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Fall 2016
Mar 29,2024
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MSWK 501 - THEORY, PRACTICE AND FIELD INSTRUCTION I
Theory, Practice and Field I (TPF I) is the first in a required sequence of four social work theory, practice, and field instruction courses in the MSW Program. In TPF I, students gain a general overview of the history, philosophy, process, and efficacy of direct social work practice with individuals and families in diverse settings and of diverse identities. Students discover the various roles that generalist social workers take and the importance of working across a range of systems that includes individuals, couples, families, agencies, and communities. The field instruction component facilitates the development of the student in the profession by engaging the historic signature pedagogy of hands-on-learning. Through the resources of the Field Education Department, students will be placed in an agency for 200 hours of supervised practice. Students are expected to utilize critical thinking to link social work theories with appropriate practice skills, to critically evaluate their work I class and field, and to utilize research-informed practice to understand how agencies provide services.
0.000 TO 7.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 7.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 502 - THEORY, PRACTICE AND FIELD INSTRUCTION II
Social Work Theory, Practice, and Field Instruction II (TPF II) builds on the values, knowledge and behavioral skills introduced in Social Work Practice I. In this course, students gain better understanding of short-term, crisis and extended interventions models; self-evaluation and evaluation of practice approaches and models; agency and community practice; advanced practice skills with individuals and families, and the process of termination. The field instruction component facilitates the development of the student in the profession by engaging the signature pedagogy of hands-on-learning. Through the resources of the Field Education Department, students will be placed in an agency for 200 hours (continued from TPF I) of supervised practice where students are expected to move to a competent level of performance as a generalist social worker.
0.000 TO 7.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 7.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 503 - HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I
Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HBSE I) is the first of three courses in the Human Behavior sequence. HBSE I and HBSE II examine human development, and HBSE III covers psychosocial-pathology. This course introduces students to the salient aspects of the human condition. Learning emphasizes the reciprocal and transactional influences between persons and their environment and examining bio-psycho-social factors influencing human development throughout the life cycle. Known as person-in-environment, this interaction forms the basis of an ecological approach to human development, brining into focus current knowledge and theories regarding human behavior and the social environment as they influence each other. The course examines human development beginning with conception through middle childhood. The course focuses on issues that deal with the self in an ecological context, with specific attention to the study of individual, physical, intellectual, and temperamental endowment in transaction with sociocultural norms and family patterns. The crises, struggles, conflicts, risks and opportunities associated with these conditions and transactions are explored. The emphasis is placed on differences and similarities in the life experience and lifestyles of men and women and minority groups. The relationship between individual experience and wider system forces is examined. Emphasis is placed on the capacity of the individual, groups and organizations, to improve their own life and their community’s in response to macro-system forces.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 504 - HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II
Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (HBSE II) is the second course of three in a sequence that examines the reciprocal and transactional influences between people and their environment multi-dimensionally in the context of biophysical, familial, institutional and societal factors. A major focus is on development of the human biological, psychological and social structure occurring throughout the life span. The course stresses the centrality of culture, race, ethnicity, gender and the socioeconomic environment. This course pays particular attention to the development of human life and experience from adolescence through the adult life cycle. Using systems theory as a critical theoretical underpinning, Human Behavior in the Social Environment II stresses a non-linear view of development in which there is a continuous reciprocal interchange and mutual impact among different systems (individual, family, group, community, organizations). Human Behavior in the Social Environment I covers the life cycle from birth to late childhood. Human Behavior in the Social Environment II continues from early adolescence to old age.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 505 - SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES I
Social Welfare Programs and Policies is a foundation course that prepares students with tools for critical thinking regarding major social policies and programs that affect human well-being or quality of life, as well as various aspects of social service delivery. Students will understand the ways in which direct social work practice responds to social policies and is shaped by them. At the foundation level, students will develop expertise to understand social policy content, policy actions of agencies, professional associations and political bodies, and the skills necessary to influence social policy.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 506 - SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH I
The first of two in the graduate social work research sequence, this course introduces the principles and methods of basic social work research. The development of both substantive research knowledge and methodological research are highlighted. The ethical conduct of research is taught within the context of social work purposes and values. The formulation of problems for study that address the social needs of diverse groups is emphasized. This course 1) fosters methods of research, 2) promotes a systematic examination of current knowledge, service delivery and outcomes, and 3) further the purposes of professional accountability.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 507 - CULTURAL DIVERSITY, RACISM, OPPRESSION AND PRIVILEGE
This course is designed to help students work more effectively with clients from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. From developmental and ecological systems perspectives, the course examines racism, sexism, ethnicity, ageism, homophobia, social class, and discrimination against persons with physical disabilities and illness, such as HIV/AIDS. Students will identify their own relationship to diversity and the factors of oppression and privilege that are relevant in social work practice. They will learn to cultivate a cultural consciouness through awareness of self, of the client’s identity through history and cultural contributions, and by paying attention to systems of oppressin and privilge that contribute to our own self-concept and our perceptions of others. The effect of these considerations will be viewed in the context of globalization, immigration, and current events that affect social work practice in urban America.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 508 - CLINICAL PRACTICE WITH GROUPS
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills relevant to social work practice in groups. It is expected that students will learn basic skills through course readings, papers, videos/films and role-playing of the different approaches to social work with groups. This course builds upon the Human Behavior and Practice foundation courses, and is grounded in developmental, psychodynamic and cognitive theories and linked to fieldwork experience through in class assignments and class discussion. The course reviews the various ways groups are used in social work practice, i.e., socialization, social support, psychological treatment, self-help, advocacy and prevention. Particular attention is given to the recruitment and composition of groups, contracting and goal setting, leadership, structure of groups, phases of group development, group processing such as decision making, tension reduction, conflict resolution, termination and evaluation of evidenced based group interventions. Emphasis is given to how group work practice takes place with particular client systems and within current societal and professional contexts.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 599 - TRANSFER ELECTIVE

