Professional Foundation Courses (MSWPF-GS)

The overall objective of this course is to provide students with an integrative framework that combines direct practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities with a commitment to organizational and social change. Students are helped to develop skills in a broad range of practitioner roles. The course examines the history, values, and ethics of the profession; the societal and organizational context of practice; and the impact of racism and oppression. Skills in systems assessment, engagement, interviewing, collaboration and advocacy, relationship issues and self-awareness, and the practice principles of both crisis and extended intervention are taught. A social work laboratory component provides students with opportunities for experiential learning.

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills essential to the use of a range of social work modalities, including individual, family, group, community, and organizational intervention. Students are helped to examine ethical and value dilemmas and to consider the practice implications of social work research. The course also considers the final phase of intervention. A social work laboratory component provides students with the opportunity for experiential learning.

The history, philosophy, and structure of social welfare and social work within the American social system are presented in a model that students may use to understand social welfare issues, programs, and services and to enhance social work practice with clients.

This course is centered in the biopsychosocial perspective that stresses a multidimensional view of human development and behavior. The focus is on the transactional relationship between human behavior and pertinent psychological, social, biological, economic, cultural, environmental, and institutional forces. Multiple theoretical perspectives are used to understand the behavior of individuals, families, groups, social networks, and systems. The role of social stressors such as poverty and oppression and their impact on human development are evaluated. All aspects of development and behavior are studied in the context of diversity. The life cycle stages of infancy and childhood are also viewed from a biopsychosocial perspective.

The focus is on the continuing evolution and expression of personal and social identity in the stages of the life cycle from early adolescence through old age. Concepts from ego psychology and social science that relate to various aspects of normal development, integration, and socialization in later life are examined as well as theories of stress and crisis. The impact of social structure and processes on individual, familial, and work roles over time is emphasized throughout.

This course provides an introduction to social work research methods. The objectives are to provide a beginning understanding of the research process and to develop knowledge of the range of social work and related research. Foundation skills in conceptualization of a research problem, literature review, research design and measurement, and research ethics are emphasized. The course seeks to develop the skills needed for an understanding of and active participation in social work research, including systematic evaluation of practice.

This course centers on expanding the student's understanding of the meaning of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and culture, as well as the concepts of prejudice, discrimination, oppression, stigma, and stereotyping. Racism, particularly as it impacts on personal, professional, institutional, and societal levels, is studied. Special attention is given to the experiences of African Americans and Latinos in U.S. society in general and in the New York City metropolitan area in particular. Within an integrative perspective, implications for direct and indirect social work practice are explored. Specifically, the importance of ethnoculturally competent practice for the individual worker and the design of service delivery systems are covered.

Social Work Practice Lab I is a required practice course offered in the first semester of the 32 Month Program for Working Professionals. This course introduces career changers to the social work profession, its history, mission, values, and ethics. Students gain familiarity with the role of social workers across diverse settings, the range and continuum of practice, contextual factors that impact our work, and learn basic social work skills. It is the only class in the first semester where the students meet as a cohort and foster community.

Social Work Practice Lab II is offered in the second semester and builds upon the curriculum of Social Work Practice Lab I. Students learn advanced skills in engaging and interviewing clients, as well as the factors to consider in formulating comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and treatment plans. The focus of the course is on developing readiness for practicum. Students update their resumes, prepare for interviews with social service agencies, and begin the onboarding process for starting practicum the following semester.

Building on the group content in Social Work Practice I and II, this course offers students opportunities for didactic learning, which includes lecture/discussion. The course considers the integration of group interventions into different agency settings and the use of groups for a variety of purposes including education, prevention, self-help, rehabilitation, advocacy, and change. Clinical skills related to the beginning, middle, and ending phases are taught along with various types and models of group practice. There are opportunities for participants to engage in structured role-playing and other exercises.