Syllabus
DSW 815: Interprofessional Ethics in Social Work Leadership (Spring 2026)
Credits - 3
Description
Social Work is a value-based profession steeped in strong beliefs and core principles including human dignity, social justice, equity, and self-determination. Since its inception in 1947, the NASW COE has gone through many iterations, each reflecting both social work’s push towards professionalism as well as prevailing issues of the times. This course will critically explore underlying tenets of the NASW COE and its impacts on empowering and justice-oriented practice. We will compare it with those of other social work COEs including the International Federation of Social Workers and the National Association of Black Social Workers. We will discuss the theoretical influences of writers such as Rawls, Foucault, and feminist theorists, among others. We will also consider how social work ethics intersect with interprofessional core competencies and in what ways they do or do not enact concepts such as cultural responsiveness, collaborative leadership, moral responsibility, and equity, especially in health and social care. Finally, we will actively assess how current ethical structures and assumptions can be altered to more fully embrace the diverse and ever-changing world we live in.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
By the end of this course, scholar-practitioners should be able to:
- Translate ethical theories, principles, and practices into interprofessional social work leadership and practice.
- Critique the strengths and pitfalls of social work’s local and global ethical codes and how they do and do not promote social justice and self-determination.
- Examine one’s assumptions, experiences, and values, and how they influence ethical decision-making and leadership skills.
- Identify how social workers can drive change to contemporize social work ethics in practice.
- Produce a Peer-Reviewed Research Article in Journal Format.
Assignments
Reflections
There will be 2 personal reflections where scholar-practitioners will have the opportunity to reflect using their authentic voice regarding the course material.
Peer Group Conversations
Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to meet in your peer groups to connect, collaborate, and give and receive feedback as you move through the course content. There will be weekly opportunities to connect that are not required and will not be graded, as well as 3 required and graded interactions.
Whole Class Conversations
There will also be opportunities to connect with your classmates outside of your peer groups. There will be 5 whole class discussions where you will interact with materials in the course, as well as peer review your completed articles.
Case Studies
There will be 3 case studies for you to consider and critically think and provide responses to prompts.
Key Assignment: Peer Reviewed Article in Journal Format
You will be writing a scholarly paper for peer review in journal format as your key assignment in the course. Your article can focus on your Doctoral Research Project topic or another area of study that is meaningful to you, and should be from an applied ethics lens. Each week you will build towards your final submitted assignment. There will be the opportunity for both peer and instructor feedback.
Week 1: Brainstorm your topic with your peer group
Week 2: Identify your topic
Week 3: Literature Review
Week 4: Introduction and Thesis Statement
Week 5: Brainstorm next steps with your peer group
Week 6: Meet with instructor and peer group for feedback
Week 7: Peer Review in your peer groups before final draft is submitted
Week 8: Final Draft due for review
Week 9: Make edits based on feedback from your instructor
Week 10: Submit completed article and share with peers for feedback.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement | 1 point |
| Reflections | 8 points (2 @ 4 points each) |
| Peer Group Conversations | 9 points (3 @ 3 points each) |
| Whole Class Conversations | 15 points (5 @ 3 points each) |
| Case Studies | 12 points (3 @ 4 points each) |
| Week 2 Key Assignment: Identify Topic for Peer Reviewed Article | 6 points |
| Week 3 Key Assignment: Literature Review | 7 points |
| Week 4 Key Assignment: Introduction and Thesis Statement | 8 points |
| Week 8 Key Assignment: Final Draft of Article for Review | 10 points |
| Week 10 Key Assignment: Completed Article | 20 points |
| Week 10: Peer Review Articles | 4 points |
| Total | 100 points |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Dates: January 14 – March 29
Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Monday through 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, with the exception of Week 1, which starts on Wednesday.
Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Sunday
Spring Break: Monday – Sunday
Week 9: Monday – Sunday
Week 10: Monday – Sunday
Week 1: Exploring Ethics, Personal Meaning, and Practice Implications
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Peer Group Introductions
Assignments
- Reflection
Week 2: Comparing COEs and Their Historical and Cultural Contexts
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Whole Class Conversation
Assignments
- Topic Identification
Week 3: Assumptions, Uncertainties, and Being Human in a Value-Oriented Field
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Assignments
- Literature Review
Week 4: Core Values and Ethical Dilemmas
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Peer Group Conversations
Assignments
- Introduction and Thesis Statement
Week 5: Bioethics – Applied Ethics in Health and Healthcare
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Assignments
- Case Study
Week 6: Ethics in Social Work Research
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Peer Group Conversation on Deck Chairs on the Titanic Article
Assignments
- Reflection on Deck Chairs on the Titanic Article
Week 7: Moral Distress and Moral Courage
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Whole Class Conversation on Self Care
- Whole Class Conversation on Moral Distress/Moral Courage
Week 8: Ethics and Interprofessional Leadership in Social Work
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Whole Class Conversation on Leadership
Assignments
- Submit Final Draft of Article
Spring Break
The University of New England is on Spring Break this week. Enjoy your time off or use this week to catch up or work ahead.
Week 9: Case Studies
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Assignments
- Case Study #1
- Case Study #2
Week 10: Future Considerations for Ethical Practice
Learning Materials
- Readings and media provided in weekly modules
Conversations
- Whole Class Conversation, A Love Letter to the Future
- Whole Class Conversation, Peer Review Articles
Assignments
- Submit Completed Article
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:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Social Work Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/social-work/
- Library Tutorial: Find an article
- Video Tutorials: https://library.une.edu/research-help/guides-tutorials/video-tutorials/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
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
6- to 8-week courses: 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.
10+ -week courses: 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 Course Withdrawal
Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.
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:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- 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.