Social Work, MSW

SWK-500 FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (3 Credits)

This course introduces graduate students to the social work profession via the NASW Code of Ethics, a strengths-based and ecological systems perspective, and empowerment framework. It addresses foundation knowledge, values, and skills driving professional generalist social work practice across client populations and client systems. By exploring the history and values of the social work profession, diverse ways in which practitioners serve individuals, families, communities, and society, and emphasis on human rights, equity, and inclusion, the course serves as a strong contributor to the students understanding of the profession.

SWK-502 HUMAN BEHAVIOR & THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I (3 Credits)

This course examines how biological concepts and social science theories influence human behavior in the context of the social environment. Graduate students will focus on human development from the pre-pregnancy period through late adulthood. Within the bio-psychosocial-spiritual context of the person, each stage of development is explored from various theoretical perspectives and emphasis is given to the importance of understanding how discrimination and oppression affects human development and behavior. This course is first part of two required human behavior and social environment courses.

SWK-503 HUMAN BEHAVIOR & THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II (3 Credits)

This course focuses of theories within the context of groups, organizations, and communities in relation to the environment. Building on the theoretical content in SWK 502, this course continues the integration of theories that explain human behavior in the larger ecological context. Graduate students will analyze theories related to groups, organizations and communities and will apply concepts related to social justice, social movements, and frameworks to understand how to facilitate change to redress dynamics of discrimination and oppression.

SWK-510 SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTIONS I (3 Credits)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the knowledge, values, and skills needed for effective, evidence-informed social work practice with individuals. Guided by a trauma-informed and social justice lens, the course focuses on engagement, assessment, mutual goal setting, effective interventions, evaluation, and termination. Fundamental skills of the helping relationship, including professional and ethical behavior and anti-racist and inclusive practices will be introduced.

SWK-513 SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTIONS II (3 Credits)

Group work is a fundamental aspect of generalist social work practice. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to theoretical and practical approaches to group work. Through a generalist perspective, students will learn about the stages of group work, task and treatment groups, roles and function of the group facilitator, mutual aid, empowerment, shared decision making, and group work with diverse, vulnerable, and oppressed groups.

SWK-515 COMMUNITY & ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICE (3 Credits)

This course builds the student's understanding of macro level social work practice. Students will learn how to critically assess communities, organizations, and systems; apply effective advocacy skills aimed at collective action and capacity building; develop empowering interventions at the macro level; and evaluate macro practice. The course provides students with critical analysis of reciprocal dynamics between various entities and individuals. Application of skills learned will be demonstrated in a needs assessment.

SWK-524 CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY (3 Credits)

This course examines social welfare issues, the U.S. system of social welfare, and its interrelationships with direct practice and the delivery of services. This course focuses on social policy content that shapes social programming and impacts social work practice. The course introduces a conceptual social justice framework and provides analyses of contemporary social policy issues through the lense of values and power. Through critical inquiry, students will become knowledgable about social policy's impact on human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

SWK-525 SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH METHODS (3 Credits)

Engagement in critical evaluation of social work practice is a fundamental skill across practice settings and roles. In this course, students will be provided with an overview of the scientific method in social work, including research paradigms, designs, and methods at the micro, mezzo, and macro level. Students will learn how to critically appraise the empirical research in an ethical, culturally informed, and trauma-informed manner.

SWK-581 FOUNDATION PRACTICUM SEMINAR I (3 Credits)

This is the first course in a two-part course sequence designed to provide graduate students the opportunity to develop and integrate foundational knowledge, skills, values and cognitive and affective processes within a classroom and human services agency-based setting. Students are required to complete 200 hours across 14 weeks (14-15 hours per week) in a pre-approved social service agency. This experiential learning opportunity, guided by professional supervision, familiarizes the student with the agency setting, social worker's role in the setting, and foundational social work practice skills. No credit will be given for only one semester of practicum work.

SWK-582 FOUNDATION PRACTICUM SEMINAR II (3 Credits)

This is the second course in a two-part course sequence designed to provide graduate students the opportunity to develop and integrate foundational knowledge, skills, values and cognitive and affective processes within a classroom and human services agency-based setting. Students are required to complete 200 hours across 14 weeks (14-15 hours per week) in the same agency setting they were in for SWK 520. This experiential learning opportunity provides the student with an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in their foundation courses. No credit will be given for only one semester of practicum work.

