MSW 321 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course presents the conceptual foundations and methods of research needed in order to assist students with integrating research knowledge and professional social work practice. It presents social justice as an overarching paradigm in the study of social work research. MSW 321 presents the conceptual foundations and methods of research in order to assist students with integrating research knowledge with professional social work practice and ethics. The course focuses on the quantitative and qualitative methods. The course covers the research process from problem identification through the conceptualization of research questions, sampling, design, measurement, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings. Additionally the course pays specific attention to ethics in research and issues of race, class, gender and sexual orientation. As an alternative to the quantitative research method, the course touches briefly on qualitative methods. The course makes use of examples and readings that focus on conducting research with individuals, families, and communities in urban environments. Students engage in a critical analysis of the quantitative research method and consider alternative methods of developing knowledge as it pertains to social work. Additionally, the course provides a basic coverage of data analysis using both the quantitative and qualitative research methods with the goal of developing student's conceptual understanding and ability to critically interpret research findings.
MSW 350 | SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE FOR UNDERGRADUATES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
In-depth examination of selected and timely social issues from a social work perspective. Topics vary from quarter to quarter.
MSW 401 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND DEVELOPMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
The practice of professional social work requires accurate and persuasive communication in multiple formats. This required, foundation-level course is designed to introduce students to the major possibilities and constraints of professional writing and other forms of communication as well as survey the career paths available to professional social workers. There is an emphasis on writing for professional settings including case studies, mandated reports, summaries, and professional publication.
Status as a MSW degree seeking student is a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 411 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This is the first course of a two-part sequence designed to develop an understanding about human behavior and the social environment; the course offers an ecosystems framework and method for understanding human behavior within the context of personal, family, group and community systems. Using a bio-psycho-social theoretical framework, fundamental concepts and theories are introduced with the life cycle serving as the organizational focus. The course covers the first half of the life span: conception, infancy, childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.
MSW 412 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This is the second course of a two-part sequence designed to develop an understanding about human behavior and the social environment; the course offers an ecosystems framework and method for understanding human behavior within the context of personal, family, group and community systems, organizations, and institutions. Using a bio-psycho-social theoretical framework, fundamental concepts and theories are introduced with the life cycle serving as the organizational focus. The course covers the second half of the life span: young adulthood, middle adulthood, later adulthood and end of life.
MSW 411 and status as a MSW degree-seeking student or instructor consent are a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 421 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course presents the conceptual foundations and methods of research needed in order to assist students with integrating research knowledge and professional social work practice. It presents social justice as an overarching paradigm in the study of social work research. MSW 421 presents the conceptual foundations and methods of research in order to assist students with integrating research knowledge with professional social work practice and ethics. The course focuses on the quantitative and qualitative methods. The course covers the research process from problem identification through the conceptualization of research questions, sampling, design, measurement, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings. Additionally the course pays specific attention to ethics in research and issues of race, class, gender and sexual orientation. As an alternative to the quantitative research method, the course touches briefly on qualitative methods. The course makes use of examples and readings that focus on conducting research with individuals, families, and communities in urban environments. Students engage in a critical analysis of the quantitative research method and consider alternative methods of developing knowledge as it pertains to social work. Additionally, the course provides a basic coverage of data analysis using both the quantitative and qualitative research methods with the goal of developing student's conceptual understanding and ability to critically interpret research findings.
Status as a MSW degree seeking student is a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 431 | SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This foundation-level course is designed to provide students with the entry-level knowledge of social work ethics and values, policy formation and analysis, and practice skills necessary to impact and interpret the rules and regulations surrounding social welfare. Emphasis is placed on understanding political processes at the agency, local, regional and federal level and attention is given to economic considerations as well as the unique role of social welfare policy in regulating the lives of clients, particularly those from historically oppressed groups. This course is the first of two required social welfare policy courses for MSW degree candidates.
