However both are highly recommended and would count toward meeting six credits of the humanities requirements. Again, given the emphasis in the major on ethical underpinnings of social work practice, this content is pertinent and useful. With respect to the natural sciences, there are two courses, one focused on the ecosphere in crisis, the other on biological concepts. The social work profession has a very close tie to the social sciences. A good deal of theoretical content used in social work assessment is derived from disciplines of economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and political science.
Economic theories contribute toward understanding the economic aspects of social policy choices.
Sociologists and psychologists suggest theories of behavior ranging from individual, family, and group to organizational and community levels. Similarly, political science examines power relationships as well as providing a context for understanding policy development through the political process. Anthropologists also influence approaches to assessment of person and community relationships and provide theoretical frameworks which continue to be used by social workers for understanding the impact of culture on human behavior. The history course requirement is of further value for understanding the context of the evolution of the social welfare institution in the western industrialized world and in this country. Bear in mind that all of these courses provide some very basic knowledge for the study of social work and generalist practice.