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Courses - SW Graduate Level

500. Foundation Social Work Micro Practice Skills and Interventions (3)

Provides basic knowledge and skills for interventions with children, adults, older adults and families in the context of generalist practice. Emphasis is on engagement, assessment, and evidence-based interventions with a focus on multicultural perspectives.
Letter grade only (A-F).

503A. Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Focus on Prenatal through Adolescence (3)

Provides an examination of human behavior and development utilizing a bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective. Theoretical perspectives on development within the social environment from perinatal through late adolescence are critically reviewed for bias and potential for multicultural application.
Letter grade only (A-F).

503B. Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Focus on Young Adulthood through Late Life (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Provides an examination of human behavior and development utilizing a bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective. Theoretical perspectives on development within the social environment from young adulthood through end of life are critically reviewed for bias and potential for multicultural application.
Letter grade only (A-F).

505. Foundation Social Policy: Addressing Oppression through Social Justice (3)

Focuses on the critical analysis of policies which includes socio-economic, political and global factors influencing the U.S. social welfare system. Societal values and structural impediments influencing formation, implementation and evaluation of policies are emphasized using a multicultural framework.
Letter grade only (A-F).

570. Foundation Social Work Practice: Skills and Interventions with Groups (3)

Prerequisite: SW 500.
Corequisite: SW 596A or SW 596B.
Focuses on intervention techniques with treatment and task groups across the lifespan. The course will examine all aspects of working with groups including planning, facilitating, analyzing, and evaluating different groups.
Letter grade only (A-F).

590. Selected Topics in Social Work (3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units for majors and 9 units for non-majors with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.

592. Foundation Social Work Macro Practice Skills and Interventions (3)

Corequisite: SW 596A or SW 596B.
Focuses on the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills for macro practice. History, methods, theories, and socio-political determinants are emphasized. Explores implications for diverse communities; examines the relationship between professional values and ethical dimensions within community practice.
Letter grade only (A-F).

594A. Research Methods in Social Work I (3)

Focuses on the evidence-based research process, including conceptualization of research problems, designs, sampling, measurement, and data collection. The emphases are on building skills for conducting multiculturally-focused social work research and evaluating findings critically.
Letter grade only (A-F).

594B. Research Methods in Social Work II (3)

Prerequisite: SW 594A.
Covers the application of research methods for evidence-based social work practice, including qualitative data analyses, quantitative statistical analyses, program evaluation, and preparation of reports for dissemination, with continued emphasis on the ability to conduct and critique multiculturally-focused research.
Letter grade only (A-F).

596A. Foundation Field Education I (3)

Corequisite: SW 500 or SW 570
First of two semesters of supervised agency practice. Develops basic skills with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Includes weekly integrative seminar which utilizes group process to support practice competencies, professional development, self-awareness, ethics, and problem solving in a multicultural context.
Credit/No Credit grading only. (Seminar 2 hours, Clinical Process 1 hour. Two hours weekly field seminar on campus and 16 hours in agency placement required.) Course fee may be required. Information on fees related to this course can be found here.

596B. Foundation Field Education II(3)

Prerequisites: SW 596A and SW 500
Corequisite: SW 570 or SW 592
Second of two semesters of supervised agency practice. Develops basic skills with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Includes weekly integrative seminar which utilizes group process to support practice competencies, professional development, self-awareness, ethics, and problem solving in a multicultural context.
Credit/No Credit grading only. (Seminar 2 hours, Clinical Process 1 hour. Two hours weekly field seminar on campus and 16 hours in agency placement required.) Course fee may be required. Information on fees related to this course can be found here.

599. Independent Study (1-3)

Prerequisites: Consent of School and instructor.
Independent study of special topics under supervision of a faculty member.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units. Letter grade only (A-F).

605. Advanced Social Policy: Analysis, Advocacy and Practice (3)

Prerequisite: SW 505
Focuses on an advanced understanding of key issues, concepts, and skills associated with policy reform. Students will learn how to apply various strategies, techniques and actions that can influence elected officials, policy makers, organizations and communities.
Letter grade only (A-F). Not open to students with credit in SW 682.

620. Advanced Social Work Practice: Child and Family Wellbeing (3)

Prerequisites: SW 500, SW 570, and SW 592.
Corequisite: SW 680A.
Advanced practice course that focuses on working with children and families. Emphasis is on evidenced-based intervention techniques and evolving perspectives of goals of social work practice. Multicultural perspectives on assessment and interventions will be examined.
Letter grade only (A-F).

630. Advanced Social Work Practice: Adulthood and Aging (3)

Prerequisites: SW 500, SW 570, and SW 592.
Corequisite: SW 680A.
Focuses on assessment and intervention with adults and older adults, while addressing the basic processes of aging. The course covers advanced practice models in relation to ecological systems and multicultural perspectives.
Letter grade only (A-F).

643. Social Work Practice within Child Welfare Services (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Covers child protective policies and practices, including adoption, family preservation, transitional age youth, foster, kinship, and group care, with focus on incorporating innovative service delivery, multicultural practice and federally mandated outcomes related to child safety, wellbeing and permanency.
Letter grade only (A-F).

650. Advanced Social Work Practice: Integrated Health (3)

Prerequisites: SW 500, SW 570, and SW 592.
Corequisite: SW 680A.
Advanced course in integrating behavioral health practice with primary care. The role of social workers, theories, models, and multicultural aspects are enhanced. Advanced engagement, assessment, intervention, implementation, and practice evaluation skills are developed.
Letter grade only (A-F).

662. Legal Issues in Social Work Practice (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Covers the legal systems affecting social work interventions and the role of social workers within those systems. Examines how laws and legal systems impact client populations. Legal research and resources, legal reasoning, and the court systems are examined.
Letter grade only (A-F).

