FALL 2018
HWC 545 - Individual, Family, and Group Treatment of Alcohol & Substance Use
(IH) (CPPSA) (FYT)
This course covers advanced skills in engagement, assessment, and evidence-based treatment of drug and alcohol issues among diverse populations. Students will explore and practice brief interventions at the individual, family, and group level that include family-based approaches and cognitive behavioral models. Ethical dilemmas and contemporary policies and legislation impacting substance use interventions will be explored.
3 credits
HWC 547 - Managing Conflict: Groups, Organizations and Communities
(CPPSA) (FYT)
A major concern for health and human service managers is conflict in organization, community and group settings. The various types of conflicts and the concepts of negotiation and mediation as interventive strategies are considered. Didactic and experiential learning experiences are utilized. Focus is on analyzing conflict situations and selecting interventive strategies to reduce, contain or heighten the conflict situation. Oppressive conditions, structures and processes are considered major determinants of human suffering and individual and social problems; students examine how these oppressive conditions are present in conflict situations and consider ways of dealing with them.
3 credits, semester varies
HWC 555 - Supervision in Health and Human Service Organizations (Online)
(IH) (CPPSA) (FYT)
This course prepares social workers for the variety of tasks related to supervisory practice in health care agencies. Supervision is introduced as a teaching process, as an administrative func¬tion and as a program development tool. Emphasis is on help¬ing workers function effectively with culturally diverse clients, populations at risk and the chronically ill. Content includes: historical perspective of supervisory practice; supervisor and agency structure; the organizational context of practice; learning theories; concepts of power, authority and accountability; ethical and clinical issues; supervisory tech¬niques, skill and self-awareness; staff and program develop¬ment and evaluation.
3 credits
HWC 556 - Proposal Writing in Health and Human Services (Online)
(IH) (CPPSA) (FYT)
This course provides a comprehensive study of the principles and methods used to prepare program, training, research, demonstration and other types of proposals. Extensive workshop practice in developing appropriate writing skills and in locat¬ing and accessing funding sources is included.
3 credits
HWC 569 - Childhood Sexual Abuse and Long-Term Sequelae: Assessment andIntervention
(FYT) (IH)
This course focuses on the assessment and clinical intervention with adults who were sexually abused in childhood. Treatment for eating disorders, substance abuse, self-injurious behavior, sexual dysfunction, PTSD and dissociative identity disorder (DID) are addressed as well as other health related issues emanating from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. Cultural, legal, political, and ethical dilemmas are also examined.
3 credits
HWC 579 - LGBT* in Social Work Practice: Micro Interventions and Political Change
(FYT) (CPPSA)
The purpose of this course is to enhance students’ professional competence with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people. Content explores social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and across social, political, and economic realms. Students will be introduced to LGBTQ civil rights movement and the underlying theories of sexual orientation and sexual identity development. As sexual orientation in contemporary culture is politically charged and socially regulated, students will be taught macro-level advocacy skills to fulfill their call as social workers by promoting social justice and equality. On the micro level, students will learn appropriate clinical assessment tools and social work intervention skills for use with LGBTQ people. A life cycle perspective will be presented to highlight the unique issues of LGBTQ people at various stages of human development, from the very young to the very old. Special concerns within the population, such as the coming out process, adolescent suicide, aging, and coping methods, will be considered.
3 credits
HWC 579 - Forensic Social Work: Psychosocial and Legal Issues
(FYT) (CPPSA) (IH)
This advanced elective prepares social workers to integrate socio-legal knowledge when working with diverse population in forensic practice with individual, families, and communities impacted by the criminal justice system. Students will increase their competencies to practice at the intersection of social work, public health, and the law using human rights and social justice frameworks. The course will explore evidence-based engagement strategies, assessment, and interventions encountered in various settings including health care, child welfare, addiction treatment facilities, and juvenile and criminal justice.
3 credits
SPRING 2019
HWC 527 - Social Work in the Political Process: Campaign School
(CPPSA)
Limited to 20 second-year students. Instructor consent is required. The purpose of the course is to advance students' understanding of the political process and to expand students’ repertoire of skills for participation in the political process. A prime focus is deepening students' commitment to engaging in the political process as a significant form of social work practice for social change. This is a hybrid course combining online content, in-class participation as well as required attendance at a 2-day Campaign School workshop at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in West Hartford.
3 credits
HWC 551 - Law and Social Change
(CPPSA)
This course introduces students to the interrelationship of the legal process in the United States and the profession of social work. Focuses on the legal process in general, social welfare law, in particular, and the implications for effective social work prac¬tice. Co-scheduled with HWC 351.
3 credits
HWC 559 - Mental Health Evidence-Based Practice
(IH) (CPPSA)
This course develops the knowledge and skills necessary for working with individuals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness using recovery-oriented evidence-based practices. This course is designed for M.S.W. students and M.S.W. mental health practitioners. The course familiarizes students with evidence-based practices, within a recovery-oriented paradigm, as a general approach to practice as well as specific evidence-based interventions to use for indi-viduals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness. Students should have a basic knowledge of serious mental illness as pre- or co-requisite, however a review will be provided. Research literature is examined to determine the various levels of support for specific interventions and essential principles for translating research into practice. Appropriate treatment outcomes that reflect effective quality mental health practice are identified. Focus is on providing assessment and treat¬ment to a diverse group of individuals with a diagnosis of seri¬ous mental illness.
