Social Work Graduate Courses

SWK 702 Play Therapy (3)
This course is designed to give the candidate exposure to the various play therapies: play room, sand tray, art, movement and psychodrama. Through reading, lecture, class discussion, case presentations, and role play simulations, candidates will become familiar with various techniques used with children in therapy and counseling. Candidates will discuss the applicability of these theories in working with deaf and hard of hearing children and youth; as well as in working with children and youth with differing cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Prerequisite: Graduate level standing.

SWK 705 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3)
This foundation course affirms the central focus of social work practice as the person or human group in interaction with the social environment. Its purpose -- to understand the problematic transactions between people and their environments; its goal -- to use this understanding to restore and enhance mutually beneficial transactions between people and society through reciprocal tasks and adaptations. Concepts of biopsychosocial development across the life span will be presented. The family will be considered as an open system with functions that shift at stages of transitions.

Prerequisite: Graduate level standing.

SWK 706 Human Behavioral and the Social Environment II (3)
This course examines the behaviors, functions, and structure of groups, communities, and organizations. Students are introduced to theories that explain interactions within and between each of these larger systems. Students are also given an opportunity to apply many of the theoretical concepts used to explain the behaviors of individuals and families learned in the first semester Human behavior course, to behaviors exhibited by larger systems (groups, communities, and organizations). The course also addresses issues related to equitable distribution of goods and services that may be encountered by macro systems.

Prerequisite: SWK 705.

SWK 707 Introduction to Gerontology (3)
This second course examines the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging, with special attention to the interrelationship between theoretical and practice-oriented knowledge. The course is organized around basic theories and processes of aging and considers developmental issues facing aging individuals as they move through maturity and old age. Examination of cross-cultural issues that shed light on the American experience will be introduced. Cultural/historical, class, gender, ethnic, and minority relationships to aging will be considered. Selected policy issues related to developmental changes and needs will be introduced where possible, as will earlier developmental processes that continue into advanced age.

SWK 709 Social Work Perspectives on Dysfunction (3)
This elective course examines dysfunctional behavior in the context of developmental and environmental stresses. Ego psychology as a system of personality theory is considered as a means to understanding the development of adaptive and maladaptive ego functioning. The course surveys the varied manifestations of adult psychopathology, including psychotic disorders, personality disorders, adjustment disorders, affective disorders, eating disorders, and addictions.

Prerequisite: SWK 705.
Co-requisite: SWK 706.

SWK 711 Social Policy and Social Services (3)
This foundation course is an introduction to the understanding and appraisal of social services and social policies in the United States. The social values and economic and political factors which guide their development will be discussed. Attention is given to the role of social work in evaluating and changing policies.

SWK 713 Issues in Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations (3)
This concentration course, taken in the second year, focuses on human behavior and the social environment of deaf and hard of hearing populations. The course looks at the complex interplay of psychosocial, system, and ecological forces in the life cycle development of individuals who experience deafness. The course explores forces of oppression and political and economic influences that impact the behavior, adaptation, and functioning of deaf and hard of hearing people.

Prerequisite: SWK 705, SWK 706, and passing the qualifying exams.

SWK 715 Disability Policy: Implications for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations (3)
This course presents specialized content about social welfare policies affecting deaf and hard of hearing people and people with disabilities. These policies are discussed within the framework of analysis and evaluation to determine future directions for policy. The impact of the service delivery, funding, and organizational systems on the implementation of policy will be considered. The course will look at policies for people who are deaf-blind, developmentally disabled, and chronically mentally ill.

Prerequisite: SWK 711.

SWK 717 Cultural Competence (3)
This course examines theories of cultural and ethnic identity, literature related to the cultures of women, deaf and hard of hearing people, gay and lesbian people, ethnic minorities of color, and people with disabilities. Because of the complexity of culturally competent social work practice, students are required to examine personal prejudices, stereotypes, and belief systems that negatively affect the provision of services to diverse populations. Readings on oppression, identity, and minority cultures are supplemented with presentations by experts from the community and dialogue with them. The course uses classroom exercises, written assignments, and objective measurements to increase self-awareness in the context of the student's personal identity and attitudes about difference based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

SWK 741 Social Work Practice I (5)
This is the first foundation course in the sequence of social work practice courses. It focuses on the knowledge, values, and skills required to intervene with individual, family, and group systems. This course focuses on social work relationships as an integral component for change. Students gain knowledge and skill in the use of self in social work practice. A weekly practice lab focuses on the application of practice and interview skills.

