Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 522 Block – Integrating Seminar Practicum II Spring B 2024

Credits - 4

Description

Integrating Seminar/Practicum I & II is a two-semester, sequenced course designed to provide students with a supervised generalist social work practice experience in a social service organization. Students complete 400 hours of experiential learning in an approved social service organizational setting in which they learn generalist social work skills for multi-level and multi-sector practice. The integrating Seminar provides students with opportunities to practice ethical communication and critical thinking skills as well as discuss and reflect on professional social work practice issues from their practicum experience. Students use seminar class to monitor their own learning experience and progress in attaining educational and professional goals. Students have opportunity to explore their experiences with applying classroom learning into the practicum setting, develop skills for self-reflection, self-awareness and reflexivity, and to broaden and deepen their understanding of social work’s inherent values such as honoring dignity and worth of each person, clients’ right to self-determination, social justice, equity and inclusion, honor and respect for diversity, and cultural humility. Students are expected to abide by The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.

Materials

Required Readings:

These readings are provided for you or are otherwise available for free.

  • UNE School of Social Work Online: Field Education Manual
  • NASW Code of Ethics
  • United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
  • World Health Organization’s definition of Health
  • International Federation of Social workers’ (IFSW) Policy statement on Health
  • IFSW’s Ethics in Social Work, Statement of Principles

Required Resources

Webcam, Scanner, Youtube Account (already available through your UNE login credentials with Google)

Recommended Resources

The following books are listed as a resource. You are NOT required to buy them and they will NOT be used in this course for any specific assignments. We do feel they will be a helpful resource should you opt to purchase them for your own library.

  • Rothman, J. (2011). From the front lines: Student cases in social work ethics. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
  • Royse, D., Dhooper, S. & Rompf, E. (2012). Field instruction: A guide for social work students. Boston: Pearson Education.
  • Walsh, J. (2007). Endings in clinical practice: Effective closure in diverse settings. Chicago, Ill: Lyceum Books.
  • Ward, K. & Mama, R. (2010). Breaking out of the box: Adventure-based field instruction. Chicago, Ill: Lyceum Books.
  • Grobman, L. (2011). The field placement survival guide: What you need to know to get the most from your social work practicum. Harrisburg, Pa: White Hat Communications.
  • Constable, R. (2006). School social work: Practice, policy, and research. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
  • Dolgoff, R., Harrington, D. & Loewenberg, F. (2012). Ethical decisions for social work practice. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

  1. Demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
  2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
  3. Engage in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
  4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
  5. Engage in policy practice.
  6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior (EPAS 1)
  2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice (EPAS 2)
  3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice Competency (EPAS 3)
  4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice Competency (EPAS 4)
  5. Engage in Policy Practice (EPAS 5)
  6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 6)
  7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 7)
  8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 8)
  9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 9)

Assignments

In order to pass your field placement, you must complete all activities in this course and score at least 80 out of 100 points.

A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners. Learning activities for each module include the following:

Video Assignments and Responses

Each student will post a 5-minute video every week.. All videos are due by Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET.

Week 1:

All students will post a re-introduction of themselves and their Field placement, placement activities, Field Instructor (and On-site Supervisor if there is one). 

Weeks 2 – 8:

Each student will choose a topic from the list below for each video and have this be the subject/title of the video.

Videos will integrate field experiences and reflections on the individual’s internship with the Course Learning Objectives as spelled out in the Learning Contract.

Criteria for Posting Responses to the Video Assignment:

Each student is expected to log into the Video Discussion Board in Brightspace at least 2 days out of 7. The Video Response assignment is due by Sunday night at 11:59 pm ET of each week.

Each student must view all the videos recorded for that given week. After having viewed the video, each student must respond to every video posted for that module.

Responses should be substantial in nature. The response is as important as the video post, if not more so. In the video assignment post, your colleagues are seeking advice, support and/or feedback. Be sure your response relates to the specific question. All your responses should be interactive, thoughtful, and relevant.

Your response should be tied into one or more of the following:

  • A recommendation of resolution and possible consequences.
  • The code of Ethics and how your ideas support the particular ethical issue or push the boundary of the Code.
  • A website or educational article (from a previous class or something new) that supports your thoughts or ideas relating to the issue.
  • A Social Justice consideration or perspective.
  • Questions regarding the issue that would further the discussion.

The content of each response must be substantive. “I agree, same here, been there done that” are not acceptable responses. You will be providing each other with support, direction, advice, and encouragement throughout the seminar.

Points are awarded based on active participation, and thoughtful relevant content. Points may be deducted for omission of response to one or more videos, for insubstantial content, for posting on fewer than 2 days, or for late submission. Since there are sometimes technical delays, it is suggested that you plan to post early responses to the videos of the week.

Readings and Multimedia

There are required readings and recommended texts in this course. While there are not prescribed readings from these texts, you are required to read and utilize the readings throughout the course. Your instructor may integrate and suggest additional readings throughout the modules. We recommend that you utilize the bibliography’s extended readings. Additional readings in the modules will be introduced as the forms and supporting documents are needed for completion. There are a few videos presented as learning material, but the majority of videos in this course are created by students each week.

