The United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet we live in a society riddled with inequality. Too often this inequality is hidden from many Americans. The purpose of this course is to understand where inequality exists and how it is able to sustain itself. Students will read articles and books on how racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia are prevalent in society's economic, social, and political structures. They will also examine how these create a society where some are guaranteed privileges and opportunities while others are denied it.

Focuses on the historical, philosophical, legal, and ethical perspectives of educational services for learners with special needs. Reviews exemplary programs, relevant current literature, state and federal laws, development of an IEP, and case studies.

Transition planning is crucial for equipping students with disabilities for success after high school. It is centered on their aspirations and future goals, forming an integral part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014). Well-structured transition plans are essential for successful outcomes for students transitioning from high school to young adulthood. These plans require equitable practices that seamlessly integrate academic and transitional support. This course examines support services and educational and employment opportunities available to students with severe disabilities. It involves analysis of the prerequisite skills in functional academics, language, hygiene, motor skills, interpersonal skills, transportation, and money management. Participants will explore placements and supervision of learners on worksites and in post-secondary environments.

This course is part of the Autism Specialization Program. SPND 491 encompasses the applied behavior analysis training sequence offered at the New England Center for Children.  This sequence is offered throughout the year. The course sequence also incorporates NECC orientation classes, a subsequent series of trainings in applied behavior analysis, online modules, and competency-based fieldwork with learners with autism as outlined below. The Behavioral Analytic Strategies for Teachers of Learners with Autism sequence covers topics such as defining behavior, data collection systems, matching-to-sample techniques, prompting, shaping, naturalistic teaching, and amongst other teaching procedures specific for learners with autism. Trainings are provided in a variety of formats, including lecture and discussion, enhanced instruction, and behavioral skills training.  Acquisition of skills is measured through successful completion of competencies, and mastery of verbal knowledge is measured through written tests. Field work required.

This course is part of the Autism Specialization program. This course builds on the content of Applied Autism Research I and Lab. In this course, students will complete an empirical project based upon the principles of experimental design. Each project will incorporate observation and measurement techniques, and students will learn how to summarize, analyze, interpret, and graphically display data. Students will present a completed research project, in oral or poster format, to colleagues in the field of special education who are experienced in conducting research with learners with autism. Field work required.

This seminar examines supervision and oversight of behavior analytic programs and ethical standards required of behavior analysts. Designed to complement practicum hours, it features discussions, role-play, collaborative problem solving, and case examples to strengthen ethical practice, professional competency, and effective supervision in applied settings while helping prepare for QBA exam.

This is an introduction to statistics for everyone who needs to collect, describe, and draw inferences from data. We will discuss various sources of data (experiments, surveys, etc.), graphical and numerical descriptions of data, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for drawing inferences, and simple and multiple linear regression for making predictions. Students will become proficient in the use of R for these tasks.

This is an introduction to statistics for everyone who needs to collect, describe, and draw inferences from data. We will discuss various sources of data (experiments, surveys, etc.), graphical and numerical descriptions of data, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for drawing inferences, and simple and multiple linear regression for making predictions. Students will become proficient in the use of R for these tasks.

Human Behavior in the Social Environment allows students to participate in the in-depth study of the physical, psychological, social, and cultural forces impacting the growth and development of individuals within the context of their families, communities, and society. Students explore foundational theories necessary to an understanding of human growth and development and integrate information from biology, psychology, sociology, and social work. Using a life span approach, a social work strengths perspective, a social justice perspective, and a person-in-environment framework, Human Behavior in the Social Environment follows the human life span, covering the prenatal period through older adulthood and end of life. There are 40 hours of service learning in SW 253

This course is designed to give students entering social service professions an introduction to interviewing skills that are needed in order to complete initial and follow-up interviews with clients. These skills include engagement, working with the client to identify the presenting concerns, and working with the client to assess their needs and strengths. The course begins by focusing on engagement and interviewing skills when working with individuals, families, groups, and community members. The focus then turns to documenting these social service encounters. Once initial interviewing skills have been honed, the course focuses on skills for Motivational Interviewing before ending the course with an introduction to assessment. Throughout the course, strengths-based practice, a social justice orientation, person-in-environment, and culturally humble stance will be taken when looking at engagement and assessment. Students will leave this course with an understanding of how to conduct an empowering and strengths-based initial interview with a client, whether that client is an individual, family, group, or a composition of community members.