3 credits
HWC 577 - Program Evaluation (Online)
(FYT) (CPPSA) (IH)
This course provides an in-depth analysis of the technical requirements of program evaluation and the organizational and political con¬straints that influence the evaluation process. Tech-niques in the design and implementation of evaluation research in the health and human services fields are covered.Prerequisites: HWC 511 and 512
3 credits
HWC 578 - Advanced Social Work with Groups
(FYT) (IH)
This course explores the principles and practice of group work in assist¬ing clients to maximize psychosocial functioning. Class mem¬bers will participate in an experience that encourages them to realize the power of group work process and usefulness of this modality. Group work techniques, context, dynamics, skills and the role of the group facilitator are discussed. In presenting group work with special populations students learn about the impact of issues including development, discrimination, ill¬ness, addiction and separation on the commonality of the human experience as it presents in group practice.
3 credits
HWC 579 - Social Work in Higher Education
(FYT) (IH) (CPPSA)
This course introduces the Student-Community Development Model as an integrated application of social work, community organization, and higher education practice modalities. It introduces historical developments in higher education, student development theory, and how political, socio-economic, cultural, and health issues impact higher education. Leadership development and social work practice roles as change agents in campus settings are emphasized.
3 credits
HWC 579 - School Social Work
(FYT)
This course provides an overview of the central issues that occur in schools including strategies to build a positive and safe school climate for diverse and disenfranchised populations. It examines the social/political context of working in the school and the impact of school related policies such as the Common Core and Race to the Top. Topics also include working with students struggling with psychiatric, psychological, substance use, and familial issues as well as assisting students in special education. An overview of crisis intervention techniques will be presented highlighting evidenced-based school interventions and the National Model for School Social Work from the American Association of School Social Workers.
3 credits
HWC 579 - Social Work Practice with Immigrant and Refugee Families
(FYT) (CPPSA) (IH)
This course provides an understanding of immigrants and refugees within the context of developing advanced practice skills and knowledge of national and global issues including exploitation, human trafficking, and migration. This course also examines the rich history of social work's involvement in serving immigrants and refugees and will explore current evidence-based interventions.
3 credits
HWC 579/HBC 511 - Disability, Bioethics and Communities
(IH) (CPPSA)
Questions about human rights at the beginning and end of life and the allocation of scarce resources continue to challenge judgements about quality of life and contribute to an understanding of issues of access to treatments and supports impacting people with disabilities. This course will explore the ways in which disability is constituted within bioethics and raise consciousness of disability as central to the critical dialogues extending arguments beyond disfavoring eugenics, euthanasia, and assisted suicide for individuals with physical and cognitive impairments.
3 credits
HWC 579 - Dynamics and Therapeutic Interventions with People Impacted by Trauma
(IH) (FYT)
This course will examine the complexity and range of traumatic events. For example, the way in which temperament, genetic pre-disposition and environment impact traumatic reactions; as well as the physiological and psychological reactions that individuals experience. This course will examine therapeutic interventions with different populations (children, adults, groups, elders) as they recover from trauma experiences. This course will cover the range of psychological models that comprise trauma theory and examine the protective factors that mediate post-traumatic growth. Throughout this course we will examine cultural, legal, judicial and policy issues that impact trauma treatment.
3 credits
HWC 579 - Therapeutic Approaches for People with Disabilities in Healthcare Settings
(IH) (CPPSA) (FYT)
This course will provide a framework for practice with individuals with disabilities based on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the acute issues facing individuals with disabilities primarily from a social model lens which focuses on socio-environmental constraints and barriers. These include limited human rights, access to care and treatment choices, and socio-cultural forces. Psychosocial factors will also be explored. The empirical knowledge base that informs and guides the assessment and theory based interventions of individuals with disabilities will be examined and critiqued.
3 credits
HWC 579 - Aging in Place
(IH)
Aging in Place is the ability to stay in one’s home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age. Providing coordinated care management is essential in connecting older adults to needed services beyond health care. Course participants will learn to navigate the key domains that enable adults to age in place; become equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to support adults and their caregivers with that choice; and develop the skills to become an Aging in Place expert to assist this burgeoning population.
3 credits
HWC 581 - Public Health and Community Health Intervention
(FYT) (IH) (CPPSA)
This course examines many of the critical public health issues of today. Students gain an understanding of the concepts underlying social epidemiology and develop an appreciation of the ways in which the health status of different populations in this country is differentially impacted. Community health planning strategies (e.g. health promotion and health education) are examined.
3 credits
HWC 584 - Social Work Practice with the Military and Military Families
(FYT) (CPPSA) (IH)
This course focuses on the specific challenges of those who serve in the military and the response of social work practitioners to those challenges. The course will explore the nature of war, its impact on those who are wounded - physically and mentally -- and the impact of the military experience on them and their loved ones/caregivers. Particular emphasis will detail the impact of recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on returning veterans, many suffering with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury and substance abuse problems. Additional areas of exploration include the challenges faced by women in the military, the wounded, those who contemplate suicide. Intervention strategies and case material will enhance student understanding.
3 credits
