Master of Social Work @ Antelope Valley

This course focuses on social work values and ethics as well as California and federal laws related to the practice of social work. It also prepares students to begin work in the field by exploring issues related to professional standards of conduct, personal and professional values, and communication skills.

This course provides students with an overview of the history, philosophy, and the evolving development of social welfare policy in the US. This knowledge is used as a foundation for developing skills in policy practice and analysis that are grounded in social justice and human rights perspectives.

This course is the second of a two course sequence in social policy. The course continues the focus on policy analysis developed in the previous course and emphasizes skills necessary to influence organizational policy and social policy to deliver effective social work services and to advance social and economic well-being. Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy.

This foundation course introduces students to the evaluation and application of theories, models, and frameworks that guide social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The course explores the social construction of both explanatory and interventions theories and the role of theory in case formulation. It is the first course in a two-course sequence.

This course focuses on the integration of multitheoretical perspectives as they apply to social work practice. There is an emphasis on in depth critical analysis of theory, developing a conceptual framework for practice, and applying theory to practice settings across all levels. Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy.

This course introduces social work research methods, including quantitative and qualitative designs, as they relate to s ocial work practice evaluation. Students develop skills to use research evidence to inform and to evaluate practice.Students learn to analyze and interpret descriptive statistics, as well as how to design and implement ethical research.

This advanced course focuses on developing skills in evaluating social service programs within the community. It emphasizes the skills necessary to design and implement program evaluation including quantitative and qualitative data analyses and the role of context and ethics. Prerequisite: Completion of SW 6300.

This course is an introduction to social work practice and explores the common elements of the micro, mezzo, and macro spectrum of social work practice. Students will investigate the process of planned change and the common elements of effective social work practice. Specific skills learned include how to establish rapport, gather and analyze information, formulate an assessment, and create a plan of intervention with the client. The student will explore foundation level social work practice skills and their use across the spectrum of social work practice.

The primary focus of this course is on the development of diagnostic skills using a competency-based assessment model. The DSM 5 and ICD 10 are used as an organizing framework to provide a context and a backdrop to explore mental disorders. Strengths and limitations of this framework are examined. The importance of context including the impact of culture, poverty, race/ethnicity, and other factors is emphasized. Ethical issues related to assessment and diagnoses are integrated throughout the course.

This is the foundation course in generalist micro social work practice. The course will examine the assumptions, concepts,
principles, and values of micro generalist social work practice in terms of professional relationships, social work roles, treatment processes, and service delivery models withindividuals. The course will also explore special issues relating to diverse populations. Values and ethics will underlie the materials and analysis of social work problems and decision- making.

This foundation mezzo practice course introduces students to the legal, ethical, and practical challenges of social work practice with client systems consisting of two or more individuals. The course focuses primarily on the processes and practices common to social work with all groups and to different kinds of groups.

This is a macro foundation course in generalist social work practice and focuses on communities and organizations as social systems. It examines generalist community andadministrative practice roles, and the perspectives of strengths, empowerment, and evidence-based practice, along with the values of social and economic justice, diversity, and empowerment. Students will analyze the community as  a social system and explore evidence-based strategies for bringing about change at the macro level. Specific attention is given to assessing community assets and needs.

This is the first practice course within the advanced generalist practice concentration, and it builds on the knowledge and skills gained in foundation courses. The focus of this course is on the integration of theories, concepts, and principles in direct service at the micro level. Students are expected to demonstrate increased competency in assessing and strategically intervening with clients. Students will also demonstrate a deeper understanding of the various social work roles, functions, and processes across levels and types of social work practice.

This is the second course in the advanced generalist practice sequence. It focuses on the knowledge and skill base necessary for effective social work practice with families. The course equips students with advanced skills in engagement, assessment, and intervention with families. There is an emphasis on integrating various theoretical perspectives and evidence-based practice approaches. Throughout the course, students actively engage in skill-building exercises to strengthen practice competencies in work with diverse family systems. Prerequisite: SW 6430.

