SW-Social Work

SW 510. Social Work Practice with Individuals, Groups & Organizations. 3 Hours.

The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to the profession’s change process that facilitates change and improves social functioning. Students will learn about the advanced generalist model application of social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. Students will be introduced to the principles of evidence-based practice. The course also explores theories, concepts, and knowledge about human development and behavior. In addition content includes discussion of how factors such as social class, sexual orientation, gender, physical ability, age, race, ethnicity, and culture influence human development and behavior. The course also focuses on adherence to NASW Code of Ethics and ethical practice.

SW 520. Social Work Policy. 3 Hours.

This course provides the foundation for social welfare policy and policy practice for social workers. It helps understand what social welfare is, its historical background, and values and beliefs that have shaped social welfare policy and analysis of social welfare policies. Issues around poverty and economic inequality, key social welfare policies and programs, and policy making processes will be discussed to help evaluate status-quo policies and advocate for vulnerable populations.

SW 530. Research I. 3 Hours.

This is the foundation research course that covers basic research methods, provides the foundation to conduct evidence-based practice and evaluation of practice. Students will be introduced to basic types and methods of research and evaluation, with a focus on deductive methods. Students will be introduced to statistical analyses and learn descriptive statistics as part of their quantitative data education. Students will learn ethics related to research and evaluation.

SW 590. Field Practicum I. 2 Hours.

Practicum I is a foundational level practicum experience. Students participate in a 100 hour clinical placement in an approved social service agency under supervision of master’s-level social workers. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. This course includes both classroom learning and simulation and service learning opportunities in health and behavioral settings. SW 590 is developed to provide students who do not enter with any direct practice experience initial skills that allow them to succeed as they move into the later Field Practicum classes. Educational experiences will include simulation and service learning experiences in community health and mental health.

SW 591. Field Practicum Seminar I. 1 Hour.

Practicum I is a foundational level practicum experience. Students participate in a 115 hour clinical placement in an approved social service agency under supervision of master’s-level social workers. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. This course includes both classroom learning and simulation and service learning opportunities in health and behavioral settings. SW 590 is developed to provide students who do not enter with any direct practice experience initial skills that allow them to succeed as they move into the later Field Practicum classes. Educational experiences will include simulation and service learning experiences in community health and mental health.

SW 599. Special Topics. 1-3 Hour.

Special topics in social work.

SW 610. Diagnosis and Assessment for Health and Behavioral Health. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to educate the student in formal assessment processes using standardized diagnostic tools. Specifically, students will learn to conduct multidimensional assessments using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems(ICD). Students will learn differential diagnosis for both mental disorders and specific health conditions, including HIV/AIDS. Training in assessment of diagnosis will include interview skills engaging the client or family system to elicit accurate information around specific symptoms and diagnostic rule-outs, explore the effect of culture and diversity on reporting symptoms, understand how socioeconomic factors can impact on both the reporting and severity of specific symptoms, conduct assessments in a professional and ethical manner, and how to write up diagnostic statements for both mental health and health conditions. Students will be trained on how to use this information as Social Workers on a multidisciplinary team to advocate for appropriate use of the diagnosis in designing interventions.

SW 615. Evidence-informed Interventions in Health and Behavioral Health I. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to train students on providing evidence-based interventions for children and families addressing health and behavioral health conditions. Students will be trained in skills in identifying appropriate evidence-based practices, then translating and implementing these practices at appropriate individual and families. Identifying appropriate evidence-based practices will include the ability to ask answerable questions, identify relevant available material,assess the evidence-supporting material, and make evidence-driven decisions based on available information. Translating and implementing practices includes awareness of individual-level information as well as available resources in the various practice settings. In translating and implementing practices, particular attention is paid to diversity and culture, including race, ethnicity and culture, gender, sexual orientation,age and family structure. Students will receive information and training relative to advanced intervention processes, including engagement, assessment,conducting the specific intervention and evaluation. As part of training in the evidence-based intervention process, students will learn about practice ethics related to working with children and families (e.g., mandated reporting of abuse). This course will focus primarily on conditions that occur first in childhood, including both acute and chronic conditions, and interventions with children and families.

SW 616. Evidence-informed Interventions in Health and Behavioral Health II (Groups, Organizations, Comm). 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to train students on providing evidence-based interventions for adults addressing health and behavioral health conditions. Students will be trained in skills in identifying appropriate evidence-based practices, then translating and implementing these practices at appropriate individual, group, family, organization and community levels. Identifying appropriate evidence-based practices will include the ability to ask answerable questions, identify relevant available material, assess the evidence-supporting material, and make evidence-driven decisions based on available information. Translating and implementing practices includes awareness of individual-level information as well as available resources in the various practice settings. In translating and implementing practices, particular attention is paid to diversity and culture, including race, ethnicity and culture, gender, sexual orientation, age and family structure. Students will receive information and training relative to advanced intervention processes, including engagement, assessment, conducting the specific intervention and evaluation. This course will focus primarily on chronic conditions, often with onset in early adulthood (e.g., severe mental illness, substance use disorders, diabetes, HIV) and severe health conditions (e.g., cancer). As part of training in the evidence-based intervention process, students will learn about practice ethics related to working with adults, specifically concentrating on ethics related to older populations (e.g., mandated reporting of abuse). The course will pay considerable attention to interventions with older populations including illnesses associated with aging populations (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) and those associated with normative aging processes (e.g., mourning).

