Educating students through developing their knowledge and critical thinking skills, as well as emphasizing a social justice perspective.

Seminar in Advanced Social Policy Analysis 
Examines diverse models of social policy analysis used in the policy process.  Emphasizes the use of diverse policy analysis tools to understand and critique social policy. Topic areas are determined by the professor teaching the course. CAPP (Macro) majors must choose this course or Advanced Community Organization as their required elective. Advanced second-year elective for direct service majors.

Social Welfare Policy & Services I (Policy I)
Provides the history, mission, philosophy, and evolution of social welfare policies and services that form the foundation of social welfare, specifically in relation to poverty, racism, and the needs of oppressed and marginalized populations from both a strengths and Black perspective using social policy frameworks and social work values and ethics. Examines African American and other social welfare pioneer exemplars, their efforts to influence and change social welfare policy and services, and their influence on contemporary programs and services in select Fields of Practice.

Social Welfare Policy & Services II (Policy II)
Builds on content in Policy I by promoting understanding of and competence in application of policy frameworks for analysis, formulation, advocacy, use of policy research through assessing context, intent, process and the impact of organizational, executive, legislative, and judicial decisions to advanced social and economic justice. Examines use of diverse strategies to create planned change in organizations and larger social systems for direct, community, administration and policy practice.

Criminal Justice I
Focuses on the cyclical nature of criminal justice policies, elements of the systems, key legal decisions, and the meaning of this system for blacks and other minorities and persons of color and the role of social workers in the field of criminal justice. Emphasis is placed on understanding the theoretical basis of crime and crime causation.  One of six field of practice specialization options, and may be taken as an advanced elective.

Field Education III - Integrative Seminar
(Advanced course) Third of four required field Education courses in regular sixty (60) hour degree program. Second of three required courses in advanced standing program.  Focuses on integration of advanced knowledge and practice skills in chosen Practice Method concentration and Field of practice specialization.  Requires completion of 272 clock hours, including 260 hours in assigned Field Education agency setting, and 12 hours in scheduled Field Education integrative seminars.  Concurrent enrollment in Practice Methods III course and Field of Practice I course required.

Field Education IV - Integrative Seminar
(Advanced course) Fourth of four required Field Education courses in regular sixty (60) hour degree program.  Third of three required courses in Advanced Standing program.  Focuses on integration of advanced knowledge and practice skills in chosen Practice Method concentration and Field of practice specialization.  Requires 272 clock hours, including 260 hours in assigned Field Education agency setting, and 12 hours in scheduled Field Education integrative seminars.  Concurrent enrollment in Practice Methods IV course and Field of Practice II course required.

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Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations (BASW Course)
‍This course is the third in a series of methods courses that deals with the generalist social work practice and focuses on communities and organizations.  This course utilizes an ecological systems framework and an empowerment practice model in discussion of social work generalist practice within the macro context.  Students examine neighborhood and community conditions that affect outcomes for populations at risk. Students also examine the role of social service agencies within urban communities, including relationships with other neighborhood institutions and organizations. Students define concepts of community and organization as they develop community organizing and organizational leadership skills that are culturally sensitive and based in social work values.

Foundations of the Welfare State (BASW Course)
This course is designed to introduce social work students to the historical antecedents of social welfare. We will trace the development of social welfare policy within the context of the social and political economy of the period. We will also describe the evolution of social work as it emerged into a nascent profession. We will examine the underlying assumptions and values which have shaped social welfare policies and programs.  The course concludes with the Social Security Act.