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SWK 521: Foundations Of Social Work Practice II

3 credits

This course focuses on the theories and skills necessary for social work practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities as a means of enhancing role performance and social functioning. The development of skills in facilitating the interaction of client systems and environments is emphasized, using a systems perspective in relation to problem solving. Crisis intervention, ego support, linking clients to resources, and alleviation of environmental stressors are considered. The small group and groups as representative of communities are examined as vehicles of growth, goal attainment, and empowerment.

Learning Goals

1. deepen foundation knowledge necessary for practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.2. extend their ability to implement social work values and sensitivity in practice in relation to differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental capacity, and class.3. extend their competence in working with oppressed and vulnerable populations.4. extend their competence in assessing biological, psychological, interpersonal, environmental, cultural, spiritual and organizational aspects of client situations.5. become skillful in a range of intervention approaches which reflect the social work focus on the individual, the family, the group, organizations, and the community.6. extend their skill in the use of empirically-based knowledge.7. acquire skill in implementing the practice plan in the middle phase of intervention with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.8. extend their competence in the monitoring and evaluation of practice.9. acquire skill in the termination phase of practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Sections Offered: Spring 2026