Generalist Curriculum Courses

19:910:500 Social Work Practice I with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3) This is the first half of two required sequential courses in the generalist curriculum. It provides the basic knowledge and skills as a foundation for the specialized curriculum. Using a problem-solving model in an ecological perspective, the course prepares students to apply a generalist practice perspective to systems of all sizes and levels. Essential values, concepts, and ethical considerations within a human rights perspective as they pertain to generalist social work practice are explored. Corequisite: 19:910:508.

19:910:501 Social Work Practice II with Organizations and Communities (3) The second of two practice courses based on a generalist social work perspective, this course continues use of a problem-solving model for work with Macro (organization and community) systems and considers implications for at-risk groups.
Prerequisite: 19:910:500. Corequisite: 19:910:509.

19:910:502 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3) Theories, themes, and issues concerning interaction among individuals--as they grow, change, and develop over the life course--and their social context are reviewed. Theories and assumptions about human behavior and diversity are critically applied to social work contexts. Values and ethical issues related to biopsychosocial development are examined.

19:910:504 Social Welfare Policy and Services I (3) History, philosophy, and development of social welfare as an essential institution in the United States. Study of the emergence and role of social work, understanding of patterns of current provision, and introduction to analysis of social welfare policies.

19:910:505 Methods of Social Work Research I (3) Introduction to scientific, analytic approach to building knowledge and skills, including role of concepts and theory, hypothesis formulation, operationalization, research design, data collection, data processing, statistical analysis, introductory computer skills, and report writing.

19:910:506 Diversity and Oppression (3) Introduces a range of diverse populations by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and physical differences. Additionally, it examines the role, function, and effects of oppression in society as it relates to social and economic justice. Assumptions underlying theory and research methodologies from which basic constructs of human behavior are drawn will be examined to understand how power and other dynamics manage and sustain oppression at the individual and institutional levels. Also of interest is how oppression affects service delivery at micro and macro levels, particularly social policies and strategic planning which drive the shape of services.

19:910:507 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3) Major forms of emotional distress in adults and children. Classification trends, issues, and models. Introduction to clinical syndromes in terms of diagnostic methodology, research, and social concerns and their implications for at-risk groups.

19:910:508 Field Education Practicum I (3) Practice social work in agency settings under qualified educational supervision. Includes service to vulnerable and oppressed populations while learning generalist skills. Corequisite: 19:910:500.

19:910:509 Field Education Practicum II (3) Furthers learning of problem-solving skills and strategies begun in Field Education Practicum I and prepares students to enter the advanced field curriculum. Prerequisite: 19:910:508. Corequisite: 19:910:501.

19:910:553 Field Education Seminar:Developing Engagement and Assessment Skills This course will introduce students to the interpersonal communication skills necessary to engage and assess clients and client systems as they enter the field education practicum. Topics covered include understanding the importance of the professional use of self, developing an empathetic relationship, creating a therapeutic alliance, and applying counseling skills while considering the client's larger social environment. The course will also introduce students to expectations associated with a generalist field education practicum. This course will use the classroom as an experiential learning lab environment that involves a significant use of classroom exercises, role-plays, written analysis and reflections about these, and client simulations to practice the concepts and skills learned.