Social Work

Foundations of Social Work introduces students to principles and skills of culturally competent social work practice, characterized by an appreciation for diverse groups and cultures. Fundamental to this course is an examination of the inequities, oppression, and disparities experienced differently by groups based on their race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other social locations. Given this course's focus on issues of diversity and social justice, it is also where students are introduced to the history, core values, ethical principles, and practice standards of the social work profession. Integrating foundational professional content into this course helps students understand how the social work profession confronts inequity and oppression, leveraging its distinct knowledge base, values, and skills, but also framing the need for social workers to practice engage with other disciplines.

Integrated Somatic Practice explores research-based interventions focusing on attention, self-compassion, gratitude, social connection, body-mind awareness, and more. This class is intended to support the development of research-based skills for self-exploration in personal life satisfaction and tools for professional social work practice, especially when working with vulnerable and underserved populations.

The Collaborative Clinician continues the program's focus on clinical practice methods, exploring the need for integrated care that fully or partially blends social and behavioral health services with general or specialty medical services. This course extends the program's focus on person-centered care and the promotion of social and economic justice by emphasizing the unique role of social workers in diverse interdisciplinary settings, including in rural and frontier geographic areas, given their person-in-environment perspective and understanding that individual health and well-being are intimately affected by mezzo and macro-level factors that transcend the immediate environment of care. To support the development of knowledge and skills that facilitate collaborative care, students will learn modalities utilized in collaborative practice - where they will learn with, from, and about other disciplines social workers may encounter in clinical settings - even in private practice.

Substance Use & Co-Occurring Disorders supports the development of specialized knowledge and skills related to the identification, treatment, and prevention of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. The course will also explore the intersectionality between substance use disorders and dual diagnoses with other serious social issues and the need for social workers in all practice settings to be attentive and responsive to client needs in this area. Examples of course focus areas include neuroscience of addiction, stages of change and motivational enhancement, medication assisted therapy, the 12-step model, physical health concerns related to addiction, family and natural supports, and more. In addition to the direct practice context, students will examine research and policy contexts to identify opportunities to enhance prevention and treatment interventions. Elective Courses (SW 589) are included in the specialized curriculum to provide students with opportunities to further explore specific social problems, treatment modalities, practice settings and client groups. Given the programs specialization in clinical practice, electives will be design to supplement and further extend knowledge, skills, and values developed in other courses. Examples of potential electives include Social Work in Health Care, Crisis Intervention, Grief and Bereavement, Clinical Practice with Older Adults, Homelessness, Interpersonal Violence, Social Work Practice with LGBTQIA2S+ Populations, Clinical Practice with Youth, Play therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy Interventions, and more.

Practicum Seminar I provides students with an intentionally designed peer-learning community where they can critically evaluate the integration of generalist knowledge, skills, and values learned in courses with their field education experience. Through active reflection, that includes constructive feedback from peers and faculty, students reflect on their application of course-related knowledge and skills, identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement. Additionally, students will examine how personal values and spiritual beliefs impact practice decisions and ethical decision-making, assessing how those values and beliefs align with the profession's mission, ethical principles, and practice standards. Finally, a core activity in this and other seminary courses discussed later are regularly scheduled seminars where students will meet virtually with all faculty to critically reflect on and dialogue about how content presented in different courses integrates with their field experience, and evaluate how classroom and field experiences are shaping their identity as a professional social worker.

Practicum Seminar II continues to leverage the intentionally designed peer-learning community, providing students with a supportive environment where they can dialogue with other students and faculty about their experiences in field education. In this class, students are encouraged to analyze how knowledge, skills, and values learned in classes apply to field work and how their personal values and beliefs are impacting practice and contributing to ethical decision-making and the provision of culturally responsive social work services. Additionally, students will explore their developing professional social work identity, identifying how they are assimilating the profession's mission statement, core values, and practice standards into their day-to-day understanding of what it is to be a professional social worker and how this alignment is demonstrated in actual practice. Finally, this course will continue to include regularly scheduled seminars where students will meet virtually with all faculty to critically reflect on and dialogue about how content presented in different courses integrates with their field experience, and evaluate how classroom and field experiences continue to shape their identity as a professional social worker.

Practicum III builds on generalist practicum education experiences by providing students with supervised clinical practicum experiences where they are able to apply specialized knowledge and skills and evidence-based interventions. In this course, students will further knowledge and skills related to ethical and culturally competent practice at all levels of the social work change process (engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination) with a variety of client groups. Consistent with the advanced nature of this placement students will demonstrate a higher level of proficiency with tasks and assignments and they will be expected to work more independently as they demonstrate competency with specialized program competencies.

Practicum Seminar III supports the integration of specialized social work knowledge, skills, and values with practice and the continued development of a professional social work identity. In this course, students will present their clinical work, exploring their application of specialized knowledge, skills, and values to the therapeutic process. Consistent with the program's emphasis on culturally competent practice and a focus on strengths, resilience, and empowerment, students will assess the treatment process to assess their application of these principles and methods. Additionally, as with practicum seminar courses included in the generalist curriculum, this course will include regularly scheduled seminars where students will meet virtually with all faculty to integrate course content with their practicum experience, and evaluate how classroom and practicum experiences are shaping their identity as a professional social worker.

Practicum IV continues the placement developed for Field Practicum III, providing students with additional opportunities to further refine the application of specialized knowledge, skills, and values related to clinical social work practice. Given that this is the final practicum course for the program, students will be expected to competently demonstrate all specialized competencies as they intentionally integrate coursework into their practicum education experience. Students will also be expected to effectively utilize practicum supervision to further refine and develop their application of knowledge, skills, and values to practice.

Practicum Seminar IV continues to support the integration of specialized social work knowledge, skills, and values developed in the classroom with practice and the continued development of a professional social work identity. As in Practicum Seminar III, this course will include regularly scheduled seminars where students meet virtually with all faculty to synthesize course content presented in different classes and integrate knowledge, skills, and values with their practicum experience. This course also serves as the forum where students will develop and present their capstone project, an agency-based project that provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, ethics and values necessary for evidence-based advanced generalist social work practice. An additional aspect of the capstone project is that students will identify core attributes of their professional social work identity in terms of beliefs, values, motives, and experiences. Consistent with the program's emphasis on life-long learning and professional development as a component of ethical social work practice, students will also identify opportunities for additional education and development, as well as self-care strategies they will integrate into their practice.

Independent study is a unique learning opportunity not offered in the regular curriculum or an existing Carroll course offered to a student in special circumstances. It may include laboratory/library research, extensive reading, and reports. Only junior and senior undergraduate students and graduate students may enroll in an independent study. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. An undergraduate student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term, under the direction of a faculty member from the appropriate department. Graduate students may register for no more than four (4) semester hours of independent study, which would be applied towards the program's elective requirement. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Credits are arranged.