This course is intended to help students apply knowledge of social work skills, values and ethics to immersive community and virtual field experiences and to assist students in integrating classroom learning with their emerging practice experience. The course will also support students' socialization into the profession and their self-reflective preparation for their Senior Field Practicum. The Junior Virtual Field Experience will provide the student with learning opportunities that complement SW 351 Social Work Practice l: Introduction to Generalist Practice and SW 352 Social Work Practice ll: Work with Individuals and Families, and provide a basis for generalist practice. In this context, students will be expected to develop and discuss knowledge, understanding and skills concerning relationships with prospective clients, supervisors, coworkers and external organizations. Students will also develop their resume and work on communicating skills development as they prepare for Senior Field Internship. In the Junior Field Lab, students will share learning experiences across a variety of immersive community and virtual field experiences. Students will be active learners in group process and group leadership skills. Lastly, students will discuss and understand the professional use of self in the social work role. Prereq: SW 351; Taken concurrently with SW-352

The second in the Program's series of four practice courses, this course continues the integration of theory and practice and advances the development of the generalist knowledge, values, and skills required to intervene with individuals and families from engagement through termination. Students continue to solidify the helping techniques and processes introduced in the Social Work Practice I course. In addition, this course is taught concurrently with the 100-hour, semester-long junior social work field placement. Material from each student's field placement experience is integrated into the class through discussion. Online Degree Completion; Taken concurrently with SW 345CD; if not SW 352CD before SW 345CD.

This course prepares students to plan for, assess, facilitate, and evaluate social work practice with groups. Students will develop an understanding of the developmental stages of groups, roles among group members, and the function of mutual aid.

The Social Work Field Placement and Seminar I (Fall) is designed for the senior social work student in order to integrate classroom learning with practical social work experience in an agency setting. Throughout the Fall semester, students participate in 16 hours of field placement per week toward completion of the 425-hour, year-long BSW senior field placement requirement. In addition, students meet once per week for a 1 hour and twenty minute, in-class field seminar led by the BSW Program Field Director. Through reflective discussion, weekly assignments, and major projects and papers, the Field Seminar focuses on the integration of theory and practice, building the student's professional social work identity, enhancing self- awareness skills, advancing practice competencies, and synthesizing field learning. All aspects of agency field work, including learning to work within the agency context, effectively using supervision, using research to inform practice, utilizing social work values and ethics in practice, and applying social work knowledge and skills with clients are addressed.

The Social Work Field Placement and Seminar II (Spring) is designed for the senior social work student in order to integrate classroom learning with practical social work experience in an agency setting. Throughout the Spring semester, students participate in 16 hours of field placement per week toward completion of the 425-hour, year-long BSW senior field placement requirement. In addition, students meet once per week for a 1 hour 20 min, in-class field seminar led by the BSW Program Field Director. Through reflective discussion, weekly assignments, and major projects and papers, the Field Seminar focuses on the integration of theory and practice, building the student's professional social work identity, enhancing self-awareness skills, advancing practice competencies, and synthesizing field learning. All aspects of agency field work, including learning to work within the agency context, effectively using supervision, using research to inform practice, utilizing social work values and ethics in practice,and applying social work knowledge and skills with clients are addressed.

This course provides students with the necessary skills to analyze the social welfare policies, benefits, and services that create the context in which all social workers practice. Students will learn about current state and federal policies related to a range of social welfare concerns (e.g., poverty reduction, health, housing/homelessness, criminal justice, disability, child welfare, immigration), the evolution of these policies, and the socio political and economic environment that has influenced their development and implementation. Students will build upon what they learned in SW403 Macro Social Work: Social Policies, Communities and Organizations by delving more deeply into various policy analysis frameworks, the mechanics of conducting policy analysis, and the evaluation methods to determine a policy's impact and effectiveness. To appreciate the complexities, contradictions, strengths, and weaknesses of the American approach to social welfare, students will be encouraged to think critically about the role of economics, politics, ideologies, values, and alternate policy models in each of these areas. The roles of power and privilege in social welfare policy will be assessed as they pertain to equality, equitability, and discrimination based on identity and social location. Class discussion, readings, and assignments will underscore the reciprocal relationship between clinical social work practice and social welfare policy.

This course is an intensive examination of the dynamics of various forms of oppression in U.S. society. The selection of the oppression of racism is deliberate. Through the analysis of critical race theory and intersectionality, students will come to understand the reasoning for this initial emphasis. The course begins with an analysis of racism from structural, (social) psychological and applied perspectives. This approach frames the analysis of other forms of oppression. Types of oppression (sexism, classism, homophobia, etc.) are examined in relationship to sociopolitical and economic factors, and historical themes that continue into the present day are identified. The course will explore the costs of oppression to all individuals and its differential impact on individuals in dominant and subordinate positions. The importance of power and the dynamics of domination and subordination in all forms of oppression will be explored. Practice issues will be examined in relation to multi-level interventions (i.e., individual, group, organizational and institutional).

