Syllabus

Master of Social Work

Orientation

Credits - N/A

Description

This self-paced orientation is designed to prepare you for success in the Master of Social Work Online (MSW-O) at UNE. This orientation provides an introduction and overview to the University of New England and MSW-O. Activities in the orientation prepare you to navigate the online learning environment, locate and access program resources, and learn about the tools and strategies that ensure a meaningful and collaborative learning experience throughout the program. 

Format

This orientation is delivered completely online in Blackboard, UNE’s learning management system. Course participation is asynchronous. The content is presented using a typical format for MSW-O courses. You will work through six learning modules consisting of videos, readings, discussions, assignments, and quizzes. Each module concludes with an assessment activity. Completion of the assessment activity activity allows you to move onto the next module.

Materials

None

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. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution. EPAS Competencies 2 & 3
  2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building, being respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competencies 3 & 6
  3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competency 8
  4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based in social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. EPAS Competency 1
  5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 2, 5, & 6
  6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research as it relates to assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies 4, 7, 8 & 9
  7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this orientation, students will be able to:

  • Explain the role that the school’s vision, mission, and values play in the development of social workers.
  • Analyze academic, personal, and technological preparedness for success in graduate education.
  • Identify success strategies and University resources for graduate-level coursework.
  • Use tools and resources in the learning management system, Blackboard.
  • Describe field expectations and requirements.

Assignments

Completion of the following assignments is required in order to progress through the modules. You are allowed multiple attempts on all activities, and you can use all the materials available to you while completing the activities. When you are finished with all the assignments in the modules, you will earn an Orientation Completion badge signaling that you are ready to begin your course work.

Module 1: Navigating and Understanding Your Courses in Blackboard

  • Introduce yourself using discussion board
  • Scavenger Hunt on Course Navigation and using emailed password
  • Configure your computer and test Bb Collaborate for the workshops in Module 4

Module 2: Welcome to the School of Social Work

  • Professional Communication discussions
  • Watch video and participate in whole class discussion 
  • Optional wiki
  • Local services scavenger hunt and assignment

Module 3: Field Education

  • Statement of Understanding Quiz

Module 4: Successful Online Learning

  • Small group discussion on Successful Online Learning
  • Live webinars from Student Academic Success Center (recordings will be available)
  • 2 quizzes on SASC workshops content

Module 5: Meet Your Faculty and Staff

  • Module 5 Quiz

Module 6: University Resources

  • Library assignment
  • Financial Aid quiz
  • Office of Students with Disabilities quiz
  • Complete end of course quiz

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

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.

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/

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.