SW 620. Policy Analysis and Advocacy Practice for Health and Behavioral Health. 3 Hours.

This course provides students with necessary knowledge and skills to identify policies at the local, state and federal level relevant to health and behavioral health settings and to analyze the impact of policy on clients and constituent groups. Policy issues are examined in the context of their impact on diverse populations and, particularly, socioeconomic oppression. This course teaches advanced advocacy skills and policy formulation.

SW 630. Research with Health and Behavioral Health Populations I. 3 Hours.

This course provides students with necessary skills to begin to assess, generate, evaluate, translate and implement evidence in clinical and policy practice. Students will become familiar with the evidence-based practice and learn how to implement EBP in health and behavioral health settings. This course introduces students to evaluation methodologies such as single system designs, quasi-experimental and experimental group designs, as well as protection of human subjects and research ethic. Students will also learn how to generate and interpret descriptive and inferential statistics applicable to those designs.

SW 631. Research with Health and Behavioral Health Populations II. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to evaluation methodologies that include qualitative and mixed-methods designs for implementing and testing clinical and policy practice. Students will learn how to generate and evaluate data including qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as protection of human subjects and research ethics for these methodologies. This course teaches students how to apply such evaluation to clinical practice in health and behavioral health settings.

SW 640. Human Behavior in the Social Environment for Health and Behavioral Health. 3 Hours.

Students will learn conceptualizations of health and mental health, including historical constructs and current conceptualizations. Students will learn human biology, including brain functions and genetics and epigenetics. Students will be introduced to pharmacology related to health and mental health conditions. Students will be exposed to various constructs of types of diversity, and how they relate to both health and behavioral health. Students will learn about social, economic and environmental justice, and how it relates to both practice and policy. This course will examine how human behavior in the social environment effects the intervention process, including engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation.

SW 650. Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health. 3 Hours.

This course will provide students with skills for working with populations coping with mental illness. The course teaches students to move from specific diagnoses, to identifying and implementing evidence-based practices at a variety of levels—including individual, groups, families and organizations. As part of the implementation process, students will learn about the interaction of multiple psychiatric and medical diagnoses, as well as how diversity effects treatment. The course will teach specific skills related to evidence-based practices, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.

SW 651. Evidence-Based Practice in Addictions. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide advanced skills in treatment of addictions. Evidence-based models will be presented, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychopharmacologic approaches. Students will receive in-depth training in implementation of evidence-based models, including a specific focus on the skills necessary to identifying and translating the approach for individual clients. Specific attention will be paid to issues around working with diverse populations.

SW 653. Social Work Practice along the HIV Continuum of Care. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to examine the field of HIV/AIDS and will acquaint students with the basic and most advanced facts about HIV/AIDS. It will take different approaches of the impact of HIV infection and AIDS on the individual, family, society, and institutions that provide care and will sensitize students to the challenges that HIV/AIDS has generated in public health, social policy, and social service delivery. The course is especially framed by the HIV Continuum of Care which illustrates related social work HIV practice from prevention and testing to linkage to primary medical care, retention in care, and viral suppression. Social work students will have an opportunity to explore their own beliefs, values and approaches to the issues regarding HIV/AIDS, in addition to the cultural, political, social, legal, ethical, spiritual, and public health issues and the perspectives of people living with HIV infection and AIDS that are needed to inform practice and policy.

SW 654. Health and Well-Being of Black Americans: A Social Work Approach. 3 Hours.

This course uses a social work lens to explore the health and well-being of Black Americans. Course content will examine the historical context of institutional, structural and systemic racism and its impact on education, criminal justice, healthcare, economic, and social systems. Students will engage in experiential learning activities to inform the development of anti-oppressive, social justice informed practices that address systemic inequalities.

SW 655. Exploring Diversity and Social Justice in Social Work Practice. 3 Hours.

This course aims to provide students with knowledge and skills for social work practice with people who are disadvantaged and oppressed, and for taking an active stance against bigotry, intolerance, discrimination, and oppression. People who are oppressed in the U.S. typically include ethnic people of color; women; people with physical and mental disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people; people with particular religious beliefs; and people who are poor. This course will examine the adaptive capabilities and strengths of people who are disadvantaged and oppressed and how such capabilities and strengths can be used for effective social work practice. Students will explore how their own personal values, beliefs, and behavior may affect their ability to practice social work effectively and ethically with people of diverse backgrounds, particularly with people who are disadvantaged and oppressed. Students should leave this course with a better understanding of themselves, of diverse groups they will be working with in practice, and of strategies for advancing social and economic justice.

SW 690. Field Practicum II. 4-6 Hours.

