This laboratory course is designed and reserved for students who have completed either the School of Social Work MasterTrack Certificate or the Social Work Essentials Certificate and are enrolled in this MSW option. The course focuses on integrating concepts learned in the certificate program, while developing essential knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques critical for successful social work practice. Students will gain hands-on experience and training using tangible tools necessary for effective interpersonal, mezzo, and macro practice. Special emphasis will be placed on evidence-based approaches that strengthen socially just and culturally responsive practice.
Design
This course is designed to be interactive and seminar/discussion-focused. Because of the hybrid nature of this course, students will be expected to structure their time to complete the course activities, largely outside of class. The course will revolve around several major assignments, with project groups meeting regularly throughout the semester. Discussions/ seminars will be used as consultation throughout the term. This course supplements the learning that occurred in the MasterTrack Certificate/Social Work Essentials Certificate courses and focuses more on skill development and application.
Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)
This course will integrate PODS (privilege, oppression, diversity, and social justice) as the framework through which social work practice is viewed. Students will explore how these concepts manifest in social work practice. Students will provide a demonstration of a product or assignment and reflect on the relationship to PODS. This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice, and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices, and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge, and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.