SWSS 5000. Critical Reflections. 3 Credits.

Students will learn how to critically reflect on their own experience in order to gain a deeper and more detailed understanding of themselves and their identity, particularly in a context of relating to people from varied social backgrounds which may appear to be different, or similar, to their own. Prerequisite: Foundation year Master of Social Work student or Instructor permission.

SWSS 5027. Foundations of SW Research. 3 Credits.

An introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods of applied social research including program evaluation and the evaluation of practice with additional focus on interpreting research for social work context. Prerequisite: Master of Social Work student or Instructor permission.

SWSS 5160. Theories in Social Work I. 3 Credits.

Invites students to use theory as a critical thinking tool for social work practice. Students will learn to interpret and apply social constructionism as a practice framework. In doing so, students will gain knowledge about discursive realities that create both norms and differences. Through making visible norms and differences as co-constructions, this class equips social work students with knowledge that is imperative to serving vulnerable populations. Prerequisite: Master of Social Work student or Instructor permission.

SWSS 5170. Theories in Social Work II. 3 Credits.

The second in a two-course sequence that aims to increase understandings of critical anti-racist, intersectional feminist perspectives pertinent to social work. Prerequisite: SWSS 5160. Pre/Co-requisite: SWSS 5160.

SWSS 5200. Soc Welfare Pol & Services I. 3 Credits.

An introduction to history and philosophy of social work and social welfare and the structure of service programs is provided. Prerequisite: Master of Social Work student or Instructor permission.

SWSS 5210. Soc Welfare Pol & Services II. 3 Credits.

Focus is on the analysis of the economic, political, and social forces that influence the development and implementation of social welfare policy. Prerequisite: SWSS 5200. Pre/Co-requisite: SWSS 5200.

SWSS 5240. De/Constructing Child Protect. 3 Credits.

Examines causes, effects, and responses to child abuse and neglect from historical, sociopolitical, legal, psychological and cultural perspectives. Child abuse and neglect will be examined as a social construct and in the context of a social and racial justice and human rights perspective. Examines "taken for granted" language and assumptions that maintain power within the social construct. Prerequisite: Matriculation in the foundation year of graduate study in Social Work or Instructor permission.

SWSS 5990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

SWSS 6000. Foundation Yr Practicum. 3 Credits.

Supervised practicum-based learning of 15-20 hours per week. Students are placed in human service agencies and organizations and learn the purposeful application of generalist social work theory, ethics and skills. Prerequisite: Master of Social Work Foundation year student or Coordinator of Practicum Education permission. Co-requisites: SWSS 6120; SWSS 6130.

SWSS 6120. Social Work Practice I. 3 Credits.

A comprehensive introduction to concepts and skills employed by social workers in interactions and interventions with individuals, families, and groups is provided. Prerequisite: Master of Social Work student.

SWSS 6130. Social Work Practice II. 3 Credits.

Emphasizes knowledge and skills of social work practice with organizations and communities. Prerequisite: SWSS 6120. Pre/Co-requisite: SWSS 6120.

SWSS 6140. Transformative Social Work I. 3 Credits.

Focuses on developing relational, profound, and generative meanings for change across populations, fields of practice and social issues. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Year.

SWSS 6150. Transformative Social Work II. 3 Credits.

Focuses on practical applications across populations, area of practice and social issues. Prerequisites: SWSS 5160, SWSS 5170, SWSS 5200, SWSS 5210, SWSS 6120, SWSS 6130, SWSS 5027, SWSS 6000 (fall and spring), one SWSS 5000-level elective, SWSS 6140. Pre/Co-requisite: SWSS 6140.

SWSS 6160. Integrative Appr Transform SW. 3 Credits.

In this course students will synthesize their exploration of their area of focus in transformative social work through scholarly reading, research and classroom presentations. Prerequisite: Completion of Foundation Year.

SWSS 6180. Social Work in Global Context. 3 Credits.

Students convene in Finland to learn about how social work is understood and practiced in different parts of the world. Together with students and faculty from other countries, explores social issues, social work responses to those issues, and ways of communicating across cultural and language differences. Considers how the common identification with social work builds connection and might enable collaborative work to improve the lives of people worldwide. Prerequisite: Master of Social Work student or Instructor permission.

SWSS 6270. Adv Social Work Research. 3 Credits.

An analysis of social work research from methodological and theoretical perspectives is emphasized. Students will consider application in their specialized practice area. Prerequisites: SWSS 5160, SWSS 5170, SWSS 5200, SWSS 5210, SWSS 6120, SWSS 6130, SWSS 5027, SWSS 6000 (fall and spring), one SWSS 5000-level elective. Pre/Co-requisite: SWSS 5027.

SWSS 6300. Critical App to Assessment. 3 Credits.

A specialized practice course that explores and deconstructs contemporary assessment practices from a postmodern, constructionist, transformative social work orientation. This course will examine the impact of assessment and diagnostic discourses on the lives and relationships of diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, institutions, and communities. The course will critically consider the ways in which social worker formulations impact clients, clients' views of themselves, and social work practitioner relationship with clients. Prerequisite: Completion of Master of Social Work foundation course work.

SWSS 6360. Substance Use and SW Practice. 3 Credits.

Focuses on exploring the nature, etiology, and treatment of substance use in relation to social work practice. Set within a critical social work perspective, students critically analyze the discursive constructions related to substance use and the intersection of substance use with racism and other forms of oppression. Prerequisites: Social Work student, Specialized practice year status (completion of foundation year or having advanced student status in the Master of Social Work program).

SWSS 6390. Practitioners' Own Stories. 3 Credits.

Through weekly writing prompts, students reflect on connections between their graduate training and contexts for practice, considering organizing concepts of wellness and illness and normal and dysfunction, along with social categories of social difference. They focus on how their personal and professional subjectivities contribute to their observations and analyses of institutionally generated client concerns. Prerequisite: Completion of foundation year course work in Master of Social Work program.

SWSS 6400. Trans. Change in SW Orgs. 3 Credits.

This course prepares social workers to lead transformative organizational change; change that reorients the way the organization functions through critical questioning of standing organizational discourse and practices. Topics include: futures research, change models, constructivist approaches, & social inequity and difference. Prerequisite: Completion of first year of the Master of Social Work program or advanced student status in the Master of Social Work program.

SWSS 6410. Critical App to TSW w Refugees. 3 Credits.

The historical construction of 'refugees', the discourses and practices that surround it, and the impact of that construction on the lives of people, particularly vulnerable populations are course foci. The geopolitical, economic, ecological discourses that give rise to human flight are examined within the context of social work practice. Service learning experiences are provided. Prerequisites: SWSS 6120, SWSS 6130, SWSS 5160, SWSS 5170, SWSS 5200, SWSS 5210, SWSS 5027, SWSS 6000.

SWSS 6890. Spec Practice Yr Practicum. 3-4 Credits.

Supervised practicum-based learning of 15-20 hours per week. Students are placed in human service agencies and organizations and apply advanced social work practice related to an area of specialized practice. Prerequisites: SWSS 5200, SWSS 5210, SWSS 5160, SWSS 5170, SWSS 5027, SWSS 6120, SWSS 6130, SWSS 6000. Co-requisite: SWSS 6140.

SWSS 6990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

SWSS 6993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.

Individual work on Social Work issue(s) selected by the student in consultation with a faculty member. Prerequisite: Instructor permission required.

SWSS 6995. Graduate Independent Research. 1-18 Credits.

Graduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.