Social Justice and Social Change Concentration

 

 

The Social Justice and Social Change Concentration prepares students for careers that promote a society where all members have equal access to basic rights, opportunities and social protections, and are free of all forms of discrimination and oppression. Values underlying the Social Justice and Social Change Concentration are primarily grounded in two social justice traditions.

• Social Work Profession: The social work profession is rooted in social reform and in efforts to bring about justice to oppressed populations. Social justice is a core value of the profession. As, the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics states, “Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination and other forms of social injustice” (NASW, 1999).
• Catholic Social Teachings: Catholic social teaching states that “a basic moral test of any community/society is seeing how its most vulnerable members are faring.” Graduates in the SJSC Concentration advocate with and for the poor to promote conditions conducive to the fulfillment of basic human needs and human potential.

 

Tracks in three fields of practice where students can deepen their skills in a social change method of choice are offered. They include:

 

Policy and Community Change

Social Administration

International Social Development

 

 

Policy and Community Change Track at the National Catholic School of Social Service

 

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

 

Martin Luther King Jr

 

 

Career and Field Options

The Policy and Community Change track will prepare students to advocate for changes in policy and to awaken power in communities to facilitate resident-led community change. Students will get field experience and be prepared for careers using two related strategies:

• Public Policy Advocacy: Advanced year field placements for students most interested in seeking justice through public policy advocacy will have choices in government settings, nonprofit agencies and community-based organizations engaged in policy advocacy, where they will hone skills in analyzing social policy, writing policy briefs and giving testimony.
• Community-led Development: Students seeking social justice through grassroots community practice will be placed with community groups using organizing and asset-based approaches to community development to seek social change. Students will hone skills in group process, popular education, change strategy planning, etc.

 

Advanced Year Curriculum

All students take courses in ethics and program evaluation, and two semesters of a field placement and the accompanying field seminar. Field placements are tailored to the Policy and Community Change track. Policy and Community Change students must select:

• Three Methods Courses: Advanced Policy Analysis*, Nonprofit Management, Social Planning, Community Organizing*, or Issues in International Social Development
• One Theory Course: Organizational Theory and Change, Theories of Administration, or Theories of Social Justice

 

Two Electives are selected in consultation with the advisor. Options include courses from the NCSSS catalog, and courses offered by other CUA departments and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area

 

*Recommended for the Policy and Community Change specialization.

 

Track Advisor: Dr. Linda Plitt Donaldson, 202-319-5478, donaldson@cua.edu.

 

 

Social Administration Track at the National Catholic School of Social Service

 

Prepare to become a Supervisor, Manager or Administrator

The Social Administration track recognizes the importance of supervisors, managers and administrators in turning values into programs and practices that serve individuals, groups and communities. Having skills and knowledge in planning, organizing, staffing and leading prepares graduates with an M.S.W. to assume leadership positions in public and private social service agencies.

 

Advanced Year Curriculum

All students take courses in ethics and program evaluation, and two semesters of a field placement and the accompanying field seminar. Field placements are tailored to the Social Administration track. Students work with managers and administrators to implement a strategic plan, to engage staff in changing the way services are delivered, and to write proposals for new services for needy clients. Social Administration students must select:

• Three Methods courses: Advanced Policy Analysis, Nonprofit Management, Social Planning, Community Organizing or Issues in International Social Development
• One Theory course: Organizational Theory, Theories of Administration or Theories of Social Justice

 

Two electives are selected in consultation with the adviser. Options include courses from the NCSSS catalog, and courses offered by other CUA departments and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. For example, a student interested in a management position in the child welfare arena might take Clinical Social Work with Adolescents and Young Adults, Child Welfare Policy and Practice, and Supervision and Consultation in Social Work.

Track Advisor: Dr. Wendy Blome, 202-319-5486, blome@cua.edu

 

 

International Social Development Track at the National Catholic School of Social Service

 

 

The World is Waiting for You!

The International Social Development track prepares students for a career in social work and social development working locally or internationally as planners, organizers, project directors, researchers in the areas of livelihood activities, resettlement, gender issues, micro enterprise and HIV/AIDS.

 

Advanced Year Curriculum

All students take courses in ethics and program evaluation, and two semesters of a field placement that focuses on social development and the accompanying field seminar. Field placements are tailored to the International Social Development track. International Social Development students must select:

• Three Methods courses: Advanced Policy Analysis, Social Planning, Non-Profit Management, Community Organizing or Issues in International Social Development
• One Theory course: Theories of Social Justice, Organizational Theory or Theory of Administration

 

Two electives are selected in consultation with the track advisor. Options include courses from the NCSSS catalog, and courses offered by other CUA departments and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The electives are grouped around the following areas: Refugees, Globalization, Human Rights Law, Conflict Resolution, Issues in Social Development, and Civil Society.  

 

Field Internships in Philippines and Ethiopia

NCSSS offers summer placements with Community and Family Services International in Manila and the Yeha Institute in Addis Ababa working on issues of social development and conflict resolution, with youth, women and communities. Selection for participation is through a competitive process.

 

Track Advisor: Professor Fred Ahearn, 202-319-5478, Ahearn@cua.edu

 

 

How to Apply: Contact Ms. Aileen Worrell, director of admissions, 202-319-5496 or worrell@cua.edu or contact the track advisor.

 

First NCSSS Social Justice and Social Change Award