Course Descriptions
SLWK 5001 Social Work Theory for Critical Practice
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course recognizes that theory guides practice and practice informs theory. It will explore how theories have evolved in social work from those centering in psycho-dynamic theory and the problems of individuals to critically based anti-oppressive approaches that contextualize individual struggle. In this course students will learn not only a variety of social work theories, but how they translate into practice. Students will have an opportunity to apply theories to direct practice through case vignettes and role plays.
FORMAT: Lecture
RESTRICTIONS: MSW
SLWK 5002 Canadian Social Welfare and Policy Analysis: Historical and Contemporary Contexts
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course reviews the historical development and contemporary context of Canadian social work and social welfare. The contradictory nature of the social work profession is explored alongside paradoxical ethical dilemmas. We explore the welfare state and the global economy, policy alternatives to current economic redistribution, poverty, feminist economics, and policy formulation in the construction of the family. Theories of the welfare state are explored with attention the impact of the welfare state on diverse communities.
FORMAT: Lecture
RESTRICTIONS: MSW
SLWK 5003 Critical Clinical Practice Foundations for Social Work Intervention
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will develop a foundation for critical clinical practice within the context of social work values, ethics, theory, and analysis. It will apply a critical clinical approach to the understanding and provision of direct social work practice intervention. Through a social justice lens a range of practices approaches and practice skills are explored. Students will learn how to apply a critical clinical social work practice framework through integrating experiential learning with critical practice theory.
FORMAT: Lecture
RESTRICTIONS: MSW
SLWK 5004 SLWK Field Work Class
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The foundation field education course provides students with opportunities to integrate learning and practice through a supervised social work experience related to the specified learning goals. The course includes supervised social work practice in the field for a total of 450 hours and a concurrent seminar. The placement site is determined through consultation and agreement among the student, the Field Education Coordinator or designate and the agency.
FORMAT: Lecture
SLWK 5005 SLWK Field Work Class
CREDIT HOURS: 1.5
The foundation field education course provides students with opportunities to integrate learning and practice through a supervised social work experience related to the specified learning goals. The course includes supervised social work practice in the field for a total of 450 hours and a concurrent seminar. The placement site is determined through consultation and agreement among the student, the Field Education Coordinator or designate and the agency.
FORMAT: Seminar
CROSS-LISTING:
SLWK 5004
SLWK 5006 SLWK Field Work Class
CREDIT HOURS: 1.5
The foundation field education course provides students with opportunities to integrate learning and practice through a supervised social work experience related to the specified learning goals. The course includes supervised social work practice in the field for a total of 450 hours and a concurrent seminar. The placement site is determined through consultation and agreement among the student, the Field Education Coordinator or designate and the agency.
CROSS-LISTING:
SLWK 5004
SLWK 5110 Africentric Perspectives in Social Work
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The course provides students with an opportunity to engage in critical dialogue, reflection and action about historical and contemporary experiences of African Nova Scotians and Africans in the Diaspora. The course also focuses on awareness of Africentric theory, and its application in social work practice with Africans and non-Africans.
CROSS-LISTING: SLWK 3110.03
SLWK 5120 International Social Work
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course introduces students to various ‘worlds’ of social work practice throughout the globe. Theoretical and practice grounding regarding development issues and social welfare systems within a global context is given. There will be encouragement to develop a critical and reflective stance toward the practice of social work in a global world.
FORMAT:
SLWK 5130 Critical Perspectives on Ageing and Practice
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The course examines the social construction of aging and its relationship to the formation of gerontological knowledge. It explores the experiences of older people in both formal and informal service delivery systems and considers the extent to which the nature of and type of services offered, meet the needs of diverse groups of older people.
FORMAT:
SLWK 5160 Aboriginal Perspectives on Service Delivery and Practice
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course is offered to MSW students enrolled at the School of Social Work, Dalhousie University. Aboriginal Perspectives will be explored through both historical and contemporary perspectives. Students will have an opportunity to explore historical, social and political realities and perspectives from Aboriginal peoples including Aboriginal perspectives on Indigenous social work practice. Through critical reflection and analysis students will have the opportunity to re(articulate) their own framework of social work practice in relation to Aboriginal perspectives on service delivery and social work practice.
