SCWK - Social Work

In the foundation year curriculum, students learn the Generalist Practice Model of social work. This course is the first of two practice courses, and students will learn the history and mission of the profession, the code of ethics, and practice skills used with individuals and families. Specifically, students will learn the social work processes of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. The course focuses on the acquisition of specific skills needed in the design and implementation of support, education and counseling services for individuals and families. Students are introduced to the principles and practices of working with individuals and families from the biopsychosocial perspective and Person-in-Environment framework. The emphasis of this course is on the development of foundation level practice skills, characterized by the utilization of multiple theories to explain problems in social functioning and change processes within different agency contexts.

This course introduces students to biopsychosocial development across the lifespan. Theories of human development and the social environment are explored to further understanding of social work practice related to engagement, assessment, and intervention.  A range of theories are introduced to understand the complexity of human behavior.  Attention is given to the context of human development related to culture, race, class, and other social systems. Theories examined include psychodynamic, psychosocial, cognitive, behavioral, family systems, and others.

This course examines the social work profession’s commitment to social justice and service through an exploration of diversity, oppression and privilege. Rooted in the person-in-environment perspective and empowerment practices, this course examines the personal, institutional and structural nature of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, classism, and other forms of oppression. The concept of cultural humility will be explored, allowing students to develop the capacity to understand the cultural experiences of diverse groups. Course content, structure, and learning activities are designed to enhance personal and professional self-awareness in order to develop the knowledge, values, and skills required for culturally sensitive social work practice.

This course examines the history of social welfare programs, social welfare problems, and current social welfare programs. The course focuses on the role of economic and political ideology and its influence on the development of social welfare programs and social work practice. Recognizing that social workers need to be informed practitioners and citizens, the course contextualizes the social situations that clients navigate.
              

The Field Placement & Seminars I and II, two courses over the academic year, provides an opportunity for students to process and integrate knowledge and affective learning to skill development. Classroom knowledge and field experiences provide the content of the course in the development of generalist practice skills. Students apply knowledge related to the social work processes of engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation to examples for their field agencies. Social work values and ethics, issues of diversity and justice, and context of practice are examined in the course.

Through a generalist practice perspective, students explore groups, including committees, teams, and advisory boards. Students learn about the roles and functions of the group leader. Theories and methods of change with organizations and communities are introduced through the application of social work processes of engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation.

This class provides a framework for identifying human behavior within the context of maladaptive patterns of psychological functioning. Emphasis is placed on major forms of psychopathology, while encouraging students to identify client strengths. This course introduces students to the DSM V and social worker’s role in the diagnosis of psychopathology as part of a multidisciplinary team.

This course is designed to prepare students to become competent evaluators of their own practice, to become critical consumers of research in the social and behavioral sciences, and to generate knowledge using quantitative and qualitative methods. Students learn foundational research skills and statistical analysis methods. Students understand their ethical obligations related to research.

The Field Placement & Seminars I and II, two courses over the academic year, provides an opportunity for students to process and integrate knowledge and affective learning to skill development. Classroom knowledge and field experiences provide the content of the course in the development of generalist practice skills. Students apply knowledge related to the social work processes of engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation to examples for their field agencies. Social work values and ethics, issues of diversity and justice, and context of practice are examined in the course.

A defining feature of a profession is a code of ethics. This course explores the mission and history of the social work profession. An exploration of the NASW Code of Ethics to understand the values underlying the profession, the purpose of the Code of Ethics, and the ethical principles and standards is undertaken. The complex nature of social work practice means that social work practitioners will face ethical decisions and dilemmas in all contexts of practice and at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. This course provides a framework for ethical decision-making, deepening the student's understanding of personal and professional values, analyzing the conflict, applying philosophical worldview, and determining the ethical practice. The increasingly complex nature of technology and its impact on social work practice is considered.

This advanced level practice course focuses on the clinical skills needed to work with older adults. Contextualized through a review of the historical treatment of older adults, the course explores social service programs designed to aid older adults. Students will understand the biopsychosocial functioning of older adults and critically examine and apply theories to explain, assess, and intervene with older adults. Using the Person-in-Environment framework, the course examines psychological, physical, and social functioning of older adults and treatment options, including individual, family, and group interventions to address the needs of older adults.

