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CONTACT PERSON FOR THE FOLLOWING COURSE INFORMATION:
Jim Vail, College Nursing and Health Sciences, 3-1913, jvail@gmu.edu

New Course for Approval

HSCI 547. Regulatory Requirements for Health Care Systems (3:3:0)
Prerequisites: None
Designed to help healthcare professionals understand the linkages between the infrastructures of the organization and the regulatory/accreditation processes for healthcare organizations. An overview will cover the major accrediting agencies, their roles, the accreditation principles and the survey process. Applications will focus on hospitals, with reference to ambulatory care, managed care organizations, rehabilitation centers, laboratories, home health and long term care facilities. Emphasis will be placed on the requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) and the regulations mandated by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA).

Modified Course for Approval

NURS 690. Independent Study in Nursing (1-3:0:0)
Change to repeatable for up to 6 credits.

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CONTACT PERSON FOR THE FOLLOWING COURSE INFORMATION:
Dee Holisky, College of Arts & Sciences, 3-8721, dholisky@gmu.edu

New Courses for Approval

SOCW 623: Human Behavior and Social Systems I (3:3:0)
Ecological approach to understanding the behavior of individuals, families, and groups within the context of their environments. Integrates and applies theories from psychology, sociology, biology, and anthropology to social work practice with smaller systems.

SOCW 624: Human Behavior and Social Systems II (3:3:0)
Study of the behavior of larger systems including organizations, communities, and society. Applies theoretical concepts to an understanding of the physical environment, social institutions, social structure, culture, formal organizations, communities, and social movements.

SOCW 651: Social Policies, Programs and Services I (3:3:0)
Study of the history of American social welfare policy and the role of the social work profession in responding to human need and promoting social justice. Explores contemporary social policies from across the human service system and examines their implementation by public, nonprofit, and for-profit agencies. Applies alternative policy analysis frameworks to the assessment of policy initiatives.

SOCW 652: Social Policies, Programs and Services II (3:3:0)
Examination of the policy-making process, including research, policy development, lobbying, and implementation. Explores the political process as a context for social change, and the impact of economic, cultural, social, demographic, political, historical, and ideological norms on policy outcomes. Emphasizes the social work role in addressing current social problems by influencing proposed policy responses.

SOCW 657: Integrative Approaches to Social Work Intervention I (3:3:0)
Introduction to the role of social workers as change agents and the core knowledge, values and skills that guide social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations, and communities. Presents and applies various theoretical frameworks, with emphasis on the initial steps in the problem-solving process.

SOCW 658: Integrative Approaches to Social Work Intervention II (3:3:0)
Continuation of social work theory and practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Emphasizes intervention, evaluation, follow-up and termination, with attention to the incorporation of social work knowledge, values, and skills.

SOCW 670: Writing for Professional Practice (3:3:0)
Study of various forms of written communication pertinent to social work practice. Examines the impact of audience, status, culture, and purpose on effective professional writing. Applies rhetorical theory to help students express themselves competently in the kinds of written formats needed for successful practice in diverse settings.

SOCW 671: Research Methods for Social Workers (3:3:0)
Examination of the role of scientific inquiry in social work. Emphasis is on research design and implementation, including construction and use of measurement instruments, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, and application of computer technologies relevant to social work practice.

SOCW 672: Foundation Field Practicum and Seminar I (3 credits)
Supervised social work learning experience in area human service agencies. Students complete two full days per week in a field practicum and attend a monthly seminar in which they share their learning, process their experiences, and integrate theory with practice.

SOCW 673: Foundation Field Practicum and Seminar II (3 credits)
Continuation of the supervised social work learning experience begun in SOCW 672. Students spend two full days per week in a field practicum and attend a monthly seminar in which they share their learning, process their experiences, and integrate theory with practice.

SOCW 675: Selected Topics in Social Work Management (3:3:0)
In-depth study of special topics relevant to social work supervision and administration in public, nonprofit, and for-profit human service agencies.

SOCW 683: Selected Topics in Social Work and Social Change (3:3:0)
Critical examination of special topics related to understanding and improving community and/or societal conditions through policy practice, program development, and social action.