SWK 742 Social Work Practice II (3)
This is the second foundation course in the sequence of social work practice courses. It focuses on the knowledge, values, and skills required for effective intervention with larger systems of organizations and communities. It builds upon knowledge of interventions with individuals and groups to develop foundation skills such as advocating for clients within complex systems, building coalitions, negotiating with diverse groups, assessing community needs, program evaluation, development, management, proposal writing, understanding budgets, and supervision.

Prerequisite: SWK 741.

SWK 743 Social Work Practice with Older Persons and Their Families (3)
The focus of this course is on assessment and intervention with older people and their families. A primary, secondary, and tertiary intervention model is presented with emphasis on maintaining independence, using community-based services, and preventing institutionalization. The interdisciplinary aspects of gerontological social work, working with teams, and educating as well as learning from other professionals are addressed. Special attention is given to social work with older people with hearing loss; Alzheimer's and other organic disorders; alcohol abuse; medication problems; bereavement, death, and dying; neglect; abuse and victimization; and social work practice with racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities.

Prerequisite: SWK 707 and SWK 741.

SWK 749 Social Policy and Community Planning with Aging Persons (3)
This course is part of the required sequence for the aging and hearing loss concentration. Its focus is on social policy and community planning issues related to needs and services for aging people in the United States. Questions facing all aging individuals will be framed within two contexts: the cultural context of the aging deaf, and the special situation of deaf and hard of hearing elderly people. The course's perspective is to examine how national policy and service networks promote or interfere with successful aging and ways in which social work can contribute to improving relevant social policies and programs.

Prerequisite: SWK 707 and SWK 743.

SWK 751 Practice with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations: Micro Interventions (3)
This practice course is taken in the concentration (second year) of the Masters degree program focusing on advanced social work practice with deaf and hard of hearing individuals, couples and families. The course emphasizes the development of culturally sensitive application of strategies and interventions in social work practice. Theoretical models of practice such as family systems theory, ego psychology and brief solution therapy will be applied to deaf and hard of hearing populations. The course deepens and broadens the development of approaches to address ethical dilemmas in practice within Deaf communities.

Prerequisite: Passing the qualifying examination.
Co-requisite: SWK 713.

SWK 752 Practice with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations: Macro Interventions (3)
This is the second concentration practice course with a focus on specialized knowledge and skills needed to work with organizations and communities of which deaf and hard of hearing people are a part. Building on the foundation year principles of intervention with organizations and communities, this course prepares students for macro practice with a diverse population of deaf and hard of hearing people in communities and organizations. Using an empowerment framework, this course focuses on the processes of empowerment of deaf and hard of hearing populations, and interventions that increase their access to political and social processes in communities and organizations. The course addresses ethical issues presented in practice with deaf communities, such as accessibility, communication and language choices, power, oppression and related cultural factors. Topics include grassroots organizing, planning, grant writing and fund raising, administration, social action, needs assessment methodology and program evaluation skills. Empowerment theory, group theory and the strengths perspective are applied in work with deaf and hard of hearing populations.

Prerequisite: Passing the qualifying examination.
Co-requisite: SWK 751.

SWK 755 Research Methods I (3)
This course is the first of a required two-course sequence designed to introduce the student to the process of research beginning with topic choice and covering methodological approaches such as surveys and single case design, data collection, ethnics and politics of research, and unique problems of research in social work settings. During the course, students will select and develop a topic for their second year special project.

SWK 756 Data Analysis (3)
The second semester in the foundation research sequence focuses on statistical and qualitative tools that provide the student and professional social worker with the means for evaluating practice and programs. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and qualitative techniques of analysis will be the focus of this course. The student will be introduced to computer technology and its use for data analysis, using software packages such as the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Guide to Data Analysis for SPSS and "The Ethnographer" software for analysis of qualitative data.

Prerequisite: SWK 755.

SWK 760 School Social Work Practice (3)
This course exposes students to the specialized knowledge,skills and values needed for effective social work practice with deaf and hard of hearing children and their families within the complex ecosystem of their educational settings, and broader communities. Focus is on 1) assessment, intervention and prevention in the school setting; 2) collaboration and referral to outside agencies, 3) detection and reporting of child abuse and neglect; 4) interprofessional collaboration between social workers and educators to meet the complex needs of at risk students. Traditional school social work practice (family and group counseling, parent education, crisis intervention and advocacy) and emerging models of service delivery (play therapy modalities, and prevention activities such as psycho-educational approaches in conflict resolution, substance abuse prevention, etc.) in schools will be covered. School social work roles and functions ranging from formalized data collection procedures and assessment through contributing to and monitoring the ISP process to purely clinical interventions are covered. This class builds upon school social work policy, human behavior, and research courses. Societal, cultural, institutional, diversity and familial values will be explored in relation to practice and student success.