SWK-603 ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (3 Credits)

This course focuses on the role and impact of oppression on diverse populations and service delivery systems. Through the examination of theoretical frameworks related to dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression, students, will develop knowledge and skills to enhance their ability work effectively with diverse populations. Emphasis is placed on learning anti-racist strategies to dismantle oppressive systems, use of clinical practice as a platform for advocacy efforts, and engagement and empowerment of client systems for diversity and equity inclusion at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

SWK-604 SOCIAL POLICY, JUSTICE & THE LAW (3 Credits)

The course introduces students to two powerful systems creating policy around social welfare and mental health: the legislative and judicial system. Information on the structure, composition, and function of these systems, along with various forces that influence them, such as lobbyists, activists, social movements, religious groups, and wealthy benefactors is provided. Case examples will demonstrate how the two systems work (independently and in partnership). Through case examples, students will learn how legislative and judicial decision impact clinical social work practice and how social workers can impact legislative and judicial decisions.

SWK-605 APPLIED SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH & EVALUATION (3 Credits)

In this course, students will learn how evidence-based practice and evidence informed decision making in clinical practice can improve the effectiveness, efficiency, credibility, and ethical adherence of interventions and programming. This course is intended to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in clinical research and program evaluation that informs service delivery, measures treatment progress, and can serve as the basis of organization funding. Students have the opportunity to apply research strategies in a clinical setting, including conceptualization, design, implementation, analysis, and reporting.

SWK-610 CLINICAL PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS (3 Credits)

This course focuses on theories and skills for effective, ethical, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed practice with individuals. Clinical practice skills critical to the therapeutic process, including engagement, interviewing, termination, self-awareness, analytical inquiry, intersecting identities, and the therapeutic relationship will be examined.

SWK-614 TRAUMA INFORMED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (3 Credits)

This course is intended to provide students with the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes necessary to effectively and compassionately engage in clinical practice with trauma survivors and their family across the life span. The course begins with an overview of the types of trauma that can occur and its impact on the individual and family. Building off this foundation, the course covers the evidence-based and evidence-informed assessment and clinical treatment of trauma survivors and family members of trauma survivors. Considerations in the therapeutic relationship will also be addressed

SWK-616 CLINICAL PRACTICE WITH FAMILIES (3 Credits)

This course is intended to provide students with the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes necessary to effectively and compassionately engage in clinical practice with diverse family structures. Grounded in the values of the social work profession, this course examines the various stages of family development, challenges they face, strengths and capacities they possess, and the interactive influence with their environments. An emphasis on family system theories guides the student in their assessment and intervention work with family systems.

SWK-624 INTEGRATED CLINICAL ASSESSMENT & DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS (3 Credits)

This course is intended to provide students with the knowledge, skills, values, and cognitive and affective abilities to conduct diagnostic assessments in a range of clinical settings and roles. Students will learn how to effectively assess issues of diversity that may impact a client's well-being and functioning, including differential manifestation and presentations. Discriminative selection and application of standardized assessment tools used to measure a client's functioning and change will be discussed. A focus on ethical and anti-oppressive considerations associated with diagnosing and labeling individuals with a psychiatric disorder will occur.

SWK-625 HUMAN SEXUALITY & SOCIAL WORK (3 Credits)

Sexuality is a core component of the human experience. As such, understanding how it is conceptualized, experienced, and expressed within (and influenced by) mezzo and macro systems is critical. This course is intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support and work with individuals of diverse sexual identities, gender identities, expressions, and experiences across the life span. The course will focus on definitions surrounding sexuality, beliefs and values about sexuality, the impact of family, culture, social, and political values, and ethics of social work practice. Students will expand their understanding of diverse sexual values, expression, and behaviors in client systems as well as their own sexual values and biases. The course will use a trauma-informed, inclusive perspective when discussing clinical assessment and practice skills.

SWK-681 ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICUM SEMINAR III (3 Credits)

This is the first course in a two-part course sequence designed to provide graduate students the opportunity to develop and integrate advanced clinical knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes within a preapproved social service agency setting. Through the completion of 250 hours across 14 weeks (17-18 hours per week) students work toward applying and developing their clinical skills. The coupling of experiential practice with classroom learning opportunities supports the student's integration of professional knowledge, values, and skills, self-reflection, and problem solving. No credit will be given for only one semester of practicum work.

SWK-682 ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICUM SEMINAR IV (3 Credits)

This is the second course in a two-part course sequence designed to provide graduate students the opportunity to develop and integrate advanced clinical knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes within a preapproved social service agency setting. Students are required to complete 250 hours across 14 weeks (17-18 hours per week) in the same agency setting they were in for SWK 681. This experiential learning opportunity intends to prepare the student for independent clinical practice upon graduation. No credit will be given for only one semester of practicum work.