Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 583 Block – Integrating Seminar and Practicum IV

Credits - 4

Description

Practicum & Integrating Seminar III & IV is a two-term sequenced set of courses designed to complement student’s agency supervised advanced social work practice. Students complete their required hours of experiential learning in an approved social service organization setting in which they learn, practice, and receive feedback on their multi-level integrated clinical social work skills. The integrating seminar provides students with opportunities to practice ethical communication, critical thinking and case formulation as well as to discuss and reflect on professional social work practice issues that arise in their practicum experience. Through mixed learning methods, students have the opportunity to explore, connect, apply and discuss advanced practice theories and concepts learned in the classroom into the practicum setting. Students also have the opportunity to develop skills for self-reflection, self-awareness and reflexivity, and to broaden and deepen their understanding of social work’s inherent values such as honoring dignity and worth of each person, clients’ right to self-determination, social justice, equity and inclusion, honor and respect for diversity, and cultural humility in an integrated clinical social work setting. SSWO 580 provides a venue for students to deepen, broaden and further ground their experience of specialized social work practice and prepare to transition to professional social worker. Students are expected to abide by The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp in their practice with clients and agencies/organizations.

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. 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.

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

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior (EPAS 1)
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice (EPAS 2)
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice Competency (EPAS 3)
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice Competency (EPAS 4)
5. Engage in Policy Practice (EPAS 5)
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 6)
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 7)
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 8)
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 9)

Assignments

In order to pass your practicum placement, you must complete all activities in this course and score at least 80 out of 100 points.

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 module include the following:

Video Assignments and Responses

Each student will post a 5-minute video every week, starting with Week 2. All videos are due by Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET. Responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 pm ET.

The University of New England takes care to ensure confidentiality. In order to preserve the confidentiality of the clients and agencies, you must acknowledge and abide by the confidentiality requirements stipulated in Week 1 in the course.

Criteria for Posting Responses to the Video Assignment:

Each student is expected to log into the Brightspace Video Discussion Board at least 2 days out of 7. The Video Response assignment is due by Sunday night at 11:59 pm ET of each week.

Each student must view all the videos recorded for that given week. After having viewed the video, each student must respond to every video posted for that module.

Responses should be substantial in nature. The response is as important as the video post, if not more so. In the video assignment post, your colleagues are seeking advice, support and/or feedback. Be sure your response relates to the specific question. All your responses should be interactive, thoughtful, and relevant.

Your response should be tied into one or more of the following:

• A recommendation for resolution and possible consequences.
• The code of Ethics and how your ideas support the particular ethical issue or push the boundary of the Code.
• A website or educational article (from a previous class or something new) that supports your thoughts or ideas relating to the issue.
• A Social Justice consideration or perspective.
• Questions regarding the issue that would further the discussion.

The content of each response must be substantive. “I agree, same here, been there done that” are not acceptable responses. You will be providing each other with support, direction, advice, and encouragement throughout the seminar.

Points are awarded based on active participation, and thoughtful relevant content. Points may be deducted for the omission of response to one or more videos, for insubstantial content, for posting on fewer than 2 days, or for late submissions. Since there are sometimes technical delays, it is suggested that you plan to post early responses to the videos of the week.

Readings and Multimedia

There are required readings and recommended texts in this course. While there are not prescribed readings from these texts, you are required to read and utilize the readings throughout the course. Your instructor may integrate and suggest additional readings throughout the modules. We recommend that you utilize the Bibliography’s extended readings. Additional readings in the modules will be introduced as the forms and supporting documents are needed for completion. There are a few videos presented as learning material, but the majority of videos in this course are created by students each week.

Discussions

Each week you will engage in weekly video Video Assignments and discuss some of your peers’ practicum experiences. You will also post one self-care tip that you are employing and discuss amongst your classmates. There are several optional discussion boards in this course that you may utilize to ask questions about a specific assignment. As part of your Video Assignment video, you will have the opportunity to discuss the mandated reporting requirements in your state. We recommend that you utilize the Bibliography’s extended readings to integrate into your discussions and assignments.

Writing Assignments, Projects, and Assessments:

There are several assignments in this course, which are all tailored to strengthening your internship and experiences. These assignments will be collaborative with your instructor and practicum advisor for review, comment, and submission. These will be highlighted throughout the course, along with several reminders and prompts to get started. All of your assignments (including all of your forms) must be submitted via the assignment link and not via email. Any assignments (including all of your forms) submitted through Mail or email will not be accepted. They must be submitted through the assignment link.

Grading and Feedback Method

Feedback will be provided within the assignment submission tool and in grading comments.

Due Dates: Due dates for all learning activities are provided in the Course Schedule. Each assignment or discussion submitted late will earn half credit. If you do not complete the entire assignment you will only receive half the point value for that assignment. If you post to the discussion board after the week has ended you will not earn any credit. All assignments must be submitted to pass the course. You must earn 80 of 100 points to pass the seminar/placement course.

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