Prerequisite: SWK 705, SWK 706, SWK 741, and SWK 742.

SWK 761 School Social Work Policy (3)
This course builds a base of knowledge, skills and values among graduate social work students which will prepare them for work with deaf and hard of hearing children, adolescents and their families, within the context of the educational setting. Students will develop an understanding of laws and policies which impact the ecosystem of the child which relates to school social work and mental health policies, educational placement and access, poverty, violence, child abuse and maltreatment, substance abuse, domestic violence, healthcare, social justice and accessibility. Skills in assessing policy needs, evaluating policy and policy implications for deaf and hard of hearing children, their families and the educational system will be developed. Students will also develop skills to effect change in policies and programs which impede the deaf child's success in school. this course is grounded in professional social work values and ethics and examines their implications for policy.

Prerequisite: SWK 705 and SWK 711.

SWK 771 Foundation Field Practicum I (3)
Foundation Field Practicum is a 16-hour-per-week supervised experience in a social service agency. Under the guidance of experienced M.S.W. social work supervisors, students do initial and ongoing assessments, plan and implement interventions designed to bring about personal growth, empower clients and client systems, and promote social change. The practicum work includes work with deaf and hard of hearing individuals, hearing and deaf family members, related organizations, and the broader community.

Prerequisite: SWK 741.

SWK 772 Foundation Field Practicum II (3)
This course follows successful completion of SWK 771. Students return to their agencies approximately two weeks prior to the start of classes for 16 hours a week for 17 weeks. Understanding of generalist social work theory and the development of intervention skills are expanded during this semester. Students refine and deepen the goals of their learning contract, as well as the skills of assessment and intervention with clients and client systems.

Prerequisite: SWK 771.
Co-requisite: SWK 742.

SWK 780 Advanced Practice Seminar (3)
This course is designed to enhance students' abilities to integrate micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice with deaf and hard of hearing populations. Seminar participants present their own work from field practicum and participants in discussion of the work of peers. Seminar participants and the instructor also identify and examine controversial issues and other issues of concern to the profession in general and to social work practice with deaf and hard of hearing populations in particular.

Co-requisite: SWK 783.

SWK 783 Advanced Field Practicum with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations (6)
Students in advanced year have a full block placement in the spring semester while taking two additional online courses. During the semester, students are placed in internship settings that require advanced social work practice skills. Students work at their practicum sites for four eight hours days totaling thirty-two hours per week, or 512 hours for the semester. The field practicum is an agency or school carefully selected to promote learning in the concentration focus of deaf and hard of hearing populations. An experienced MSW field instructor supervises the student in practicum. The goal of the practicum is for students to deepen their knowledge and skills in social work practice, particularly with deaf and hard of hearing populations. The practicum serves as a vehicle for students to integrate knowledge, skills, ethical and professional values, culturally competent practice approaches, and ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of each social work intervention.

Prerequisite: SWK 771 and SWK 772.

SWK 791 Research Practicum I: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations (3)
This course builds on principles of research taught in the first year; the student applies them to an area of interest within the concentration focus of deaf and hard of hearing populations. During this semester, students will develop a proposal for a research project or thesis. Each phase of the research process (topic development, literature review, development of problem statement, conceptual framework and methodology) will be reviewed; additional material will be taught as needed for application of general principles to the areas of research with Deaf and Hard of hearing populations. The final assignment for the course will be the student's completed application to the Institutional Review Board in preparation for data collection and analysis during the second semester.

Prerequisite: SWK 756.

SWK 792 Research Practicum II: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations (3)
This course is the second semester of the advanced research sequence. Students continue their research project (thesis), collecting their data, and analyzing findings using computer technology where appropriate for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Special issues of analysis and interpretation for research related to deaf and hard of hearing populations are considered.

Prerequisite: SWK 791.

SWK 795 Special Topics (1-3)
Grading System: letter grades only.

SWK 799 Independent Study (1-3)
Grading System: letter grades only. Individualized course of study focusing on particular problem not covered in regular courses.

Prerequisite: Appropriate level of matriculation, permission of instructor and Special Independent Study Form.