You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
B.A. in Social
Work
M.S.W., Master of Social Work
Certificate in Alcohol/Drug Studies
Certificate in
Cross-Cultural Competency
E. Jane Middleton, Chair
John B. Franz, Undergraduate Coordinator
Mitzi Lowe, MSW Admissions
Jane L. Yamaguchi, Graduate Coordinator
Kris I. Clarke
Benjamin Cuellar
Betty J. Garcia
Mark G. Hanna
Donna L. Hardina
Debra M. Harris
Virginia R. Hernandez
M. Lynn Jacobsson
Salvador M. Montana
Anne S. Petrovich
Nocona L. Pewewardy
Richard O. Salsgiver
Roger A. Simpson
Martha Vungkhanching
The profession of social work is dedicated to meeting the diverse social
service needs of special populations of individuals, families, groups, organizations,
and communities. As a practice-oriented profession, social work deals with
social concerns that range from societal oppression to people's emotional/behavioral
problems. The social work practitioner helps at risk populations which typically
include people of color; women; people who are recent refugees; those who
are aged, poor, and/or homeless; children and adults who are abused/neglected;
people who have chronic mental illness; those who are developmentally disabled;
those who have physical illnesses or disabilities; and those who abuse substances
or engage in criminal activities.
In focusing on disadvantaged groups, social workers use a range of traditional
and nontraditional methods to promote well-being, personal growth, and social
justice. These methods include client and systems policy advocacy, brokering,
and consulting, as well as indi-vidual, family, and group counseling/psychotherapy.
Other methods include education, research, and professional supervision.
While the discipline of social work is deeply rooted in a rich, 100-year
history of service, what social workers "do" is no longer traditionally
defined. The role of the social worker is constantly expanding into innovative
service fields wherever a compassionate response to human need is indicated.
The Department of Social Work Education offers two degree programs to educate
beginning and advanced social work practitioners who can meet complex client
needs in a broad range of public and private human service settings and
who can perform in a variety of roles using a multisystems approach. The
Bachelor of Arts degree program prepares students for beginning generalist
social work practice as well as for graduate study in the human service
field, including social work. The Master of Social Work prepares the learner
for autonomous multisystems social work practice as well as for doctoral
study in social work and related human service arenas. Both the B.A. and
the M.S.W. programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The faculty members of the department represent a wide spectrum of theoretical orientations and approaches to professional social work practice. All have substantive practice experience and many engage in active research programs and social policy interests. In addition to the on-campus facilities of the university, the department uses the San Joaquin Valley's unique urban-rural configuration of people, agribusiness and social-political institutions, and the accompanying host of social service needs as the setting for in-the-field learning. Numerous public and private social service agencies in our region make their facilities and professional social work staff available for the internship/practicum element of the department's programs. Internship/practicum experiences are available in the schools and mental health, probation, and social services departments in the counties of Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare. A representative sample of other settings include the California Youth Authority, Community Medical Centers of Central California, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Children's Hospital of Central California, Fresno Unified School District, and Kings County Department of Children and Family Services.
Graduates from the B.A. program typically find employment as social workers
in county or state departments of social services; private agencies offering
individual, group, or community services; and programs addressing issues
such as poverty, mental health, social rehabilitation, and human resources
development. Graduates work with diverse groups of people, including those
who are disabled or aged and those who have special needs. Graduates also
work with those who may be involved with major systems and institutions
such as public social services and government assistance, health care, corrections,
or education.
M.S.W. graduates continue to work with the above groups. They can expect
to assume additional responsibilities and engage in more advanced clinical
practice, case management, training, administration, program devel-opment,
or policy making/administrative practice in a broad spectrum of human service
organizations.
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook 2005-2006
projects the employment of social workers to increase. In July 2006, the
Wall Street Journal listed social work among its eight best careers.
Special mention must be made regarding increased job opportunities in child
welfare, mental health, substance abuse programs, school systems, and services
for elders, as well as increased opportunities in serving rural areas.
Social Work Education Courses