0.000 TO 4.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 4.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture/Online

Grad Social Work Department

MSWK 601 - THEORY, PRACTICE AND FIELD INSTRUCTION III
The Theory, Practice and Field Instruction III course provides knowledge of the foundations of clinical social work practice, including theories and methods for clinical practice with individuals and families. Students will learn to differentially approach assessment and intervention as well as advanced skills in engagement, assessment, goal setting, planning, and implementing interventions making research informed decisions. Professional practice skills in monitoring one’s own work and evaluating the effectiveness of one’s interventions will be covered. This course will also develop students’ knowledge of the various theoretical approaches and their implications for clinical intervention relevant to clinical practice with individuals and families with an emphasis on synthesizing and critique knowledge from previous courses.
0.000 TO 7.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 7.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 602 - THEORY, PRACTICE & FIELD INSTRUCTION IV
The Theory, Practice and Field Instruction IV course is the final required practice course. This course is conducted in a seminar style with the goal of helping students synthesize content knowledge from not only practice course, but also diversity and policy. Students are guided in advanced practice topics that support the development of a professional social work identity and advanced ethical practice. Topics include professional boundaries, supervision, use of self in practice, termination, leadership, professional licensure and development.
0.000 TO 7.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 7.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course, Seminar

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 603 - HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT III - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Human behavior in the Social Environment III will provide the student with exposure to major issues in the area of child and adult psychopathology and diagnosis of mental disorders. The course examines psychopathology and mental disorders from a biopsychosocial and ethnocultural perspective. Emphasis is placed on understanding biopsychosocial influences on the incidence, manifestation, and course of the most commonly presented mental disorders and the differential effect of these factors on diverse populations. Current research from biological psychiatry and the behavioral sciences regarding the impact of poverty, race/ethnicity, class, and labeling theories and the stress and social support model are highlighted. Students pay special attention to understanding the human experience of mental illness and the experience of family members and significant others. Students deepen and extend their assessment and intervention skills in work with individuals and families who face challenges with a range of problems commonly found in clients with mental illness such as: dual diagnoses, substance abuse, trauma, physical illness, disability, and poverty. The DSM 5 is used as an organizing framework to teach diagnostic skills so the student may be adept at providing a comprehensive assessment to insure appropriate intervention.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 604 - ADVANCED SOCIAL POLICY
Advanced Social Policy is a required course in the advanced concentration year of the MSW program and is taken after successful completion of Social Welfare Programs and Policy I. This advanced concentration course examines local, state and federal social problems from the perspective of their impact on individuals, families, and communities, focusing on at-risk populations in the context of an urban environment. The course builds on the policy content offered in the Professional Foundation Year and links policy to practice and research skills that have been developed. Emphasis is placed on the link between social and economic justice and issues relating to diversity and social action. The first part of the course is an examination of the policy making cycle, inclusive of social problem definition, policy formulation, implementation and critical analysis of policy. A detailed section on evaluation of policies as they affect societal structures, communities, agencies, clients and practitioners is then discussed. Finally, a major section of the course presents theories related to organizational change and strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 605 - SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH II - PRACTICE EVALUATION
This course is the second of a two-course research sequence. The course builds upon the qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and statistical techniques practiced in SWRK-506 and builds upon an advanced generalist perspective learned in other advanced practice courses. The course explores advanced techniques for evaluating systems of all sizes and is specifically designed for those in the advanced practice stage of learning who are going to evaluate practice. Methods and strategies for conducting program evaluation and single system research will be emphasized. Special emphasis will be placed on developing strengths-based performance indicators.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 610 - PUBLIC HEALTH IN WEST AFRICA
The objective of this study course to Ghana, West Africa is to expose students to differences in social, political and healthcare environments and the cultural implications for social work practice and healthcare. This course offers a comprehensive overview of the state of mental health in Ghana and social work practices as well as introduction to African civilization, society, and culture. By the end of the study course, students will appreciate the impact that politics play on the delivery of social work practice and healthcare in sub-Sahara Africa. Students will understand how Ghana’s recent economic and political history has shaped its society and current healthcare environment. Students will also be introduced to the work that Ramapo faculty are doing to help transform the Social Work curriculum at Kumasi University. This course involves a travel abroad fee to be determined. This is cross listed with NURS-365.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 615 - CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN & ADOLESCENCE
This course builds upon foundational social work practice knowledge, values, methods, and skills in providing a concentration on clinical interventions with children and adolescents. The course emphasizes the development of direct practice skills in working with children and adolescents, their families, and relevant environmental systems. The course addresses normative socio0cultural variations in developmental life tasks and expectations, childrearing practices, and life stage concerns pertinent to adolescents, with a focus on diversity issues. Particular emphasis is given to gender, race, ethnicity, social class, and other types of diversity. The course introduces and explores evidence-based practice methodologies in addressing behavioral, emotional, and situational problems of children/adolescents and their families in a range of social work intervention settings, and includes a focus on individual, family, and group intervention modalities. Pertinent theoretical frames and strategies for engaging and intervening with children and adolescents are presented, with behavioral and developmental norms for adolescents considered from a cross-cultural, comparative perspective. Additionally, environmental factors and social justice issues are addressed with respect to the wellbeing of children/adolescents and their families. As such, the course offers an integral foundation and knowledge base pertaining to social work values, ethics, and empirically-based research that support direct practice interventions with adolescent populations.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 620 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN TRAUMA