663. Assessment and Treatment of Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Focuses on clinical and policy issues significant for social work practice with individuals, family systems and the community. Alcohol and substance use is examined across the lifespan with a focus on multicultural and strengths-based practice.
Letter grade only (A-F).

665. School Social Work (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
School social work practice emphasizes the home-school-community connection. School social workers intervene in multiple systems, providing support for students and families while bringing about change in school practices. Course content includes social work roles, education laws, evidence-based practice, and diversity.
Letter grade only (A-F).

670. Social Work Leadership and Management (3)

Corequisite: SW 680B.
Focuses on organizational leadership and problem solving, using theories of organizational behavior and management. Examines frameworks for governance, planning, monitoring, information management, human resources, fiscal responsibility, quality assurance, and community relations with attention to multicultural and gender issues.
Letter grade only (A-F).

674. Clinical Diagnosis and Therapeutic Communication (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Reviews the major theoretical approaches to social work treatment to teach specific clinical interventions. Students are trained to skillfully and therapeutically intervene with a variety of diagnostic categories. Outcome research will be reviewed and evaluated.
Letter grade only (A-F).

675. Social Work Practice with Death, Dying and Loss (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Provides an overview of psychological, cultural, and professional perspectives of death and dying. Topics examined include health-related death, unexpected traumatic death, and bereavement following loss. Emotional impact of loss and coping strategies used to promote healing are explored.
Letter grade only (A-F).

677. Social Work Practice in Mental Health Services (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Focuses on social, economic and cultural factors as they affect social work practice in mental health services including the Recovery Paradigm and client-centered approaches that are in accordance with the California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).
Letter grade only (A-F).

678. Play Therapy with Children, Adolescents and Their Families (3)

Prerequisites: SW 500 and SW 503A.
Explores the use of play therapy as a social work practice intervention. It focuses on the modality of play as a means of helping children, adolescents, and their families in a therapeutic setting.
Letter grade only (A-F).

679. Psychopathology: Assessment and Treatment in Social Work Practice (3)

Prerequisites: SW 503A and SW 503B.
Prepares students to assess and diagnose psychopathology using diagnostic tools such as the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Ethical challenges presented in the use of these tools in social work practice will be addressed.
Letter grade only (A-F).

680A. Advanced Field Education I (3)

Prerequisites: SW 596A and SW 596B.
Corequisite: SW 620 or SW 630 or SW 650
First of two semesters of field placement in area of concentration. Seminar experience utilizes group process to develop advanced competencies. Emphasis is placed on case presentation, demonstration and evaluation of practice skills, supervision use, cultural responsiveness, and professional ethics.
Credit/No Credit grading only. (Seminar 1 hour, clinical process 2 hours. Two hours bi-weekly in field seminar and 16 hours in agency placement required) Course fee may be required. Information on fees related to this course can be found here.

680B. Advanced Field Education II (3)

Prerequisite: SW 680A.
Corequisite: SW 670
Continuation of concentration field placement. Seminar is facilitated by students with support from the instructor. Focus is on integration of graduate coursework and professional development within the context of multicultural practice. Content includes preparation for master's level social work employment.
Credit/No Credit grading only. (Seminar 1 hour, clinical process 2 hours. Two hours bi-weekly in field seminar and 16 hours in agency placement required.) Course fee may be required. Information on fees related to this course can be found here.

683. Brief Treatment (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Covers the methodologies used in brief and/or time limited clinical treatment. Models of brief therapy, empirical research and diverse client populations are explored. Reviews ethnic, gender, and other issues related to the use of this treatment approach.
Letter grade only (A-F).

690. Selected Topics in Graduate Social Work (3)

Prerequisites: Consent of school.
Topics of special interest in social work selected for intensive study.
Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.

691. Non-Violent Conflict Resolution (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Designed to help students examine conflict, their own and others' responses to conflict situations on the intrapersonal, interpersonal and community levels, and to learn to deal with conflict in a productive, non-violent manner.
Letter grade only (A-F).

692. Spirituality in Social Work Practice (3)

Prerequisite: SW 503A.
Examines issues pertaining to spiritually sensitive social work practice. The rich and diverse forms of spiritual expressions and religious and philosophical ideologies that may be espoused by clients are explored.
Letter grade only (A-F).

698A. Thesis or Project I (3)

Prerequisites: SW 594A, SW 594B. Completion of 30 MSW units with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and advancement to candidacy.
Under the direction of the Thesis/Project Advisor, the student completes a thesis/project proposal, instruments and IRB protocol (if applicable), and drafts literature review.
Letter grade only (A-F). A grade of "B" or better is required for successful completion.

698C. Applied Social Work Project: Part I (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of foundation coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and advancement to candidacy.
This first course of a 2-semester sequence is a culminating experience incorporating analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of the MSW curriculum. Implementation of knowledge, skills, values, and practice methods related to all size systems is emphasized using a multicultural perspective.
Letter grade only (A-F). A grade of "B" or better is required for successful completion.

699A. Thesis or Project II (3)

Prerequisite: SW 698A.
Under the direction of the Thesis/Project Advisor, the student finalizes the literature review and completes the remaining chapters (typically, introduction, methodology, results, discussion and implications) of thesis/project.
Letter grade only (A-F). A grade of "B" or better is required for successful completion.

699C. Applied Social Work Project: Part II (3)

Prerequisites: SW 698C.
This second course of a 2-semester sequence is a continuation of a culminating experience incorporating analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of the curriculum. Implementation of knowledge, skills, values, and practice methods in all size systems is emphasized using a multicultural perspective.
Letter grade only (A-F). A grade of "B" or better is required for successful completion.


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