This is the Foundation Practicum course and includes 20 hours a week with a semester total of 320 hours of supervised practice experience in a community social agency (an internship) and a 2-hour integrative seminar. It also includes a face-to-face liaison visit with the student, the seminar instructor, and the field instructor each term. The course focuses on the application of foundation knowledge, skills, values, and ethics to practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities across the life span. Students develop skills in self-evaluation and effective use of self across multiple roles and in accord with professional values and ethics and with applicable laws and regulations; culturally responsive interviewing, assessment, intervention, and evaluation; written and oral professional communication; effective use of supervision; and critical assessment of agency policy and practice.

This is the first advanced supervised practicum course, which includes a 2-hour field seminar and 20 hours of supervised field experience for 16 weeks each term (for a total of 320 hours per semester). It also includes a face-to-face liaison visit with the student, the seminar instructor, and the field instructor each term. The seminar and field experience are designed to engage students in supervised application of the knowledge and skills acquired in other courses. The goal is to produce a professionally reflective, self-evaluating, knowledgeable, and developing social worker who can flexibly apply a variety of knowledge and skills with diverse populations that interrelate with multiple systems across the life span in accord with professional values and ethics and applicable laws and regulations. The supervised field experience may extend beyond the limits of a typical semester. Prerequisites: Successful completion of SW 6500 Foundation Field Practicum, successful advancement to candidacy and either concurrent enrollment or completion of SW 6460, Advanced Practice I

This is the second advanced supervised practicum course, which includes a 2-hour field seminar and 20 hours of supervised field experience for 16 weeks each term (for a total of 320 hours per semester). It also includes a face-to-face liaison visit with the student, the seminar instructor, and the field instructor each term. The seminar and field experience are designed to engage students in supervised application of the knowledge and skills acquired in other courses. The goal is to produce a professionally reflective, self-evaluating, knowledgeable, and developing social worker who can flexibly apply a variety of knowledge and skills with diverse populations that interrelate with multiple systems across the life span in accord with professional values and ethics and applicable laws and regulations. The supervised field experience may extend beyond the limits of a typical semester. Prerequisites: Successful completion of SW 6500 Foundation Field Practicum, SW 6560, Advanced Social Work Field Practicum I, successful advancement to candidacy and either concurrent enrollment or completion of SW 6470, Advanced Practice II.

This course provides students the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to integrate different elements of the social work curriculum and synthesize learning into a project of value to the community. The student will provide documentation of the project, but the documentation is not necessarily the primary product by which the project will be evaluated. Prerequisite: Completion of SW 6360 and 6460.

This is the first course in a two-course elective series in child welfare. It provides students with an overview of the legal and ethical issues in public child welfare and characteristics and service needs of children and families in the child welfare system. It also focuses on incorporating advanced generalist practice knowledge, skills, and values in the assessment of child abuse and neglect and the initial phase of working with individual and families affected by child maltreatment.

This is the second course in a two-course elective series in child welfare. It builds on information in the first course regarding the assessment of child abuse and neglect, legal and ethical issues in child welfare, and the initial phase of working with individual and families affected by child maltreatment and continues into service planning, intervening, monitoring and revising service plans, and transition of services. The course emphasizes incorporation of advanced generalist practice knowledge, skills, and values in the practice of child welfare. Prerequisite: Completion of SW 6610.

This course examines the incidence and etiology of substance abuse and co-occurring disorders (COD) and their impact on individuals, families, and society. A brief history of psychoactive substance use will be presented as well as the impact of current policy on service delivery. Additionally, the course will present an advanced overview of the pharmacological properties, physiological, psychosocial, and cultural aspects of psychoactive substances. Issues regarding identification and assessment will be offered using the DSM- IV-TR criteria for diagnosis with an emphasis on a Biopsychosocial-spiritual model and strengths perspective.

This course provides an overview of social work practice with older adults and their families. It builds upon and expands foundation coursework theories about human development, personality, and the social environment as it relates to an ethnically diverse, aging society. Social work practice with older adults at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels will be a focus. Special topics to be covered will include the interaction between and among: poverty, gender issues, ethnicity, caregiving, elder abuse, long term care, religion and spirituality, legal issues, mental health, health care, and advocacy. Prerequisite: SW 6200 or instructor permission.

This course prepares students for advanced practice within
an evolving health care system. There is a focus on knowledge, practice theory, and skills related to physical and behavioral health, health care delivery systems, and the roles and responsibilities of social workers in those settings. Values and ethics and cultural and linguistic competency are also infused throughout the course. Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy