Social Work (SWRK)

Focuses on student acquisition of knowledge, skills, and values as they relate to the social work practice skills such as: exploration, data collection; case assessment; intervention; evaluations; and termination with client systems of individuals, and families. This course will introduce students to the generalist perspective from advanced treatment and social work practice perspectives through the presentation of problem solving treatment models within an ecosystems framework. It sets part of the foundation on which the MSW curriculum builds an advanced generalist practice utilizing a variety of social work roles and multiple levels of interventions across all clients' systems.

Is devoted to a beginning understanding of Human Behavior and the Social Environment. Students will study significant component of the foundation of Social Work Practice. This course underscores the need to understand people in their environment and the social forces that shape their behavior. It will introduce the concepts of: social systems in order to identify the major systems in our culture and how they impact individuals and families; community diversity to explore the sources of both tension and growth in society; and the significant development of diverse family life styles our contemporary society. This foundation will help students as they begin to develop intervention strategies and provide services to people in a variety of social service settings. The framework for exploring these concepts will be values and ethics of the NASW Code of Ethics.

Is designed to give the student a strong understanding of the relationships between policy and professional practice options. The course will identify and discuss broad national forces, especially those of a political and value-related nature, and complement this with an appreciation f how social workers operate and practice within local organizations. Because of the connections between national and organizational forces, the importance of decision making at the practice and, especially, the program levels are emphasized.

Introduces the student to the application of research methods and principles to case and program level evaluations in an applied social work setting. It is intended to equip social work students with the necessary understanding of qualitative and quantitative methods and the critical thinking skills to provide leadership through research. This includes the design, conduct, and analysis of data to competently evaluate social work services at micro, mezzo or macro levels of practice, to successfully use research published in the field, and to evaluate their own practice work in the field. A major focus will be the preparation of a research proposal including a review of the literature and problem statement with design and data protocol. Students will also demonstrate leadership to the profession and their agency by presenting findings from their research.

Offers students the opportunity to observe, enact, and develop critical thinking practice skills that support the generalist practice model and conceptual material presented in the foundation courses. While the emphasis in the seminar is on enacting practice concepts and processes, there is planned overlap between the understanding of theories and approaches in the foundation practice courses and mastery of social work practice skills in the seminar. The seminar objectives are achieved largely through experiential learning formats. The course provides content on practice with persons who are subject to discrimination, economic deprivation and oppression including women, elderly persons, people of color, and gay and lesbian persons. It also emphasizes understanding and appreciation of human diversity across the life span with the goal of helping students to work competently with diverse population.

Generalist social work practice II focuses on the use of various individual skills social workers use when working with groups to create planned change. Throughout this course, an emphasis is placed on developing culturally competent group work, community, and task/direct practice skills; which utilizes evidence-based practice models that promote an appreciation for diverse perspective. These models work from a strengths-based, system focused, capacity building, and ecological perspective to promote the empowerment of individuals and groups to make life-enhancing changes in their communities or organizations. Critical thinking from an ethical framework is emphasized.

Continues to examine the reciprocal relationships between human behavior and social environments. In this course, we will examine human behavior across the lifespan from an ecological and biopsychosocial perspective. Traditional and alternative theories, which seek to explain biological, psychological, cognitive, spiritual and social functioning will be presented. This material will include theories relating individual development as well as research and theories that discuss the influence of cultural and socio-political forces and larger systems on human functioning. In particular, the effects of oppression and poverty on human functioning and development will be highlighted.

Provides students continued structure learning opportunities at the foundation level that enhance their acquired knowledge in Field Practicum I. And also expands knowledge beyond the scope of their practicum setting and examines the values and ethics of social work practice. It serves as an additional opportunity to examine selected social work practice theories, such as the problem solving approach, and to improve upon social work practice skills and relationships characterized by collaboration and respect for the client system. It also gives students the opportunity to monitor their effectiveness with their clients. Students will examine how their agency serves persons who are subject to discrimination, economic deprivation and oppression including women, elderly persons, people of color, and gay and lesbian persons. Students will explore how their agency prepares them to work competently with diverse populations.

Teaches students how to evaluate contemporary social policies affecting poor and disenfranchised groups in the U.S. Students are introduced to the processes of policy development and policy change, and ethical dilemmas in service delivery. It analyses contemporary social policies in the U.S., particularly those affecting multicultural, poor, vulnerable and oppressed groups, and those facing multiple life challenges.

Provides expanded knowledge of changing psychosexual, social, economic, and political roles of women in contemporary society. This is an advanced exploration of the distinct differences in the roles of men and women. It also offers significant points of reference for examining the historical, political impact of society on women from a multicultural perspective.

Teaches therapeutic approaches, intervention strategies, and service delivery at the advanced generalist practice level. This course will draw from the various behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic theory that help individuals, families and small groups in the change process. Long-term and short-term interventions will be examined as well as the interaction with the micro, meso, and macro environments. This framework will encompass developmental, ecological and cross-cultural perspectives. Highlighted, will be the interplay between developmental issues, ethnic identity and environmental pressures. A range of environmental circumstances that dramatically impact the various systems will be explored including poverty and homelessness, exposure to community violence, child abuse and neglect, teenage parenting, and substance abuse in families.

Provides students with structure learning opportunities that emphasize the integration of knowledge acquired in foundation courses; expand knowledge beyond the scope of their practicum setting and examine the values and ethics of social work practice. It examines selected social work practice theories and to use them to improve upon social work practice skills and relationships collaboratively. Students will examine how their agency serves persons who are subject to discrimination, economic deprivation and oppression including women, elderly persons, people of color, and gay and lesbian persons. Students will explore how their agency prepares them to work competently with diverse populations.

Introduces students to wide-ranging ethical issues that impact practitioners in various settings. The NASW Code of Ethics forms the backbone of this course, which covers a variety of ethics and boundary issues for social workers. The course examines these issues relative to diverse practice settings and for direct practice, supervisory, and administrative roles. Because many of students are in their field practicum concurrently with this class, there are also numerous opportunities to assist students in identifying and resolving ethical and boundary concerns as they arise.

Focuses on comparative theories in direct practice. The course will have a primary focus on the role of the therapeutic relationship as the unifying theme of object relations. The breadth and depth of direct practice will be viewed form the following theoretical frameworks; object relations, self-psychology, women's development and the Stone Center, Cognitive and Behavior Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy. The course will demonstrate the various theoretical models and the implications and limitations of each theory. This course will assist students in defining an object relation as a model for clinical work through comparative theories that best fit each individual student. This course will build upon the Generalist Social Work Practice course and the knowledge, values, and skills foundation for strength-based culturally competent, practice. Likewise, this course will build upon the Human Behavior and the Social Environment course integrating appropriate knowledge to theoretical models of practice. The course will expand upon various clinical theoretical models and their application in direct practice.

Provides an overview of two courses devoted to understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE). Together these courses provide a significant understanding of the component of the foundation of Social Work Practice. HBSE I underscores the need to understand people in their environment and HBSE II will provide the social forces that shape their behavior. HBSE I & II introduces the concepts of: social systems in order to identify the major systems in our culture and how they impact individuals and families; community diversity to explore the sources of both tension and growth in society; and the significant development of diverse family life styles our contemporary society. These foundation courses will help students as they begin to develop intervention strategies and provide services to people in a variety of social service settings. The framework for exploring these concepts will be values and ethics of the NASW Code of Ethics.

Provides an overview and understanding of the relationships between policy, professional practice options, and ethical dilemmas in practice. The course will identify and discuss broad national forces, especially those of a political and value-related nature, and complement this with an appreciation of how social workers operate and practice with the NASW values of social work procedures. Because of the connections between national and organizational forces, the importance of ethical decision making at the practice and, especially, the program levels are emphasized.

Demonstrates the link between the design and conduct of practice-relevant research and program evaluation. By exposing the student to a wide array of evaluation strategies, including community needs assessments, the designing of program and practice research and executing a research project, the student will learn the interaction between program management and measuring outcomes. Students will have the opportunity to learn about how to involve field agencies as project sites and how to conduct evaluations that have effects on individuals and communities in diverse populations. This course provides the student with the opportunity to design an evaluation.

Provides students continued structured learning opportunities that emphasize the integration of theory and practice. It is a culmination of the scope of their practicum setting and examines the values and ethics of social work practice. The seminar also serves as a capstone experience to implement selected social work practice theories, such as the problem solving approach, and to enhance their social work practice skills and relationships within the client system and their environment. Students will advocate for persons who are subject to discrimination, economic deprivation and oppression including women, elderly persons, people of color, and gay and lesbian persons. Students will explore how their agency prepares them to work competently with diverse populations.

