SUGGESTED HONORS PROJECTS

Why take an honors course in social work?
* Social work draws upon many disciplines, including sociology, psychology, health, communication, political science, economics and anthropology.

* The Master's degree in social work is one of the most marketable degrees in the country, and particularly in Arizona. It is possible to get your master's degree in social work from ASU Main in one year if you apply for this special program when currently in their BSW (Baccalaureate in Social Work) program, and if your GPA is able to gain you acceptance into the ASU Honors College.

* MCC has a two year AA Transfer Partnership Degree, social work major, with ASU Main, which enables you to take your first two years of the BSW here.

* The Intro to Social Welfare SWU271 course fulfills the ASU requirements for Social and Behavioral Science and Historical Awareness, and is suggested as a first course to explore your interest in social work. There is a service-learning option in this course that is strongly encouraged.

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HONORS COURSES ARE GENERALLY BASED ON RESEARCH, WRITING, AND PRESENTING. SPECIFIC HONORS PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO YOUR INTERESTS AND THE COURSE OBJECTIVES, here are some suggestions:

* Interview a social worker from Child Protective Services to gain their perspective on the child abuse and neglect problems in the Valley, and their suggestions for remedies and treatment.

* Interview a professional from the Mesa Gang Intervention Project and request to sit in on a group session with the juvenile and young adult offenders.

* Research the work of Virginia Satir, an MSW who was a great pioneer in the area of marriage and family therapy.

* Attend a meeting of the AZ Alliance for the Mentally Ill and research community resources for the mentally ill.

* Engage in a service learning project of your choice ( I have a list of pre approved sites). If you are already involved in a class service learning project, an added dimension to the project can be developed.

* Attend a meeting of AA or any other self help group for addictions, and research current therapies for addiction issues, or research addiction prevention.

* Attend PFLAG, a self-help group for Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Present to the class on the experience, or further research this and write a paper.

* Research cross-cultural adoptions, and the policies of Native American tribes and the National Association of Black Social Workers, regarding adoption of racial and ethnic minorities.

* Attend a local meeting of Amnesty International or AIPER, and explain the importance of its work in terms of International Social Work and Social Work Ethics.


* Interview someone from AASK, Adoption of Special Needs Kids, about their successes and challenge

* Attend a meeting of the Gray Panthers and research the issues that they think are most important for seniors in the early years of the 21st century, both in AZ and nationally.

* Interview a Transplant Social Worker regarding health needs and challenges facing transplant patients.

* Explore the goals, work and effectiveness of the MAJC, Maricopa Alliance for Juvenile Corrections.