The first experience of a 900-hour field practicum experience over three semesters in approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience. As the students’ progress through Practicum II-IV they will be expected to function at increasing levels of difficulty, independence, autonomy, initiative,resourcefulness and diligence in the performance of assigned tasks. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. Students will participate in activities in approved agencies that will allow them to develop advanced generalist practice skills with populations coping with health and behavior health issues. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans, and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 691. Field Practicum III. 4-6 Hours.

SW 691 Field Practicum (4-6 hours) and Seminar III (1 hour) is the second experience of a 900-hour field practicum experience over three semesters in approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience. The practicum experience provides the opportunity for social work majors to strengthen and augment knowledge, values and skill bases acquired in the classroom through applying evidence-based theory and other theory-based methods to situations found in actual professional practice. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. Students will participate in activities in approved agencies that will allow them to develop advanced generalist practice skills with populations copying with health and behavior health issues. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 692. Field Practicum IV. 4-6 Hours.

SW 692 Field Practicum (4-6 hours) and Seminar IV (1 hour) is the last experience of a 900-hour field practicum experience over three semesters in an approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience. Each field practicum experience will include a concurrent integrative seminar/lab. The course also provides the opportunity for students to examine the principles of social work practice and to develop critical thinking skills. The practicum experience provides the opportunity for social work majors to strengthen and augment knowledge, values and skill bases acquired in the classroom through applying evidence-based theory and other theory-based methods to situations found in actual professional practice. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. Students will participate in activities in approved agencies that will allow them to develop advanced generalist practice skills with populations coping with health and behavior health issues. As students progress through Practicum II-IV, they will be expected to function at increasing levels of difficulty, independence, autonomy, initiative, resourcefulness and diligence in the performance of assigned tasks. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans, and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 693. Field Practicum Seminar II. 1 Hour.

The first experience of a 1080-hour field practicum experience over three semesters in approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience. As the students progress through Practicum II-IV they will be expected to function at increasing levels of difficulty, independence, autonomy, initiative, resourcefulness and diligence in the performance of assigned tasks. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. Students will participate in activities in approved agencies that will allow them to develop advanced generalist practice skills with populations coping with health and behavior health issues. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans, and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 694. Field Practicum Seminar III. 1 Hour.

SW 691 Field Practicum (6 hours) and Seminar III (1 hour) is the second experience of a 1080-hour field practicum experience over three semesters in approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience. The practicum experience provides the opportunity for social work majors to strengthen and augment knowledge, values and skill bases acquired in the classroom through applying evidence-based theory and other theory-based methods to situations found in actual professional practice. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. Students will participate in activities in approved agencies that will allow them to develop advanced generalist practice skills with populations copying with health and behavior health issues. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 695. Field Practicum Seminar IV. 1 Hour.

SW 692 Field Practicum (7 hours) and Seminar IV (1 hour) is the last experience of a 1080-hour field practicum experience over three semesters in an approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience. Each field practicum experience will include a concurrent integrative seminar/lab. The course also provides the opportunity for students to examine the principles of social work practice and to develop critical thinking skills. The practicum experience provides the opportunity for social work majors to strengthen and augment knowledge, values and skill bases acquired in the classroom through applying evidence-based theory and other theory-based methods to situations found in actual professional practice. This course has a weekly one-hour seminar/lab. Students will participate in activities in approved agencies that will allow them to develop advanced generalist practice skills with populations coping with health and behavior health issues. As students progress through Practicum II-IV, they will be expected to function at increasing levels of difficulty, independence, autonomy, initiative, resourcefulness and diligence in the performance of assigned tasks. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans, and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 696. Field Practicum V. 4 Hours.

SW 696 Field Practicum (4 hours) and SW 697 Seminar V (1 hour) represents the conclusion of a field practicum experience carried out over four semesters for part-time MSW students. Practica are carried out in approved social service agencies under the supervision of an MSW with three or more years of experience, and the field practicum and integrative seminar/lab must be registered for concurrently. The courses provide the opportunity for students to examine the principles of social work practice and to develop critical thinking skills. The practicum experience provides the opportunity for students to strengthen and augment knowledge, values and skill bases acquired in the classroom through applying evidence-based theory and other theory-based methods to situations found in actual professional practice. As part-time students progress through Practicum II-IV-V, they will be expected to function at increasing levels of difficulty, independence, autonomy, initiative, resourcefulness and diligence in the performance of assigned tasks. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based interventions for individuals addressing health and behavioral health conditions and apply that knowledge in conducting interviews and assessments, development of treatment plans, and evaluating their practice. Students will manage personal and professional values and use their understanding of human behavior and diversity to advocate for clients at all systems levels. Course assignments are designed to encourage students to utilize critical thinking to analyze data and formulate plans that will improve practice, policy and service delivery. Seminar/lab sessions will utilize lectures, focused discussion questions and interactive activities to help students integrate classroom knowledge and practice experience.

SW 697. Field Practicum Seminar V. 1 Hour.