This advanced practice course focus on social work treatment and psychotherapy with adults. The structure of psychotherapy is presented and an exploration of effective communication is explored. The role of a therapeutic alliance and engagement in creating a trusting relationship for assessment and intervention is presented. Narrative therapy is explored as a specific model of treatment.

This course focuses on learning about clinical social work with children and adolescents, and their families. This advanced practice course focuses on the social work processes of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Students will learn a variety of modalities to work with children and adolescents. The social context of children and adolescents live in will be considered. Additionally, the context of practice or agency setting will be explored.

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to plan and design evaluations, understand various types of program evaluations, use quantitative and qualitative methods, and explore cost benefit analysis. Students will understand various methods of evaluation research, critically analyze multiple approaches, and propose an evaluation study.

This course examines psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theory as they have evolved over time. Beginning with classic psychoanalytic theory, the course additionally covers ego psychology, object relations theories, self-psychology, intersubjectivity, and feminist scholarship. Consideration is given to race and culture related to psychodynamic theories. This course builds on the knowledge from foundation year human behavior courses, providing an in-depth exploration of psychodynamic theories.

This course teaches students the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage, lead and supervise in an agency setting. Building on foundation year skills, this advanced year course explores strategic planning, effective management, seeking funding, leadership, and administrative and clinical supervision. The content provides students the knowledge, values and ethics, and skills to work in a supervisory position in a human services agency.

This course builds on the foundation social welfare policy course, exploring in greater depth social policy impacting adults and older adults in society. Students concentrating with Adults and Older Adults take this advanced policy course to further their understanding of federal, state, and local laws and policies and systems that effect clients at the macro level. The course explores the purpose of policies, incidence and prevalence of social problems, and strategies to enhance policies leading to increased well-being for adults and older adults. The course examines issues of social justice and human rights.

This course builds on the foundation social welfare policy course, exploring in greater depth social policy impacting children and families in society. Students concentrating with Children and Adolescents take this advanced policy course to further their understanding of federal, state, and local laws and policies and systems that effect clients at the macro level. The course explores the purpose of policies, incidence and prevalence of social problems, and strategies to enhance policies leading to increase resilience in children and adolescents. Based in a risk and resilience model, the course examines issues of social justice and human rights

This course builds on the foundation knowledge from human behavior and practices classes in the foundation year. The course explores the theoretical underpinning of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and teaches students the knowledge and skills necessary for clinical social work practice. Students explore the use of CBT throughout the therapeutic process, from engagement, assessment, and intervention. Finally, students learn how to evaluate practice when using this approach.

This course examines the history of interventions with families within a social context. Students will learn to assess family functioning using an ecological systems approach. Models of family therapy are explored, teaching students the skills of intervention. The changing structure of families is examined in relationship to families headed by same sex couples, single parents, and race, ethnicity and culture.

This is the first course in a two-semester sequence that provides an opportunity for students to integrate advanced year social work course content and field internship experiences.
In the advanced year students are placed in field internships which are consistent with their chosen population concentration. The integrative seminar is taken concurrently with the field placement, and prepares students to integrate skills learned in chosen theory and practice courses with their field experience. The seminar provides a forum for the sharing of clinical cases and practice experiences, the development of peer supervision skills, and increased critical thinking and problem solving capacities. The clinical seminars, discussions, and class assignments provide the students opportunities to gain professional and peer feedback regarding the application of clinical social work to clinical practice.

This is the second course in a two-semester sequence that provides an opportunity for students to integrate advanced year social work course content and field internship experiences.
In the advanced year students are placed in field internships which are consistent with their chosen population concentration. The integrative seminar is taken concurrently with the field placement, and prepares students to integrate skills learned in chosen theory and practice courses with their field experience. The seminar provides a forum for the sharing of clinical cases and practice experiences, the development of peer supervision skills, and increased critical thinking and problem solving capacities. The clinical seminars, discussions, and class assignments provide the students opportunities to gain professional and peer feedback regarding the application of clinical social work to clinical practice.