Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 511 – Social Work Practice II (Spring B 2024)

Credits - 3

Description

This course builds on students’ understanding of generalist social work practice, beginning with the planned change process within larger systems and moving into integrative multilevel practice. The theoretical framework of this course is based on empowering and organizational change theories for practice, informed by the core social work values of self-determination, diversity, human dignity, and social justice. Students are encouraged to critically examine knowledge and to develop skills for culturally attuned practice. Students are exposed to tenets of evidence-guided practice utilized within larger systems. Students learn and apply skills for change with and within organizations and communities including assessment and planned change strategies.

 

Materials

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

Student Learning Outcomes

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

• Demonstrate beginning social work practice skills within the context of the NASW Code of Ethics. [EPAS 1,2,3]
• Reflect on ways to incorporate social and economic justice issues and the core competencies for practice with diverse groups into their social work practice. [EPAS 1,2,3]  
• Use specific evidence-based social work theories and techniques with application to assessing, intervening, goal setting, and termination skills that include cultural and diverse client(s) and group(s) presenting issues. [EPAS 7, 8]  
• Reflect on the practice of ethical social work utilizing evidence-based theories within a culturally diverse population. [EPAS 6]
• Use social work skills in an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, diverse, and equitable manner. [EPAS 2]

Assignments

Discussions

Discussions are an important part of the learning process in this course. In typical weeks, students are expected to post an initial response to the weekly discussion questions by Saturday, adhering to the requirements outlined in the prompt and Discussion Rubric. Most discussion activities also require you to respond to a minimum of 2 classmates in meaningful and substantive ways.

Week 5 Discussion: Group Session Agenda

One of week 5’s discussion activities is unique in that you will create a group session agenda and critically respond to peers’ agendas. This activity builds on concepts from the group observation and evaluation activity from SSWO 510.

Reflective Journals

Four weeks in the course feature a brief reflective journal activity. Each journal requires you to comment on how a key concept from the week applies to your social work practice.

Practice Videos 1 and 2 (with accompanying progress notes)

The two largest assignments in this course are called “Practice Video Assignments.” Their purpose is for you and a partner to implement a specified set of social work practice skills in a mock therapeutic setting. To do so, you and a partner will meet using Zoom. You will take turns portraying a social worker or a client in response to a case scenario. You will record and submit your work. You will also write a progress note for each mock client session. 

Brief Assessment Assignment

In week 6, you will write a brief assessment using information about a fictional client named Rhonda following a format provided. 

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 the Final Grade
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement	1 point	1%
Week 1 Introductions Discussion	1 point	1%
Discussions	39 points (3 points x 13 discussions)	39%
Reflective Journals	8 points (2 points x 4 journals)	8%
Weeks 4 and 7 Practice Video Assignments	36 points (18 points x 2 practice videos)	36%
Week 6 Brief Assessment Assignment	15 points	15%
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