Class Descriptions

Social Work Practice in Higher Education

SW747

Credits:	1
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

Community Change
Global
Interpersonal Practice	Elective (Host)
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults
Children & Families

Course Description

This mini course will provide an overview of social work practice in higher education settings and will cover micro, mezzo, and macro practice. Content will include how social work values, concepts and interventions are able to be applied in campus based settings. Course participants will explore the various opportunities to practice social work competencies using the interdisciplinary approach within the post-secondary education culture. Special attention will be given to the ways social workers are uniquely trained to respond to emergent issues and populations on college campuses including students in recovery, first generation college students, under-represented students, sexual misconduct policy and response and implementation of diversity equity and inclusion initiatives. This interactive course will use lecture, guest speakers/panelists, and group discussion to explore the roles social workers may hold on college campuses and how they adhere to social work values and ethics while also translating their skills to this unique setting.

Objectives

Course objectives and competencies
● Students will be able to identify how the four social work practice methods are utilized in higher education setting. ( Professional identity and Critical Thinking)
● Students will explore how the competencies are utilized in higher education setting. (Organizational Context and Critical Thinking)
● Students will understand how the NASW Social Work Grand Challenges are connect to current and emerging challenges in Higher Education. ( Social & Economic Justice and Human Behavior in the Social Environment)
● Students will compare and contrast the difference between higher education settings and traditional social work settings including the policies that might be applied in various settings. ( Values & Ethics and Organizational Context)

Design

A combination of structured activities, brief lectures, discussion, guest speakers and assignments will be included.

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

A PODS (Privilege, Oppression, Diversity, and Social Justice) lens will be applied to practice situations, and students will have an opportunity to explore relevant issues related to the diversity dimensions: ability, age, culture, economic status, ethnicity, family structure, gender, gender identity and expression, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation through the exploration of current DE&I initiatives.