Master in Social Work Program
"Offering a Unique Education in a Unique City"
MSW Course Descriptions

 

FOUNDATION CURRICULUM

 SW711-Professional Foundations (4 credits)

This foundation course provides a developmental overview of the breadth of social work including the definition, scope, history, ethics and values, required competencies, and basics of becoming a reflective practitioner.  The historical development of social welfare policy within the sociopolitical context is a major focus. Relationship-centered practice within a clinical-community context will be defined on an introductory level. Students are challenged to link social work history, ethics and values with their own development as a beginning professional.  A "reflection week" provides students the opportunity for deeper integration, assessment of learning styles and needs, and creative activities to honor diverse cultures.

 

SW721-Theory I: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (4 credits)

Kurt Lewin's "nothing so practical as a good theory" paradigm provides the philosophical base for courses in the theory sequence. This required course has as its main focus a variety of relational social work theories for clinical-community work. The topics for discussion cut across clinical and community work and may include: empowerment, social justice, human relations, group theory, bureaucracy, social exchange, political economy, institutional, social support, network, human ecology and change theories. Equally highlighted are topics in human development such as the life cycle, parent-child/sibling/peer relationships, "goodness of fit," identity development (including the minority identity developmental model), resilience, adaptation and coping. This theoretical course is closely coordinated with a Theory Lab, which provides the student with the beginning opportunities to apply theory to practice.

 

SW 731-Methods I: Relationship-Centered Methods for Social Work Practice (4 credits)

This required foundation course is the first of three Methods courses. It focuses on teaching students a broad and integrated variety of helping methods that spans individuals, families, groups, neighborhoods, communities, and social and cultural systems. The central vehicle for navigating and managing these systems is the social worker-client relationship, or Relationship-Centered Practice. Students learn how to engage, assess, and facilitate change in small systems such as individuals and groups, and larger systems such as neighborhoods and communities. Students learn to perform major social work practice roles and communication processes, as well as procedures necessary for resource development, linkage, and utilization. Students also study Participatory Action Research and the case management model; develop skills in conducting a community needs assessment; and learn how to use the problem-solving method to intervene with individuals, families, and larger systems.

 

SW741-Tools I: Learning and Research in the Field Setting (3 credits)

This course focuses on the principles and process of Evidence-based Practice (EBP), a methodology for making practice decisions that emphasizes formulating practice questions, locating and evaluating information to answer these questions, applying the knowledge gained to practice situations, and evaluating outcomes.  Essential to this approach is the core competency of critical thinking, which will be introduced and developed.  Also inherent in EBP is the competency of information literacy, which will be addressed as students are familiarized with information resources vital to social work and learn strategies for accessing them. Additionally, students will work towards the effective use of acquired knowledge with others. Students will learn to utilize some of the written, verbal, and visual tools underlying the core competency of communication skills. They will also begin to explore the competency of team building with particular emphasis placed on working in learning groups.

 

SW722-Theory II: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits)

The focus in this required second semester course is on theories of primary utility to relationship-centered, clinical-community social workers concerned with adult development. In particular, this semester's content focuses significantly on adult psychopathology, trauma, traumatic bonding, adult attachment disorders, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, addictions and learned helplessness. The content on pathology and trauma is presented in counterpoint with strength's perspectives, learned optimism, differentiation of self and other normative life cycle themes such as aging, gay & lesbian families, and single adulthood. Other important topics covered include theories about poverty, wealth creation, diversity, racism, cognitive behavioral theory, community impacts on the family, theories of community and civil society, community building, change, social capital, and coalition building.

 

SW732-Methods II: Clinical-Community Practice Methods (4 credits)

This required methods course is the second of two foundation courses and integrates clinical with community practice. It contains distinct modules for practice with individuals and families, and with groups in treatment, organizational, and community settings. The course continues to emphasize relationship-centered practice as a central premise for multiple level intervention, addressing traditional direct service approaches, as well as community change through collaboration and coalition advocacy. A focus on poor populations provides a unifying theme.

