DSW Resources

SWRK 8120: Clinical Theory I

The purpose of this course is to broaden and deepen participants’ mastery of several theories of development, personality, and behavior that have contributed to social work’s knowledge base across the decades and continue to inform clinical social work epistemology today. Drawing primarily from original sources, students will consider key assumptions, constructs, and propositions of each theory in terms of its congruence with social work’s principles, values, and mission and in relation to the profession’s person-in-environment perspective. The focus will be on the evolution of theories central to psychodynamic thought, from Freud’s early biological model of the mind, through various relational perspectives, to contemporary work in the fields of attachment and interpersonal neurobiology. This examination will constitute a case study of the manner in which theories are socially constructed and will lay the foundation for critical inquiry into the social and political biases inherent in the Western European intellectual tradition from which most theories of human behavior have emerged.

SWRK 8130: Clinical Theory II

The purpose of this course is two-fold. First, the course is aimed at continuing to broaden and deepen students’ mastery of theories of behavior and cognition as it relates to clinical practice. The course is designed to segue from psychodynamic theories from last semester into behavioral and cognitive theories this semester. The history and fundamentals of behavioral theory, and its iterations, will be reviewed to ground you firmly in a tradition that always emphasized empirical research. We will critically analyze and discuss the evidence and its application, and you will have opportunities to deepen or expand your knowledge base of trending approaches to try in your practice either through the material presented or through your choice of the final assignment. Case conceptualizations are emphasized as critical to informing behavioral and cognitive interventions. We also will consider key assumptions, constructs, and propositions of behavioral and cognitive theories in terms of its congruence with social work’s principles, values, and mission and in relation to the profession’s person-in-environment perspective.

SWRK 8040: Methods of Inquiry: Quantitative Research Methods

This course is designed to teach the basics of social work practice research, with an emphasis on intervention research. A particular focus will be placed on understanding evidence-based practice and how to use it in one’s own practice. The course will address building conceptual frameworks, research ethics, source credibility, formulating research questions and hypotheses, measurement and scale construction, sampling procedures, and research design. Importance will be placed on the development of designing ethical, feasible, and practical research studies to answer questions of importance to social work practice, particularly regarding social work interventions and the use of randomized designs. The course will demonstrate the importance and the means to developing conceptual frameworks for purposes of developing interventions, curriculum, research proposal writing, and ultimately for publications.

SWRK 8050: Methods of Inquiry: Qualitative Research Methods

This doctoral level course will provide students with a hands-on introduction to qualitative, interpretive research methodology and design. The focus of the course is to explore the history, philosophy, and processes of qualitative research. In addition, students will discuss various qualitative techniques and apply a variety of strategies for analyzing and interpreting qualitative data (e.g. procedures such as data reduction, writing memos, coding, developing themes and patterns). The format of the class will provide opportunities for students to build their qualitative skills. Everyone will have the opportunity to contribute to the content of the course through discussions and activities.

SWRK 8140: Applied Statistics

This course is designed to provide students with a range of statistical methods and applications used for research in human services and clinical practice settings. Topics covered include types and measurement of variables, and basic concepts and techniques for exploring and categorizing data, for generalizing data from sample to population and tests of significance. An emphasis will be placed on the practical applications of data to address social work practice issues. Students will learn how to choose and apply statistical tools to data sources, when and how statistical tools can be used to analyze data, and how to interpret others’ quantitative studies. Students will gain hands-on experience of using window-based statistical software to manage and analyze quantitative data.

This course is designed to teach the basics of social work practice research, with an emphasis on intervention research. A particular focus will be placed on understanding evidence based practice and how to use it in one’s own practice. The course will address building conceptual frameworks, research ethics, source credibility, formulating research questions and hypotheses, measurement and scale construction, sampling procedures, and research design. Importance will be placed on the development of designing ethical, feasible, and practical research studies to answer questions of importance to social work practice, particularly regarding social work interventions and the use of randomized designs. The course will demonstrate the importance and the means to developing conceptual frameworks for purposes of developing interventions, curriculum, research proposal writing, and ultimately for publications.

