Social Work

Participants are introduced to Self of Therapist methodology and techniques, identification of significant Self of Therapist themes and awareness practice. Scheduled fall semesters.

A continuation of the Self of Therapist training from MFT 505. Theory, tracking relational processes, awareness of social context and therapist's use of self as an instrument of change will be developed. Scheduled spring semesters.

This course will forcus on the policies and procedures of the SCSU Family Clinic, including working with courts, ancillary professionals and agencies, report writing and introductions to the therapeutic programs the Family Clinic offers clients.

The student is expected to see individuals in therapy, conduct supervised visits, lead anger management groups, and act as a co-therapist in couples and family therapy at the department's Marital and Family Therapy Clinic. In addition, the student may begin an outside placement for a limited number of hours. A supervision group at the university affords the student the opportunity to watch live therapy from behind the viewing mirror and to be a part of the group supervision of these cases. Scheduled spring and summer semesters.

An in-depth study of the family life cycle including adult development, the impact of specific factors such as adoption, homosexuality, and bi-raciality at different junctures of the family life cycle; and the multifaceted, interactive nature of systemic, psychological and biological stressors associated with the transitions from stage to stage in family development.

Survey of research methods particular to family therapy. Highlights findings from family therapy outcome research. Students are expected to participate in a class research project and to complete a single case experiment. Scheduled spring semesters.

An intensive study of each student’s trans-generational family of origin. Patterns and themes are studied as systemic links between past and present interactional processes. Scheduled fall semester.

History and overview of general systems theory, followed by an exploration of various systematic approaches to family therapy. Scheduled fall semester.

Identification and investigation of a problem relevant to the field of marriage and family therapy; preparation and presentation of a scholarly document summarizing the study or research. Scheduled irregularly.

Experiential techniques, methodology and theory for working with groups, couples and families. Didactic small group work as therapist, client and observer.

Experiential techniques, methodology and theory for working with groups, couples and families. Didactic small group work as therapist, client and observer.

Students apply systemically based diagnostic skills to mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders within the delivery of family therapy services. Students incorporate the DSM and elementary knowledge of psychopharmacology into case management and clinical practice.

Designed to present couples therapy from a multi-systemic view with particular emphasis on practical application and skill acquisition. Current research including client perceptions of ‘what works’, study and demonstrations of therapy, and case study will make up the matrix of study.

Explores ideas and experiences and is designed to prepare the student to function as a professional therapist. Knowledge of and the ability to deal with major issues of the profession is one aspect of this. Legal and ethical knowledge and conduct are other hallmarks of a true professional. We will consider these topics in general and in the context of Connecticut state law. Scheduled fall semesters.

An overview of major current topics such as eating disorders, violence, incest, and grief and loss, including treatment interventions in each instance. Scheduled spring semesters.

Students work with couples and families both in an agency setting and at the Family Therapy Clinic while attending weekly supervision seminars. A total of 500 hours must be completed with a minimum of 300 of these hours being with couples and families present in the treatment room. Fifty of these hours must be accrued at the Family Therapy Clinic under direct, live supervision. Students receive individual and group supervision with a minimum of 50 hours of direct, live supervision. Scheduled fall, spring, and summer semesters.

The seminar provides an opportunity for full or part time supervised MFT internship students working in off-site field settings to meet together weekly to intergrate field experiences, participate in case consultation and discuss topics of professional interest while striving to complete the 500 hours of clinical work required for graduation.

An advanced course focusing on an investigation of specific brief evidence based and post-modern theories and methods. Content and practice includes brief therapies, the reflecting team, the use of strategic assignments, solution focused therapy and in-home therapy. Scheduled spring semester.

An overview of the history, theoretical foundations, and implementation of several evidence-based in-home family treatment models. Didactic presentations and discussions in class will be supplemented by case presentations from practitioners, and by testimonials from families who have received in-home services.

Family Systems view of the development and maintenance of substance abusing patterns and addiction. This course will focus on theories and treatment practices for the systemic, postmodern and evidence-based approaches to couples and family therapy.

Applications of systems approach to treatment of families in crisis and transition. Consideration of the role of spirituality and religion in understanding family dynamics. developing solutions to problems, and building on strengths and resilience.

