Online Master of Social Work Traditional Track

This course presents theories that explain human behavior and inform competency-based generalist social work practice with individuals, families and groups and their relationships with communities and organizations. A multidisciplinary theoretical perspective includes theories relevant to human needs and aspirations. A contextual-systems framework captures the depth and breadth and the nature of interactions within, between and among persons and environment(s). 

This lays the theoretical groundwork for practice, policy and research by teaching fundamental concepts used in assessment, analysis and problem formulation. It also establishes the theoretical framework for the second-year specialization coursework. Generalist and specific critical perspectives are used to examine human behavior theory for assessing, intervening and evaluating people and environment transactions and for planning practice responses to enhance these relationships. (3 credits)

This is the first of two generalist practicums that students complete. Students complete 200 hours of field placement in their assigned setting under the supervision of their field instructors. The generalist practicum provides students with the opportunity to develop competencies in generalist social work practice. Students integrate and apply the knowledge, values and skills developed in their coursework to develop generalist social work competencies for engaging, assessing and intervening with individuals, families and groups in generalist practice settings. The generalist field practicum is systematically designed, supervised and coordinated. Students are evaluated on criteria by which they demonstrate generalist social work competencies. (3 credits)

This course focuses on complex issues related to disparities within diverse minority sub-populations, including the intersectionality of multiple factors that may include, but are not limited to, race and ethnicity, age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, physical and emotional challenges, gender, gender expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and tribal sovereignty and status, socioeconomic status, as well as implicit and explicit biases. 

Students learn the extent to which cultural values and social, economic, political and cultural exclusion have oppressed, marginalized, alienated or created privilege and power for select populations expressed historically through personal, institutional and societal attitudes, language and behaviors, established practices, policies, procedures, customs and laws. 

Systems-level issues are covered, addressing disparities resulting in oppression, poverty, marginalization, alienation and historical trauma experienced by these diverse subpopulations. Students develop knowledge and skill values by gaining self-awareness and self-regulation that will manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies, understanding how disparities can enhance cultural competence in working with diverse populations, becoming more inclusive by using strategies designed to remove structural barriers to ensure social goods are distributed equitably and protecting human rights. (3 credits)

Students build on their understanding of the historical role of social policy in the United States by developing a solid understanding of the structure of contemporary social work and social welfare. They build on their understanding of social work ethics by learning the ethical requirements of policy practice. They develop a solid overview of the relevant laws and regulations that impact practice at the micro, mezzo and macro levels and learn the terminology necessary to think critically about the policy arena. 

They identify social welfare policies and services at the local, state and federal levels that impact well-being, service delivery and access to social services. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental and global influences that affect social policy. They come to understand the global interconnections of oppression and human rights violations and that every person has fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, healthcare and education. Finally, they identify, analyze, formulate and advocate for social policies that address human needs and advance social justice in a way that is consistent with human rights. (3 credits)