Class Descriptions

SW572

Topics in Disability Studies (Rackham)

Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
None
Description:
An Interdisciplinary approach to disability studies, including focus on the arts and humanities, natural and social sciences, and professional schools. Some topics include history and cultural representation of disability, advocacy, health, rehabilitation, built environment, independent living, public policy. Team taught with visiting speakers. Accessible classroom with realtime captioning.
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SW589

Independent Studies: Global Social Work Practice

Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor
Pathway Elective For:
Global Social Work Practice (Host)
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SW590

Introduction to Social Work Practice

Grading Method:
S/U
Credits:
1 Credit Hour
Prerequisites:
None
Description:
Introduction to Social Work Practice will prepare students to successfully approach both social work education and social work practice. The course will introduce social work students to key social work ideas, values, concepts, and skills, including the code of ethics, social work’s grand challenges and P.O.D.S. (privilege, oppression, diversity and social justice). Students will be oriented to social work education at the University of Michigan, including how professional graduate education may differ from past educational experiences, specialization options available, and the role of lifelong learning. Students will be introduced to a professional portfolio that they will use throughout their time in the program.
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SW591

Independent Studies: Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective

Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor
Pathway Elective For:
Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective (Host)
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SW596

Independent Studies: Social Work

Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor
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SW600

Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease

Grading Method:
Graded
Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
Foundation Essentials Required
Pathway Requirement For:
Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Host)
Pathway Elective For:
Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective, Children, Youth, and Families
Description:
This course will survey the distribution, determinants, and biomedical, psychological and behavioral aspects of health inclusive of physical, mental and behavioral health and disease across the life span from pre-birth to death. Social, economic, environmental, structural and cultural variations in and determinants of health, disease, and quality of life will be addressed, including the influence of factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, geography, ability, biological, genetic and epigenetic factors. Barriers to access and utilization, geopolitical influences, environmental justice, social injustice, oppression and racism, historical trends, and future directions will be reviewed. Health beliefs and models of health behavior (e.g. Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behavior,) and structural determinants of health (e.g. Minority Stress Theory) will be presented, including help-seeking and utilization of health services. Stress, allostatic load, coping and social support, adaptation to chronic illness, the influences of privilege, stigma and discrimination, quality of life, and death and dying will also be covered.
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SW601

Applied Assessment Skills in Integrated Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Grading Method:
Graded
Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
SW506
Pathway Requirement For:
Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Host)
Pathway Elective For:
Global Social Work Practice, Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective
Description:
This course focuses on a holistic approach in promoting the development and deepening of assessment and screening skills and competencies. Conducting brief, evidence-based and evidence-informed assessments and screenings for common health, mental health, substance use and other behavioral health concerns which impact and/or compromise health and well-being will be the focus of this course. Holistic approaches which are developmentally appropriate across the life span and relevant in a variety of settings will be applied. Grounding of the assessment process in person-in-environment perspective (PIE), strengths-based approaches, the nature of the client/family and social support systems, cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs and other socio-economic resources that impact health and client well-being will be included. Examples of screenings and assessments addressed in this course include a focus on mental health problems; adjustment to illness; risky, harmful or dependent use of a variety of substances (e.g. alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription medications, etc.); cognitive impairment; harm to self or others; abuse, neglect, and domestic violence; and behaviors that compromise health among others.
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SW602

Interpersonal Practice Interventions in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Adults)

Grading Method:
Graded
Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
SW506 & SW601 (concurrent enrollment in SW601 permitted if necessary)
Pathway Requirement For:
Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Host)
Pathway Elective For:
Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective
Description:
The course will build on intervention therapy and practice from the foundation semester and promote more advanced intervention skill level of engagement, goal setting, use of evidence based and informed interventions, and the termination and evaluation phases of treatment. Particular focus will be on advanced clinical competency development regarding: 1. Engagement and rapport building, 2. Goal setting and problem solving, 3. Identifying and implementing appropriate intervention approaches, and 4. Termination and evaluation of treatment. This course focuses on skill building to provide a range of brief, evidence-based and/or evidence -informed interventions including prevention, treatment and recovery as well as longer-term treatment and support for clients as appropriate. Examples include: 1. Case conceptualization, 2. Behavioral activation, 3. Cognitive restructuring, 4. Exposure, 5. Managing ambivalence and resistance, 6. Emotion regulation and distress tolerance, and 7. Trauma-sensitive mindfulness. Core evidence-based/evidence-informed therapies will be the focus of this class including: 1. Motivational interviewing, 2. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and 3. emerging acceptance-based therapies such as Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Attention will be given to application of interventions with clients across diverse populations and needs, with a focus on common health and mental health conditions such as depression/anxiety, substance use, chronic pain, etc. Attention will also be given to application of interventions in a variety of integrated health, mental health, and substance abuse practice settings such as community mental health agencies, health care facilities and non-profit agencies.
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SW603

Interpersonal Practice Interventions in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Children, Youth, Transitional Youth, and Families)

Grading Method:
Graded
Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
SW506 & SW601 (concurrent enrollment in SW601 permitted if necessary)
Pathway Requirement For:
Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Host)
Pathway Elective For:
Children, Youth, and Families
Description:
This course will build on intervention approaches introduced in the essential courses and will promote more advanced engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation skills in work with children, youth, transitional age youth, and families. Special attention will be given to issues of diversity as it relates to building therapeutic relationships and intervening with children, youth, transitional age youth, and their families. This course focuses on advanced skill building regarding core practice interventions (e.g. engagement, contracting, problem-solving, emotional regulation, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, etc.) using specific brief, evidence-based and/or evidence-informed interventions including prevention, treatment and recovery as well as longer-term treatment and support for these children and youth as appropriate. Examples of practice interventions may include: behavioral/cognitive interventions, motivational interventions; resiliency based interventions, brief treatments for mental health and substance use problems, crisis intervention, parent management interventions, and group interventions. Intervention strategies will be analyzed in the context of delivering trauma-informed culturally responsive interventions.
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SW604

Advanced Evidence-Informed Interpersonal Practice with Families

Grading Method:
Graded
Credits:
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites:
SW506 & SW601 (concurrent enrollment in SW601 permitted if necessary)
Pathway Requirement For:
Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (Host)
Pathway Elective For:
Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective, Children, Youth, and Families
Description:
This advanced practice course builds on content from the previous foundational course(s) and focuses on family functioning within diverse client populations. The focus of this course is on the development and utilization of family-focused skills and interventions with diverse families in the context of a variety of practice settings such as healthcare, mental health, and other community-based settings. To inform practice interventions, this course will be grounded in the integration of various current family theories (i.e. attachment theory, general systems theory, communication theory, social construction theory and developmental theory, etc) as well as an overarching neurological perspective. Broad definitions of "family" will be used, including extended families, unmarried couples, single parent families, couples across gender identity and sexual orientation spectrums, adult siblings, "fictive kin," and other inclusive definitions. The development of clinical skills for engaging, assessing, and intervening with families will be the primary focus of this course. Focused attention on primary models of family theory and practice will inform intervention techniques and skills taught in the course (i.e., Emotionally-Focused Family Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, and additional approach(s) informed by identified theories). This course will address stages of the helping process with families (i.e., engagement, assessment, planning, evaluation, intervention, and termination). During these stages, client-worker differences will be taken into account including a range of diversity dimensions such as ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, immigration status, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality and sexual orientation. Various theoretical approaches will be presented in order to help students understand family structure, communication patterns, and behavioral and coping repertoires. The family will also be studied as part of larger social systems, as having its own life cycles, and as influencing multiple generations.
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