Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 553 – Advanced Social Work Practice II Spring B 2024

Credits - 3

Description

This is the second of two Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice courses, both courses follow a similar format offering students an intense experiential learning experience in some of today’s most popular and effective clinical interventions with children, adults, and families. This course builds on the previous Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice course with a continued emphasis on the application of strengths-based and person-centered interventions with a focus on the specific skills and behaviors associated with relational clinical social work. The importance of the therapeutic alliance and the critical role of client feedback are emphasized and reinforced throughout the course.

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

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

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

• 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 & 5
• Engage in culturally-informed relationship building respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competency 2
• Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competencies 7, 8, & 9
• 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
• Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 3, 5, & 6
• Engage as critical consumers and producers of research and evaluation applied to clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies EPAS Competencies 4, 8 & 9
• Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Course Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate advanced social work practice skills within the context of social work NASW Code of Ethics, including anti-racism, social and economic justice, and the core competence for practice with diverse groups. EPAS 1,2,3
2. Apply evidenced-based social work interventions with diverse families and group systems EPAS 8
3. Use the Culturagram Family assessment. EPAS 7
4. Complete a Biopsychosocial Assessment. EPAS 7

Assignments

Discussions (EPAS 1,2,3,7,8)

Discussions will help you dive deeper into the modalities presented throughout this course and learn as a community with your fellow students. You are expected to participate actively and in a respectful manner. Some discussions offer the opportunity to submit video responses. 

Reflective Journals (EPAS 1,2,3)

Biopsychosocial Assessment (EPAS 7)

This is a sample assessment based on a client experience or a client vignette. The biopsychosocial assessment is the social worker’s collection and assessment of client information gathered during the first few sessions. It is the basis of treatment and is finalized prior to the commencement of treatment. 

Group Practice Video Assignment (EPAS 8)

This is a group assignment where you will work together to practice the group modalities discussed in the course so far. This is a video assignment. 

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
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement	1
Introduction Video	2
Discussions (3 pts each)	42
Reflective Journals (3 points each)	15
Biopsychosocial Assessment	20
Group Practice Video	20
Total	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