This one semester course provides knowledge of the major categories of diagnoses for adults as formulated in DSM-5 and of theoretical perspectives in those categories. Attention is given to the dynamics of development and culture, and to the interrelationship among biological, psychological, and social/cultural systems that impact diagnosis. Focus will be on utilizing these elements in order to provide a comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment. Treatments specifically related to these diagnoses will be noted.

This 3-credit course examines crisis intervention and treatment approaches for children and adolescents, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable populations. Since crisis intervention is an integral part of social work practice, this course aims to provide students with knowledge of contributing factors, theories and practice models which best inform crisis intervention in social work with children and adolescents.Students will use a systems-based framework in their analysis of crisis situations and become familiar with the skills necessary to implement effective techniques with children and adolescents. The course will provide students with the opportunity to apply critical thinking skills when working with crises, as well as examine policy issues, ethical issues, and the intersectionality of oppression and the implications of oppression and discrimination on crisis experiences and interventions. Further, students will develop an awareness of the importance of engaging in self-care practices that will support their well-being when working with crises.

Social workers across all sectors of practice engage with individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities that are significantly affected by substance use and substance use disorders. In this 3-credit course, students will become familiar with the histories and theories that shape understanding of substance use. Set within a social justice framework, students will critically analyze the intersections of substance use with racism, classism, xenophobia, and other forms of structural oppression. Informed by the person-in-environment perspective, students will explore the complex interactions of historical, political, cultural, and social factors that influence substance use and health disparities. Motivational interviewing and harm reduction strategies are foregrounded, preparing students to deliver services for people who use alcohol and other drugs and have mixed goals related to substances, whether that is to maintain or make changes to their use. Through a simulated learning experience, there will be opportunities to practice engaging with a client and assessing their substance use. A comprehensive, strengths-based, collaborative, and multidimensional biopsychosocial assessment will be developed. Students will acquire knowledge and skills related to evidence-informed substance use prevention, education, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing recovery support. Throughout the semester, students will be invited to reflect on their own perceptions of substance use and people who use drugs to increase self-awareness and promote clinical and policy practices that are guided by compassion and interprofessional research.

This course introduces the fundamental principles of social work research, stressing the link between research and practice. Students will develop their critical thought regarding ethical considerations in research and will learn to design a research project. Also, students will learn to be critical consumers of research and professional literature, with a focus on the specialized interests and needs of individuals, families, and communities served through social work practice and allied professions. Students will develop an understanding of how statistics are used in research. Readings and class discussions will present principles of evidence-based or evidence-informed practice. Emphasis will be placed on the application of research to the practice of social work in micro and macro settings.

Continuation of SW446A, weekly agency-based practicum which focuses on foundation social work skills. Students complete agency-based assignments in addition to process recordings and assessments.. - First year (i.e., generalist/foundation) practicum days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. - First-year (i.e., generalist/foundation) courses are offered on the following days and times: Monday (evening only), Tuesday (evening only), Wednesday day and evening), Thursday (evening only), Friday (day only). Prerequisite: SW 446A Corequisite: SW 421B

This course is designed to help students develop foundational knowledge and skills for social work practice with sexual and gender minority populations. Students will utilize a multi-dimensional framework to critically analyze power, privilege, and oppression relative to LGBTQ+ populations. Grounded in a social justice perspective, the first few weeks of the course are designed to help students gain an understanding of relevant ethical principles and dilemmas; models of identity development across race, class, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, and historical period; health disparities and resilience; history of social work discourse related to LGBTQ+ populations; and basic principles for affirmative social work practice. Students will develop knowledge about the mutual influence of individuals, families, and institutional factors, including social policies and cultural factors. Students will learn basic skills for competent practice with LGBTQ+ populations over the life course, with a particular focus on engagement, assessment, and intervention. Specific areas of practice will be explored, including intimate partner violence, suicide risk, HIV/AIDS, and substance use disorders. Students will critically examine the values of the social work profession and reflect on their personal values for the purpose of raising self awareness and examining personal biases related to heterosexism, heteronormativity, transphobia, and cisnormativity.

