Courses
Social Administration
5001/0440. HBSE: Individuals and Families (3 s.h.)
Foundation level course in theories in human behavior designed to under gird social work practice with individuals and families. Diverse developmental theories along with psychoanalytic, social learning, cognitive-behavioral, theories of power, womanist and Africcentric perspectives will be studied and critically evaluated.
5002/0441. HBSE: Groups, Communities and Organizations (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: SA 5001/440.
Foundation level course in theories in human behavior designed to under gird social work practice with groups, organizations and communities. Diverse structures, functions, dynamics, developmental models and theories of these system levels including issues of power and empowerment will be studied and critically evaluated.
5003/0420. Introduction to Social Research I (3 s.h.)
An introduction to the philosophy, concepts, principles, and methods of traditional and postmodern scientific inquiry. Students will study quantitative and qualitative approaches and will develop a research proposal to be carried out in the second research course.
5004/0421. Social Work Research Methods II (3 s.h.)
This is the second introductory course in a two course sequence (SA5003/420 & 5004/421) in research methods designed to provide graduate social work students with a basic understanding of social work research. Students will build on their understanding of the research process covered in SA 5003/420. Basic program evaluation concepts will be covered. Students will learn quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques and the importance of using both qualitative and quantitative techniques to evaluate programs and direct practice with individuals, families and groups. Basic descriptive, inferential and multivariate techniques will be covered, as will qualitative analysis methods. Students will continue to use and critically consume and apply interpret professional literature to social work practice situations.
5005/0401. Social Welfare Policies and Services I (3 s.h.)
An introduction to American social welfare policies and social service programs in their historical, political, economic and social context. Methods of social problem analysis. The social work profession as a social institution.
5006/0402. Social Welfare Policies and Services II (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Social Administration 5005/401.
A continuation of Social Administration 5005/401. Methods of social policy analysis and advocacy in the public policy arena, including skills in argumentation and lobbying.
5107/0413. Practice of Social Service Delivery I (3 s.h.)
Focus on generalist social work practice, including work with individuals, families, small groups, communities, and organizations. Phases of the helping process, theories of practice, communication skills, social work values and ethics are studied.
5108/0414. Practice of Social Service Delivery II (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: SA 5107/413.
A continuation of Social Administration 5107/413, focusing on refinement of and competence in generalist social work practice.
5187/0450. Foundation Field Practicum I (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Co-requisite: SA 5107/413.
The student works within a generalist social work framework to develop basic competencies in key knowledge, skill, and affect arenas. This generalist framework includes: a broad range of knowledge and skills, theories and models; practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels; performance in numerous social work roles; and understanding the various fields of practice.
Foundation year field practicum; fall semester.
5188/0451. Foundation Field Practicum II (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Co-requisite: SA 5108/414.
A continuation of Social Administration 5187/450.
Foundation year field practicum; spring semester.
5301/0429. Foundations for Advanced Social Work Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Advanced Standing program.
Foundation social work content designed specifically for advanced standing students. Integration of social welfare policy, research, social work practice, human behavior theory and field.
8101/0639. Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups I (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402, 5107/413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5003/420, 5004/421.
This is the first course in a year long sequence of two courses that comprise the clinical concentration practice curriculum. Students learn guidelines for evidence based practice and develop a multicultural perspective of clinical social work practice with individuals, families and groups. It provides more depth and breadth in the evidence base for selection of effective theoretical frameworks that support collaborative interventions with vulnerable and diverse populations.
Advanced practice course for students in the Clinical concentration.
8102/0640. Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups II (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 8101/639.
This course is a continuation of SA 8101/639; it continues to develop advanced practice skills and knowledge with individuals, families and groups. Students will further develop self-awareness, use of self and recognition of feelings evoked in relation to the helping process.
This course is a continuation of SA 8101/639
8103/0642. Management and Planning Practice I (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402, 5107/413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5003/420, 5004/421.
Building on student’s foundation learning, this first half of a two-semester sequence focuses on the understanding of inter-related disciplines: planning, management, and organizations. Students will learn to apply various models and theories in an ever changing political, economic, and global environment.
Advanced level practice course for students in the Management and Planning concentration.
8104/0643. Management and Planning Practice II (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 8103/642.
A continuation of Social Administration 8103/642.
8105/0645. Practice in Communities and Policy Arenas I: Assessment and Planning (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5107/413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5003/420, 5004/421, 5005/401, 5006/402.
Focus on practice in the public sector; provides students with the advanced skills necessary to conduct assessments and analyses that they will use for planning, implantation, and evaluation in organizations, communities, and policy arenas.
An advanced level course for students in the Communities and Policy Arenas concentration.
8106/0646. Practice in Communities and Policy Arenas II: Intervention in Communities/Policy (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 8105/645.