A graduate level methods course which focuses on: sexuality, sexual relationships, sexual health and wellness, and sexual difficulties which are explored from a psychological, physiological, socio-cultural, family life cycle and family systems perspective. Lecture, media presentation, clinical case analysis, sexual value’s exploration, and student reflections will be utilized to engage various learning styles.

Philosophical, historical, analytical framework from which to view the practice of social work and human service programs in the context of the U.S. social welfare system. Scheduled fall and spring semesters. Open to non-matriculated students.

Analysis of social welfare policy as a social work intervention for addressing social problems and as a mechanism for social change. Particular attention is paid to socio-political context and the social effectiveness of policy and services.

The child’s rights, the child and the family, the child and the court, neglect and abuse, advocacy, foster care, and adoption are explored. Scheduled fall and spring semesters.

Numerous theoretical frameworks, advanced practice analysis, the impact of cultural, economic, political, and social factors on policy development and service systems for elders are explored. Scheduled fall semesters.

Historical overview of mental health and substance abuse policy from colonial times to the present with cross-cultural comparisons to other societies. Current policies are stressed. Scheduled in spring and fall semesters.

Provides the theoretical knowledge and practice orientation to alcoholism and substance abuse required for students to effectively provide social work interventions to alcoholic and substance abusing individuals and families. Scheduled fall semester.

This course provides an overview of attachment, neurobiology, play therapy and other developmental milestones and tasks related to infant/child processes and related caregiver issues.

The challenges and opportunities of social work practice in educational settings are examined with particular focus on non-academic barriers to educational achievement with middle to high school age children. School internship or work experience in schools required.

A re-conceptualization of problems, objectives, helping processes, service arrangements, worker and client roles based on the common factors model of social work practice. Scheduled fall semesters.

Generic method applied to groups as client, action or target systems, and professional teams. Models of intervention, skills, strategies, program and tasks.

Analytical and transactional skills necessary for social work intervention with communities and organizations. Scheduled fall and spring semesters.

Components of effective social work supervision: administrative, educational, and supportive; skill development, assessing performance, planning in-service programs, accountability technologies, and managing socio-political relationships.

This course provides an overview of current aspects of practice with older youth and young adults including identity development, emerging adulthood, health and behavior and harm reduction.

Knowledge, skills, and methods needed to demonstrate effective clinical practice with older adults.

This course provides an overview of current and emerging evidenced-based theories of clinical practice for use with clients from childhood through adulthood.

This course provides an overview of merging practice and evidence-informed practice modalities for working with families. Emphasis will be given to special needs of vulnerable populations, diverse ethnic groups, prevention and empowerment.

Provides an overview of later life families (60 years or older) using social and psychological perspectives for understanding adaptive and non-adaptive changes to family restructuring to late life developmental changes for the purposes of social work family interventions.

Development of human behavior throughout the life cycle in various environments will be explored. The ecological, dual, conflict, psychodynamics and developmental perspectives will be emphasized. Open to non-matriculated students.

Provides students with a theoretical understanding of culture, ethnicity, oppression, gender and race that informs clinical assessment and intervention. Focus is on the psychosocial dimensions of disempowerment and social work practice building on client strengths.

Identify and understand etiology, symptoms and course of psychiatric disorders. Impact of bio-psychosocial variables, genetic factors, and human diversity on onset and course of psychopathology will be studied.

Examination of the role that the social environment plays in the formation or gender and sexual identities, and the lifespan experiences and issues that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQIA+) individuals, families and communities, and the implications for social work practice. We will explore how gender and sexuality relate to other categories of social identity and difference, such as race and ethnicity, economic and social standing, class and disability and recognize intersectionality of gender and other identities and the ways in which this impacts marginalization.

Principles and practices requiring specialized knowledge and skills to work with persons and families with severe and prolonged mental illness and/or substance use problems. An emphasis on cognitive behavioral approaches is stressed.

Explores innovative community care approaches as well as emerging trends for working with persons with severe and prolonged mental disorder and substance abuse/addictions in the field of community mental health. Emphasizes social work intervention using psychosocial rehabilitation approaches for individuals and families seeking services from public mental health agencies, emphasizing evidence-based best practices, and client-centered, recovery-oriented approaches.

Principles and applications of scientific research methods will be presented. Students develop a model of a social work practice research study as a final assignment.

