This course examines how biological concepts and social science theories influence human behavior in the context of the social environment. Graduate students will focus on human development from the pre-pregnancy period through late adulthood. Within the bio-psychosocial-spiritual context of the person, each stage of development is explored from various theoretical perspectives and emphasis is given to the importance of understanding how discrimination and oppression affects human development and behavior. This course is first part of two required human behavior and social environment courses.

This course examines social welfare issues, the U.S. system of social welfare, and its interrelationships with direct practice and the delivery of services. This course focuses on social policy content that shapes social programming and impacts social work practice. The course introduces a conceptual social justice framework and provides analyses of contemporary social policy issues through the lens of values and power. Through critical inquiry, students will become knowledgeable about social policy's impact on human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the knowledge, values, and skills needed for effective, evidence-informed social work practice with individuals. Guided by a trauma-informed and social justice lens, the course focuses on engagement, assessment, mutual goal setting, effective interventions, evaluation, and termination. Fundamental skills of the helping relationship, including professional and ethical behavior and anti-racist and inclusive practices will be introduced.

This course builds the student's understanding of macro level social work practice. Students will learn how to critically assess communities, organizations, and systems; apply effective advocacy skills aimed at collective action and capacity building; develop empowering interventions at the macro level; and evaluate macro practice. The course provides students with critical analysis of reciprocal dynamics between various entities and individuals. Application of skills learned will be demonstrated in a needs assessment.

This is the first course in a two-part course sequence designed to provide graduate students the opportunity to develop and integrate foundational knowledge, skills, values and cognitive and affective processes within a classroom and human services agency-based setting. Students are required to complete 200 hours across 14 weeks (14-15 hours per week) in a pre-approved social service agency. This experiential learning opportunity, guided by professional supervision, familiarizes the student with the agency setting, social worker's role in the setting, and foundational social work practice skills. No credit will be given for only one semester of practicum work.