SWRK 8150: Dissertation Seminar I

This workshop is designed to prepare participants for dissertation proposal writing and defense. Each component of this workshop moves the student closer to the two culminating assignments: A concisely crafted, well-supported 15-25 page written draft dissertation proposal and a 15-minute presentation of the proposal.

SWRK 8160: Dissertation Seminar II

This seminar continues the student’s dissertation work beyond the proposal. Under the direction of the dissertation chair and committee, the student begins the process of collecting and analyzing data in preparation for the final write-up and defense of the dissertation.

SWRK 9030: Relational Theory and Social Work Practice

This course will introduce the relational turn in theories of development and psychotherapy. Relational theory emerged in the epistemological shift to postmodernism and social constructionism, characterized by concepts of knowledge as perspectival, constructed and rooted in a particular cultural and historical setting. In this course, we will study relational psychoanalysis and its application to clinical social work, including concepts of the two-person perspective, the subjective nature of truth, the centrality of the therapeutic relationship and issues of enactment and therapist self-disclosure. We will also study relational cultural theory (RCT), focusing on concepts of mutuality, mutual empathy, authenticity, good conflict, relational images, disconnection, and the power of connection. We will consider what these relational theories share in common with fundamental principles of social work practice, including the importance of empathy, professional use of self, starting where the client is, and respecting the client’s right to self-determination. The aim of this course is to identify the shared principles of relational theories and apply these principles to clinical social work practice. Students will critically evaluate and compare and contrast relational psychoanalysis with relational-cultural theory. Students will evaluate the viability of relational theory in the field of clinical social work and consider the application of relational theory beyond the therapy room to the supervisory, agency and teaching contexts. The focus on case studies as examples will be key to understanding the clinical applications of the various medications we will discuss.

SWRK 9040: Teaching Social Work Practice

Part I of this course will focus on balancing process and content in teaching. Process is considered with respect to classroom dynamics, class culture and instructor skills using an organismic model in which the class has a life of its own and is capable of growth and development. This will be the process element of the course. The content elements include underlying theories, research, practice wisdom, etc. that we need to communicate to our students. This course on teaching practice should be helpful in thinking about issues that are central to effective teaching regardless of the practice models you present to your students.

Part II of the course focuses on the critical elements of teaching social work practice. It presents teaching as a scholarly endeavor that integrates and synthesizes knowledge, skills, values, creativity, and reflection in the planning and transmission of professional comportment, content, and processes in social work education. While the primary focus is on practice courses, the material covered can be used to prepare students for teaching in other curricular areas.

SWRK 9050: Family Based Interventions

This course reviews contemporary theories of couples and family therapy within a historical perspective. Approaches reviewed include systemic, structural, CBT, experiential, attachment-based, narrative, and psycho-educational models. Case studies, films, and critical discussions will be used to deepen students understanding of different models. The course will also include an understanding of economic constraints, cultural differences, sexual orientation, and larger systemic influences.

SWRK 9110: Social Construction and Social Work Practice: Transforming Dialogues

This course will focus on the application of a social constructionist orientation to social work practice with an emphasis on its transforming potential. A primary objective of this course is to encourage you to reflect on and critically analyze traditional and contemporary issues germane to social work by using social constructionist ideas to explore how assumptions and dominant understandings of these issues are connected to policies and practices and the possibilities for transformative change.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Trauma Theory and Interventions for Individuals and Organizations

The majority of clients who present to a wide variety of social services have been exposed to adversity and trauma, often beginning in childhood. As a result, the current standard of care requires that human service delivery systems of all kinds need to be “trauma-informed”. This course will explore what that actually means, since administering “trauma-specific treatment” alone is not sufficient to encompass the complexity of the multigenerational, widespread problems that confront us in the world around us. Based on an understanding that our organizations are living systems, students will draw parallels between the individual experience of trauma and the organizational aspects of trauma and loss. Using these parallel processes as a basis students will explore a trauma- informed, parallel process of organizational recovery called the “Sanctuary Model.”

