Introduction to Social Work

Social work is an exciting field and a marketable profession. Social workers make a positive difference in the lives of individuals every day in many different ways. This Professional Certificate program will introduce you to the profession of social work. This program examines the historical development of social work and focuses on the knowledge, values, and skills that characterize the social worker. It provides an orientation to the context for social work, including the diversity of human needs, human services, social policy, and legislation. Services, programs, and career opportunities nationally are discussed throughout.

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and to help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A social worker should not only work with the client to help them through the injustice or to adapt to the injustice but to work towards changing that injustice. Learners will be introduced to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and how to apply and utilize the code to navigate ethical dilemmas and utilize the code in decision-making processes.

Created by a Clinical Professor of Social Work with over 20 years of experience, this certificate program will highlight the positive difference social workers can make in the lives of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities around the world.

Courses under this program:
Course 1: Introduction to Social Work

This course is an introduction to the profession of social work and the human services delivery system. It examines the historical development of social work focusing on the knowledge, values, and skills that characterize the social worker. This course will orient the learner to the context for social work and focus on the foundational frameworks of the profession.

Course 2: Areas of Social Work Practice

This course will orient the learner to the context for social work, including the diversity of human needs, human services, social policy, and legislation. Learners will also gain information about social services, social programs, and career opportunities within rural and urban Alaska, as well as nationally.