This two semester course provides students with the advanced skills necessary to understand, and differentially apply models and methods of community organizing, community development and change. Students will learn to conduct assessments and analyses used for planning, implementation, and evaluation in communities and policy arenas. The explicit focus of this course is practice in the public sector. Students will learn concepts and strategic approaches related to practicing in these settings, including the concepts of economic, political, and cultural rights; social justice; social transformation; power; empowerment; participatory democracy; and the strengths approach to practice.
8187/0550. Advanced Field Practicum I (3 s.h.)
Competences in clinical practice concentration; management & planning concentration; or communities and policy arenas concentration; and by selected specialization
This is the first semester of a two semester internship in which the student will gain greater depth in knowledge and skills for his/ her choice of concentration, and increased familiarity with a chosen field of practice (specialization).
Advanced year; service delivery; fall semester.
8188/0551. Advanced Field Practicum II (3 s.h.)
A continuation of Social Administration 8187/550.
Advanced year; service delivery; spring semester.
8205/0641. Evaluation of Clinical Practice (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402, 5107/413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5003/420, 5004/421.
This is a required advanced curriculum course for students in the clinical concentration. It provides students with tools of practice evaluation and to provide learning experiences of formal evaluation of student’s individual work with individuals, families and groups. It also reviews methods of evaluation of direct practice at both individual and program levels.
Advanced level research course for students in the Clinical concentration.
8207/0647. Social Work Research: Communities and Policy Arenas and Management/Planning
(3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5107/413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5005/401, 5006/402, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5003/420, 5004/421.
Focus on the history and philosophies, conceptual approaches, techniques and methods, and issues in practice and utilization of research applied to communities, organizations, social programs, and policies. It will provide students with the skills to carry out research designed to support human rights through community and/or policy assessment, planning and intervention.
Advanced research course for students in the Management and Planning and Communities and Policy Arenas concentrations.
8303/0634. Dynamics of Health, Health Care, and Health Systems (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5001/440, 5002/441.
One of three required for students pursuing a specialization in Health/Mental Health; focus on Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) content relevant to health and mental health social work practice at all systems levels. Students will study the effects of bio-psycho-social, familial, organizational, economic, and cultural variables on the definition, incidence, prevalence, experience, treatment, and prevention of chronic and acute conditions, particularly those prevalent among oppressed populations.
An advanced level course for students in the health/mental health specialization.
8307/0635. Health/Mental Health Policy (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402.
This course examines historical and current issues in health/mental health policy, including the United States’ health care system (i.e., managed care, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) as well as international comparisons. Insurance, access to care and differential health/mental health outcomes will be studied.
An advanced level policy course for students in the Health/Mental Health policy specialization.
8309/0633. Social Work Practice in Health and Mental Health (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5107/ 413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5005/401, 5006/402, 5003/420, 5004/421.
One of three required for students pursuing a specialization in Health/Mental Health; focus on social work practice in communities and institutional settings. Students will learn and apply assessment and intervention skills to the challenges of acute and chronic illness experience from the perspective of their concentration. Issues specific to health and mental health will be addressed, but the focus will be on those common to both.
An advanced level course for students in the health/mental health specialization.
8403/0637. Children and Families in the Social Environment (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5001/440, 5002/441.
This course is designed to develop students’ understanding of children within the context of families and other socializing institutions. Children and families will be viewed from an ecological and systems perspective (in the context of families, communities, schools, organizations).
An advanced level human behavior and social environment course for students in the Children and Families specialization.
8407/0638. Policy on Families and Children (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402.
An overview of polices that impact families, children, and youth in the United States. These three policy areas, although distinct, are integrally related. The challenge of creating effective social policies for families, children and youth is the focus of this course.
Advanced level policy course for students in the Children and Families specialization.
8409/0636. Advanced Practice with Children and Families (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402, 5107/413, 5108/414, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5003/420, 5004/421.
This course examines a range of service provision (prevention, remediation, intervention). Content will contain materials to develop critical analytical skills at clinical, administrative and community levels that contribute to working with families and children who are vulnerable to or experiencing multi-stressors.
Advanced level practice course for students in the Children and Families specialization.
8504/0648. Integrative Seminar (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: 5005/401, 5006/402, 5107/413, 5108/414, 5187/450, 5188/451, 5001/440, 5002/441, 5003/420, 5004/421, first semester of advanced practice course and field practicum.
Provides an opportunity for students from all concentrations and specializations, individually and in teams, to identify and critically examine major ethical/legal as well as practice concerns facing the profession. The course is designed to enhance self-awareness and self-confidence through the integration of knowledge, skills, and values learned throughout the MSW program.
8801/0644. Financial Management (3 s.h.)