Discussions

Each week you will engage in weekly video Video Assignments and discuss some of your peers’ field experiences. You will also post one self-care tip that you are employing and discuss amongst your classmates. There are several optional discussion boards in this course that you may utilize to ask questions about a specific assignment. As part of your Video Assignment video, you will have the opportunity to discuss the mandated reporting requirements in your state. We recommend that you utilize the bibliography’s extended readings to integrate into your discussions and assignments.

Writing Assignments, Projects, and Assessments:

There are several assignments in this course, which are all tailored around strengthening your field internship and experiences. These assignments will be collaborative with your field instructor and field advisor for review, comment, and submission. These will be highlighted throughout the course along with several reminders and prompts to get started. All of your assignments (including all of your forms) must be submitted via the assignment link and not via email. Any assignments (including all of your forms) submitted through Mail or email will not be accepted. They must be through the assignment link.

Grading and Feedback Method

Feedback will be provided within the assignment submission tool and in grading comments.

Due Dates

Due dates for all learning activities are provided in the Course Schedule. Points are earned for every assignment submitted and discussion forum in which you participate. Each assignment or discussion submitted late will earn half credit. If you do not complete the entire assignment you will only receive half the point value for that assignment.

ALL DUE DATES ARE IN EASTERN TIME ZONE (ET) – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentPoint ValuePercentage of Grade
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement 1 point1%
Video Assignments (Due Wednesday by 11:59p EST)28 points (4 points x 7 videos)28%
Weekly response to all videos (Due Sunday by 11:59p EST) 28 points (4 points x 7 weeks)28%
Weekly self-care (Due Sunday by 11:59p EST)16 points (2 point x 8 weeks)16%
Discussion: Re-Introduce Yourself (Week 1)1 point1%
Practicum visit scheduled (Week 2)1 point1%
Discussion on Endings (Week 2) 3 points3%
Discussion: Mandated Reporting (Week 3)3 points3%
State/County Licensing Assignment (week 4)2 points2%
Student Self Assessment (Week 4)3 points3%
Process recording (Week 5)5 points5%
IPE Reflection Assignment (Week 6)3 points3%
Practicum Evaluation submission (Week 7)6 points6%
Total100 points100%

Schedule

Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Monday through 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, with the exception of Week 1, which begins on Wednesday at 12:00 AM ET. Unless otherwise specified, all discussion comments and assignments are due on the last day of the week. Initial responses to discussion prompts are due by the end of Wednesday unless otherwise noted.

All times are in the Eastern Standard Time Zone – no exceptions.

Course Dates

Week: Monday–Sunday

Week 1: Mar 11 – Mar 17
Week 2: Mar 18 – Mar 24
Week 3: Mar 25 – Mar 31
Week 4: Apr 1 – Apr 7
Week 5: Apr 8 – Apr 14
Week 6: Apr 15 – Apr 21
Week 7: Apr 22 – Apr 28
Week 8: Apr 29 – May 5

Week 1 

Course Resources

  • Document: What is Practicum Instruction: Helpful Hints for Students and Practicum Instructors 
  • Document: Online Practicum Education Policies 
  • Document: Statement of Understanding 
  • Website: NASW Code of Ethics o
  • Website: International Federation of Social Workers Statement of Ethical Principles
  • Website: World Health Organization
  • Website: United Nations Declaration of Human Rights 

Discussions

  • Re-Introduce Yourself (Due: Sunday)
  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)

Assignments

  • Practicum Video Confidentiality (Due: Sunday)
  • Technology and Telehealth Release Form (Due: Sunday)
  • Review and Resubmit Learning Contract (Due: Sunday)
  • Submit/Resubmit Practicum Proposal Form (Due: Sunday)

Week 2 

Course Resources

  • Document: Task for Endings Handout

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)
  • Schedule Practicum Visit (Due: Sunday)
  • Discussion on Endings (Due: Sunday)

Assignments

  • IPE Reflection Assignment Selection (Due: Sunday)

Week 3 

Course Resources

  • Video: Mandated Reporters 

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)
  • Discussion on Mandatory Reporting (Due: Sunday)

Week 4 

Course Resources

  • Document: Student Self-Assessment

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)

Assignments

  • Student Self- Assessment (Due: Sunday)
  • State/Country Licensing Assignment (Due: Sunday)

Week 5 

Course Resources

  • Process Recording Handout/Instructions
  • Process Recordings – Community
  • Process Recordings – Group
  • Process Recordings – Individual 

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)

Assignments

  • Process Recording Assignment (Due: Sunday)

Week 6 

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)

Assignments

  • IPE Reflection(Due: Sunday)

Week 7 

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)

Assignments

  • Final Evaluation and Time Log (Due: Sunday)

Week 8 

Discussions

  • Self-Care Corner (Due: Sunday)
  • Video Assignment (Due: Wednesday)
  • Video Assignment Responses (Due: Sunday)

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page

UNE Libraries:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Essential Academic and Technical Standards

Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Confidentiality Statement

Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.