Department of Social Work and Gerontology

Social Work
Gerontology

Department Chair: Mark Bigler
Location: Social Science Building, Room 140
Telephone Contact: Jamie Luna, 801-626-6157
Professor: Mark Bigler, Associate Professors: Kerry Kennedy-Pressey, Corina Segovia Tadehara; Assistant Professor: Barrett Bonella; Instructors: Kristina Moleni, Steve Vigil

Social Work

The goal of social work education at every level is for students to integrate the knowledge, skills, and values of the profession into a generalist practice framework. Social work education takes place in four year undergraduate and two-year graduate programs and leads to professional degrees at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, respectively. These levels of education differ from each other in the level of knowledge and skill they expect students to synthesize in practice competence. These distinctions and the discretion provided by the tradition of academic freedom contribute to the desired uniqueness of each program. The Social Work program at Weber State University is accredited at the baccalaureate level by the Council on Social Work Education.

Social Work is a self-regulating profession with sanction from public, private and voluntary auspices. Through all its roles and functions and multiple settings, social work is based on knowledge and competence in evidence-based practice skills, and is guided by professional values and ethics. With its central focus on the transactions between people and their environments, social work uses research and theory from social, behavioral, and biological sciences as well as from social work practice itself, developing a unique perspective on the human condition.

Sound curriculum designs give the educational program the integrated focus inherent in the profession’s enduring philosophical base. This ensures historical continuity and provides a stable framework from which to assess and incorporate practice innovations, emerging knowledge, and interdisciplinary exchanges. This combination of curricular stability and flexibility is essential if the program is to respond effectively to changing social forces and provide leadership in the profession’s ongoing quest for progressive social change.

It is, therefore, essential that all professional social workers have in common knowledge, skills, and values that are generally transferable from one setting, population group, geographic area, or problem to another.

The Social Work program is designed to: (1) prepare students for generalist entry-level social work practice; (2) prepare students for graduate social work education; (3) prepare students to take the Social Service Worker licensing examination; (4) provide a liberal, interdisciplinary learning experience to help students in their understanding of and adjustment to living in a democratic society; and (5) provide continuing educational opportunities for baccalaureate and paraprofessional social welfare providers.

Gerontology

Gerontology is the multi-disciplinary study of the processes of aging from conception to death with special focus on the later life cycle and the problems associated with aging and the aged in society. Individuals working in the field of aging need a broad range of knowledge that transcends a single academic discipline. The Gerontology Program at Weber State University is designed to: (1) provide preparation for employment in both the private and public sector including working with senior citizen centers, nutrition programs, housing projects, long-term care facilities, state and local aging programs, Hospice, research, senior volunteer programs, job services, retirement planning and other age-related employment; (2) provide continuing education for job enrichment and preparation for persons already in the aging employment sector through consultation, workshops and academic courses to enhance career opportunities; (3) provide general education courses designed to assist students in understanding and dealing with older persons within their family and society at large; (4) encourage students to go directly into aging employment and/or to seek graduate degrees in gerontology or related fields leading to positions in national, regional and local aging network sectors.

Note: No new majors are being accepted in this program at this time. However, the minor, BIS emphasis, and non-degree certificate programs are active and available.

Courses

Social Work and Gerontology Course Descriptions

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Social Work (BA)

Bachelor of Science

Emphasis Option for Bachelor of Integrated Studies

BIS emphases are also offered for most programs with a minor.

Minor

Gerontology Minor

Honors, Departmental

Certification

Gerontology Non-degree Certification