SOWK 432 is Liberty's undergraduate course in social work with aging adults. Its written work is a community resources project on local services for older adults (with a focus on churches), a 3 to 5-page bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment from an interview with an older relative, an advance directive form, a 1 to 2-page legislative advocacy fact sheet sent to a representative, and three forums.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as SOWK 432 Social Work with Aging Adults, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as SOWK432.
What SOWK 432 covers
The catalog description: This course is designed to introduce students to the knowledge, values, and skills associated with working with an older population of clients. Topics will include the effects of aging on physical, mental, and emotional processes as well as socio-cultural, spiritual, and environmental considerations.
The course introduces the knowledge, values and skills for working with older clients, including the effects of aging on physical, mental and emotional processes and sociocultural, spiritual and environmental considerations. The text is McInnis-Dittrich, Social Work with Older Adults: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Assessment and Intervention.
Seven quizzes (140 points) and the final exam (100 points) have no guide here. Each week after Week 1 runs Tuesday to Monday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: McInnis-Dittrich, Social Work with Older Adults (2014). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
SOWK 432 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 70 | Thread 350 to 450 words; replies 150 to 250 words |
| 2 | Community Resources Project | 175 | Not set in the guide; follow the project instructions |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 70 | Thread 350 to 450 words; replies 150 to 250 words |
| 4 | Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Assessment | 150 | 3 to 5 pages |
| 5 | Advance Directives Assignment | 100 | Not set in the guide; complete the form |
| 6 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 70 | Thread 350 to 450 words; replies 150 to 250 words |
| 7 | Legislative Advocacy Paper | 125 | 1 to 2 pages |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 350 to 450-word thread on social work with older adults, then two 150 to 250-word replies. How to write SOWK 432 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Community Resources Project
A brochure, pamphlet, website, presentation or paper on local services for older adults across the continuum of care, with funding information and a focus on churches. How to write SOWK 432 Week 2 Community Resources Project.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 350 to 450-word thread on social work with older adults, then two 150 to 250-word replies. How to write SOWK 432 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 4: Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Assessment
A 3 to 5-page assessment of an older family member over 55, interviewed by you, using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model. How to write SOWK 432 Week 4 Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Assessment.
Week 5: Advance Directives Assignment
Complete and submit an advance directive form from the AARP website stating your own end-of-life treatment wishes. How to write SOWK 432 Week 5 Advance Directives Assignment.
Week 6: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 350 to 450-word thread on social work with older adults, then two 150 to 250-word replies. How to write SOWK 432 Week 6 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 7: Legislative Advocacy Paper
A 1 to 2-page fact sheet on a current mezzo or macro issue affecting older adults, with 4 references, emailed to a local representative. How to write SOWK 432 Week 7 Legislative Advocacy Paper.
How SOWK 432 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The three forums are 70 each (210), the community resources project 175, the bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment 150, the advance directives assignment 100, the legislative advocacy paper 125, quizzes 140, the final exam 100 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 210 |
| Community Resources Project | 175 |
| Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Assessment | 150 |
| Advance Directives Assignment | 100 |
| Legislative Advocacy Paper | 125 |
| Quizzes (7) | 140 |
| Final Exam | 100 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 900 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach SOWK 432
Arrange an interview with an older family member over 55 before Week 4 for the bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment.
Start collecting local resources for older adults in Week 1; the community resources project is due in Week 2.
Questions students ask
What is the SOWK 432 community resources project?
A brochure, pamphlet, website, presentation or paper on local resources for older adults across the continuum of care, defining each service, how it serves older adults or families and how it is funded, with at least 4 references including the text and a detailed focus on how local churches help.
What is the SOWK 432 bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment?
A 3 to 5-page paper assessing an older family member over 55, interviewed by you, using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model, with emphasis on activities of daily living, spirituality, social functioning and environmental safety.
Working through SOWK 432 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.