SOWK 404: Current Issues in Social Welfare
Course Syllabus
I. Purpose / Rationale of the Course
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge about human choice and behavior in the social environment that helps people “succeed against the odds,” experience health, flourish, and realize their full potential. There are many approaches (i.e. the strengths perspective and positive psychology) that place an emphasis “rising to life challenges” and “living a life well-lived.” Studying positive processes and outcomes is necessary for learning effective social work practice. Students will acquire an understanding of the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that influence individual potential during the life cycle.
II. Course Content
Love, Winning, Resilience, & Potential will e the social welfare issues studied. Specifically, love and winning will be the prisms through which the processes involved in human resilience and growth potential will be explored. An appreciation for the diverse ways in which individuals, groups, and communities define, value, and practice love and winning to underwrite resilience and realize potential will be encouraged. The course will review and critique theories of resilience and realizing the potential including those that focus on strengths of people of color, women, gay men, lesbians, people living in poverty, persons with disabilities, and older adults.
III. Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Evaluate and critically analyze human choices and behavior in the social environment that help people “succeed against the odds,” experience health, flourish, and realize their fullest potential;
- Assess the challenges of social and economic injustice for various populations at risk, such as people of color, women, gays and lesbians, people with disabilities, and older adults;
- Demonstrate through classroom interaction and/or assignments values that affirm the diversity, strength ,l dignity, and worth of all individuals and their bio-psycho-socio-spiritual development;
- Assess choices people make and their related behaviors in helping people love and win in their effort to underwrite resilience and realize their full human potential.
IV. Methods Of Instruction
V. Text Book Previously Used:
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