Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: None
This course introduces public welfare policy through lecture, discussion of the purposes of public welfare, and describes the most important programs created by those policies. It introduces students to the underlying values, assumptions and philosophical perspectives as well as the social, economic and political factors that have influenced the development of America’s social welfare system, including its goals, policies and programs.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: None
This course examines the phenomena of power, privilege and oppression and their effect on individuals, families and communities in the context of the values of social and economic justice and the social work profession. The course is intended to increase awareness of the intersectionality of multiple oppressions with a focus on race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation. Students will gain a beginning awareness of the influence of personal biases and values that impact practice with diverse groups.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: None
This course is designed for students who’ve previously earned an undergraduate social work degree from a CSWE accredited institution and been admitted to the Advanced Standing MSW Track. Since students will have foundational knowledge in social justice/human rights, and a beginning awareness of the influence of personal biases and values that impact practice with diverse groups, content is presented in an accelerated format. The course examines the phenomena of power, privilege and oppression using a framework of intersectionality with a focus on race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: None
This course provides students with an opportunity to integrate foundation, theory, and practice course material into experiential learning under the supervision of a trained and experienced professional in a social work field.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: None
This course provides students with an opportunity to integrate foundation, theory, and practice course material into experiential learning under the supervision of a trained and experienced professional in a social work field. This will be a continuation of the field placement and integrated seminar from SW 581.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor
The content of the course does not duplicate existing course content and provides the department with a mechanism for presenting unique and timely topics. Specific topics are announced via departmental and university publications.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: All 500-level foundational SW courses (SW 519, SW 529, SW 549, and SW 569 OR SW 511, SW 512, SW 521, SW 541, SW 551, SW 561, SW 581 and SW 582)
This course is the first part of a two-course specialization for MSW students who have an interest in pursuing a social work career in child welfare, or the system of domestic policies, programs and procedures intended to protect children in our country from abuse and neglect. Students will become familiar with the regulatory policies that inform child welfare practice in the United States and a variety of child welfare practice models.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 605
This course is the second part of a two-course specialization for MSW students who have an interest in pursuing a social work career in child welfare, or the system of domestic policies, programs and procedures intended to protect children in our country from abuse and neglect. Students will become familiar with the regulatory policies that inform child welfare practice in the United States and a variety of child welfare practice models.
- Offered: Fall
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 511 and SW 512, or SW 519
This course focuses on knowledge and skills necessary for clinical social work practice in therapeutic settings with individual clients across the lifespan. The course draws from applicable theoretical bases and builds on foundational skills addressed in SW 511 or SW 519. This course will address engagement through termination with individual clients, emphasizing comprehensive clinical assessments and treatment interventions. Students will be exposed to practice with several treatment models grounded in current research with diverse populations in varied contexts.
- Offered: Winter
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 611
This course focuses on knowledge and skills necessary for clinical social work practice in mezzo level therapeutic settings, emphasizing work with families and groups. The course draws from applicable theoretical bases and builds on foundational skills addressed in SW 511 and SW 512 (or SW 519) as well as clinical skills introduced in SW 611. This course will address engagement through termination with family systems, emphasizing treatment methodology based in family-focused theory and research. Additionally, the course will focus on clinical treatment with groups, exposing students to current evidence-based and best practice models for group intervention.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 511 and SW 512 OR SW 519
This course explores major forms of emotional distress in adults, children, and youth, including classification trends, issues, and models. The course introduces clinical syndromes in terms of diagnostic methodology, research and social concerns and their implications for at risk groups.
- Offered: Fall
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 521 and SW 551 OR SW 529
This course is designed for Advanced Generalist (AG) concentration students in the final year of their MSW program. Students will build on their knowledge of policy, planning, and administration to assess the social problems facing groups, organizations and communities. Students will valuate these social issues to create policy and program development solutions designed to address those needs and alleviate the social problem.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 521 and SW 551 OR SW 529
This course is designed for Advanced Generalist (AG) concentration students in the second year of their MSW program. Students will build on their prior knowledge of macro social work practice to develop specialized knowledge and skill in community organizing. This course will provide students the opportunity to apply and evaluate community organizing techniques for achieving social change.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 541 or SW 549
This course is designed for students who are pursuing the clinical concentration track in the second year of the MSW program. The course builds on their prior knowledge of social work research methods for the generalist practitioner, and provides more in-depth content in single-case and case-study research design methods. Students will draw on their work with clients in a clinical field placement setting to design and implement a research project for the purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of their clinical social work practice.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 581 and SW 582
This course continues to provide students with an opportunity to integrate foundation, theory, and practice course material into experiential learning under the supervision of a trained and experienced professional in of social work. This will be the first of two courses that focus on the students’ field placement in the selected area of specialization in the MSW program. In conjunction with approximately 250 hours in a social service agency, students will also be involved in 15 hours of seminar which will be held regularly throughout each semester of the students’ field placement.
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: SW 681
This course serves as a capstone experience designed to evaluate the student’s performance of established social work professional competencies. This course is the final semester of experiential learning through field placement in a social service agency. In conjunction with approximately 250 hours in a social service agency, students will also be involved in 15 hours of seminar which will be held regularly throughout each semester of the students’ field placement. Specific learning activities in field placement will correspond with the student’s concentration (Clinical or PPA).
- Offered: Winter On demand
- Graded: S/U
- Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and department head
Practical, applied experience involving placement in a job situation.
- Offered: On demand
- Graded: S/U
Projects in the areas of theatre carried on under the supervision of a faculty member, leading to the development of the professional portfolio in the student's area of specialization.
- Offered: On demand
- Graded: A/F
Study of a particular topic or problem in an area of theatre.
- Offered: On demand
- Graded: A/F
- Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and department head
Independent study under the supervision of a member of the department. Supervisor and study must be selected prior to enrollment in the course and appropriate directed study forms must be completed. The content of the course must not duplicate existing course content.
- Offered: On demand
- Graded: A/F
The student develops a thesis with the help of a thesis committee. Appropriate thesis forms must be completed prior to enrollment. The thesis must be approved by the thesis committee and the College of Graduate Studies. The student should consult the department and the College of Graduate Studies for specific requirements.