m.s.w. course offerings
Check Banner Web for the most up-to-date course listings.
-
CLINICAL CONCENTRATION
-
SOCIAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION
-
ELECTIVES SYLLABI AND COURSE MATERIALS
MASTERS PROGRAM - CLINICAL CONCENTRATION
SWK 512 - CHILD WELFARE POLICIES AND PRACTICE
The child's rights, the child and the family, the child and the court, neglect and abuse, advocacy, foster care, and adoption are explored.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 510 and matriculation.
SWK 516/517 - SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY: AGING & HEALTHCARE
This course is intended to provide the student with information and experience in developing the necessary skills for analyzing, modifying, and/or formulating social policy at the local agency, community, inter-organizational, state or regional levels and to utilize evidence-based research for policy analysis and change. The course is intended to assist practitioners in performing their professional responsibility for analyzing, presenting and shaping policy when it negatively impacts upon their clients.
This may involve developing and implementing new policies, standards, and regulations for an agency or service system; obtaining data about unmet needs or negative effects of policies; taking an issue outside of an agency for public notice or action; organizing and participating in citizens and professional groups and coalitions for legislative change; participating in public, political processes, and testifying before legislative bodies in regard to proposed welfare legislation.
The instructor will attempt to instruct practitioners on how to present analysis both orally and in writing, concentrating on the presentation of oral testimony, development of position statements, so that the practitioner can present his/her policy position convincingly and coherently.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 510 and matriculated social work students only.
SWK 518 - SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
It is essential that social work students specializing in mental health and substance abuse develop a capacity to make linkages between mental health/substance abuse issues that individual clients face with macro level concerns. This course equips practitioners with learning tools to enable them to formulate, analyze, and modify social policy from colonial times to the present with cross-cultural comparisons to other societies. Current issues and ways that practitioners may influence policy will be stressed.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 510 and matriculated social work students only.
SWK 523 - CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN
This course complements the Child and Family Specialization courses in Advanced Direct Practice. The focus of this course will be on social work theory, practice skills, and values essential for practice with children. Particular emphasis will be given to children at risk, vulnerable children, and children coming from a range of different family systems and institutions (i.e., foster care, residential care, etc.).
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Matriculated social work students or departmental permission.
SWK 530 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
This course will examine the challenges and opportunities of social work practice in educational settings. Development of assessment, engagement, and micro-, mezzo-, and macro-intervention skills with a variety of school constituencies will be emphasized. This includes work with children and adolescents, parents, educators, support staff and administrators, and community resources. The course will focus on issues that emerge in schools settings with particular attention to the non-academic barriers to educational performance and pro social development. The conceptual framework of the course is characterized by core themes, direct practice modalities, and a wide range of intervention techniques.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Six graduate social work credits or departmental permission.
SWK 540 - ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICE WITH ELDERS
Knowledge, skills, methods needed to demonstrate effective clinical practice with elders.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 571.
SWK 542 - ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICE IN MEDICAL AND REHABILITATIVE CARE
Knowledge, skills, methods needed to demonstrate effective clinical practice with elders.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 571.
SWK 545 - ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS
This course builds advanced generic social work knowledge, skills and values. It focuses on the integration of clinical social work theories and practice skills with individuals within their family systems . Particular emphasis is given to the special needs of vulnerable populations and diverse ethnic groups.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 571. Co-requisite: SWK 572 or SWK 573
SWK 548 - ADVANCED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH FAMILIES
Social workers provide varied services to families with special needs, vulnerable families, and families from diverse, ethnic backgrounds. This course provides students with skills, concepts, knowledge, and values from a social work perspective for the purposes of assessment and various strategies of intervention with families.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 545 and SWK 571.
SWK 549 - ADVANCED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH LATER LIFE FAMILIES
This course expands on the further development of social work skills, principles, and values necessary for gerontological practice addressed in SWK 540. The focus of this course is on an overview of families during later life. Social, philosophical, psychological, moral, historical and spiritual perspectives will be utilized to analyze adult child/elder parent relationships, marital relationships, and sibling relationships and extended kin relationships. Sociocultural influences on family functioning will be examined. Adaptive and non-adaptive changes to family restructuring during later life will be explored. Strategies of gerontological social work family interventions will be examined.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 540 and SWK 571 Co-requisite: SWK 573
SWK 552 - HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Identify and understand etiology, symptoms and course of psychiatric disorders. Impact of biopsychosocial variables, genetic factors, and human diversity on onset and course of psychopathology will be studied.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 521 - Social Work Practice with Alcoholic and Chemically Dependent Individuals and Families
SWK 550 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I or department permission.
