SW 441 - Social Work Practice With Communities

3 Credit(s)

This course prepares students for generalist social work practice with organizations and communities. The course builds upon the students’ conceptual base and skills developed in SW 320 and SW 321 by applying practice skill sets and knowledge base to macro practice. Students develop a fundamental understanding of the knowledge, values, and skills in organizing, planning, and facilitating macro practice. This course also introduces students to community needs and capacity assessments, community organizing, and community development. Students examine the influence of diversity on the helping process with regard to communities and further develop their understanding of the role of social work values and ethics in the development of a professional identity. A major focus of this course is on the service-learning component in which students gain hands-on experience in the community. Students are introduced to various technologies including Geographic Information Systems mapping and online advocacy. The objectives of this course are achieved through field experiences, lecture, class presentations and discussions, guest speakers, reading and writing assignments, and experiential exercises. This is a service learning course.
Prerequisite(s): SW 320 and SW 321.