This course will examine the public health problem of suicide, with specific attention to prevention, intervention, and postvention approaches. Students will gain an understanding of suicide epidemiology and underlying theory, as well as risk and protective factors for suicide. This course will familiarize students with evidence-based practices and ethical considerations with suicidal clients, including learning directly from individuals with lived experience with suicidality. Students will also learn about the current state and national strategies for suicide prevention, as well as policies related to suicide. Upon completion of this course, students will gain skills in assessment and management of suicide risk, intervention and treatment techniques with suicidal clients, and postvention approaches with survivors of suicide loss.

This is a clinical practice course with intimate partner violence in the context of family (broadly defined) life. Students will learn specific skills in identifying, assessing and intervening with and on behalf of family members where domestic violence is present. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own knowledge about families, violence, and systems responses to violence, both as family members and as helpers. We will consider the experiences of women and men in heterosexual and same-sex relationships as both victims and abusers, and of children living with domestic violence, attending carefully to community and cultural contexts. We will address legal issues and criminal justice system responses, child protective services, and health care system responses. We will discuss and research current controversies in the field of intimate violence.

There is a growing interest in psychotherapists of all theoretical orientations, for information about "Mindfulness", the cultivation of intentional, present focused awareness. Mindfulness is a core healing process in psychotherapy and has become a significant influence on contemporary Psychotherapy over the past decade. It has been shown to be a key component in many empirically validated interventions like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based cognitive therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. In this course we will examine the application of mindfulness to a wide range of clinical populations and conditions as well as the current neuroscience findings of its effects and the history of its development in the west. The course will ask participants to participate in experiential exercises of mindfulness and meditation and practice what they've learned each week between classes. They will also be asked to embody mindfulness as they learn, ensuring the essential qualities of compassion for self and others in the learning.

The course is designed to help students learn, in depth, about the policy-making process at the federal level, and to develop skills for political action. The course includes seminars and workshops taught by faculty from Simmons SSW, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Other speakers will include key leaders and advocates in policy and lobbying organizations, as well as professionals from the NASW. Other goals include learning about the health care system in the United States and, specifically, the Medicaid Program.

This class is an introduction to a variety of theories and principles of play therapy. Case material, including student's own material will be used. Readings, videos, case discussions, and experiential activities will be used to deepen the student's understanding of theory and technique. Students will be encouraged to gain comfort in their work with children and to explore their own theoretical orientation. Upon completion, students will have a clear foundation from which to treat children of all ages. Prerequisite: SW421B. This course meets the requirement for a clinical practice elective.

The course is designed to introduce students to the theory and practice of survey research. Students will work individually and collectively to prepare for and conduct a survey that will be pilot tested during the course. Course topics will include: matching research design to data needs; understanding the role of qualitative research in quantitative survey measurement; probability and non-probability sampling methods; developing questions and questionnaires; choosing modes and methods of data collection; analyzing survey data; and the effective presentation and reporting of survey findings to relevant audiences.

This course is designed to introduce students to the elements of qualitative research data analysis. It follows the course SW 654 which introduced the historical and philosophical foundations of qualitative research methodology, key research strategies in qualitative research and principles for research design in qualitative research. In this course you will deepen your understanding of these key research notions and develop hands-on understanding of techniques and tools used to conduct this research.

This course presents the common descriptive and inferential statistical tests performed in applied research. Topics include: probability theory, normal & non-normal distributions, drawing inference with t-test, ANOVA, and correlation and regression. The emphasis of learning will be more on concepts and applications using IBM SPSS than on computations and statistical theory. This course will provide students with a strong foundation in basic statistical reasoning that will help them in more advanced courses.

This is a seminar course designed to help students integrate material learned across PhD courses, advance their individual scholarly agendas and research work, and develop professional academic and career skills. Students enroll in this course SW 685 every semester they are in the program (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms). First and second year students enroll in 685 section A; Third year students enroll in section 685B, and students in their fourth year and beyond enroll in section C, only during Fall and Spring terms.Note: Instructor Consent Needed

This is a seminar course designed to help students integrate material learned across PhD courses, advance their individual scholarly agendas and research work, and develop professional academic and career skills. Students enroll in this course SW 685 every semester they are in the program (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms). First and second year students enroll in 685 section A; Third year students enroll in section 685B, and students in their fourth year and beyond enroll in section C, only during Fall and Spring terms.Note: Instructor Consent Needed

This is a seminar course designed to help students integrate material learned across PhD courses, advance their individual scholarly agendas and research work, and develop professional academic and career skills. Students enroll in this course SWO 685 every semester they are in the program (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms). First and second year students enroll in 685 section A; Third year students enroll in section 685B, and students in their fourth year and beyond enroll in section C, only during Fall and Spring terms.