School of Social Work - Simmons College

More documents

Recommendations

Info

WWW.SIMMONS.EDU/SSW 24 SPECIAL COURSES Exploring international perspectives and strategies for social change “ I hardly knew any Spanish but learned quickly in Cuernavaca. The program accommodates to your level; my classes had no more than five people, and I received one-on-one instruction in social work vocabulary. I can now connect with Spanish-speaking families in a way I couldn’t before.” ELIZABETH RETTIG ’11 M.S.W. TRAVEL/STUDY IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK Given the rapidly increasing amount of work with immigrant, refugee, and international populations, it is crucial for social workers to have direct exposure, knowledge, and sensitivity to diverse cultures. As part of its global social work initiative, the SSW provides opportunities for international study. Human Services in Developing Countries This course examines the impact of social problems, with a focus on HIV/AIDS in Uganda and the role of the social work profession in international social development. It explores the utilization of various professional methods to promote self-sufficiency, social integration, social change, social action, and social justice in a developing country. The focus of this course is to learn how social work practice skills (micro and macro) can be applied to the needs of a developing country. Students spend three weeks in Uganda studying social problems and learning about the cultural context of the delivery of human services in a developing country. Spanish Language Study for Social Workers Nationwide, the growing number of organizations that serve non-English-speaking populations has caused a sharp rise in the demand for bilingual social workers. In recognition of this need, the SSW offers short-term Spanish language immersion programs designed for social workers. One option is a month-long course that takes place at the Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Studies in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where students live with host families and participate in cultural excursions to learn about social services in Mexico. For individuals who cannot travel to Mexico, students also may study Spanish by taking beginner, intermediate, or advanced classes in conversational Spanish for social workers right here at Simmons. “ My trip to Uganda was amazing! I was able to practice my clinical skills outside of my comfort zone and experience very different needs. I gained so much from the professionals and clients I met — it was rewarding to see that my skills could have a positive impact in return.” KRISTEN ARCHIBALD ’10 M.S.W./URBAN LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM POLITICAL ACTION AND STRATEGIES In partnership with George Washington University and George Mason University, Simmons offers a political action elective that culminates with a week in Washington, D.C. The course, Political Action and Strategies for Professional Social Workers, allows students to witness firsthand the nation’s political process. Each year, the class focuses on a current issue of importance to social workers that is being debated in Congress. Students look at programs such as Medicaid, examining issues related to policy development and implementation. They also meet key social work leaders and advocates, including National Association of Social Workers lobbyists, legislators, and policy researchers. “The course gave me a lot of insight into the inner workings of policy. I learned that it’s possible — and important — to mesh the clinical and political worlds to become a better advocate for my clients.” MIA HOGAINS ’11 M.S.W.
SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 25 On the Pulse: Michael Melendez, M.S.W., Ph.D. Professor and Chair of the Foundation Curriculum Michael Melendez, Professor and Chair of the Foundation Curriculum, has an ear to the ground and an eye to the future. Ever attuned to new trends and critical needs in the social work field, he ensures that the SSW curriculum delivers a highly versatile, advanced, and marketable set of diagnostic and psychotherapeutic skills. “Our goal is to train clinical social workers who are creative, flexible, adaptive, and capable of complex thinking,” he says. Bridging classroom and community: Melendez credits the SSW faculty’s commitment to front-line work in shaping syllabi that integrate cases, issues, and interventions culled from real-world experience. “We’re not ivory-towering this,” he explains. “We’re not just academicians. Every one of our faculty is actively involved in the field — in clinical work in various settings, in policy, in organizational consultation.” Rich and varied background: Count Melendez among them. His career runs broad and deep: he’s served on boards, presided over the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, conducted trainings in cultural competency, researched evidence-based, spiritually-oriented therapy, and consulted for several community organizations, often related to the impact of AIDS/HIV and substance abuse on families. Currently, he is a senior consultant for a residential program serving Latina women with addictions. A cutting-edge curriculum: Melendez also assiduously follows and assesses social work trends — another key to Simmons’s progressive practice sequence. The curriculum reflects new research, evidence-supported practice modalities, and contemporary social work needs. A recent example: As insurance policies dictate shorter treatment periods for patients, students taking the Advanced Clinical Practice class now learn four different evidence-based brief treatment models. Likewise, the SSW curriculum addresses the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of the field. “Our students talk and understand cross-disciplines,” says Melendez. “We’re training them for the multiple roles of social work — and all the possibilities of the degree.”
Page 1 and 2: A Rigorous Education in Clinical So
Page 3 and 4: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 1 2 A
Page 5 and 6: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 3 Mes
Page 7 and 8: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 5 Our
Page 9 and 10: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 7 A M
Page 11 and 12: Degrees Offered Master of Social Wo
Page 13 and 14: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 11 Ho
Page 15 and 16: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 13
Page 17 and 18: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 15 Fo
Page 19 and 20: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 17 M.
Page 21 and 22: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 19 He
Page 23 and 24: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 21 M.
Page 25: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 23 IN
Page 29 and 30: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 27 FI
Page 31 and 32: Career Choices for Clinical Social
Page 33 and 34: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 31 TH
Page 35 and 36: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 33 A
Page 37 and 38: SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 35 Bo
Page 39 and 40: www.simmons.edu/ssw PH.D. IN SOCIAL

School of Social Work - Simmons College

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?