Syllabus
Master of Social Work
SSWO 621: Affirming Social Work Practice Across Communities I (Spring B 2026)
Credits - 3
Description
This course provides a foundational understanding of working affirmingly with individuals across the LGBTQIA+ community. Through exploration of key terminology, identity development models, and historical milestones, students will deepen their cultural awareness and clinical sensitivity. Topics include risk and protective factors, health care disparities, the impact of bias and microaggressions in practice, and the importance of affirming language, pronouns, and allyship. Designed to strengthen competence and confidence, this course equips social work students and other allied health professionals with essential tools to provide inclusive and client-centered care to members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Explore historical and systemic contexts, including the history of LGBTQIA+ rights, health disparities, and risk factors impacting the community.
- Build foundational understanding of LGBTQIA+ terminology, identities, key concepts, and the coming out process.
- Develop affirming clinical skills, including the respectful use of pronouns, understanding of dead names, and awareness of how bias and microaggressions affect care.
- Strengthen commitment to allyship and advocacy through culturally responsive, ethical, and inclusive social work practice.
Assignments
Full assignment requirements, rubrics, and due dates for all learning activities are provided in the course.
Introduction Video
In the first week, you will complete an introduction video to your instructor, addressing prompts that will be provided for you. Please note: These will not be shared with any of your classmates.
Whole Class Discussions
You will be asked to post one initial response to Whole Class Discussion Questions throughout the course, and then make a minimum of 2 peer response comments to each Discussion prompt. Postings must meet the criteria for substantiveness to earn the maximum points available.
Small Group Discussions
There will be an opportunity to engage in small group discussions to dig deeper into course materials.
Role Play
In week 6, you will work with a partner to role play a scenario to practice responding to clients with empathy, affirmation, and professionalism. After the role play experience, you will post a discussion post based on your individual experience and respond to two of your classmates’ experiences.
Original Art/Creative Expression Assignment
Create an original artistic expression that captures your personal understanding or reflection of LGBTQIA+ resilience, visibility, or liberation.
Self Reflection Journals
There will be four self reflection journals submitted directly to your instructor, where you can use your authentic voice to respond to the prompts provided.
Terminology Quiz
Opportunity to gauge your understanding of terminology of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Media Assignment
You will choose a movie or television series featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and explore the messages and narratives from the character’s perspective and how their stories influence social perceptions, bias, and policy.
Inclusive Space
For this final project, you will design a behavioral healthcare space (such as a clinic, counseling office, community center, after-school program, homeless shelter, school-based wellness room, or virtual platform) that reflects the principles of LGBTQIA+ affirming care.
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
| Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement | 1 point |
| Week 1: Introduction Video Assignment | 4 points |
| Week 2: Original Art/Creative Expression Assignment | 5 points |
| Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8: Self Reflections | 40 points (4 @ 10 points each |
| Week 3: Terminology Quiz | 5 points |
| Week 4: Whole Class Discussion | 5 points |
| Week 3, 5, and 7: Small Group Discussions | 15 points (3 @ 5 points each) |
| Week 6: Role Play | 5 points |
| Week 8: Media Project | 10 points |
| Week 8: Affirming Behavioral Health Space | 10 points |
| Total | 100 points |
Schedule
Course Weeks
Spring B Session Dates: Mar 18 – May 8
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 P.M. E.T. on the last day of each week. No exceptions.
Week 1: Introductions and Exploration of LGBTQIA+ History
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement
Required Readings and Materials listed in course
Assignments:
- Introduction to the Instructor
Week 2: Exploration of LGBTQIA+ History Continued
Additional Required Readings and Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection #1
Discussions:
- Whole Class Discussion: Creative Expression
Week 3: Key Terms and Definitions
Required Readings and Materials
Quiz:
- Terminology and Concepts
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion
Week 4: Key Terms and Definitions Continues
Additional Required Readings and Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection #2
Discussions:
- Whole Class Discussion: Language
Week 5: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), Disparities Impacting the LGBTQIA+ Community, and Overview of Basic Competencies
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion
Week 6: SDOH, Disparities Impacting the LGBTQIA+ Community, and Overview of Basic Competencies Continued
Additional Required Readings and Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection #3
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion: Role Play
Week 7: Exploring Concepts of DEI & B in the LGBTQIA+ Community
Required Readings and Materials
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion
Week 8: Final Assessment & Future Commitments
Additional Required Readings and Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection #4
Discussions:
- Whole Class Discussion: Media Project
- Whole Class Discussion: Affirming Behavioral Health Space
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)
Students should notify their student success team member 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
Phone: Mon-Fri: (207) 602-2487
After Hours/Weekends: 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 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:
- 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.