Graduate Course Descriptions

The following directory lists the graduate courses which the University expects to offer, although the University in no way guarantees that all such courses will be offered in any given academic year, and reserves the right to alter the list if conditions warrant. Click on the links below for a list of courses in that subject area. You may then click “View Classes” to see scheduled classes for individual courses.

5300. Advanced Macro Practice

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Corequisite: FED 5352 or Student Group Social Work Advanced Standing.

Grading Basis: Graded

This initial course provides a contemporary and historical overview of how the macro practice methods independently and collectively can be leveraged for social change. It provides a foundation for addressing ethical obligations and challenges in macro practice, with particular focus on historically oppressed populations. In addition, students will gain an understanding of the role of leadership and use of power in community organizations and policy and practice.

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5301. Policy Practice: Process and Finances

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Prerequisite or corequisite: POPR 5300.

Grading Basis: Graded

The definition of policy practice, the phases of policy practice and the skills needed for policy practice especially advanced analytical and interactional skills, including the conscious use of self in practice, as well as persistence, creativity, and pragmatism and taking appropriate risks in the pursuit of policy practice goals. Other content includes the use of large data sets, data management systems, quantitative analysis, qualitative methods, especially focus groups. Emphasis is given to the use of policy practice to achieve distributive justice and implement and evaluate effective social service policies for populations at risk. Ethical requirements and dilemmas in policy practice are integrated throughout. Required course for students in the Policy Practice concentration.

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5302. Policy Practice: Careers, Contexts, and Quantitative Analysis

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: POPR 5353. Corequisite: POPR 5354.

Grading Basis: Graded

Begins with content on career planning. Students will be helped to understand the complexity of social service funding, including the sources of funds and the mechanisms for transferring funds to social service programs, including federal and state tax policies and implication for social service programs. Critical current issues such as the growth of faith-based and profit-making social service strategies will be debated. Other topics will include the use of the media and public relations expertise, cutting edge social theories, micro and macroeconomic theories, and global economic policies and how they impact social service policies. Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to integrate and critically evaluate their practice skills as they prepare to leave the program. Emphasis will be given to the use of policy practice intervention strategies to achieve distributive justice and effective service policies for populations at risk. Ethical requirements and dilemmas in policy practice will be integrated throughout the course. Required course for students in the Policy Practice concentration.

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5310. Program Planning, Development, and Evaluation

Also offered as: CORG 5310

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Corequisite: FED 5310.

Grading Basis: Graded

Covers a broad range of knowledge and skills needed to develop sound program proposals and to plan, manage, and evaluate social programs. These include assessing social and community needs; setting goals within the context of strategic plans; writing measurable objectives; designing program implementation and evaluation strategies, developing a program budget, and identifying funding sources. Addresses value and ethical issues in program development, as well as constraints and opportunities that support or constrain program planning. Required course for students in the Community Organization, Administration and Policy Practice concentrations. The pre and co-requisites for this course differ for each of these concentrations. Refer to the Student Handbook for pre and co-requisite details.

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5312. Political Advocacy

Also offered as: CORG 5312

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: FED 5310. Corequisite: FED 5311.

Grading Basis: Graded

Builds on the concepts and interventions introduced in the Macro Foundation Practice course. Political decision-making groups, including executive, legislative, judicial and private agency decision-making. The ways macro practitioners use power and political analysis is discussed. Emphasis is on the design, implementation and evaluation of a political advocacy strategy to improve the life situations of populations at risk, such as lobbying, preparing and delivering testimony to a public policy making group and forming and maintaining coalitions. Ethical requirements and dilemmas in doing political advocacy are integrated throughout the course. Required course for students in both the Community Organization and the Policy Practice concentrations. The co-requisites for this course differ for each of these concentrations.

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5340. Advanced Macro Practice Skills Laboratory

1.00 credits

Prerequisites: Corequisite: BASC 5301.

Grading Basis: Graded

Focuses on gaining knowledge and skills in the elements of program planning and proposal writing, and includes application of these through development of a program proposal for funding. The skills laboratory will provide an additional opportunity for students to apply knowledge and skills through a proposal review and evaluation exercise. The exercise will be conducted on the last day of the course after the students' final projects have been submitted. The instructor will choose one final project for the purposes of the review exercise with the student's name removed. (Note: more than one proposal can be selected offering an opportunity for ranking them in the exercise.) Required course for students in the Advanced Standing Option in the Administration, Community Organization, and Policy Practice Concentrations and must be taken in the summer prior to the beginning of full time study for the M.S.W. degree.

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5353. Field Education in Policy Practice III

4.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.S.W. students in the Policy Practice concentration. Corequisite: FED 5310 and POPR 5310.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Focuses primarily on the student's major method, emphasizing preparation for competent, advanced specialized practice. Required course for students in the Policy Practice concentration.

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5354. Field Education in Policy Practice IV

4.00 credits

Prerequisites: POPR 5353; Open only to Social Work M.S.W. students in the Policy Practice concentration. Corequisite: FED 5311 and POPR 5302.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Focuses primarily on the student's major method, emphasizing preparation for competent, advanced specialized practice. Required course for students in the Policy Practice concentration.

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5355. Block Placement in Policy Practice

8.00 credits

Prerequisites: FED 5352 and FED 5302; open to MSW students in the Policy Practice concentration; instructor consent required. Corequisite: POPR 5310 and FED 5350.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Field Education in Policy Practice for well-prepared students who have completed all course requirements except the second year of field education and the appropriate method course. Required course for students in the M.S.W. program completing a Block Field Placement.

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