Death, Loss and Grief

SW617, Section 001

This course will address the theoretical framework of human loss and grief from a culturally and philosophically diverse perspective. Students will be provided with information about why and how humans grieve and how grieving is affected by type of loss, socioeconomic and cultural factors, individual personality and family functioning. Attention will be focused on life span development and the meaning of death and loss at different ages. Various types of loss will be discussed from an individual, family, and socio/cultural perspective. The importance of understanding trauma and its relationship to grief and loss will also be addressed. Coping and resiliency in loss will be explored, emphasizing the diversity of human response and focusing on the significance of social groups in integrating loss. The formation and practice of rituals, and diversity in religious and spiritual experience as a component of coping with loss will be discussed.

Topic Description / Additional Information

This particular section of SW617 will have an Interprofessional Education (IPE) focus with approximately one half of the enrolled students coming from the School of Pharmacy. This section will provide Social Work students with the opportunity to explore the course context by learning with, from and about students from another discipline. Please consider this when choosing this section of SW617.