Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSW 615 – Contemporary Controversies in Social Work – Fall 2016

Credits - 3

Description

This seminar provides an opportunity for students to engage in critical examination of controversial issues that impact the profession of social work today. The course focuses on developing student abilities to research, examine and critically evaluate a variety of positions on controversial issues and to develop and defend both verbally and in writing, a personal position that is ethical and consistent with student’s values and beliefs.

Course content will be determined to a large extent by issues of interest to students in the class. Issues to be examined will also include controversial issues of interest to the instructor. Controversial issues in social policy, social welfare policy, multicultural practice, child welfare, social work ethics and professional practice may all be addressed.

Materials

There is no formal text for this course. Students are expected to make use of library, Internet and other resources to prepare for the issue under discussion before each class.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

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

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

Course Objectives

To encourage and enable students to:

Identify and critically evaluate a range of controversial issues facing the profession of social work today.
Understand the philosophical, political and ethical perspectives underlying contemporary controversies in social work.
Develop the ability to critically examine and discuss multiple points of view regarding contemporary controversies in social work, including those with which one disagrees.
Learn to use a process of reflection and critical analysis to develop and defend one’s own position on a controversial issue impacting social workers today.

Educational Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate an advanced understanding of the issues and be able to:

Accurately represent multiple perspectives on controversial issues facing the profession of social work today.
Discuss the philosophical, political and ethical perspectives underlying controversial issues in social work.
Through critical analysis and reflection, prepare a summary of logical, coherent, and reasoned arguments (both in favor of and in opposition to), and discuss the rationales of each position, regardless of one’s personal preferences.
Present and defend one’s personal position regarding a controversial issue after critically evaluating relevant arguments for and against.

Assignments

Grades in this course will be determined by the following structure:

Assignments: 70%

Over the course of the term students will identify three controversial issues in which they are interested and prepare three short position papers (one issue per paper, 4-5 pages each) reflecting on opposing views of the issue in question.

Papers are due:

Week 2. – 20 points
Week 4. – 20 points
Week 7. – 30 points

Class participation: 30%

Because of the seminar format of the class, participation is essential. Each week’s participation is worth 3.75 points.

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

Assignment	Point Value	Percentage of Grade
Position Papers (3 total)	70 (20 points each first two, 30 points for the last)	70%
Weekly participation	20 (3.75 points * 8 Weeks)	30%
Total	100 points	100%

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

All assignments are to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. on the dates listed below. Unless otherwise specified below, all module discussions and assignments are due the last day of the module or unit week.

MODULE 1: Introduction and Taking Sides: Researching, Analyzing and Taking a Position | Dates: 10/26/16 – 11/01/16

Readings:

Getting to yes
Do you need to take a position?
Liebling, A. (2001). Whose side are we on? The British Journal of Criminology, 41(3), 472.

Multimedia:

Rebecca Dresser Building consensus
Transracial Adoption in Mormon Utah

Discussions:

Discussion Questions (Initial post due Sunday, peer responses due Tuesday)

MODULE 2: Sex offender treatment | Dates: 11/02/16 – 11/08/16

Readings:

Janus, E. S. (2004). Sexually violent predator laws: Psychiatry in service to a morally dubious enterprise. The Lancet, 364(1), 50-51.
Karen Kersting: New hope for sex offender treatment
Fight over treatment for sex offenders. Kris Axtman. Christian Science Monitor
Kokish, Ron, Sex Offender Treatment, Does it work? Is it worth it?

Multimedia:

Rehabilitating Sex Offenders:
Sex Offender Treatment Works

Discussions:

Discussion questions (Initial post due Sunday, peer responses due Tuesday)

Assignments:

Issue paper 1 (Due Tuesday)

MODULE 3: Issues in Multicultural Practice | Dates: 11/09/16 – 11/15/16

Readings:

Ishibashi, J. (1997). Foreword. Social Justice, 24(2), 1.
Goldberg, M. E. (2000). Conflicting principles in multicultural social work. Families in Society, 81(1), 12-21.
Spencer, M. S. (2001). Identity and multicultural social work research: A reflection in process. Advances in Social Work, 2(1), 1-11.

Multimedia:

Cultural Humility

Discussions:

Discussion questions (Initial post due Sunday at 11:59 PM, peer responses due Tuesday at 11:59 PM)

MODULE 4: Concurrent planning in adoption and termination of parental rights | Dates: 11/16/16 – 11/22/16

Readings:

Visitation and concurrent planning
Concurrent planning: What the evidence shows

Multimedia:

Interview with “Janet” regarding risk of harm in social work practice – (United Kingdom)
Danita Echols, foster care experience

Discussions:

Discussion questions (Initial post due Sunday at 11:59 PM, peer responses due Tuesday at 11:59 PM)

Assignments:

Issue paper 2 (Due Tuesday)

MODULE 5: Faith-based social work practice | Dates: 11/23/16 – 11/29/16

Readings:

Diana R. Garland. Religiously Affiliated Organizations and the Opportunities and Challenges of “Faith-based” Social Initiative
Tangenberg, K. M. (2005). Faith-based human services initiatives: Considerations for social work practice and theory. Social Work, 50(3), 197-206.
Sherwood, D. Ethical Integration of Faith and Social Work Practice: Evangelism.

Multimedia:

Wineberg, Bill. Faith Based Initiatives/Social Service and Congregation Research. Parts 1 & 2

Discussions:

Discussion questions (Initial post due Sunday at 11:59 PM, peer responses due Tuesday at 11:59 PM)

MODULE 6: Couples Counseling in Domestic Violence cases | Dates: 11/30/16 – 12/06/16

Readings:

Golden, G. K., & Frank, P. B. (1994). When 50—50 isn’t fair: The case against couple counseling in domestic abuse. Social Work, 39(6), 636-637.
Rosen, K. H., Matheson, J. L., Stith, S. M., McCollum, E. E., & Locke, L. D. (2003). Negotiated time‐out: A de‐escalation tool for couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29(3), 291-298.
Good Therapy’s discussion of counseling in domestic violence cases

Multimedia:

Do counselors understand domestic violence?
San Diego: Couples Counseling in domestic violence cases

Discussions:

Discussion questions (Initial post due Sunday at 11:59 PM, peer responses due Tuesday at 11:59 PM)

MODULE 7: Social Work and the Right to Die | Dates: 12/07/16 – 12/13/16

Readings:

Wesley, C. A. (1996). Social work and end-of-life decisions: Self-determination and the common good. Health and Social Work, 21(2), 115-121.
Ho, R. (2016). “Who Owns My Life?”: Women, Legislation, and the Right to Death. Sojourners: Undergraduate Journal of Sociology, 8, 84–107.
Website: NASW’s position on the right to die.

Multimedia:

Dr Oz talk show: Do you have the right to die?
Discussions: Discussion questions (Initial post due Sunday at 11:59 PM, peer responses due Tuesday at 11:59 PM)

Assignments:

Issue paper 3 (Due: Tuesday)

MODULE 8: Duty to Warn | Dates: 12/14/16 – 12/20/16

Readings:

(2014). Duty to Warn – National Association of Social Workers.
Kagle, J. D., Kagle, J. D., Kopels, S., & Kopels, S. (1994). Confidentiality after tarasoff. Health & Social Work, 19(3), 217-222. doi:10.1093/hsw/19.3.217
Small, L. Psychotherapists’ Duty to Warn: Ten Years After Tarasoff.

Multimedia:

Tarasoff case – Like Crime TV shows
Duty to Warn – Child Abuse & Terminally Ill
Social Worker scene

Discussions:

Discussion questions (Due Sunday at 11:59 PM)

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 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

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.