Status as a MSW degree seeking student is a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 432 | ADVANCED SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This is the second of two required Social Welfare Policy Courses in the MSW curriculum. This concentration course focuses on policy practice (including advocacy) skills in agencies and organizations. While including a review of analytical techniques, there is emphasis in this course on the human interactions which shape policy review and implementation. Only students who have successfully completed MSW 431 and the Foundation Practice and Field Education Sequence (MSW 481 thru 483 and MSW 491 thru 493) can be enrolled in this course.
MSW 431 or advanced standing is a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 450 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIAL WORK | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
See schedule for current offerings. Graduate standing required.
MSW 481 | FOUNDATION PRACTICE I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the first in a series of three required foundational courses (MSW 481, MSW 482 and MSW 483) designed to equip students with the basic theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, practice skills, and values needed to practice generalist social work with diverse individuals and families in an urban context. The course is grounded in an empowerment model with an emphasis on social justice and the Vincentian values of respect, advocacy, service, and inventiveness. The course will explore the implementation of the ecosystems perspective as it applies to a generalist practice. The course will also cover the relationship between professional and personal values, social work ethics, assessment, relationship building, implementing change strategies, and practice evaluation. This course is to be taken concurrently with MSW 491 (Foundation Field Education I) and is required of all students enrolled in the first year field sequence.
Status as a MSW degree seeking student is a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 482 | FOUNDATION PRACTICE II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the second in a series of three required foundational courses (MSW 481, MSW 482 and MSW 483) designed to equip students with the basic theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, practice skills, and values needed to practice generalist social work with groups in an urban context. The course will emphasize the development, implementation, and evaluation of various forms of therapeutic groups along with some content on organizational task groups. Task groups will be covered more thoroughly in MSW 483. The course is grounded in an empowerment model with an emphasis on social justice and the Vincentian values of respect, advocacy, service, and inventiveness. This course is to be taken concurrently with MSW 492 (Foundation Field Education II) and is required of all students enrolled in the first year field sequence.
MSW 481 and status as a MSW degree-seeking student are prerequisites for this course.
MSW 483 | FOUNDATION PRACTICE III | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the third in a series of three required foundational courses (MSW 481, MSW 482 and MSW 483) designed to equip students with the basic theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, practice skills, and values needed to practice generalist social work within communities and organizations. Specifically, this course introduces skills associated with task groups which serve to meet client needs in communities and organizations. The course is grounded in the empowerment model with an emphasis on social justice and the Vincentian values of respect, advocacy, service, and inventiveness. This course is to be taken concurrently with MSW 493 (Foundation Field Education III) and is required of all students enrolled in the first year field sequence.
MSW 482 and status as a MSW degree-seeking student are prerequisites for this course.
MSW 491 | FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the first course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 481 as well as enrollment in an approved foundation field work placement. Students will be provided with the opportunity to apply the beginning skills and knowledge needed to professionally aid individuals and families using the bio-psycho-social model and the empowerment approach, and introduce key components of field work and working with community organizations and social service agencies.
Declared MSW student and department permission are prerequisites for this course.
MSW 492 | FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the second course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 482 as well as enrollment in an approved foundation field work placement. Students will be provided with the opportunity to apply the beginning skills and knowledge needed to professionally aid individuals and families using the bio-psycho-social model and the empowerment approach, and introduce key components of field work and working with community organizations and social service agencies.
MSW 491 is a prerequisite for this class.
MSW 493 | FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION III | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the third course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 483 as well as enrollment in an approved foundation field work placement. Students will be provided with the opportunity to apply the beginning skills and knowledge needed to professionally aid individuals, families, and groups using the bio-psycho-social model and the empowerment approach, and introduce key components of field work and working with community organizations and social service agencies.
MSW 492 and department permission are prerequisites for this course.
MSW 499 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1-4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Individually-supervised learning experience, usually involving extensive research and written analysis.
