateness for that student. Upon admission into the program, the student is assigned an academic adviser. The student works with that adviser in the development of a degree plan and throughout the academic program until graduation.

Minor in Human Services

Human services is an emerging professional identity and there is a high demand for trained human service workers in many settings.

A minor in human services requires the completion of RHAB 3000 and SOWK 1450, plus four courses selected from the following: RHAB 3050, 3100, 3200, 3400, 3900, 4100, 4450, and SOWK 2430, 3500, 3870 or 4540. Students must take courses from at least two of the following areas: social work, addictions and rehabilitation studies.

Minor in Rehabilitation Studies

Because of its compatibility with other human service fields, rehabilitation provides an appropriate minor for students majoring in such areas as psychology, social work, recreation, aging, health education and criminal justice. A minor in rehabilitation is composed of RHAB 3100, 3200, 4700, plus three other rehabilitation courses selected by the student and the adviser.

Minor in Substance Abuse and Addictions

The minor in substance abuse and addictions is designed for students interested in working with persons experiencing addictive disorders. The minor may fulfill the educational requirements for licensure as a chemical dependency counselor. Courses cover all levels of alcohol and drug use, as well as other behavioral addictions; their symptomology, social impact, prevention and treatment. The minor consists of the following courses: RHAB 3050, 3900, 4125, 4150, 4250 or 4050 and 4350. Substitutions can be arranged by the program coordinator.

Scholarships

Students majoring in rehabilitation studies are eligible to apply for the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Fort Worth Chapter Texas Rehabilitation Association and the Ken Miner Memorial scholarships, available only to undergraduate and graduate students in the rehabilitation program. Students interested in applying for these scholarships should contact the director of the rehabilitation program.

Graduate Degrees

The department offers a degree program leading to the Master of Science with a major in rehabilitation counseling. For complete information, consult the Graduate Catalog.

Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work degree program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education [1725 Duke Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314-3457; (703) 683-8080].

Application to the Major and Pre-Major Courses

Students may indicate an intention of majoring in social work at any point during the early part of their academic career by declaring a pre-social work major. They may consult with social work and College of Public Affairs and Community Service advisers regarding degree requirements at any time. However, formal acceptance into the social work major occurs only after completion of the designated pre-major courses, completion of a term-by-term (semester-by-semester) course plan with the social work adviser, and submission and approval of a formal application for admission. Applications to the major are due on approximately the 30th calendar day of the term/semester in which pre-major courses are in process or are completed. Applications are accepted during the fall and spring terms/semesters only. The number of available slots is limited, so admission may be restricted. An application form and instructions are available in the social work office. Students must adhere to the program’s course sequencing and prerequisite
schedule. The 12-credit-hour block practicum is offered during the fall and spring terms/semesters and requires approximately 32-35 hours per week in an agency over the term/semester, for a total of no less than 420 hours.

Pre-major courses include: SOWK 1450 and 2430 (both with a minimum grade of C), SOCI 1520, BIOL 1110/1115 and PSYC 1630.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Social Work must meet the following requirements:

1. Hours Required and General School Requirements: A minimum of 124 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work degree as specified in the “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Public Affairs and Community Service requirements.

2. Major Requirements: Major of 55 hours in Social Work and related required courses.

3. Other Course Requirements: Follow social work course sequencing for the final five terms/semesters before graduation (other courses may be taken during these terms/semesters as well as the indicated social work courses):

Fifth Term/Semester Before Graduation: Finish pre-major courses (SOWK 1450, 2430; SOCI 1420; BIOL 1110/1115; PSYC 1630), obtain a degree plan from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service adviser, obtain term-by-term (semester-by-semester) plan from social work program adviser and apply to program.

Fourth Term/Semester Before Graduation: SOWK 3500, 3800, 3870 and 4540.

Third Term/Semester Before Graduation: SOWK 4500, 4800 and 4880.

Second Term/Semester Before Graduation: SOWK 4430 and 4810.

Term/Semester Student Plans to Graduate: SOWK 4870 and 4875.

4. Minor: None required.

5. Electives: Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement (42) and/or the minimum total hours (124) required for the degree.

6. Other Requirements:

• Must make formal application for acceptance to the program;
• Must have a minimum grade of C in all social work courses;
• Must have a minimum 2.25 GPA;
• Must adhere to program policies and course sequencing;
• Must adhere to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and State of Texas codes of ethics.

A suggested arrangement of courses follows. This is merely a suggested outline. In many cases the student will be able to take courses other than those listed.

Graduate Degrees

Although a major in social work is not offered at the graduate level, graduate courses in social work are offered and may be taken as supporting work at the master’s or doctoral level. Descriptions of social work graduate courses may be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Courses of Instruction

All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.

Course and Subject Guide

The “Course and Subject Guide,” found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.