SLWK 5380 (dis)Ability: Policy and Practice
CREDIT HOURS: 3
(dis) Ability will be examined from an anti-oppressive, social constructivist, rights-based lens, focusing primarily on three areas of exploration: (dis)Ability identity – how it is constructed, perceived and utilized within and albist world; societal location of (dis)Ability – examining the historical and current day (dis)placement of people with (dis)Abilities; and, policy/practice implications, ranging from grassroots (dis)Ability organizations to government legislation.
SLWK 5830 Independent Study
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This option is available to students with a specific area of interest. A student may develop an Independent Study with a faculty supervisor on the subject of research interest to both. It is essential that the student follow the School’s Independent Study Guidelines. The proposal must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator.
SLWK 5831 Independent Study
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course is available to masters of social work students with a special area of interest. A student may develop an Independent Study with an available faculty supervisor on a subject of interest to both. The student must follow the school's Independent Study Guidelines. The independent study proposal must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator.
FORMAT COMMENTS: Independent readings and agreed upon meetings with professor
SLWK 5832 Independent Study
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This option is available to students with a specific area of interest. A student may develop an Independent Study with a faculty supervisor on the subject of research interest to both. It is essential that the student follow the School’s Independent Study Guidelines. The proposal must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator
SLWK 6001 Theories and Practices of Anti-Oppressive Social Work in Diverse and Intersecting Communities
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Racism, colonialism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression are in conflict with the “caring” notion of the social work profession. Multiple forms of oppression frame everyone’s life. Social work intervention may reinforce oppression, condone it through non-action or notions of neutrality, or challenge oppression. The aim of this course is to unravel the underlying threads of multiple and intersecting oppression and the various sources and forms of oppression and to develop practice strategies that seek to challenge oppression.
FORMAT: Lecture
RESTRICTIONS: MSW
SLWK 6002 Critical Clinical Practice and Intervention in Social Work
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course provides a clinical approach to an advanced understanding and provision of direct critical clinical social work practice intervention which supports social justice. A range of practice approaches will be explored through integrating experiential therapeutic learning with understanding the theoretical underpinnings of clinical work. Attention will be given to co-occurring and complex substantive issues addressed in therapy with an awareness of the impact of trauma and violence and with a particular focus on the experiences and needs diverse communities.
FORMAT: Lecture
RESTRICTIONS: MSW
SLWK 6003 Queering Social Work: Sexual and Gender Diversity
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course provides an overview of queer history and oppressive social policies and practices and emphasizes activism, social movements, pride and visible community building. It will explore why queer social work education, research and practice are important to inclusive and relevant social work practice and demonstrates how queer theory critically disrupts problematic everyday assumptions about social life including heteronormativity and homonormativity. This course will emphasize sexual and gender diversity, identity, and expression and multiple intersecting oppressions within LGBTTQI+ communities.
FORMAT: Lecture
RESTRICTIONS: MSW
SLWK 6201 A Critical Approach to Violence and Trauma Intervention and Practice in Social Work
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course provides a critical social justice approach to understanding and working with trauma. A range of violent and traumatic experiences will be explored including child abuse, sexualized violence, intimate partner violence, intergenerational trauma, post trauma, and complex trauma. We will address the impact of traumatic grief exploring death, accidents, loss, and war, in addition to medical trauma and vicarious trauma. We will examine the history of trauma work and the corresponding shifts in paradigms over time. Attention will be given to the impact of trauma and violence and co-occurring and complex substantive issues with a particular focus on the experiences and needs of diverse communities. This course will explore practice approaches through integrating experiential therapeutic learning with understanding the theoretical underpinnings of critical trauma work.
FORMAT: Lecture
SLWK 6341 Critical Perspectives on Social Work Practice Interventions
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The course will provide students with an opportunity to examine, discuss, and debate historical and current social work theories and their application to social work methods of practice with specific populations who are served by social workers.
SLWK 6363 Postmodern and Narrative Social Work Practice
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Rooted in social constructionism and post-modernism, narrative therapy emphasizes the idea w live stored lives. This course will integrate the theory and process of narrative practice through externalizing unhelpful stories and re-authoring preferred stories. Small groups will create and work with a case story adapted from film