Syllabus
Master of Social Work
SSWO 526 – Integrating Clinical/Community Practice Framework – Spring 2024
Credits - 3
Description
Integrating Clinical / Community Practice Frameworks (SSW 526) is a required course of students enrolled in the MSW/MSWO program as Advanced Standing. It is designed to introduce social work scholarship, values, and skills imbedded in the UNE School of Social Work vision and mission that envision a world where social workers are at the forefront of advocating with individuals and communities for human dignity, social inclusion, and efforts to end inequities, exploitation, and violence. Course content fully integrates clinical (micro) and community (macro) perspectives and practices with an emphasis on cultural, relational, and evidence-based competencies. This course serves as a bridge to the Specialization Year of the MSW program by preparing new students for the advanced curriculum.
Prerequisites
Admitted as Advanced Standing (SADV)
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:
- 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:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Synthesize their social work practice skills to include knowledge of personal/professional biases and social/economic/political and cultural variables that impede social inclusion and compassionate client-centered practice. Program Outcome 4. EPAS 1,2,3
- Review the use of the biopsychosocial assessment incorporating the SW theories of practice and treatment planning with client systems. Program Outcome 3. EPAS 2, 3 & 5
- Apply social work research knowledge that critically evaluates practice skills and service delivery resources to individuals, families/groups, communities, and organizations. Program Outcome 3,6. EPAS 3,5
- Apply intersectional concepts to examples of race/racism, ethnicity, culture, and sexual identity that permeate social inclusion with individuals, groups, and communities. Program Outcome 1. EPAS 2, 3 & 5
- Synthesize and discuss their understanding of the impact of historical and contemporary social and economic inequities on individuals, families, and communities. Program Outcome 1. EPAS 2,3
- Communicate in an organized and professional manner, critically consider and incorporate all aspects of a question, and engage with peers in a manner appropriate for social work professionals. Program Outcome 6. EPAS 4
Assignments
A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners. Learning activities for each week include the following:
Readings and Multimedia:
Description: This course will use an array of readings and multimedia to present the important concepts. The readings and multimedia provide the foundation and background for student discussion threads and written assignments.
APA Style and RefWorks:
The MSWO program uses APA style for writing assignments. In week one there are resources to assist students in becoming familiar with APA including a tutorial and self-check quiz (ungraded). As you start your educational journey, we want to prepare you for ongoing learning, research, and scholarship. RefWorks is a tool available through the UNE Libary that allows you to store and organize your research articles in a format that you can build upon during your time in this program. The tool also will help with creating reference lists in APA style. In week one, you will set-up your RefWorks account and submit a screenshot (ungraded).
Discussions:
Description: An important learning method in this course is student participation and interaction in the discussion threads within each week. Students are expected to participate actively and in a respectful manner. Please refer to the course about participation for a full list of expectations and grading rubric.
Written Assignments:
There are 5 larger written assignments within this course: APA Practice Paper, Rural America and Social Policy Paper, Survey Design, Annotated Bibliography, and Literature Review. Each is intended to allow students to critically engage with the material covered and prepare them for future courses within the program. Proper APA formatting and citations are required for every assignment. Please refer to the course for a full list of expectations and grading rubrics.
Reflection Journals:
Reflective practice is an important component of both this course and the future ones within the Social Work program. Students are required to complete 3 reflective journals in this course that ask them to reflect on their opinions. There is not a length requirement for these journals, but should be well-written, explained, and properly sourced if required. Please refer to the course for a full list of expectations and grading rubrics.
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 | Points | Percentage Value |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement | 1 point | 1% |
| Introduction Discussion | 2 points | 2% |
| Weekly Discussions | 60 points (12 discussions, 4 points each) | 60% |
| Reflection Journals | 12 points (3 journals, 4 points each) | 12% |
| Written Assignments (APA Practice Paper and Rural America and Social Policy Paper) | 14 points (2 assignments totaling 14 points) | 14% |
| Annotated Bibliography | 5 Points | 5% |
| Literature Review | 10 points | 10% |
| Total: | 100 | 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
Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Wednesday through 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday at 11:59 PM ET. Unless otherwise specified, all discussion comments and assignments are due the last day of the week. Initial responses to discussion prompts are due by the end of Saturday unless otherwise noted.
ALL TIMES ARE IN THE EASTERN STANDARD TIME ZONE, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Course Weeks
Week 1: May 8 – May 14
Week 2: May 15 – May 21
Week 3: May 22 – May 28
Week 4: May 29 – Jun 4
Week 5: Jun 5 – Jun 11
Week 6: Jun 12 – Jun 18
Week 7: Jun 19 – Jun 25
Week 8: Jun 26 – Jun 30
Week 1 | Refresher of APA Writing, Basics of Research, and Critical Thinking
- Required “Quiz”: Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement
- Optional Quiz: APA 7th Edition Self-Check Quiz
- Discussions:
- Introductions
- What is Critical Thinking
- Framework of Social Work Research Practice
- Written Assignment: APA Practice Paper
Week 2 | The Role Policy Plays in Rural Social Work Practice
- Discussions:
- SNAP
Week 3 | Ethical and Culturally Sensitive Social Work Practice
- Discussions:
- NASW Code of Ethics
- Theories in Social Work Practice
- Reflection Journal: Implicit Biases
- Written Assignment: Rural America and Social Policy Paper
Week 4 | The Importance of Literature in Social Work Practice
- Discussions:
- Effective Research Questions
- Lit Review Topic Approval
Week 5 | Developing the Therapeutic Relationship in Social Work Practice
- Discussion:
- Technology and the Therapeutic Relationship
- Social Work Skills
- Reflection Journal: Systemic Injustices
- Written Assignment: Annotated Bibliography
Week 6 | Using Surveys in Social Work Practice
- Discussion: Avoiding Bias in Survey Research
- Written Assignment: Survey Construction
Week 7 | The Biopsychosocial Assessment, SMART Goals, and Treatment Planning
- Discussions:
- Biopsychosocial Assessments
- How do we develop treatment goals?
- Written Assignment: Literature Review
Week 8 | Bringing it all Together
- Discussion: Reflection Letter
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
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
8 week: 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.
16 week: 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 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.
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.