Family violence affects everyone, no matter what gender, race, class, age, ability, religion and sexuality. As members of communities, workplaces, schools, and families, we regularly encounter people affected by violence and experience long-term consequences of violence in relationships. It is important to know how to respond not only to the immediate aftermath of intimate partner abuse and child maltreatment, and abuse of elders and vulnerable adults, but also to the more complex needs of family members as they face these issues within our schools, clinics, and workplaces. Participants in the Family Violence Prevention Minor will learn theories and research related to violent behavior, examine relationships between violence in society and violence within families, and explore different professional responses to violence. Elective courses provide students with the opportunity to integrate these concepts into further study either within their major or in other fields of interest.

The Family Violence Prevention Minor is a 15-credit interdisciplinary undergraduate program for students interested in strengthening their educational experience with a research base and a set of practical skills in family violence. Courses are designed to teach students in fields related to social services, education, health care, and other direct service fields about issues related to child abuse and neglect, adult domestic violence, elder abuse, and intergenerational abuse.

Three required foundation courses:

SW 3701 (formerly SW 3706): Introduction to Child Maltreatment and Family Violence, 3 cr's (fulfills CLE Cultural Diversity)
This course is designed as an introduction to the study of family violence across the lifespan. It will introduce students to history, current theories, research, and policies in the areas of child maltreatment and the larger domain of family violence. The content of the course focuses on current theories, research and policies on violence against women (battering, sexual assault, stalking), child maltreatment (physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect) and abuse of vulnerable adults (elderly, non-elderly vulnerable populations). This is the first required course in the Family Violence Prevention Minor. In looking at child maltreatment and family violence, this course identifies the influences of various cultures and families of origin. It also draws on scholarship across race, class and religion. You need to complete it before taking SW 3702.

SW 3702 (formerly SW 3402): Child Maltreatment and Family Violence: Intervention & Prevention, 3 cr's (fulfills CLE Social Sciences)
This interdisciplinary liberal arts course is a comprehensive study of child maltreatment and family violence today. It is intended to offer the undergraduate student a wide breadth of understanding intervention and prevention strategies for child maltreatment and family violence. It will consider individual, familial, and community involvement in both intervention and prevention activities. It will address developing strategies likely to support healthy children, families, and communities. This course builds upon the knowledge students gained in SW 3701, which is a pre-requisite. In looking at child maltreatment and family violence, this course identifies the influences of various cultures and families of origin. It also draws on scholarship across race, class and religion.

SW 3703 (formerly SW 3705): Gender Violence in Global Perspective, 3 cr's
What are the historical and present day perspectives on gender violence throughout the world. How do different cultures interpret and respond to gender violence? This course examines the issue of violence in intimate domestic relationships through multiple lenses. Students will explore gender violence from a human rights perspective and learn about international perspectives on the development and perpetuation of gender violence. This course is approved for the international perspective theme for University of Minnesota undergraduate Students.

• AFRO 3072/5072: Racism: Social & Pschygological Consequences for Black Americans (3 cr's)


• CAPY 5623: Affective Disorders & Suicide in Children and Adolescents (1 cr)


• CAPY 5644: Workshop: Child Albuse/Neglect & childhood Psychopathology - Implications for Assesssment/Treatment (1 cr)


• CSPH 5210: Peacemaking and Spirituality: A Journey Toward Hillean & Strength (3 cr's)


• EPSY 5152: Psychology of Conflict Resolution (3 cr's)


• FSOS 1101: Intimate Relationships (3 cr's)


• FSOS 3426: Alcohol & Druges: Families & Culture (3 cr's)


• FSOS 3104: Global 7 Diverse Families (3 cr's)


• JWST 3521: History of the Holocaust (3 cr's)


• SOC 3102: Introduction to Criminal Behavior & Social Control (3 cr's)


• SOC 3501: Sociology of the Family (3 cr's)


• SOC 4109: Domestic Criminal Violence (3 cr's)


• SOC 4114: The Social Control of Women Offenders (3 cr's)


• SOC 4461: Sociology of Conflict (3 cr's)


• SW 5519: Mediation & Conflict Resolution (3 cr's)


• SW 5525: Globlal Perspectives on Social Welfare, Peace and Justice (3 cr's)


• SW 5706: Issues & Interventions in Child Sexual Abuse (2 cr's)


• SW 5707: Intervention with Battered Women & Their Faimlies (2 cr's)


• SW 5708: Substance Abuse & Social Work (3 cr's)


• YoSt 5322: Work with Youth - Families (2 cr's)

For further information, please contact:
Cindy Pavlowski
Undergraduate Advisor
190A Peters Hall
School of Social Work
College of Education and Human Development
612-624-4290
pavlo002@umn.edu