SOWK 419: Service-Learning
Prerequisites: Admission to Social Work major or permission of instructor
Credit Hours: (3) Three credits, volunteer experience and monthly seminar
Course provides opportunity for educationally focused community volunteer service experience where students can apply classroom learning, develop leadership skills, explore career options, and advocate for issues that impact the quality of life.
Detailed description of content of course
This course is designed to introduce students to the educational value of volunteer work through involvement in a community volunteer service-learning experience. Students have the opportunity to apply classroom learning, develop leadership skills, explore career options, and advocate for issues that impact the quality of life.
This course provides students with an opportunity to link their classroom experiences to community service through an individually focused learning agreement. This agreement is developed with the faculty, student and service learning provider, outlining expectations and performance standards. Service-learning experiences may be provided in human service organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and educational settings.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:
Concepts of service–learning, volunteerism and values are examined to understand service–learning in theory and practice.
Format – This course will use an educationally focused volunteer experience in a community agency as program as the primary teaching method. A monthly seminar will be utilized to provide an opportunity for students to discuss their service-learning experience.
A learning agreement developed with the community agency or program, the student and the faculty member will identify learning goals and objectives service-learning tasks and assessment measures.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Assessment Measures
The instructor will assess the attainment of course objectives through assignments that evaluate professional knowledge, values, and skills, related to organizational contexts, the application of theoretical frames to guide the service-learning experience, and through participation in community service pertinent to this class. Demonstration of this material may be conveyed via participation in a structured service-learning experience, an organizational paper, and a class presentation.
Other course information
Students with Disabilities : If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Center for Accesibility Services (CAS). The CAS is located in Suites 301-327, Russell Hall. Call the CAS at 540-831-6350. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper CAS forms and meet with the instructor no later than the second week of the semester.
Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of the University Honor Code include (but are not limited to): lying, stealing and unauthorized possession of property, cheating, multiple submission, and plagiarism. This class will be conducted in strict observation of the honor code. Refer to your Student Handbook for a complete copy of the University Honor Code.
In addition to the University Honor Code, students are expected to comply with the NASW Code of Ethics and the Waldron College Standards for Professional Practice. Failure to do so might negatively impact student grades and can result in dismissal from the program. Students are responsible for obtaining and reading the above mentioned code and policy.
Review and Approval
October 2003 New Undergraduate Marilyn A. Rigby, Course Director