Is a social work advanced practice course focusing on working families from diverse groups and communities. Ethical and proficient social work practice require that program graduates be able to "practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to client's age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation." This course contributes to the development of such proficiency for advanced level MSW students. The course focuses on a broad range of oppressed groups and relevant intervention strategies and approaches adapted to meet the needs of such groups and their families.

Promotes masters" level development of skills necessary to practice social work with diverse groups and within organizations and communities. Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice II specifically focuses on the use of various group methodologies to create planned change, intervention approaches for utilizing community strengths and creating community change, and change efforts within organizations. Throughout these activities an emphasis is placed on rural-based social work practice with larger size systems utilizing evidence-based practice models that espouse an appreciation for diverse populations from a strengths-based, system-focused, capacity-building, and ecological perspective.

Provides an ecological approach to understanding and intervening with clients impacted by various types of family violence: physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of children, women, and elders, from a practice & policy perspective. Special emphasis in the course will be on conceptualizing and developing interventions relevant to the poor, and the oppressed, racial and ethnic minorities, other at-risk urban populations, with a cultural sensitive approach to clients regarding sexual orientation and the violence with its culture.

Focuses upon understanding issues faced by individuals and families with members with histories of substance abuse and treatment and the social problems they historically experience. Different theories or approaches are used to understand the nature of chemical dependency. Particular issues and areas of need experienced by individuals having different types of dependency (alcoholism, drugs, poly-substance abuse) from highly vulnerable groups will be explored. This course also provides information on the disease concept and process and examines major medical and psychological implications.

Uses a seminar approach to presenting current child abuse and neglect policy, practice, and research issues. The class will host a variety of speakers who are working on cutting-edge issues in child abuse and neglect. Students will gain exposure to various child protection welfare agencies in Illinois and have the opportunity to discuss and debate the many issues facing child protection practitioners today. This course is open to all social work majors and is a must for anyone who is pursuing a career in child welfare. This course goes beyond Child Welfare I and II (Social Work) to explore and examine current practice, policy, and research issues in more depth. The content of SWRK 653 is also considered continued preparation for students currently working in social work and in child welfare agencies.

Teaches principles and techniques for helping oneself and others in crisis. The focus will be to (a) assess and understand the person or family in crisis, (b) prevent escalation of crises resulting in possible injury to self and/or others, and (c) implement a crisis management plan, including the referral and follow-up process. There will be formal presentations, problem solving through small group discussion utilizing case material, role-playing: all emphasizing community linkage networks in crisis situations.

Focuses on the emerging themes of spirituality, empowerment and consumer-driven services. Three time periods will be explored: Institutional, Professional, and Person-directed/full participation in community. Moral, legal, and ethical issues will provide the stimuli for encouraging the student to understand the plethora of issues facing spirituality in individuals daily. The first half of the semester will focus on the history leading to the emerging issues and views of spirituality. The second half will concentrate on applying this information to social work practice. The course explores differing perspectives of spiritual beliefs, access to employment and supports, changing societal attitudes.

Addresses the understanding of international perspectives of aging and the care of the elderly. The course provides students with a theoretical foundation concerning concepts and issues relevant to the care of older adults in the interdisciplinary context of social work and nursing with an international focus. Offered in collaboration with nursing science faculty of the Medical University of Graz, this course is open to undergraduate and graduate students of both institutions and will be offered at alternative institutions each year.

Provides a comprehensive introduction to elder abuse and neglect from a social work perspective. Social workers in all professional work settings must know how to identify adult maltreatment and domestic violence. Students will explore the family dynamics and indicators of maltreatment and effective interventions on the micro and macro level. Additionally, students will learn the extent of the problem, effects on the family unit, treatment issues, the social worker's role in a multidisciplinary team approach, and how to advocate for individuals and families. This course is designed as a requirement for geriatric social work. Students will learn about various practice skills and treatment intervention related to social work with abused/neglected adults, their children and families.

Provides a comprehensive introduction to Military Social Work Practice perspective. It will explore the historical role of social work in meeting the needs of servicemen, veterans and their family members. Students will also explore this culture from its demographics, mental health and health needs from a micro, mezzo and macro perspective. They will also critique and analyze current methods of treatment and interventions that may contribute insufficient treatment methodologies.