This course integrates trauma theory and practice and expands practice knowledge to include the treatment and assessment of the survivors of trauma. Emphasis is placed on differentiating PTSD from Complex Trauma in order to identify appropriate, evidence-based and evidence-supported intervention strategies. Topics covered in this course include a historical overview of the development of our understanding of trauma and the exploration of various types of trauma including war trauma, domestic violence, childhood sexual and physical abuse, natural disasters, and experiences of refugees and organizational trauma. Among the interventions covered in this course are Trauma-Focused CBT, Narrative Exposure Therapy, and Psychological First Aid. Students will consider issues that affect those treating the survivors of trauma, such as secondary, vicarious, and shared trauma, and will explore approaches to self-care. This course is intended to develop the clinical skills and theoretical knowledge of advanced social work students who work with survivors of trauma. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to apply core social work values to case material and readings. Trauma will be viewed from the perspective of its effect on the individual. At the same time, students will understand the structural phenomena that perpetuate cycles of trauma in our society, such as race, gender, gender identity, age, immigration status and poverty. The readings include empirical literature, theory, biography and memoir and are intended to inform students of evidence-based and evidence supported interventions and the latest theories of trauma.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 625 - SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
This course will explore the concept of spirituality as it broadly relates to the profession of social work. A number of holistic concepts under the definition of spirituality will be explored, and recognition of the need to include spirituality in the biopsychosocial perspective. Participants will be introduced to various definitions of spirituality, which will be differentiated from formal religion throughout the course.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 630 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN END OF LIFE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
This course is both an introduction to the study of thanatology (death and dying) andan opportunity to focus on questions surrounding life anddeath. As such, the course will examine the historical evolution of the socio-cultural influences that shape the current attitudes and practices of our death-related experiences.As we explore these death-related issues, we will utilize aninterdisciplinary approach examining contributions from sociology, theology, medicine, psychology, philosophy andother relevant practices. The specific topics of each session will cover: cultural diversity in death and loss, the American death system, living with life-threatening illness, the dying process, bereavement, traumatic loss, caregiving, ethical dilemmas, children and death, and suicide. Oftentimes, the study of thanatology begins a personaljourney as we explore concepts surrounding death and understand the relationship to our life experiences, death-related experiences, andour own mortality.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 635 - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS
This course will examine essential content knowledge for working with clients who abuse substances with the expectationthat students will synthesize and integrate thatknowledge with previous social work practice knowledge to effectively work with this specialized population. Students will learntheories relevantto substance abuse counseling and how to applythem to theirpractice. This is the first oftwo substance abuse electives thatsatisfy the academic requirements for students who are interested in pursuinga licensure in clinical alcohol and drugcounseling (LCADC). Each week students will be required to complete various assignments to account for the .5 hours of class time that is not onsite.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 640 - COGNITIVE & DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS
This course considers the theoretical underpinnings of cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy and their use and integration within a biopsychosocial perspective. Specific therapeutic techniques will be explored and applied to various diagnostic categories. Upon completion of the course, the social work student will be familiar with current Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies, and their use within social work practice settings. Furthermore, the social work student will have several techniques that could be utilized in an integrated biopsychosocial framework. Opportunities to practice the techniques and to present relevant case materials will be provided during the course. Application of these techniques will cover interventions with adults, children, and adolescents.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 645 - ADVANCED SEMINAR OF TOPICS ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
This course will examine an array of topics necessary for comprehensive practice in the field of addictions. Topics include using research to inform practice, ethical practice, culturally competent practice, specific interventions for compulsive gamblers, and practitioner self-care. Students will synthesize and integrate that knowledge with previous social work practice knowledge to effectively work with this specialized population. This is the second of two substance abuse electives that satisfy the academic requirements for students who are interested in pursuing a licensure in clinical alcohol and drug counseling (LCADC). This course will also look at the role of policy related to substance use disorders such as the war on drugs and its impact on treatment. There is also a study abroad option available to add on to this course in Portugal during spring break where students will compare policy and treatment approaches within the Portuguese system to the system in the United States.
0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 3.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Lecture/Online, Online Course

Grad Social Work Department

Course Attributes:
MSW COURSE FOR GRAD FEE ASSESS

MSWK 699 - TRANSFER ELECTIVE

0.000 TO 4.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 4.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture/Online

Grad Social Work Department


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