A supervised field practicum in the specialization concurrent with weekly seminar. The field practicum provides opportunity to develop professional practice competency and to produce a research proposal in the specialization. Scheduled fall semesters.

Different types of crisis situations experienced by individuals, families, and groups. Emphasis on the assessment of developmental and situational crises. Effective social work intervention strategies to use within person-in-environment perspective with at risk groups.

Identification of the addictive behaviors across the life-span. Emphasis on effective social work strategies with addicted individuals and their families within the person in environment perspective.

Knowledge of sexual development, patterns of sexual response and the psychobiological tenets of love and skill acquisition for working with clients who experience sexual disorders, problems, worries and forcible sexual behavior.

The supervised field practicum provides opportunities for the student to apply conceptual material to practice situations and to develop professional practice competency. Weekly seminar required which focuses on micro-counseling skills and intervention models. Scheduled fall semesters. Course taken as pass/fail only.

Supervised field practicum and weekly seminar is a continuation of SWK 570. The seminar focuses on developing professional assessment skills and procedures employed in various settings. Course taken as pass/fail only.

A supervised field practicum in the specialization concurrent with weekly seminar. The field practicum provides opportunity to develop professional practice competency and to produce a research proposal in the specialization. Scheduled fall semesters. Course taken for pass/fail only.

A supervised field practicum in the specialization concurrent with weekly seminar. The field practicum provides opportunity to develop professional practice competence and to submit an acceptable research project in the specialization. Scheduled spring semesters. Course taken as pass/fail only.

Special Topics in Social Work (Topics vary.)

Study of an area of social work practice under the direction of a faculty member and with the consent of the chairperson of the department.

An overview of quanitative and qualitative methods in Social Work research emphasizing translational research, whcih seeks to apply research findings directly to social work practice. Ethical considerations in planning and conducting research are examined.

This course prepares students to conduct social work and program evaluation and to understand the logic, major strategies, techniques and ethics for conducting evaluation research in social work settings.

Examination of the historical and philosophical development of social policy, focusing on significant issues in the field of social work. Analysis of primary source documents for continuity and change in dominant policy issues over time.

Examination of theories and practices of supervision, including legal, ethical, and multicultural issues and an analysis of supervisory styles based on agency setting and supervisee development needs.

Examination of the primary paradigms and epistemologies used in social work. Analysis of the ways paradigms, epistemologies, and heuristics frame and inform research and practice, from social structure to the nature of growth and change.

Provides the theoretical underpinnings of social work education, address common dilemmas, expose students to curriculum design, and help students identify their unique style and philosophy of teaching.

One semester course seminar comprised of a 180-hour externship chosen by the doctoral students to advance their career goals in administration, university teaching, or advanced clinical practice. Course taken as pass/fail only.

One semester course seminar comprised of a 180-hour externship chosen by the doctoral students to advance their career goals in administration, university teaching, or advanced clinical practice. Course taken as pass/fail only.

The Capstone Project will involve students translating the theoretical and empirically supported evidence-based practices into a working document, a "white paper", that informs their practice or a proposal for a peer-reviewed manuscript submission. Students must repeat course one time for credit to meet program requirements. Course taken as pass/fail only.

The Capstone Project is the completion of the SWK 809 course proposal. Students will produce a final paper and orally defend paper. Students must repeat course one time for credit to meet program requirements. Course taken as pass/fail only.

Examination of emerging practices models and translational research in clinical social work practice. Practice utilizing heuristics to address critical issues and ethical dilemmas in existing practice models and programs.

Examination of the use of the therapeutic relationships in clinical social work practice to produce positive outcomes. Assessment and negotiation of complex challenges within the therapeutic relationship will be explored.

The focus of this course is on developing advanced-level social work practice skills and methods for working with clients and their families who face mental health and substance use (MH/SU) issues.

Examines the biological, physiological, and neurological processes underlying emotions, memory, and neurochemistry and its impact upon couple and family functioning and the application of neuroscience interventions for helping them to enhance their interpersonal relationships.

Examination of leadership and management theory and practices including effective leadership styles, ethical and moral leadership, performance improvement, creating a positive organizational culture and promoting an organization through marketing and creating outcome measures to demonstrate best practices.

An overview of technical skills required by social work administrators including effective oral and written communication, strategic planning, budgeting, management information systems and grant writing.