Examines mental health and mental illness from a strength-based social work perspective. Cultural and community factors defining these issues are addressed. This course seeks to provide a direct practice understanding of treatment concepts necessary for clinical work. It will prepare students to make critical judgments about individual and family systems for appropriate assessment, treatment modalities, interdisciplinary coordination, documentation, and advocacy; and provide a common language and theoretical base for understand interdisciplinary practice.

This course examines major causes and characteristics of students in the public school setting evidencing exceptionality. The psychology, identification, and methods of serving exceptional individuals and their families will be considered. While the focus of this course is an understanding of the various exceptionalities and how that impacts a student’s education, the course will provide a social work perspective for practice related to prevention, intervention, and evaluation. This course will also introduce students to the work of specialized instructional support personnel (SISP), whose task is to enhance the capacity of every school child to learn to his or her capacity. Through the study of research, practice, and policy issues facing school children, especially those with exceptionalities, students in this course will learn to promote build educational services and expand educational success for children with exceptionalities, their families, schools, and communities. Emphasis will be placed on multidisciplinary collaboration that promotes student well-being and supportive school environments. Recognizing the influence of historical and cultural contexts, diversity, and oppression as well as social and economic forces impacting education are examined within the context of educational disparities and academic outcomes. Prerequisite: MSW Foundations curriculum (waived if Advanced Standing Student).

This is the first of a two-course sequence for students specializing in the School Social Work Concentration. This course focuses on practice. It prepares students to provide school social work services to individuals, groups, families, the school system, and the community. This course covers the roles of the school social worker and the skills needed to perform the various roles. Special attention is given to assessment, prevention, and intervention across systems on behalf of school children and their families. Students will complete Field III concurrently, in the public school setting, leading to state certification as school social worker while enrolled in this course. This course will also cover the evolution of school social work as a profession and the impact of the culture and climate of the school on practice. It will examine how social diversity impacts academic achievement, and the role of the school social worker in addressing these disparities. Students will acquire knowledge and skills to conduct assessments and implement evidence informed interventions across universal, targeted, and multitier systems, and apply an ethical decision making framework to complex school situations. Students will acquire skills in workload management. The role of school social work professional development and active participation in professional organizations will also be examined. Prerequisite: MSW Foundations curriculum (waived if Advanced Standing Student).

This is the second of a two-course sequence for students doing their internships in the public school setting leading to state certification as school social worker. This course focuses on policy and legal issues related to providing school social work services to individuals, groups, families, the school system, and the community. This course covers state and federal special education mandates and other laws and policies related to public school children and their families. Special attention is given to ethical and legal implications of these laws and policies and their effect on the education of children. This course will also cover the roles of school social workers and the skills needed to perform various roles such as making the school social worker visible and multi-tiered system interventions to include individual students, groups, family support, and community involvement. Students will enhance their knowledge and skills to conduct assessments and implement evidence informed interventions across universal, targeted, and multi-tiered systems. Students will enrich their skills in workload management. Prerequisite: MSW Foundations curriculum (waived if Advanced Standing Student).

This course is designed to provide graduate students with specialized courses of interest to the community. It is also designed to make students more aware of current issues and trends in graduate social work practice. Examples of Topics courses are Social Work Practice with Older Adults, Psychopathology, Crisis Intervention, Practice and Policy Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect, Substance Abuse and Treatment, Domestic Violence, Spirituality and Franciscan Ideals and Forensic Social Work. Prerequisites variable, dependent on the nature of the Topic offered.

This course provides an opportunity for graduate level social work majors to explore advanced generalist social work practice from a research practice and policy perspective. Advanced generalist social work practice is explored from its historical fundamental concepts, values, and principles using current research and practice skills to enhance the student's understanding of the relevance of research to effective practice skills with all levels of intervention. The research assignments are geared to developing a broader knowledge of specific social work practice that can enhance resources and service delivery to multicultural populations.

Is a course that addresses the range of introductory topics and issues critical for successful completion of the certification program and target academic objectives, including the: Purpose, function and roles of social workers in legal settings; Interdisciplinary cultural factors inherent to working with lawyers and legal professionals; Dynamics of working within a "host setting" i.e. the legal arena; General laws, policies and practices associated with forensic social work practice. Students will be provided with guidelines and success strategies for the program, including resources for achieving academic objectives and career advising. The course content forms the foundation for the program and culminates in the requirements for the 2 credit hour Capstone (SWRK 712).