SWK 556 - ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
This course will cover principles and practices of community mental health/substance abuse (MH/SA) work that will enhance students' specialized knowledge and skills to work with persons of this client population and their families. This course expands on foundation level, generalist social work skills by covering principles, practices, and values addressed in foundation level courses, such as the integration seminar, and in field work. The focus of this course is on developing advanced-level social work practice skills and methods, with an appropriate application of social work theory, to different MH/SA practice settings.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 521 and 532. Matriculated social work students only.
Co-requisite: SWK 572
SWK 559 - CURRENT ISSUES IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
This course will explore innovative community care approaches as well as emerging trends for working with persons with severe and prolonged mental disorder in the field of community mental health. This course will emphasize social work intervention using psychosocial rehabilitation approaches for individuals and families seeking services from public mental health agencies.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to matriculated Social Work Students only.
SWK 565 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS AND CONDITIONS
The focus of this course is to prepare students for work in the health care field, and to expand social worker's clinical skills so as to be able to address, with clinical understanding and effectiveness, the biopsychosocial-spiritual treatment needs of patients and their families/significant others, who are dealing with chronic health issues. Emphasis is placed on assessment, development of therapeutic interventions that reflect the uniqueness of the patient/family and the diagnosis, and the understanding of and skill in working within and with a complex medical system. The course integrates the ecological and psychosocial models into the work done with patients and families. Appreciation of the influences of culture, family systems, and the health care systems on patient and family is incorporated into the course material. Since most patients and families who experience a chronic illness also suffer psychologically, the course will focus on developing the clinical skills of the student to be skilled in helping patients and family members adapt to the stresses of diagnosis and treatment within our complex health care system. To achieve this goal, a broad range of counseling modalities and therapeutic techniques are utilized.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Matriculated SWK student; SWK 532 - Theory & Practice I - The Life Model.
Co-requisite: SWK 572 or SWK 573.
SWK 566 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN BRIEF TREATMENT MODELS
This advanced social work course will provide the student with an understanding of brief treatment models of therapy and their application to social work practice. There will also be an emphasis on their effectiveness by social workers within managed care settings.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
SWK 532, 570 and 571. Co-requisite: SWK 573
SWK 567 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS
This course will explore the different types of crises that are experienced by individuals, families and groups. The emphasis will be on assessing both developmental and situational crises and applying appropriate levels of intervention strategies.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
None. Elective credit. Co-requisite: SWK 572.
SWK 572/573 - PRACTICUM III & IV AND RESEARCH PROJECT SPECIALIZATION - CHILDREN & FAMILIES
The student of the clinical concentration will be prepared during the first year for the foundations of generalist social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, communities and organizations. Preparation for a broad range of professional roles, tasks, and processes will be emphasized.
The focus of the second year will be preparation for advanced interpersonal practice with an emphasis on prevention. Problems of client growth, development, rehabilitation, and maintenance will be addressed by direct intervention skills and service delivery strategies. Evaluation competency will be stressed. The practicum will emphasize demonstrated generalist competence at a more sophisticated level and specialist expertise in clinical interventions with individuals, groups and families.
Attention is given to continued rapid social change, racism, sexism, and the pervasive social and economic problems which have accelerated the distress within families.
The weekly seminar is designed to guide students in discussion of ways to integrate theory and practice, to develop strategies to improve field performance, to tap the expertise of peers and the field seminar instructor and to learn to use assessment and feedback to further their own professional development. Written seminar assignments are focused on social work practice and evaluation competencies. The seminar is taught by a faculty member who serves as a liaison to the student's field agency and field instructor.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Second year standing and registered in Advanced Practice course.
SWK 572/573 - PRACTICUM III & IV AND RESEARCH PROJECT
SPECIALIZATION - ELDERS & FAMILIES
The student of the clinical concentration will be prepared during the first year for the foundations of generalist social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, communities and organizations. Preparation for a broad range of professional roles, tasks, and processes will be emphasized.
