National Catholic School of Social Service 

Proposed Curriculum for

The Southern Maryland Higher Education Center

Masters in Social Work Program

 

Foundation Year Curriculum

 

 

Fall 2008	Spring 2009	Summer 2009	Fall 2009	Spring 2010
SSS 571	SSS 572	SSS 570	SSS 605	SSS 606
SSS 581	SSS 582	SSS 590	Field / SSS 673	Field/ SSS 674

 

 

Advanced Year Curriculum

 

Summer 2010	Fall 2010	Spring 2011	Summer 2011	Fall 2011	Spring 2012
SSS 724	SSS 822	SSS 654	SSS 740	Internship SSS 871	Internship SSS 872
SSS 756	SSS 804	SSS 803	SSS 611

 

Foundation Year Course Descriptions

 

SSS 570 Diversity in a Multicultural Society (3) - Utilizing a strengths perspective, this course examines the resilience of populations-at-risk, particularly people of color, persons with disabilities, and gays and lesbians.  It focuses on diversity in a global environment, including issues of discrimination, institutional racism and economic deprivation.  It intends to enhance/develop self-awareness and sensitivity for a culturally competent social work practice.

 

SSS 571 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3) - Utilizing an ecological and systems perspective, this course examines the bio-psycho-social-spiritual human development across the life cycle.  Normal development with a framework for the micro, mezzo and macro theories will be examined.  Developing theories of strength and resilience, the impact of economic forces at the micro and macro levels will be emphasized.

 

SSS 572 Human Development and Psychopathology (3) – Utilizing a “life course perspective” to focus on human growth and development, this course critically analyzes pathological human behavior.  It integrates and compares normal development with pathology and places an emphasis on how multiple dimensions of person and environment are influenced by time to produce unique life journeys. As in SSS 571, strength and resilience, all forms of diversity and oppression, and the impact of social and economic forces are emphasized as salient influences on life course trajectories and pathology.

 

SSS 581 Social Welfare Policy and Services I (3) – Presents the historical and contemporary context for understanding social work practice. Students learn the values and concepts important to an understanding social policies and services within the context of historical and contemporary perspectives. Students are exposed to international perspectives on social policy and special considerations in child welfare policy.

 

SSS 582 Social Welfare Policy and Services II (3) - Teaches students how to analyze social policy, to understand the legislative and budget processes and to develop and implement advocacy strategies to effect social policy change.  The course is focused on effecting policy change with and for vulnerable and stigmatized populations and issues of power and oppression are considered throughout the semester.

 

SSS 590 Social Work Research (3) - Provides a basic understanding of the research process and methods used by social scientists. Students learn to develop a systematic approach to practice problems, to formulate specific research questions, and to select and interpret appropriate statistical techniques.

 

SSS 605 Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups (3) - General lecture and class exercises provide the conceptual preparation for application of the generalist perspective to culturally competent social work practice with individuals, families, and treatment groups.  Theory based models that follow generic social work processes  provide the focus with individuals; models that integrate treatment approaches with family life cycle inform work with families; and generic group dynamics ground work with treatment groups. Prerequisites or co-requisites: 571, 572, 581; co-requisite: 673

 

SSS 606 Generalist Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities (3) - General lecture and class exercises emphasize the social work methods of intervening with mezzo groups, organizations, and communities for the purpose of social change.  The focus of the course presents theories of groups, organizations and communities and offers skills in how social workers can be effective working with citizens, clients, boards of directors, committees and task forces.  A number of “hands-on” problem solving experiences will be part of the course.  Prerequisites or co-requisites: 571, 572, 581, 582, 570, 590, 605; co-requisite: 674

 

SSS 673/674 Foundation Field Education and Seminar I and II (3,3) - Students are placed in field agencies under the supervision of qualified field instructors where, consistent with a generalist practice model, they provide services to clients including work with the systems which impact service delivery.  Concurrent with the practicum, and drawing from the co-requisite Generalist Practice courses, the seminar provides an opportunity for students to present cases, improve assessment and problem-solving techniques, and apply theory-based concepts to their field experience. Prerequisites or co-requisites: 570, 571, 572, 581, 582, 590; co-requisite: 605/606.

 

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Advanced Year Course Descriptions

 

SSS 611 Child Welfare Services (3) - Explores the history of societal and organizational responses to children and families at risk of child abuse and/or neglect. Blends policy and practice perspectives to study legal issues, service options, service continuum, and ethical concerns. Reviews the casework process related to delivery of services through mandated and voluntary child welfare programs. Encourages student awareness of and participation in policy debates in relevant House and Senate committees. Prerequisite: Foundation year curriculum.

 

SSS 654 Family Violence Across the Lifespan: Implications for Social Work Practice (3) – Social workers encounter victims of child abuse, domestic violence or elder abuse in any setting they practice.  This course is designed to provide information on each of these forms of family violence and skills for effective intervention with victims or perpetrators of abuse.

 

SSS 724 Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Social Functioning (3) - Tracing the historical development of both behavioral and cognitive theories to their convergence into contemporary cognitive-behavioral theory and therapy, the course seeks to integrate concepts from both with the ecological perspective of human behavior and social functioning.  It intends to enhance the interventive repertoire of the beginning social work  practitioner with techniques from cognitive and behavioral approaches. Prerequisites: 570, 571, 572.

 

SSS 740 Ethical Issues in Contemporary Social Work (3) -Drawing from philosophical and professional ethics, helps students develop skill in reflective and critical analysis of ethical dilemmas in social work practice. Considers purposes and limitations of codes of ethics. Presents a model for ethical decision making as a framework to consider issues such as self-determination and social responsibility, confidentiality and social control, life and death issues, societal responsiveness to the poor and disadvantaged and the privatization of welfare, organizational and professional values, and social justice and resource distribution. Prerequisites: Foundation year curriculum.

 

SSS 756 Evaluation of Social Work Practice (3) - Introduces students to the basic theoretical and methodological concepts of practice evaluation. Topics include quantitative and qualitative assessment models, clinical measurement, single subject designs, clinical group designs, case studies, and statistical techniques. Prerequisites: Foundation year curriculum.

 

SSS 803 Clinical Social Work with Adolescents & Young Adults (3) - Prepares students for practice with the individual as she or he moves through the developmental stages of adolescence to young adulthood. Focusing on issues of identity formation and establishment of independence, the course presents psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic approaches appropriate to a diverse population of young people. Prerequisites: Foundation year curriculum.