In a global society for human service management, financial resources are competitive and limited. Moreover, the funders (government, private corporations, and the public) demand greater accountability on the part of agencies. Administrators of social work organizations need to become knowledgeable and skillful as fiscal and program managers. This course is designed to prepare students to use resource acquisition as well as risk and cost management techniques to become effective administrators. This course is designed to complement and support the administration courses by focusing on the financial management aspects of integrated program planning and budgeting. Topics covered will include resource expenditure (budget development, fiscal management, risk management, cost analysis and control, financial and IRS reporting) and resource acquisition (fund raising, capital campaigns, use of grants, performance-based and other services contracting, diversification of income sources, entrepreneurial options). Students will develop ethical decision making practices with regard to resource allocation that enables each student to develop a professional sense of accountability.
8802/0710. Women & Social Policy (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Prerequisites: SA 5005/401 and SA 5006/402.
This course examines policy issues that have a major influence on the agency and well-being of women. It identifies values, attitudes, and belief systems about females that have contributed both to the problems women and girls experience and to the conceptualization and implementation of related policy responses in political, social, and economic areas. Policy areas covered include: economic status, labor force participation, family, care giving, reproduction, substance abuse, violence, health, mental health, and international issues affecting women
8803/0410. Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (3 s.h.)
Study of emotional, social, behavioral and developmental disorders that are prevalent during childhood. Risk factors, developmental pathways, co-occurring conditions and effective treatment approaches are studied.
8804/426. Social Work with the Homeless (3 s.h.)
This course provides a framework for the analysis of social policies and programs related to the social problems of homelessness in the United States. Although the focus of the course is on contemporary issues of homelessness, the approach includes an historical perspective in order to explore the enduring legacy of early interventions and approaches to the relief and social control of marginalized populations. The implications of differing viewpoints and alternative problem definitions for policy and service delivery are considered. The course explores shifts in housing policies. Additionally, employment programs are discussed in some detail to demonstrate their impact on the increasing numbers of Americans who are homeless.
8807/0455. HIV/AIDS and Social Work (3 s.h.)
An overview of knowledge, skills, values and policy issues related to prevention and service delivery with HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons.
8809/0621. Child Welfare Policy (3 s.h.)
An overview of social welfare policies affecting children with particular attention to the problems of child abuse and neglect. (Child Welfare Certificate Requirement.)
8811/0585. Alcohol and Substance Abuse (3 s.h.)
This course provides students with current information about alcohol and other substance abuse. Using ecosystems and family systems frameworks, information is presented regarding the bio-psycho-social impact of alcohol and other substance abuse on individual and family functioning. Particular attention is given to treatment options and resources for change.
8813/0517. Societal Responses to Aging (3 s.h.)
Explores public and private resources, the need for social and political action, the network of services to meet the needs of individuals and their families, present policies and practice in income maintenance, health, housing, safety, and social status. Public-private sponsorship, cost, accountability, benefit levels and administration. Student social action projects completed and expanded.
8814/0519. Loss and Grief (3 s.h.)
This course examines the dynamics of loss and mourning, societal attitudes about death, and cultural variations in dealing with loss.
8815/0425. Law and the Practice of Human Services (3 s.h.)
Consideration of various legal issues as they pertain to the practice of social work.
8818/0545. Supervision, Staff Development, and Training (3 s.h.)
Examines sources of power in organizational hierarchies, alternative formats for organizational development, and supervisory and staff development practices.
8821/0593. Afrocentric Social Work (3 s.h.)
A consideration of the unique aspects of Afrocentric practice in the social work/social welfare arena.
8822/0612. Interdisciplinary Responses to Child Abuse (3 s.h.)
Focuses on child abuse and neglect; topics include consequences of abuse, legal controls, ethical issues in reporting abuse, ethnic and cultural issues, and interdisciplinary intervention. (Child Welfare Certificate Requirement.)
8823/0617. Psychodynamics of Race, Class and Culture (3 s.h.)
Focuses on psychodynamic dimensions unique to particular cultural and socioeconomic groups, and their relationship to social work practice.
8824/0628. Assessment and the DSM IV (3 s.h.)
The focus is on using the DSM-IV as an assessment tool and the implications for social work practice. A bio-psycho-social approach to understanding human behavior is taken.
8831/0575. Social Transformation (3 s.h.)
An exploration of social transformation theories and practices in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and other uncategorized ventures for a different world. Topics selected by students range from art therapy to nonviolent civil disobedience. Emphasizes participatory learning and practical application in social work settings.
9182/0499. Individual Study (3 s.h.)
An independent course of study in an area of special interest. A faculty facilitator and the student work together to identify the content and design learning opportunities.
9282/0599. Independent Study (3 s.h.)
An independent course of study in an area of special interest. A faculty facilitator and the student work together to identify the content and design learning opportunities.