Equity, Justice, and Inclusion

The course provides a critical perspective on current issues and problems in American racism, sexism, heterosexism, ablism, and ageism. These issues and problems are studied in the context of the dynamics of social process, historical and anthropological perspectives, and theories of prejudice and social change. Social work's responsibility to contribute to solutions is emphasized. Different models for examining the issues of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, and ability are presented.

This advanced skills course will build on the foundation of the first year diversity course. Anticipated outcomes will be to give MSW student’s meaningful skill sets in facilitating difficult dialogue, identifying and managing conflict, analyzing and assessing team dynamics, and coaching diverse teams to success. This course is open to both macro and clinical students.

Organizational justice is the idea that justice not only should govern the behavior of individuals, but also nonprofit and for-profit work environments. This justice is complex and must take into account diversity and its myriad interactions in the workplace. This course is designed to allow students space to explore both the tensions of race, class, and gender inequities in the context of creativity and change management. This course will also review how health and well-being play a role in employee productivity and organizational effectiveness.

An overview of the prominent theories, major issues, and controversies on immigration policy is presented. While immigration has become a crucial concern of the American social welfare system as well as an issue of global urgency, immigration controls the fate of a growing numbers of asylum seekers. The course will discuss the special needs and problems faced by immigrant and refugee clients and communities; the process of adaptation and coping with a new culture; refugee experiences; the impact of relocation on individuals, families, and communities; and a range of world view perspectives including acculturation & assimilation, biculturalism, marginality, and traditional ethnic identities.

In this advanced seminar, students will learn how different groups of Latinx in the United States understand what social benefits they are entitled to, how they experience the process of working with services providers, and how this process contributes to their empowerment and their incorporation in society (or lack thereof). Students will learn about best interventions and will acquire practical skills to provide services to different groups of Latinx and their families in the United States.

This course blends macro and clinical practice in order to service LGBTQ people most effectively. Students will learn about policies, laws, and societal narratives that impact LGBTQ people in both positive and negative ways. The course focuses on the integration of macro and clinical issues and best practice that respects all people regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation. Particular attention will be placed on developmental models of gender identity and sexual orientation.