This graduate-level elective course is designed to expose students to rural social work practice. Students will explore the multifaceted area of small social service agency work, the ethical and professional challenges of working in a rural environment as well as the rewards of working in close-knit communities.
Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Determine the geographical, social and economic characteristics of rural areas and analyze their influence on the population to be served. (Program Outcomes 1, 4)
Identify the diverse range of cultural and ethnic groups, research their historical and contemporary challenges and strengths, and provide culturally-specific, asset-based, and ethical social work practice. (Program Outcomes 1, 2)
Identify and establish linkages with and between the informal helping networks and important primary institutions and their roles in rural service development and in addressing social problems. (Program Outcomes 2, 5)
Analyze the effectiveness of social policies and programs in rural areas and formulate solutions to the challenges of delays, centralization of services, transportation networks, extensive poverty, shortage of healthcare professionals, and dispersed populations. (Program Outcomes 5, 6)
Identify the sources of environmental discrimination that are affecting socially, economically and politically excluded clients in rural areas and mobilize communities to minimize environmental risks. (Program Outcome 5)
Assess community strengths and assets, build relationships for collaboration and problem-solving within communities and mobilize a community’s assets for community and economic development and information-sharing purposes. (Program Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
All written assignments should conform to APA standards and conform to the page length. In addition, the paper should include a title page, abstract, and references that are not considered as part of the overall length. Materials obtained from the Internet should be referenced and limited to recognized scholarly, academic, or client/consumer-oriented sources (such as journals, information from advocacy-oriented organizations, etc.). Gender-neutral language should be used throughout.
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:
Assignment Category | Points | Percentage Grade |
---|---|---|
Class Participation | 240 points total (30 points x 8 weeks) | 24% |
Literature Review Discussions | 100 points total (20 points x 5 weeks) | 10% |
Movie Assignment | 200 points | 20% |
Community Needs Assignment | 360 points | 36% |
Final Self-Reflection | 100 points | 10% |
Total: | 1,000 | 100% |
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 |
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
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
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.
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/
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
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.
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance 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.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
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.
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:
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.