SOC-WK 5510 Placement for Practical Social Work I Credits: 3

The social work practicum is a central component in the student’s professional education. Placements provide the student with a range of practical experience to promote the integration of theoretical learning from class work, and to develop the knowledge, values, skills and critical thinking for professional social work practice. Field instruction takes place in community agency settings (16.25 hours weekly/260 hours per semester) throughout the fall semester. The generalist practicum prepares students for social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5530 and SOC-WK 5565 (or as co-requisites).

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5532 and SOC-WK 5536.

SOC-WK 5511 Placement for Practical Social Work II Credits: 3

The practicum experience is continued from Placement for Practical Social Work I (SOC-WK 5510), completing 16.25 hours weekly/260 hours in the spring semester. The practicum places emphasis on the application of skills for generalist social work practice in an agency setting.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5510, SOC-WK 5532, SOC-WK 5536, SOC-WK 5531 (or co-requisite) and SOC-WK 5534 (or co-requisite).

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5533 and SOC-WK 5550.

SOC-WK 5512 Placement for Advanced Generalist Social Work I Credits: 3

Anchored in advanced generalist practice, this practicum placement directs social work students through the use of self-conscious understanding to address challenges at all levels - individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The course strengthens their practical skills by expanding their knowledge and values. The focus of the advanced generalist placement is developing mastery in practice-based approaches, examining relevant policies, integrating human and organizational behavior theory, and applying research knowledge. Field instruction takes place in community agency settings (16.25 hours weekly/260 hours per semester) during the Fall semester.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5511 or SOC-WK 5538.

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5540 and SOC-WK 5578.

SOC-WK 5513 Placement for Advanced Generalist Social Work II Credits: 3

The practicum experience continues from Placement for Advanced Generalist Social Work I (SOC-WK 5512), completing 16.25 hours weekly/260 hours in the spring semester. The advanced generalist practicum places emphasis on the student’s ability to select and use multiple approaches to social work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5512, SOC-WK 5540, and SOC-WK 5578.

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5541 and SOC-WK 5579.

SOC-WK 5530 Human Behavior Theory Credits: 3

This human behavior theory course focuses on the critique, contextualization and application of theory to social work practice with individuals in the social environment. A variety of theories and perspectives are considered, providing students with a broad range of applicable knowledge for critical thinking. Social justice, empowerment and strengths perspectives are emphasized.

SOC-WK 5531 Human Behavior: Complex Systems Credits: 3

This course applies social work perspectives and theory at increasingly complex levels to a broad understanding of human behavior within large systems, organizations, communities, and society. This course provides the knowledge and skills about human behavior to think critically about justice and power across systems.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5530 (or co-requisite).

SOC-WK 5532 Social Work Practices I Credits: 3

This course examines fundamental social work ethics, values, knowledge, and skills while developing critical thinking for generalist social work practice. In this course the first three steps of the Generalist Intervention Model (GIM) are applied to effectively pre-plan, engage and assess across all levels of practice - individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5530 and SOC-WK 5565 (or as co-requisites).

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5510 and SOC-WK 5536.

SOC-WK 5533 Social Work Practices II Credits: 3

This second generalist social work practice course involves interacting with evidence-based practice models and group facilitation. Application of the final steps of the Generalist Intervention Model (planning, implementation/intervention, evaluation, termination and follow-up) will be deployed across all levels of practice - micro, mezzo and macro.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5510, SOC-WK 5532, SOC-WK 5536, SOC-WK 5531 (or co-requisite), and SOC-WK 5534 (or co-requisite).

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5511 and SOC-WK 5550.

SOC-WK 5534 Social Programs and Policies Credits: 3

This course examines social policies that direct current social service trends at local, state, and federal levels. The course teaches a model of analysis and advocacy that examines the context in which policy decisions are made and the effects that social service programs and policies have on people's lives.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5565

SOC-WK 5536 Research Methods in Social Work Credits: 3

This course introduces students to the fundamental knowledge and skills of social work research, including practice evaluation, program planning, and other facets of professional social work practice. Emphasis on application of social research methods in actual practice situations will be used to assist students in skill development.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5530 and SOC-WK 5565 (or as co-requisites).

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5510 and SOC-WK 5532.

SOC-WK 5538 Post-BSW Intensive Credits: 6

The Post-BSW Intensive course provides a bridge between the Bachelor of Social Work and advanced generalist (specialization) coursework. This course is practice-centered and emphasizes knowledge, values, skills, and critical thinking which are unique to social work and form our approach to generalist practice, human behavior, policy, and research.

Prerequisites: Advanced Standing MSW Student.

SOC-WK 5540 Advanced Generalist Social Work Practices I Credits: 3

This course is the first of a two-course sequence that grounds each student in an advanced generalist framework for social work practice with individuals, couples, groups, families, and communities. Students learn multiple practice models that guide and direct helping/treatment efforts, with emphasis placed upon understanding of eco-systemic theory. All class lectures, discussions, and assignments are designed to cover the themes of holistic social work assessment and practice, social and economic justice, the use of evidence-based practice research and the use of evaluative measures in practice, and acceptance of clients’ diverse cultural characteristics. Additionally, students are expected to engage in their own on-going self-evaluation of practice and self-care to establish positive professional habits as part of their identities as professional social workers.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5511 or SOC-WK 5538.

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5512.

SOC-WK 5541 Advanced Generalist Social Work Practices II Credits: 3

The course examines leadership, organizational, and management competencies for professional practice in social service agencies, teaching skills for community organizing. Students will comprehensively understand the nature and process of groups, organizations and supervision, community organization practice, and the contexts in which these develop.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5540.

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5512.

