Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 553 – Advanced Social Work Practice II (Fall B 2025)

Credits - 3

Description

This is the second Advanced Clinical Practice course for MSW students at UNE. This course is designed to be sequenced with SSWO 552 Advanced Practice I. In this course sequence students engage in intense experiential learning practicing clinical intervention skills and methods with clients. Students will also explore ethical challenges that arise in client work. This course sequence utilizes simulated client engagement experiences that support students’ learning and mimics real-world scenarios.

Statement of Care and Concern

The MSW program prepares you to be a social worker. It is also a journey of engagement and self-discovery. You are frequently asked to consider your own lived experiences, biases, and assumptions, and how that impacts your work with clients. As such, the MSW curriculum will be thought-provoking, reflective, transformative, and perhaps even normalizing and healing. It may be difficult to reflect upon the learning material, which may include our realization of how it applies to our own lives, to our loved ones, and to community, culture and society as a whole. What we learn in class may mirror our own lived experiences, or those of our classmates. It is essential that we are intentional and thoughtful in our interactions with our peers and self-aware of potential impacts to ourselves, seeking support if necessary. It is also important to care for ourselves while on this journey. Please know that you do not have to share your own unsettling experiences for the purposes of a grade at the detriment of your own well-being. 

Our program and the University offer a variety of resources you can tap into when needed, including mental health resources. 

Materials

Required:

  • Estrellado, J. E., Felipe, L. S., & Celestial, J. E. (2023). Clinical interventions for internalized oppression. Cognella.
  • Simucase Subsciption
  • Various Articles and Chapters provided in weekly modules

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

Course Objectives

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

  1. Demonstrates ethical and professional behavior. 
  2. Engage in community and belonging in practice. 
  3. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice. 
  4. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  5. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 
  6. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, and organizations. 
  7. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Assignments

Supervision Journals

There will be six supervision journals in the course that will guide you in reflecting on the work you do in class and help apply to your social work practice. These will mimic a supervision session that you would have in the field.

Group Peer Supervisions

There will be two group peer supervisions in the course that will guide you in reflecting on the work you do in class and help apply to your social work practice. These will mimic a peer supervision session that you would have in the field.

Simucase Videos

Simucase is a software offering a number of situational videos. You will view eighteen videos in a “test my knowledge” mode and upload your completed transcript. These videos will support the information we will be covering in the course.

Simulations 

As well as the situational videos in Simucase you will also perform six simulations where you will be able to practice skills in your social work practice.

Role Plays

In weeks 3 and 6 you will practice skills in 1:1 role plays within your small peer groups. There will also be a group role play in week 7 to practice leading groups.

Mental Status Exam

The Mental Status Examination is used across multiple mental health and hospital settings. The purpose is to convey a description of how the client presents to the social worker during a session, these are often included in notes, or to pass along to other providers.

Biopsychosocial Spiritual Assessment

The biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment is a very important practice skill for social workers. It is the social worker’s collection and assessment of client information gathered during the first session(s).

Group Evaluation

Assessing and evaluating our clinical individual and group practices are crucial for both our own development and for the benefit of our clients. In this exercise you will be creating an assessment measure for the group you are running within your small group in an effort to evaluate it.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentPoints
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement 1 point
Small Peer Group Introduction Discussion1 point
Simucase Simulations16 points (4 @ 4 points each)
1:1 Role Play4 points (2 @ 2 points each)
Simucase Part Task Trainer8 points (2 @ 4 points each)
Simucase Videos20 points (20 @ 1 point each)
Group Role Play3 points
Mental Status Exam4 points
Biopsychosocial Spiritual Assessment 8 points
Group Evaluation6 points
Supervision Journals24 points (6 @ 4 points each)
Peer Supervision4 points (2 @ 2 points each)
ExamPrep Connect 1 point
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

Schedule

Course Weeks

Fall B 2025 Session Dates: Oct 22 – Dec 12

Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Friday

 

All assignments are to be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on the last day of the week unless otherwise specified.

Week 1: Evidenced Informed Practice & Intervention Planning

Learning Materials as listed in course.

Assignments

  • Small Peer Group Introductions
  • Simucase Part-Task Trainer

Week 2: Adults Part 1 | Grief and Loss

Learning Materials as listed in course.

Assignments

  • Simucase Video
  • Simucase Simulation
  • Supervision Journal
  • Mental Status Exam 

Week 3: Adults Part 2 | Trauma Therapy 

Learning Materials as listed in course

Assignments:

  • Simucase Videos
  • Simucase Simulation
  • Supervision Journal
  • 1:1 Role Play
  • Peer Supervision 

Week 4: Older Adults

Learning Materials as listed in course

Assignments:

  • Simucase Videos
  • Simucase Simulation
  • Supervision Journal
  • Biopsychosocial Spiritual Assessment

Week 5: Suicide Intervention 

Learning Materials as listed in course

Assignments:

  • Simucase Videos
  • Simucase Part-Task Trainer
  • Supervision Journal
  • Peer Supervision

    Week 6: Groups Part 1 

    Learning Materials as listed in course

    Assignments:

    • Simucase Videos
    • Simucase Simulation
    • Supervision Journal
    • 1:1 Role Play

    Week 7: Groups Part 2 

    Learning Materials as listed in course

    Assignments:

    • Group Role Play

    Week 8: Wrap Up – Termination

    Learning Materials as listed in course

    Assignments:

    • Simucase Videos
    • Supervision Journal
    • Group Evaluation
    • ExamPrep Connect

    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:

    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.

    Graduation Requirements

    Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must successfully complete all courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 prior to graduation and fulfill all curriculum requirements.

    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

    6- to 8-week courses: 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.

    10+ -week courses: 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 Online Student Handbook

    UNE Course Withdrawal

    Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

    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:

    1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
    2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
    3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
    4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
    5. 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.