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: The Neurophysiology of Trauma

This course is designed to introduce a perspective for understanding the effects of early life traumatic experience on brain development. Drawn from The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and trauma theory, the material will cover basic brain anatomy and physiology, neurodevelopmental processes, and the human stress response. Understanding how adaptive mechanisms function in response to adverse experiences provides a framework for decoding maladaptive or “symptomatic” behavior throughout the lifespan. The overarching goal of this work is to advance the pursuit of enlightened and effective treatment of children, adults and families whose lives are marked by trauma. Students will work through one or more cases using this biologically informed and developmentally sensitive approach to clinical assessment and problem solving.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Substance Use Interventions

This course is designed to provide the student an overview of prevailing treatment modalities in substance abuse, current debates in the field and the topography of the treatment system in the U.S. This course is rooted in experiential, interactional and critical thinking pedagogy. Upon completion of the course, students will demonstrate an understanding of best practices in the field and be able to critically analyze substance abuse treatment processes.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Introduction to Sex Therapy

This course offers an overview of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment models for addressing various sexual dysfunctions. Male and female sexual dysfunction in diverse population will be addressed. Students will receive the basics of the use of the systemic sex therapy in assessing and treating sexual dysfunctions. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment interventions will be explored using class lecture, discussions, videotape presentations and role plays.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Clinical Practice with Adolescents and Young Adults

Working with adolescents and young adults can be extremely rewarding. In fact, many clinicians who have dedicated their careers to working with adults often report a desire to seek additional training to work with youth, as they see great opportunity for intervention in young people that can change the trajectory of their psychological growth and outcomes. However, working with this population presents many challenges, including managing practical issues, such as scheduling, and working with parents and other caregivers. Clinical interviewing also differs from work with adults. This course focuses on addressing those clinical challenges. Specifically, we will focus on working with suicidal youth, examining professional boundaries, and exploring family therapy theories and models.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Ethics in Mental Health Care

Mental health care—which includes but is not limited to psychiatry, psychology, and clinical social work—is an especially ethically fraught subdiscipline of the larger medical enterprise. Issues range from garden-variety problems related to informed consent, patient capacity, and clinical professionalism to novel issues related to involuntary treatment, research on mentally ill persons, questions about free will and diagnostic categories. In this short course, we will examine philosophical and ethical issues in behavioral health care related to psychiatric nosology, capacity & coercion, and long-term care.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Trauma-informed Supervision

Supervision is foundational to social work practice. Indeed, it is the primary source of education and support in the profession’s practice as well as during the pursuit of the MSW degree. While the profession holds up supervision as an essential component of ethical and effective practice there is little provided by way of training or education in social work practice. This course will explore the structure, practice, and barriers to providing supervision in an agency/organizational setting. The course material explores the changing context of supervision in the social work field, explores supervision as a means to teaching clinical material, supporting supervisees impacted by organizational dynamics/challenges, and provides strategies for managing compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and burnout in the context of social work practice.

SWRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Leadership for Change

This course is designed to assist students in developing a personal philosophy and approach to leadership. The course will introduce historical and current theories on leadership, reflect on the various contexts in which leadership skills are exercised, and consider leadership practices in multicultural environments.

SRK 9200: DSW Elective Topics: Psychopharmacology

In this course, we will review the basic tenants of psychopharmacology. While the subject area is too vast to fully explain in this brief review, the basics will be presented. Students will be expected to bring questions or case examples to the course each week. Cases should be presented with only clinical details, and any identifying information about the patients or their lives should be omitted to ensure privacy. The focus on case studies as examples will be key to understanding the clinical applications of the various medications we will discuss.

SRK 9900: Dissertation