Advanced Concentration Courses (MSWAC-GS)

Human Behavior in the Social Environment III (HBSE III) introduces students to the theoretical and empirical knowledge base that underlies contemporary concepts of mental health and illness. Students will learn about the methods and criteria used in DSM 5, and the major disorders that most commonly occur during childhood, adulthood and later life. The significance of culture, race, ethnicity, and gender in the diagnostic process is emphasized. In addition, stigma, and bias will be critically examined in keeping with the values and ethics of social work practice and issues of social justice.

The overall objective of this course is to help students deepen and extend their assessment and intervention skills in work with individuals and families who show a range of problems (e.g., mental illness, substance abuse, AIDS, physical illness and disability, domestic violence, rape, and sexual abuse). The impact of diversity and oppression is discussed throughout the course. Students are taught to recognize and resolve ethical and value conflicts, to recognize gaps in service and dysfunctional agency or social policies, to consider strategies for developing resources, and to integrate research thinking and findings into their practice. Formerly titled Clinical Practice with Individuals & Families.

Building on the foundation skills of the first research course, the objective of this course is to apply research concepts and principles to the actual conduct of studies addressing questions relevant to direct practice with individuals, families, and groups. The course prepares students for active roles in practice and program evaluation. An introduction to the use of computers in statistical analysis is included.

This course is designed to help students consolidate their social work identity and to prepare them for entry into the profession. Students are asked to identify and examine ethical and value conflicts and to consider the demands of professional accountability. Collaboration, advocacy, organizational assessment and change, and practice research are stressed. Agency and supervisory practices are considered from the point of view of student, worker, supervisor, and administrator. Selected social policy, service delivery, and professional issues are discussed as is the process of professional growth.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on mental health policies examining the historical context for the delivery of mental health services in the United States, the current policy landscape as it relates to health care reform and the role of funding in shaping services. Adopting a social determinants approach to health and mental health, the course will focus on issues of diversity, inequality, social and economic justice. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on the nature, scope, and effects of social problems confronting at-risk children, families, and communities in the United States and evaluates the impact of social welfare policies on micro practice with children and families. Recurrent themes throughout the semester will include human rights, social and economic justice, poverty, diversity, disproportionality, inequality, homophobia, racial discrimination, and privilege. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on the origins and development of public health policies in the United States as well as the political process surrounding healthcare reform. The health status of Americans will be examined with specific attention to health disparities that exist among different age groups, women, races/ethnicities, class backgrounds, and sexual/gender orientations. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course critically examines federal, state, and international policies for regulating substances, the social forces that drive the formulation of these policies, and the impact of these policies on the general population and disadvantaged populations. The course provides knowledge and skills to understand how addiction services and programs are organized, resourced and delivered, and emphasizes the need for collaboration and coordination between substance use and other behavioral health and primary care systems. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on policies and programs for older adults, including the multiple constituencies involved in and affected by them. The course covers the history of aging policy in the United States including; processes of policy development, implementation and analysis; and the current status of the aging network, income security, health, employment, housing and long-term care policies and programs. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course will focus on current issues and policies related to immigrants and refugees in global comparative perspective, with necessary historical overview and with focus on the U.S. immigration. The course will cover relevant policies related to changing migration flows, expanding ethnic and economic diversity of immigrants, immigrant women, unauthorized immigrants, transnationalism and development and second generation/children of immigrants. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

This course will introduce students to the overarching framework of international social policy and development with comparative references to developing and developed regions of the world. Emphasis will be on the identification of social, economic and political issues that impact those most vulnerable and disadvantaged by poverty, gender, age, disability, religion or ethnicity; and will explore the development and implementation of public and private global responses. Social policies, interventions, and solutions will be analyzed highlighting critical areas of poverty, human rights of children, gender issues including violence against women and trafficking, health including mental health, HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases, migration, and complex emergencies including conflicts, climate change and natural disasters.

This advanced concentration course examines urban 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. 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.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on examining policies surrounding disability in the United States using a systems approach. It will focus on the intersections among social work, policy, politics, culture, identity, and history, with a primary goal of addressing social work’s responsibility to people with disabilities. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

This course is designed to introduce you to what is sometimes called “policy practice,” the application of your knowledge, skills, education, and training to alter laws, regulations, rules, cultures, and institutional routines that affect the well-being of marginalized populations. This is part of the fight for broader social justice that is among your obligations under the NASW’s Code of Ethics. We will examine and evaluate strategies for effective policy change at the federal, state, city, neighborhood, and agency level through a careful examination of the relevant academic literature and the history of struggles for change. But this is an applied course, too, during which you will undertake your own semester-long project in policy advocacy on an issue of your choice, learning about how to make change by trying to do it. By the end of the semester, you should have new scholarly and practical knowledge about how to make the world a little more fair and a little more just.

The course explores policy dynamics, patterns, and changes through a closer look at history, theories, frameworks, ethical issues, forces of oppression ​and poverty. ​

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on social work relevant policy positions and processes in the US, particularly as they affect older persons, their families, and their communities. The methods of the course are based on contemporary critical digital pedagogies that foster critical thinking, policy analysis, social action, public engagement, and advocacy. Age-relevant social policies are analyzed from the perspectives of social justice, politics, communication, economics/financing, and the intersectionalities of age, race, ethnicity, ability/disability, and gender as they affect policy discourse. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

Advanced Social Policy courses examine 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 MSWPF-GS 2003 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. This course focuses on criminal justice policies and their impact on individuals, families and communities, focusing on at-risk populations in the context of an urban environment. Emphasis will be placed on current and historical criminal justice policy and alternatives, criminal justice theory and application, the link between social and economic justice and issues relating to diversity, and policy analysis. 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 strategies for practitioners to influence policies and promote change at the client level, the agency level, the community level and the broader society.

This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of reproductive health, rights, and justice in the U.S., with some international context. It builds upon the basic policy theories and frameworks covered in Social Welfare Programs & Policies I, emphasizing the crucial role of policies in influencing individual and family reproductive choices. The primary objective of the course is to provide students with a foundational understanding of issues related to reproductive justice and injustice in our society. Drawing from both scientific scholarship and popular media, we will explore history, activism, law, politics, cultural and social attitudes, stigma and misinformation, and public discourses related to human reproduction. We will think critically about what reproduction policies are, what they should be, and how to get from "are" to "should." Our analytical foundation is the Reproductive Justice Framework, established in the mid-1990s by Women of Color and rooted in universal human rights principles. This framework envisions fundamental reproductive rights, including full autonomy over one's body, the right to have or not have children, the right to birth and/or parent our children with dignity, and the right to live and/or raise a family in a safe, healthy environment. It's important to note that topics in this course may be controversial and could involve complex moral questions. Emphasis will be placed on thoughtful and respectful discussions, avoiding blame and inflammatory language. We will criticize ideas, not individuals.

This course introduces students to the history and current status of homelessness in the U.S. and abroad focusing on research, practice and policy implications. The course will address the following topics: 1) history and causes of the homeless 'epidemic'; 2) the homeless 'industry' as understood through the lens of organizational and institutional theories; 3) the rise of Housing First as paradigm shift and the systems changes that have ensued; 3) specific populations including homeless families, youths, and the chronic homeless; 4) best practices in outreach and engagement with homeless persons; 5) homeless policies and drivers of change (legal, advocacy, research); 6) research on homelessness and homeless services in the U.S. and other countries.