This course focuses on basic legal and ethical concepts as they apply to social work policies and practices with vulnerable populations. Students will be introduced to: (1) a historical overview of the relationship between law and social work and the role of ethics; (2) the role of the US Constitution, federal laws, and case law developments as they have impacted human services delivery; (3) issues pertaining to confidentiality, due process, agency/worker liability and malpractice issues; (4) legal regulation of social work; (5) case record keeping; (6) preparing for and testifying in court; (7) sexual harassment, and other forms of discrimination. The course reflects the school's commitment to issues of social justice and human dignity, diversity and self-determination by examining the evolution of clients' rights and examining how laws and other legal mandates have been used as measures of social control and oppression. The law, lawyers, and legal settings are frequent sources of both problems and solutions for social workers, our clients, and the agencies in which we work. Understanding the processes and content of law and of law's settings and actors is important for effective social work practice. Moreover, in this litigious society, social workers are increasingly subject to various forms of legal scrutiny and situations requiring balancing important ethical considerations. The course seeks to introduce students to concepts and processes as well as help them gain certain knowledge and skills that call for accountable and ethical practice.

This is an intensive 5 week course. Readings, assignments, presenters and activities support student competencies in the following areas toward the successful completion of course requirements: (1) Fundamental constitutional concepts and principles - Due Process of the law - Equal protection; (2) Prosecution and punishment of adult offenders - Crime: elements, classifications & defenses - From chard through trial and sentencing; (3) Adjudication and treatment of juvenile offenders - Delinquency and custody - Adjudication process. Overarching sociological factors impacting the American criminal justice system are addressed along with victims and victim rights issues.

This is an intensive 5 week course. Readings, assignments, presenters and activities support student competencies in the following areas toward the successful completion of course requirements: (1) Fundamental concepts and principles for the family law system: - Constitutional and federal statuses governing family law - State law; (2) Laws, concepts and principles involving children: Child protection, rights and obligations of parents - Legal aspects of out-of-home placement; (3) Legal constructs of "Marriage" and "Family": Marriage as compared to or contrasted with co-habitation - Termination of marriage, dissolution issues; (4) Elder law: Guardianship - who, how, and other alternatives - Competency (elders and others with physical or mental disabilities).

Combines didactic material with extensive opportunities for experiential learning under highly supervised conditions. Course content is synchronized with the Field Practicum in Advanced Generalist Forensic Social Work and the course emphasizes preparations for the application of FSW skills in practice settings. Readings, assignments, and activities support student competencies in the following area: Performance-Based Competencies (1) Preparation for legal proceedings/Pre-trial: Importance of context (employment setting, private practice) and social work role - Interviewing - Mediation and negotiation skills; (2) Documentation and documentary evidence: Clinical records - Interoffice documents - Court records; (3) Testifying and expert testimony: Contracting services - Oral testimony on direct and cross-examination - Depositions, hearings, or other proceedings; (4) Responding to claims against the practitioner: Responding to subpoenas - Malpractice claims.

This course is a directed study that engages student collaborations with social work, law faculty or community expert and involves two (2) core projects through which students demonstrate an advanced understanding of forensic social work theory and knowledge base and their applications for clients and professional development. These projects include: (1) Publication quality paper (can be co-authored with faculty) - students learn from and contribute to the fields by researching an approved topic of interest and writing on this area, (2) Professional portfolio - student summarize and highlight their specific professional and program accomplishments in an evaluated and critiques "hard copy" or digital document.

Focuses on practice with the older population within the context of health and mental care. Evidence-based, ethically sound psychosocial interventions to address the physical and mental health challenges faced by older adults and encountered by family caregivers will be emphasized. This course critically examines skills and strategies for practice with this population with/within interdisciplinary organizations, diverse communities and related policies and policy issues.

Examines the social and cultural aspects of aging with special emphasis on diversity and social policies. This course critically examines the effect of social issues and policies on multicultural client-systems, organization, agencies and communities designed for mature adults.

Focuses on providing a theoretical base for understanding the psychosocial aspects of aging, death and bereavement across the life cycle. Emphasis will include strategies, techniques and goals of interventions in clinical work with older individuals, families and groups, together with discussion of the importance of inter-professional collaboration. Grounded in the theoretical foundation of attachment and loss, the course reviews life cycle, spiritual and religious views that impact on physical aging, chronic illness, traumatic death and disenfranchised grief. Attention will be given to special practice challenges, ethical dilemmas relating to the well-being of older adults and to self-help strategies from a macro practice perspective.