Social work

Social work faculty

Mark A. De Ruyter, M.S.W.

Assistant Professor of Social Work
Director of Social Work Field Education

M.S.W., University of Nebraska
B.A., Northwestern College

712-707-7085
mderuyte@nwciowa.edu
VPH 311 E

Profile

Prior to joining Northwestern's faculty, Professor De Ruyter was a practicing professional social worker in both private not-for-profit and for-profit human service agencies for 15 years. He has experience serving children with mental illness, mental retardation, conduct disorders, physical disabilities, and delinquency and behavioral disorders. He has also worked with victims of abuse and neglect living in residential treatment centers. Other areas of expertise include adults with mental and physical disabilities in community-based programs, family therapy, supervision of family therapists and other social workers, and the management of social service programs and staff teams. Current scholarship interests include the teaching and understanding of social work values and ethics.

Courses
Professional experience
Memberships

Courses

Introduction to Social Work
Introduction to Social Work
This course presents a history of the social work profession and social work practice. It incorporates the major fields of social work and the concepts and theories needed to understand the social, cultural, political, ethical and religious context that provides the ecological framework of social work practice, and it enables a thorough understanding of at-risk populations and of the problems which social work must address. Included are visits to agencies and guest lectures by social workers from the field. A central concern is the Christian's individual and collective responsibility for the health and welfare of fellow human beings.(4 credits)
Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HSBE I)
Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HSBE I)
HBSE focuses on interaction between an individual's development and the functioning of groups, organizations and communities. This course is the foundation course in the human behavior and the social environment sequence to prepare baccalaureate students for general practice. It utilizes the person-in-the-environment perspective to integrate theoretical knowledge and research from the human, biological, psychological and social sciences in understanding human behavior. Human development across the life span within the context of the influence of ethnicity, race, culture, gender, social class, age, sexual orientation and disability is specifically addressed in an attempt to understand human behavior. Prerequisites: PSY111, SWK140, SOC101, or permission of instructor. (4 credits)
Individual/Family Theory & Practice
Individual/Family Theory & Practice
This course examines therapeutic theories and models of directed practice with individuals and family systems. Emphasis is on etiology, diagnosis, and assessment with the application of psychosocial history, treatment plans, crisis intervention plans, and use of diagnostic tools, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (current edition). The course reviews evidence-based research for generalist practice with diverse population groups. Prerequisites: PSY215, SWK140 and 231. (4 credits)
Fundamental Issues in Social Work
Fundamental Issues in Social Work
The intent of this course is to introduce students to the philosophical issues related to social work practice. Areas of study include a critical analysis of the profession's role in society, and the relationships between social work values, its ethical guidelines, its knowledge base and research, and its practice skills. The course concludes with an analysis of the ethical and non-ethical issues facing practitioners and the various approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas.Prerequisites: SWK140, 231, and 370, or permission of instructor.(3 credits)
Social Work Professional Seminar
Social Work Professional Seminar
This course is designed to complement the student's field placement and provide a forum in which to discuss field experiences-work assignments, problems, and ethical and non-ethical issues. The goal for this course is to help students make systematic associations between theory and practice in working with different population groups in various work settings.Prerequisites: SWK370, 376, and 386.(2 credits)
Social Work Practicum
Social Work Practicum
This is a field course which gives students the opportunity to practice generalist social work skills in a professional setting. The field sites are diverse, ranging from child and family services to mental health, community development and school social work. Emphasis is placed on introducing students to diverse ethnic, racial, sex and age-related group lifestyles and orientations.Prerequisites: SWK370, 376 and 386.(10 credits)