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Academics
Social Services Technology

Social Work Assistant

This program is available at the Beavercreek and Springfield - Leffel Lane locations.

Social work education is at the core of the Social Work Assistant program. Social work is devoted to helping people function as well as they can within their environments. Areas of employment include alcohol and drug treatment, children's services, juvenile services, mental health, mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and public assistance. The field placement portion of the curriculum provides 420 hours of supervised learning experiences in local social services agencies.

Practicum Coursework
Students will be billed for liability insurance for the practicum courses. The student are required to receive a criminal background check with in a one year of starting a practicum.

Registration as a Social Work Assistant
Students of this program who have achieved a grade of C or better in all Social Work Assistant courses are eligible to be registered as Social Work Assistant by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board. Graduates are required to complete a criminal background check when applying for the Social Work Assistant Certificate and when applying for positions in social work.

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Outcomes and Curriculum

  • Develop skills in screening, assessing and developing treatment plans for client populations in the social services and/or addictions field.
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate social work and/or addictions theory with practical applications.
  • Adhere to a professional code of ethics and policy/procedural standards in working with clients and coworkers.
  • Complete professional documentation reports, including progress notes, psycho/social histories and mental status evaluations, as well as other professional documentation.
Course Title Credits
Fall
SWK 1100 Introduction to Social Work * 3
SWK 1105 Chemical Dependency I: Pharmacology and Physiology of Psychoactive Substances 3
ENG 1111 English I * 3
FYE 1101 College Success 1
MTH 1060 Business Mathematics ***  
or STT 2640 Elementary Statistics I *** 3
SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology 3
 
Spring
SWK 1122 Social Work Methods and Procedures 3
SWK 1136 Affective Education and Group Treatment 3
ENG 1112 English II 3
PSY 1111 Introduction to Psychology 3
-- Humanities Elective 3
SWK 2205 Chemical Dependency II: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Strategies 3
 
Fall
SWK 2218 Social Work and Mental Health 3
SWK 2230 Introduction to Social Welfare 3
SWK 2260 Multicultural Competence in a Diverse World 3
SWK 2271 Social Services Practicum I **  
or SWK 2272 Social Services Practicum II ** 2
SWK 2291 Social Services Seminar I **  
or SWK 2292 Social Services Seminar II ** 1
 
Spring
SWK 2215 Chemical Dependency III: Co-Occurring Disorders of Addiction and Mental Health 3
SWK 2232 Generalist Practice with Families 3
SWK 2272 Social Services Practicum II **  
or SWK 2271 Social Services Practicum I ** 2
SWK 2292 Social Services Seminar II **  
or SWK 2291 Social Services Seminar I ** 1
BIO 1410 Fundamentals of Biology 4
PSY 2223 Lifespan Human Growth and Development 3
-- Humanities/Social Science Elective 3
 
  Total credit hours 65
* ENG 1111 and SWK 1100 MUST be completed with a C or better before enrolling in additional social service (SWK) courses.

** SWK 2271 Social Work Assistant Practicum I and SWK 2291 Social Work Assistant Seminar I must be taken together. SWK 2272 Social Work Assistant Practicum II and SWK 2292 Social Work Assistant Service Seminar II must be taken together. Students must attend Practicum orientation and have written approval from the field placement instructor in order to be admitted into a practicum course. 

*** Any OT36 math course may satisfy this requirement.

The program schedule is designed for full-time students who have completed all prerequisites and who have no college preparatory recommendations. Many individuals, especially part-time students and those taking college preparatory requirements, will require additional semesters of study. Students should consult their academic advisors for help in planning their schedules.

A complete listing of humanities and social science electives can be found in the Clark State catalog.

Academic Requirements

Persons seeking a career in social services should recognize that to be successful, they must be emotionally stable, creative, and flexible. A social services professional must be able to work effectively with diverse groups of people and individuals with a wide variety of ages, racial and cultural backgrounds, and life situations. ENG 1111 and SWK 1100 must be completed with a grade of C or better before enrolling in additional courses. Students will be expected to meet minimum behavioral expectancies in order to continue in the Social Services program.

Math Requirements
Students should speak with an advisor regarding whether MTH 1060, Business Mathematics, or STT 2640, Elementary Statistics I or an OTM math course should be taken in order to meet the program's math requirement when considering transferring to a university setting to complete their bachelor's degree.

Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate, students must obtain a C or better in all SWK courses and demonstrate professional ethical behavior, effective oral and written communication, professional documentation skills, basic listening skills, and an awareness of personal biases as they affect clients.

Transfer Information

Students enrolled in the Social Work Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree are preparing for employment upon graduation from the program. However, many of these students are also interested in completing a bachelor's degree in Social Work. Some colleges and universities have designed bachelor's completion programs for students who have completed their associate degree in social work. Local programs include:

  • Capital University
  • Wright State University
  • University of Cincinnati

See the transfer section of the catalog and your academic advisor for more information.

Questions? We're here to help!

Tammy Watt Professor, Health Technologies

937-328-3851 wattt@clarkstate.edu