MSW 501 | PROGRAM EVALUATION | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course offers a comprehensive overview of how program evaluation fits in today's social service environment. It presents social justice as an overarching paradigm in the study of program evaluation. The course will cover three methods of program evaluation: needs assessments, outcome evaluations, and process evaluations. The course will also cover the history of evaluation and ethical considerations related to race, ethnicity and sexual orientation and emphasize the role of program evaluation with community-based organizations that exist in an urban context. Practical issues related to organizational mission, staff resistance, resource demands and evaluation ethics will be covered in order to offer a reality-based perspective on conducting program evaluation.
MSW 421, (MSW 483 or MSW 484), and (MSW 493 or MSW 494) are prerequisites for this class.
MSW 521 | FUND DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course introduces students to creating, implementing and adjusting budgets within agencies and programs which serve people, as well as program marketing and fundraising (including grant writing). This course is taken either concurrently with MSW 582 (Community Practice II) or before advanced field education. MSW 521 emphasizes budget preparation, fund acquisition and fund distribution. Successful completion of MSW 501 (Program Evaluation) is required for this course, as is the successful completion of the MSW research course (MSW 421). This course builds upon the constructs introduced in the advanced practice sequence. This course introduces students to budgetary operations and the ethical, value-based planning and decision making processes by which social workers must implement fiscal and administrative decisions.
MSW 421, (MSW 483 or MSW 484), and (MSW 493 or MSW 494) are prerequisites for this class.
MSW 561 | FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Using select theoretical approaches, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice at the intersections of human services organizations and legal systems. This course prepares students to work directly with adults and juveniles who are involved in the justice system as well as victims of crime and their families across a range of community-based and institutional settings. The course emphasizes the intersections of race, poverty, gender, and other factors to prepare students to work effectively in a range of settings to promote humane treatment and social justice. After an initial emphasis on clinical and risk assessment, this course begins to introduce students to major evidence-based treatment models for treating individuals involved in the justice system and victims of crime. Students explore ethical issues unique to forensic social work. It is required that this course be taken concurrently with MSW 571 (Forensic Field I).
MSW 483 and MSW 493 are prerequisites for this class. MSW 571 is a co-requisite for this class.
MSW 562 | FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Using select theoretical approaches, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice at the intersections of human services organizations and legal systems. The course emphasizes the intersections of race, poverty, gender, and other factors to prepare students to work effectively in a range of settings to promote humane treatment and social justice. This course expands the focus on learning and applying major evidence-based treatment models for treating individuals involved in the justice system and victims of crime. Students will also develop skills in evaluating programs and practices, along with examining relevant ethical considerations.
MSW 563 | FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE III | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Using select theoretical approaches, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice at the intersections of human services organizations and legal systems. The course emphasizes the intersections of race, poverty, gender, and other factors to prepare students to work effectively in a range of settings to promote humane treatment and social justice. In this course students utilize knowledge gained in the pre-requisites and in their internships to develop a project scenario in which they feature a client (e.g., someone accused, an offender, a victim's family, etc.) and describe treatment approaches as well as related ethical, legal, and multicultural factors that may impact treatment. Students also consider and discuss professional identity and goals.
MSW 571 | FORENSIC FIELD I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the first course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 561 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Forensic Practice. The course is designed to assist students processing the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills needed to practice Forensic Social Work. Attention is also paid to the unique considerations of women and representatives of other historically- marginalized groups through required learning objectives and tasks.
Status as an MSW degree-seeking student is a prerequisite for this class and MSW 561 is a co-requisite for this class.
MSW 572 | FORENSIC FIELD II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the second course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 562, as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Forensic Practice. The course is designed to assist students processing the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills needed to practice Forensic Social Work. Attention is also paid to the unique considerations of women and representatives of other historically- marginalized groups through required learning objectives and tasks.
MSW 561 and MSW 571 are prerequisites for this class. MSW 562 is a co-requisite for this class.
MSW 573 | FORENSIC FIELD III | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the third course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 563, as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Forensic Practice. The course is designed to assist students processing the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills needed to practice Forensic Social Work. Attention is also paid to the unique considerations of women and representatives of other historically- marginalized groups through required learning objectives and tasks.
MSW 562 and MSW 572 are prerequisites for this class. MSW 563 is a co-requisite for this class.