SOCW 684: Children and Youth: Management and Social Change (3:3:0)
Explores the development and implementation of social welfare policies and services for children and youth, including child protection, foster care, adoption, juvenile justice, and education. Emphasis on improving conditions for children through the acquisition of advocacy skills including research, analysis, coalition building, testifying, lobbying, constituent organizing, political strategizing, and media relations.

SOCW 685: Adults: Management and Social Change (3:3:0)
Examines the human service delivery system as it relates to mental health, substance abuse, disabilities, and employment. Focuses on development of supervisory and administrative skills necessary for agency management in these and other fields, including budgeting, personnel, marketing, and risk management.

SOCW 686: Older Adults: Management and Social Change (3:3:0)
Examines issues facing older adults, including health and long-term care, from a program development perspective. Focuses on needs assessment, social planning, resource development, outreach, and program evaluation.

SOCW 687: Family and Community: Management and Social Change (3:3:0)
Targets "community" as the locus for social change. Explores the changing dynamics of families and neighborhoods and their impact on agency services and effective social work intervention. Addresses networking, negotiation, and collaboration; interagency and interprofessional coordination; cultural competency in service delivery; and strategies for social and economic development.

SOCW 688: Advanced Research in Social Work (4:3:1)
Emphasis on program evaluation research, including its purposes and uses, ethical considerations, pragmatic and political considerations; quantitative approaches; qualitative approaches; needs assessment; experimental methods; case studies; program monitoring; quality control and quality assurance; client satisfaction; and outcomes measures and indicators. Students will be involved in conducting program evaluation research, including the use of appropriate computer technology.

SOCW 690: Concentration Field Practicum (6 credits)
Supervised social work learning experience for four full days per week. Students are placed in area public, nonprofit, or for-profit venues reflecting their specific interests in agency supervision, organizational management, community change, electoral politics, and/or social policy.

SOCW 691: Integrative Seminar (2 credits)
Processing of field practicum experiences; analysis of successes and challenges; application of social work knowledge, values, and skills from across the curriculum. Culminates in professional presentations by students.

New Degree Program for Approval

Masters in Social Work

George Mason University has had a successful, nationally accredited undergraduate degree program in social work (BSW) since 1975. Since its inception, the program has graduated approximately 1,200 students. A proposed master's degree ("MSW") was approved by SCHEV in 1980, but implementation was indefinitely postponed due to budget constraints within the University. In light of projected increases in the market demand for social work practitioners, and GMU's own expansion plans, this is the optimal time to reconsider the establishment of such a program.

The proposed 60-credit-hour master's degree would offer all students a comprehensive graduate education in social work, plus an advanced concentration in organizational management and social change. In addition to the traditional student seeking graduate social work training, our program would appeal to professionals already in practice who need managerial skills to advance their careers, as well as those from all disciplines who seek to qualify for the many social policy-related positions that abound in the Washington metropolitan area.

We are projecting an initial enrollment of 35 students in the program's first year (2002-2003) during which only the foundation curriculum will be offered. In the second year, we anticipate a total of 70 students (35 in the foundation year and 35 in the concentration year). In the third year, we anticipate a total of 100 students, reflecting expansion of the existing program plus the addition of advanced standing students (those admitted directly into the second year of the curriculum on the basis of superior prior completion of a BSW degree, as is customary in most MSW programs). Growth beyond the 100 student mark is not anticipated at this time.

The MSW curriculum, as required by the Council on Social Work Education (the accrediting body for schools of social work), consists of a foundation year followed by a year of concentration study. We are proposing the introduction of a single concentration at this time: Organizational Management and Social Change. The proposed curriculum follows (individual course descriptions are located in the Appendix). Required core courses comprise a total of 54 credits (including 12 credits of supervised field practicum); the remaining six credits are elective courses, one of which must be taken within the Social Work department and one of which must be taken from a department other than Social Work.

Year #1: Fall Semester

Year #1: Spring Semester

Summer Semester

One elective to be chosen from:

• SOCW 675 Selected Topics in Social Work Management
• SOCW 676 Selected Topics in Social Work & Social Change

The other elective to be chosen from specific courses identified in consultation with the following departments (500, 600, or 700 level):

• Business Administration
• Psychology
• Communications
• Public Administration
• Conflict Analysis & Resolution
• Public Policy
• Education
• Sociology
• Law
• Statistics
• Nursing/Health Science

Total 6 credits

Year #2: Fall Semester

Year #2: Spring Semester

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