 

SW742-Tools II: Learning and Research in the Field Setting (3 credits)

Tools II is designed to continue guiding the student in mastering tools for lifelong inquiry and learning in social work practice. The course facilitates the students' successful entrance and integration into the field placement setting by addressing the key learning issues involved in that process. Tools II is concentrated on the identification and development of a Professional Project that is useful and relevant to the field agency, and a hands-on experience which explicates the interface between methods of inquiry and analysis and direct social work practice.

 

ADVANCED CURRICULUM

 

SW733-Advanced Methods for Social Work Practice (5 credits)

This advanced course integrates material from Methods I and Methods II and builds on content delivered in Theory, Tools, Professional Foundations, and Field. The focus of the course is on the application of advanced relationship-centered, clinical-community methods to a variety of complex cases. While students in this course are also taught advanced methods for discrete areas of practice -- e.g., advanced case-management, intervention and termination, treatment matching, policy analysis, direct action organizing, locality development -- integration of practice skills and professional identity is driven by the use of cases that require students to challenge and work across conventional conceptualizations of "micro," "mezzo," and "macro" practice.

 

SW743-Tools III: Data Management, Analysis, and Interpretation (3 credits)

In this required course, students continue to develop skills related to the accession, utilization, creation, and dissemination of knowledge for social work practice. The course focuses primarily on the principles, methods, and applications of quantitative and qualitative data analysis used in social science research. The course emphasizes the practical application of data analysis knowledge in both assessing the quality of existing research evidence and contributing to knowledge through systematic inquiry on topics of concern to social work practitioners and their clients. The utilization of computer applications for information management, as well as for data analysis, is stressed. In addition, in preparation for presenting the outcomes of their Professional Projects in the fourth semester Capstone Course, students are introduced to principles and techniques of effective verbal and visual presentations.

 

SW744-Capstone Professional Project and Seminar (6 credits)

The Professional Project is a year-long learning experience that provides an opportunity for students to explore a particular topic of interest in an original, creative endeavor leading to new insights, conclusions, questions, recommendations, and/or products benefiting social work clients. The Project requires students to integrate principles, theories and methods learned in courses throughout the curriculum. It provides experience in designing and implementing a significant project with demonstrable results and communicating these results effectively at a professional entry level utilizing oral, visual and written formats. The proposal for the Professional Project is developed in the Tools II course in the second semester. During third semester, students work independently in consultation with a Faculty Project Advisor to implement the proposed project. In the fourth semester, final aspects of implementation, presentation of results, and the formal written report are completed, and credit for implementation and outcomes are received as part of the Capstone course.

The Capstone Seminar in relationship-centered, clinical-community practice is designed to be integrative of all the previous foundation and advanced courses. The goal is to produce a graduate who is more grounded in professional identity, and in social work's values and purpose. This is accomplished through an inquisitive, dialectic process between students and professor. Fundamental questions will be raised about the nature of social work's mission, the nature of knowledge for social work and the exercise of

social work practices.

 

Field Practicum

Field Internships occur across three (3) Full-Time semesters or six (6) Part-Time semesters and are matched with the student's practice interests.

 

Electives in the School of Social Work

Advanced electives are designed to foster deeper study of specific areas of practice according to the student's interests. Electives are offered in the third and fourth semesters for full-time students and in the sixth through eighth semesters for part-time students. All electives are two (2) credit hours. While offerings are subject to change, the following is a list of current electives:

 

. Clinical Work with Children and Adolescents

. Violence in the Family and Community Context

. Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Anxiety

. Crisis Intervention and Brief Treatment

. Practice with Couples and Families

. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and the DSM

. Human Sexuality

. Death and Dying

. Mediation

. Gerontological Social Work

. Cultural Competence

Spirituality and Social Work

 The schedule of courses listed herein attempts to list accurately all courses offered for credit by the Tulane University School of Social Work in a specific term. However, please be aware that the offering of courses and the assignments of faculty are subject to change through regular academic channels. Thus, you are advised to confirm all course schedules with Ms. Bonnie Lister, blrl@tulane.edu, Internal Registrar at the Tulane School of Social Work.

Last updated: 02/17/2006