Course Outline Format - School of Social Work - University of British ...

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SOWK550 (001) – 2012-2013 COURSE STRUCTURE: This course will include a combination of lecture, seminar, and small group meetings. Class members are expected to attend every class, to complete required readings prior to class, and to arrive in class prepared to participate. Student participation in class discussions will be evaluated in part on the alacrity with which comments and reflections are offered. Additionally, there is an expectation that differing opinions, analyses, and life experiences will be discussed in a respectful manner. Such an exchange contributes to the learning of all and requires the development of emotion regulation, a skill very important to the practice of social work at the master’s level. Generally, the first half of the class will consist of a presentation by the instructor. Generally, the second half of class will involve student participation in a large group activity or in small groups formed on the basis of a student’s field of practice (e.g., health, including mental health; social care; children and family). At the discretion of the professor, some classes may deviate from this format. Evaluative tools are described below. Course Context and Prerequisites: This course is a mandatory first course for students in the Advanced year of the M.S.W. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READING: Hankivsky, O. (2004). Social Policy and the Ethic of Care. UBC Press: Vancouver. Ife, J. (2008). Human Rights and Social Work: Towards Rights-Based Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. In addition, there are a number of journal articles. All of these articles can be found on the library website in ejournals; otherwise, hyperlinks are provided. ASSESSMENT, GRADING, EVALUATION: 1. Weekly Reflective Journals (20%): Students will complete, each week, a one-page reflective journal that demonstrates integration of course material. The purpose of these journals is to allow students dialogical space in which to: respond affectively, think critically, and metabolize the main ideas of the course. Creativity is invited, and genuine engagement with ideas is expected and appreciated. At least seven journal entries should meaningfully incorporate readings. The first journal entry should respond to Social Work Orientation, which will be attended by all students in the course. 2. Bi-Weekly Group Discussions (10%): In Week 3, students will form small groups based on chosen fields of practice. On assigned days, group members will choose an article to discuss with their respective small group examining a social justice issue within the group’s chosen field of practice. The course TA will visit groups on a rolling basis and provide discussion facilitation and support, as needed. The instructor and TA can provide article Page 2 of 7
SOWK550 (001) – 2012-2013 suggestions. Small groups should be used, in part, to refine early ideas and to prepare for group presentations and individual papers, discussed below. 3. Group Presentations (20%): Within their groups, students will research and critically examine the literature and/or current popular debates regarding one timely social justice topic that raises questions about full inclusion and equality—economic, political, or cultural— for the social work field. Each group will have half of one class period (1-1/2 hours) to present their work to the class. Presentations should: 1) describe the issue (e.g., racial justice; aboriginal rights; rights of people with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities; rights of GLBT groups; rights of women, children, the elderly; access to health care, affordable housing, standards of living, development, etc.); and 2) suggest or enact one or more approaches to remediate the injustice within an agency setting, policymaking or legislative body, or other administrative channel. In other words, the presentations should focus on actionable steps that can be taken to restore justice in the “real” world of social work practice. Presentations, while on serious topics, can nonetheless be fun, creative, and use a variety of formats, including but not limited to Power Point/Prezi; panel discussions; role play; guest speakers; active learning techniques. The point is to engage the class in the issue and its discussion. Further guidance on group presentations will be provided in class. Using a matrix, audience class members will comment on the strengths of classmates’ group presentations and provide helpful comments for incorporation into the final paper. 4. Final Papers (50%): Students will submit a paper outlining an aspect of the topic chosen for the group presentation that particularly interests them. Papers should incorporate meaningful feedback received from colleagues during the group presentation and/or refinement of ideas brought about by the presentation itself. Paper limit is 2000 words. Final papers are due November 28, 2012. COURSE POLICIES [attendance, participation, academic dishonesty]: Excerpt from the UBC calendar: Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes. The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability Resource Centre. The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the drop date. It is recommended that students retain a copy of all submitted assignments (in case of loss) and should also retain all their marked assignments in case they wish to apply for a Review of Assigned Standing. Students have the right to view their marked examinations with their instructor, providing they apply to do so within a month of receiving their final grades. This review is for pedagogic purposes. The examination remains the property of the university. Academic Dishonesty: Please review the UBC Calendar “Academic regulations” for the university policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. Also visit www.arts.ubc.ca and go to the students’ section for useful information on avoiding plagiarism and on correct documentation. Students wishing to use any electronic devices including computers and recorders must have the permission of the instructor and must have the wireless capacity of the device turned off. All cell phones must be turned off. Page 3 of 7
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Course Outline Format - School of Social Work - University of British ...

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