SOC-WK 5546 Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) Credits: 3

This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively address mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs), as well as how to address co-occurring disorders within the framework of advanced generalist practice. In the course, students apply social work values, ethics, and competencies to advanced generalist practice skills as a way to treat individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs).

SOC-WK 5547 Grief and Loss in Social Work Practice Credits: 3

This course provides a comprehensive study of grief and loss from a professional social work perspective that includes current theories, evidence-based frameworks, and intervention strategies from a strengths-based perspective. The course will address many forms of special losses, such as suicide, homicide, HIV/AIDS, war-related grief, bankruptcy, divorce and other life transitional events that may or may not involve death and dying.

SOC-WK 5549 Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees Credits: 3

This course advances knowledge, skills and professional values for social work practice with immigrants and refugees covering the U.S. immigration system, migration processes, barriers to readjustment and cultural competency, and effective intervention on behalf of immigrants and refugees.

SOC-WK 5550 Program Development and Evaluation Credits: 3

This course builds on the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking learned across the generalist level required courses. It is designed to enable students to develop and evaluate social work programs and practices. This course provides a systemic framework for selecting, developing, supporting and evaluating programs and practices.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5510, SOC-WK 5532, and SOC-WK 5536.

Co-requisites: SOC-WK 5531 and SOC-WK 5534.

SOC-WK 5560 Psychopathology in Social Work Practice Credits: 3

This course utilizes the DSM to teach diagnostic criteria, while simultaneously examining ecological and systemic factors that contribute to diagnostic rates. Explore of the biopsychosocial factors which contribute to the accuracy and effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment will be covered.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5511 or SOC-WK 5538.

SOC-WK 5562 Family Organization and Development Credits: 3

This course focuses through The Family Life Cycle, a developmental stage theory that supports family-centered practice. The course provides skills to assess competent and constraining interactions and to use this assessment to identify contributing factors to family achievements and behaviors of concern.

SOC-WK 5563 Life Span Issues in Developmental Disabilities Credits: 3

The need for interdisciplinary process in the human services sector, which supports inclusiveness and quality of life of individuals, is covered. The course covers cultural competence, person-centered and community-based application of services for their implications in planning and delivery of services.

SOC-WK 5564 Advanced Group Interventions in Social Work Credits: 3

This course provides specialized learning in group interventions from an advanced generalist perspective. The course includes the broad spectrum of clinical uses for group as well as the application of group skills within community and administrative practice.

SOC-WK 5565 Systemic-Oppression: Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice Credits: 3

This course presents theoretical concepts that relate issues of social, racial, economic and environmental injustice to structural and systemic oppression. This course examines formal and informal social programming and policy that foster and support oppressive social structures. A generalist approach to social work engages the student in the examination of the barriers to justice and equality ranging from internalization to globalization.

SOC-WK 5567 Collaborative Family-Centered Practice Credits: 3

This course presents the emergence, activities, and elements of collaborative family-centered practice. Multi-systemic Therapy and Wraparound are critically examined along with their implementation supports and challenges. Research supporting each model and its theory of change are closely examined.

SOC-WK 5568 School Social Work Practice Credits: 3

This course examines the knowledge and skills required for the roles and functions of school social work in K-12 settings. Students will apply various theories and evidence based practices to school social work, while developing an understanding of how to address the needs of students and their families within the context of school.

SOC-WK 5569 Core Concepts of Child and Adolescent Trauma Credits: 3

This course prepares students for trauma-informed, evidence-based practice. Based on core concepts, the course uses a problem-based learning approach through the use of in-depth case studies.

SOC-WK 5570 Developing Trauma-Informed Systems of Care Credits: 3

The purpose of this course is to increase recovery-focused, trauma-informed knowledge, skills and values that students will need as employees, change agents, leaders and/or consultants of organizations. Upon completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of a research grounded ecological Recovery-Focused Model of Wellbeing, Trauma-Informed Care principles, key components of Trauma-Informed organizations as well as barriers and opportunities for creating change within organizations, strategies to advocate for organizational change advancing this recovery model using a Trauma-Informed focus, and strategies to address secondary trauma in the workplace.

SOC-WK 5574 Ethics in Social Work Practice Credits: 3

This course is designed to help students acquire the knowledge base required to identify ethical issues, the skills necessary to resolve ethical dilemmas, and the capacity to make ethical decisions when confronted with conflicting duties and choices that occur within the context of professional social work at all levels of practice.

SOC-WK 5578 Integrative Capstone I Credits: 3

This course is the first half of a year-long cohort-style course that provides MSW students the opportunity to critically and creatively present their field of interest in Social Work. Integrative Capstone I utilizes critical thinking to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program; during the course students develop the proposal for their Capstone Project.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5512 (or co-requisite) and SOC-WK 5540 (or co-requisite).

SOC-WK 5579 Integrative Capstone II Credits: 3

This course is the second half of a year-long cohort-style course that provides MSW students the opportunity to critically and creatively present their field of interest in Social Work. Integrative Capstone II integrates through critical thinking the knowledge and skills learned previously in the MSW program. In this course students implement their Capstone Project and present it at the annual UMKC Social Work Conference held during the spring semester.

Prerequisites: SOC-WK 5513 (or co-requisite).

SOC-WK 5580 Special Topics In Social Work Credits: 1-3

These courses are designed to examine relevant and innovative areas emerging in social work practice which are not available in the regular course offerings. Topics are available in Pathway.

SOC-WK 5590 Readings And Investigations In Social Work Credits: 1-3

Under the direction of a faculty member, individual students may pursue an in-depth area of study in generalist social work practice, including a research project of the student's choice.

SOC-WK 5899 Required Graduate Enrollment Credit: 1

One Hour Course required to remain continuously enrolled while the student finishes requirements for the Social Work degree.

Prerequisites: Permission of the Department