SOWK 422: Individual Practice
Prerequisites: Admission to SOWK Major
Credit Hours: (4)
This course integrates the student’s knowledge base in human behavior in the social environment with specific skills needed when working with individuals and families. Both theoretical and experiential knowledge will be gained with both in-class and lab activities, including evidence based models for helping individuals and families deal with biopsychosocial issues and improve social functioning.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This course is the second of four courses which make up the practice component of the social work curriculum. Social work and human service practitioners need to utilize professional knowledge and skills in helping individuals, couples, and families cope with and/or solve psychosocial problems and improve social functioning. This course emphasizes skill development in working with micro-systems: individuals, couples and families.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course will be taught using the format of lecture/discussion and lab work. Students will be expected to participate in in-class discussion, activities and roleplays as well as outside projects.
Goals and Objectives of Course
1. Resolve complex ethical dilemmas present in social work practice
2. Demonstrate consideration for social work values and ethics in client assessments and intervention strategies
3. Apply interactional and analytical skills in working with individual and family systems
4. Demonstrate consideration for issues of cultural diversity in their client assessments and intervention strategies
5. Demonstrate ability, knowledge, and baseline skill in applying practice skills to build rapport, intervene, and work through client resistance
Assessment Measures
All assignments are required of all students and will be equally weighted. These include the following:
Participation refers to the expectations that students will attend all classes and that they will come to class having done the assigned reading and thus will be prepared to participate meaningfully in all discussions, roleplays, and other activities. Participation can make a difference of a whole letter grade when you have not quite reached the higher grade.
Review and Approval
Revised, April 23, 2013
September 2001 Updated Marilyn Rigby
Revised 2/5/09