The focus of the second year will be preparation for advanced interpersonal practice with an emphasis on prevention. Problems of client growth, development, rehabilitation, and maintenance will be addressed by direct intervention skills and service delivery strategies. Evaluation competency will be stressed. The practicum will emphasize demonstrated generalist competence at a more sophisticated level and specialist expertise in clinical interventions with individuals, groups and families.
Attention is given to continued rapid social change, racism, sexism, and the pervasive social and economic problems which have accelerated the distress of families.
The weekly seminar is designed to guide students in discussion of ways to integrate theory and practice, to develop strategies to improve field performance, to tap the expertise of peers and the field seminar instructor and to learn to use assessment and feedback to further their own professional development. Written seminar assignments are focused on social work practice and evaluation competencies. The seminar is taught by a faculty member who serves as a liaison to the student's field agency and field instructor.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Second year standing and registered in Advanced Practice course.
SWK 572/573 - PRACTICUM III & IV AND RESEARCH PROJECT
SPECIALIZATION - COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The student of the clinical concentration will be prepared during the first year for the foundations of generalist social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, communities and organizations. Preparation for a broad range of professional roles, tasks, and processes will be emphasized.
The focus of the second year will be preparation for advanced interpersonal practice with an emphasis on prevention. Problems of client growth, development, rehabilitation, and maintenance will be addressed by direct intervention skills and service delivery strategies. Evaluation competency will be stressed. The practicum will emphasize demonstrated generalist competence at a more sophisticated level and specialist expertise in clinical interventions with individuals, groups and families.
Attention is given to continued rapid social change, racism, sexism, and the pervasive social and economic problems which have accelerated the distress within families.
The weekly seminar is designed to guide students in discussion of ways to integrate theory and practice, to develop strategies to improve field performance, to tap the expertise of peers and the field seminar instructor and to learn to use assessment and feedback to further their own professional development. Written seminar assignments are focused on social work practice and evaluation competencies. The seminar is taught by a faculty member who serves as a liaison to the student's field agency and field instructor.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Second year standing and registered in Advanced Practice course.
SWK 572/573 - PRACTICUM III & IV AND RESEARCH PROJECT
CONCENTRATION - SOCIAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT
The student of the social service management concentration will be prepared during the first year for the foundations of generalist social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, communities and organizations. Preparation for a broad range of professional roles, tasks, and processes will be emphasized.
The focus of the second year will be preparation for advanced practice with an emphasis on social service management. The practicum will emphasize demonstrated generalist competence at a more sophisticated level and specialist expertise in social service management interventions with individuals, groups and families. Students are trained in a wide variety of macro intervention strategies and methodologies that are designed to relieve distress among individuals and to improve the functioning of agencies and organizations.
Attention is given to continued rapid social change, racism, sexism, and the pervasive social and economic problems, which have accelerated the distress within families.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Second year standing and registered in advanced courses.
MASTERS PROGRAM
SOCIAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION
SWK 536 - SOCIAL WELFARE MANAGEMENT I (PROGRAM DESIGN)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Social Welfare Management I is a three credits and required course for all students enrolled in the Masters of Social Work program's Social Service Management concentration.
This course is designed as the initial course for all students in the concentration and provides an introduction to social work management as a method of practice within a theoretical framework for understanding the role and responsibilities of a culturally competent social welfare administrator/planner. Basic practice skills are identified as planning and policy setting (both within one organization and in the larger community); decision-making; managing personnel, programs, and budgets; maintaining inter-organizational linkages; monitoring organizational activities and maintaining clear communications between the institutional, managerial and technical levels of an organization. Practice skills will be developed through simulations and other experiences in application of the theoretical knowledge base as part of this course.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 537 - SUPERVISION AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Components of effective social work supervision: administrative, educational, and supportive; skill development, assessing performance, accountability technologies, and managing socio-political relationships. Recommended also for students in social service development concentration or urban management.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 538 - SOCIAL WELFARE PLANNING
Social Welfare Planning is a 3 hour-credit and required course for all students enrolled in the Masters of Social Work program's Social Service Management Concentration and Masters of Urban Studies Urban Management Concentration. This course covers the foundations of social welfare policy analysis, social welfare planning, strategic planning, and program implementation. It concentrates on helping students to develop a procedural grasp of the formulation of policies, the development of policy plans, and the implementation of policy and plans. Content will include: program and policy analysis, models of social planning, administrative and management theory, service coordination and management as well as needs assessment technology, and information needs for social planning.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 583 - INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES MANAGEMENT
The Information Systems for Human Service Management course is designed to provide knowledge of management information systems design and implementation. Students are expected to understand and design basic information systems for administrative practice.
This course also builds upon your basic knowledge of organizations and uses this knowledge to help you understand how to design an information system. The intent is to develop a management information system which can indeed serve as the broad base of back-ground (historic) and current data on organizations, services, outputs, and outcomes which can be integrated into evaluative research studies for policy, program and/or service effectiveness questions.
This course will show how both profit and non-profit organizations design and use information systems to solve organizational problems, using critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Students will learn to analyze and define an organizational problem and design an appropriate solution. Solutions typically require students to visualize a new information system application.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Social work students are expected to have completed SWK 510 Social Welfare Policies & Delivery System or URB 552 Public Policy and Analysis, and SWK 560 Social Welfare Policy & Evaluation. Permission can also be granted by the instructor.
SWK 584 - NON PROFIT FISCAL MANAGEMENT
The purpose of this course to provide students with a basic knowledge of the fiscal tools and knowledge they will need to manage and to understand to engage in the management of budgets and budgetary systems in human service organizations. This course will provide an opportunity for social service management students to learn about nonprofit budgeting and cost items affecting the financial management systems governmental and non-profit organizations.
The course is designed for those students who have neither a financial nor accounting background, but still need a basic understanding of fiscal management, budgeting, and financial control.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
MASTERS PROGRAM
ELECTIVES SYLLABI AND COURSE MATERIALS
SWK 513 - SOCIAL WORK AND LAW
Laws and legal processes that have an impact on social work practice; the role of the courts, client rights, and the discretionary authority of human service agencies. Basic law relevant to the social worker's interaction with clients learning a fundamental knowledge of constitutional, civil and criminal law giving the student a greater appreciation for the social work process, not just the legal process.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 535 - MEDIATION FOR HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS
This course is designed to provide the student a theoretical framework of basic practice skills in conflict resolution. In this course students will be introduced to basic negotiation and mediation techniques. Case studies and participatory exercises will be used to demonstrate these techniques in the context of health and human service organizations. Issues in family, parent-teen, adoption, divorce, post-divorce parenting and victim-offender mediation will be discussed. Gender, race and cultural dimensions will also be considered. Trends in the application of mediation and conflict resolution approaches to Social Work practice will be explored.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
An interest in learning to apply alternative dispute resolution approaches, where indicated, to social work practice.
SWK 544 - ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
This course provides students with conceptual and diverse frameworks on social work ethics, and experience utilizing these frameworks in the decision-making process applied to diverse roles, situations, systems and clients. The focus is on the understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics and its application to social work practice as it applies in varied situations with different types of dilemmas.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 546 - CASE MANAGEMENT FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Presents the viewpoint of case management as a highly complex function of social work practice. Essentials of case management, models and current issues as they relate to practice are explored.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 554 - VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY: INTERVENTIVE STRATEGIES
Themes of violence in the family; socio-political theories of violence; diverse interventions; violence and oppression; implications for social work, law and medical professions.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate level courses or permission of the instructor.
SWK 555 - SEXUAL MINORITIES: A SOCIAL WORK RESPONSE
This course will view the problems confronting America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (queer) minority. Homophobia and heterosexism will be studied as barriers to healthy development and optimal social functioning. These barriers and the unique needs will serve as the context for exploring the role of social work and other health and human service professionals. Students will be encouraged to explore their relationships with sexual minorities in both their professional and personal lives to better understanding their resilience,
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Open to non-matriculated students.
SWK 558 - AIDS: A SOCIAL WORK RESPONSE
This course provides students with the analytic and interactional skills for professional responsibility in the AIDS service system. Content will include biopsychosocial construction of the disease; medical, legal, ethical, and psychosocial responses; roles and processes in the health and social service system; and the importance of case and class advocacy and health care reform.
PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