MSW 581 | COMMUNITY PRACTICE I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Using select theoretical approaches, including empowerment practice, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice in community-serving agencies and organizations. The emphasis in this course, which represents the first of three consecutive, required (advanced) practice courses, is on leadership and management of human service organizations. This course introduces students to the knowledge, skills and professional values essential to leadership of community-based or community-serving programs and organizations. This course covers leadership theories, styles, and techniques; supervision and facilitation; and the critical role(s) leadership play(s) in agency and program administration. Special attention is paid to the unique considerations of people with diverse backgrounds (and representatives of other marginalized groups) in leadership positions as well as working towards the promotion of social and economic justice. It is required that this course be taken concurrently with MSW 591 (Advanced Field Education I).
(MSW 483 or MSW 484) and (MSW 493 or MSW 494) are prerequisites for this course.
MSW 582 | COMMUNITY PRACTICE II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Using select theoretical approaches, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice in community-serving agencies and organizations. The emphasis in this course, which represents the second of three consecutive, required (advanced) practice courses, is on program planning. This course introduces students to the skills and knowledge needed to plan and design programs in community-based, people-serving organizations, starting with problem analysis and needs assessment. Related topics such as understanding the multiple dimensions of social problems, operationalizing concerns, and the importance of collaboration and addressing diverse groups' needs within a community practice framework are also addressed. Measures for accountability and effectiveness, especially for professional social workers, are also addressed. Attention is also given to the needs of historically-marginalized groups and planning for full social and economic justice. It is required that this course be taken concurrently with MSW 592 (Advanced Field Education II).
MSW 581 is a prerequisite for this class
MSW 583 | COMMUNITY PRACTICE III | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
Using select theoretical approaches, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice in community-serving agencies and organizations. The emphasis in this course, which represents the final of three consecutive, required (advanced) practice courses is on resource development and marketing. This course continues facilitation in planning and designing programs in community-based or community-serving organizations while also providing students with opportunities to integrate fund development, program evaluation, and effective stewardship of resources to leverage lasting social change, especially on behalf of historically-oppressed communities. Additional related topics include analysis of organizational change, partnerships, strategic planning, and quality assurance. It is required that this course be taken concurrently with MSW 593 (Advanced Field Education III).
MSW 582 is a prerequisite for this course.
MSW 591 | COMMUNITY FIELD EDUCATION I | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the first course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 581 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Community Practice. The course is designed to assist students processing the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills needed in Community Practice. Attention is also paid to the unique considerations of women and representatives of other historically- marginalized groups in organizational leadership roles through required learning objectives and tasks.
Status as an MSW degree-seeking student is a prerequisite for this class and MSW 581 is a corequisite for this class.
MSW 592 | COMMUNITY FIELD EDUCATION II | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the second course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 582 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Community Practice. The course is designed to assist students processing the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills needed in Community Practice. Attention is also paid to the unique considerations of women and representatives of other historically-marginalized groups in organizational leadership roles through required learning objectives and tasks.
MSW 581 and MSW 591 are a prerequisite and MSW 582 is a co-requisite for this class.
MSW 593 | COMMUNITY FIELD EDUCATION III | 4 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This course is the third course in a three-part field education sequence. This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 583 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Community Practice. The course is designed to assist students processing the theoretical, analytical, and practical skills needed in Community Practice. Attention is also paid to the unique considerations of women and representatives of other historically- marginalized groups in organizational leadership roles through required learning objectives and tasks.
MSW 582 and MSW 592 are a prerequisite and MSW 583 is a corequisite for this class.
MSW 599 | CANDIDACY CONTINUATION | 0 quarter hours
(Graduate)
This class is intended for students who experience disruption in their MSW course of study. Students may register for this class if they are engaged in work associated with their academic or field-placement-based work. Registration requires certification by the chair that the student is engaged in academic or placement-based work. The course does not apply to completion of an IN in a class. This course may be taken at most 3 times. It carries the equivalent of half-time enrollment status, for financial aid purposes. Zero-credit.