SWK 504, Introduction to Rurality

This is a Web-based course taught by Kathleen Belanger, Ph.D.

Instructor Contact Information 
SFA Purple Seal Dr. Kathleen Belanger, Ph.D.
email: kbelanger@sfasu.edu
(936) 468-5105

Course Description
This course introduces students to social work in the rural context. Issues related to social work practice, rural communities, rural behavior, and social welfare policy are presented.

Textbook Requirements
Required Texts:

Belanger, K. & Baker, C. (Eds.). (2002). The crisis in rural child welfare [Special Issue].Child Welfare,81(5), 653-848.

Ginsberg, L., (Ed.). (2005). Social work in rural communities (4th ed.).Alexandria,VA: Council on Social Work Education.

Scales, T. Laine and Streeter, Calvin L. (2004). Rural social work: Building and sustaining community assets. WadsworthPublishing.

PURCHASING TEXTS:  Both the Ginsberg and Scales & Streeter texts should be available in the bookstore or by purchase online from the bookstore.  However, both books were also available 2/15/07 from Amazon.com and other sellers.

The special edition of Child Welfare is available for purchase through the Child Welfare League of America for $25 at the following site:  http://www.cwla.org/pubs/pubdetails.asp?PUBID=8777     However, all of the articles are available through the Steen Library, by clicking Journals at Steen, Child Welfare, and finding vol 81, issue 5.  All articles will be listed, along with page numbers.

Required DVD's:

Belanger, K. (2008). Interviews with Charles Fluharty, M.Div., Kathleen Miller, Ph.D. and Thomas Johnson, Ph.D.

Belanger, K. (2008). Panel Discussion with Charles Fluharty, M.Div., Kathleen Miller, Ph.D., Chris Fulcher, Ph.D. and Kathleen Belanger, Ph.D.

ACQUIRING THE DVD'S:  The DVD's may be acquired from Janet Ivy, School of Social Work (936-468-4020).  While they do not need to be purchased, they must be returned at the end of the semester.


Course Prerequisites
Graduate Standing

Course Format and Participation Requirements
The format for this course includes scheduled assignments and deadlines, offline reading assignments and projects, online readings and participation using web pages, email, discussion boards, and chat. The course includes scheduled online quizzes and exams. The course also requires no scheduled face-to-face meeting except the course final exam. All exams are online except the final, for which students will be required to come to campus.  To be successful in this course, the typical student should plan to spend at least 12-15 hours per week working on this course.

On-campus or Face-to-Face Meeting Requirements
Students will be required to come to campus for the final exam.

Course Assessment

Student learning will be assessed as follows:


Requirement

Due Dates

Total Points
Online Orientation 7/10 10 pts.
2 module Quizzes @ 30 pts. each 7/15, 7/22 60 pts.
1 Discussion @ 10 pts.(on defintions of rural) 7/17 10 pts.
2 Chats @ 10 pts. each (to see how things are going); 7/10 and 7/31 20 pts.
Assignment I: Cultural Competence Powerpoint @ 40 pts. 7/24 40 pts.
Assignment II: Paper @ 80 pts. 8/5 80 pts.
1 Assessment @ 80 pts. 8/8 80 pts.
300 pts. Total

A = 270-300
B = 240-269
C = 210-239
D = 180-209
F = 179 or less

Effort Expected
This is a 3-credit-hour graduate course. You should expect to work 4 to 8 hours per week for each credit hour.  To be successful in this course you should expect to spend about 10-18 hours a week on readings, assignments, discussions, and other activities. This estimate is for the fall and spring semesters; if the course is offered during the summer course, more time per week may be necessary.

Technical Requirements for the Course
Other than the minimum technical requirements for any course, students will need to be able to access assigned websites readily, and will need access to Microsoft PowerPoint to complete one assignment, and access to a DVD player to view required DVD's.

Before the Course Begins

  • Complete the Getting Started area of sfaonline.
  • Register and pay for the course just as you would any other SFA course.
  • As soon as you are registered, please send an email message to the instructor.
  • Carefully read and complete all steps of Getting a myCourses Username and PIN.

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    http://www.oit.sfasu.edu/disted/facsup/f1visa.html

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