Course Descriptions - Undergraduate Calendar 2022-2023

This course provides an overview of the social work profession as part of the social welfare system in Canada, emphasizing Indigenous and Eurocentric histories, worldviews, values, ethics, and practice approaches, including individual, family, community, and structural settings.

A presentation of some of the theoretical constructs necessary for the understanding of the individual in the casework relationship, as well as an introduction to some appropriate casework interventions. Emphasis in the course will be theoretical.

Presentation of some of the theoretical constructs necessary for an understanding of social group work as well as an introduction to methodology and interventions.

An examination of social work practice as it relates to functional and geographical communities. The course will explore the theoretical foundations of organization practice as well as a variety of models.

A sociological analysis of poverty in contemporary Canada as it underlies a multiplicity of interlocking social problems.

This introductory level statistics course will emphasize the collection, manipulation, descriptive presentation, and statistical analysis of social research data.

Introduction to the philosophy and methodology of applied social science research, including treatment of the problems and strategies of research design and execution.

This course will introduce students to the concept of social welfare as it has evolved in the post-industrial era. It will examine various social, economic and political factors that have shaped Canadian social welfare policy and it will consider present-day factors that are transforming that policy.

This course explores the meaning of diversity in contemporary Canadian society through social work and social justice perspectives. Students will critically analyze the ideas of "self" and "others" across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. Concepts of power, privilege, oppression, discrimination, stereotypes, prejudice, multidimensionality, and intersectionality will be explored.

Framed within the Truth and Reconciliation process underway in Canada, this course examines the historical and ongoing colonial processes and impacts of government policies targeting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Particular analysis will be given to government policy as a cause of (and response to) social, political, and economic problems experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.

This course provides students with a basic overview of homelessness in modern society. Its goal is to familiarize students with the human, social, political and economic aspects of homelessness. Throughout, the emphasis will be on understanding homelessness from a public policy framework - its incidence and prevalence, etiology, consequences, and strategies for its prevention and amelioration.

Presentation of some of the theoretical constructs necessary for an understanding of the family in the social work relationship as well as an introduction to methodology and interventions.

This course examines the hidden causes of inequality and associated social injustices. It provides a snapshot of main issues associated with modern society and the evidence that ties them to persistent inequality and injustice. The course reviews not only the major types of inequality but also social and public policy responses to them.

This course focuses on human psychology (behaviours, cognition, emotion, motivation, and personality) across cultures, with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of human commonality and diversity. It examines theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues in cross-cultural psychology in light of the current literature.

This integrative practice course examines the impact of policy, service delivery and large and small systems on Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Long-standing policies of assimilation and colonization are considered from a political, economic, and social perspective. With a critical eye towards matters of discrimination and oppression, specific attention is given to the culturally-specific skills and approaches particular to traditional and current helping with Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.

This social work methods course explores the theory and skills of generalist social work practice, with particular attention to interviewing, communication, and assessment skills used with individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Emphasis is placed on developing capacity for "critical reflection" on the social work practitioner's professional and personal self.

The course examines and compares the strengths, limitations, differential uses, and interconnections of the range of skills needed for community organization, social planning, and social policy practice. Practical applications such as conference planning, proposal writing and fund raising will be explored.

The aim of this course is to develop student's knowledge of different approaches to social group work practice, and the ways in which specialized knowledge of client's life conditions, life circumstances, and significant life events informs social work practice with groups within a generalist framework. Emphasis is placed upon conceptualizing and analyzing group work skill and the capacity for self-directed practice with groups directed towards increasing the resiliency of the group as a whole and the resiliency of individual group members. A salient goal is the use of democratic means so that group process in all social work groups reflects a vision of social justice.

This social work course focuses on issues of diversity and social injustice, with emphasis on culturally sensitive and anti-oppressive practice. It is based on generalist and empowerment perspectives in responding to needs and facilitating changes at appropriate system levels.

This course examines contemporary fields of practice. Attention is given to historical developments, service delivery systems, and practices. Research activities help develop a critical understanding of how social experience impacts the ways that people with diverse experiences access and encounter some of the major fields of practice.

This course focuses on analysis and application of selected theories and practice methods within a generalist-eclectic approach to social work practice with numerous populations in a variety of settings.

This first practicum phase helps students understand the general structure and functioning of the helping network and the place of agency-based community settings in it. Simultaneously, the students begin to integrate interviewing and assessment skills to formulate an intervention plan with sensitivity to the diversity of the setting. A bi-weekly seminar runs concurrently with the practicum.

The second practicum phase develops students' intervention skills. Opportunity is given to enhance social work practice skills specific to particular client populations within the context of diversity, and to develop awareness of one's professional self in relation to social work practice within the agency context. A bi-weekly seminar runs concurrently with the practicum.

The third practicum phase helps students demonstrate understanding of, and ability to use, a range of interventions within the context of diversity. Professional identification and the integration of theory with practice are emphasized. A bi-weekly seminar runs concurrently with the practicum.

This course will focus on social work practice in the fields of mental health and addictions providing social work students with knowledge concerning the etiology and intervention issues related to mental health and addictions. A life-span perspective will allow an integration of practice, policy and research in relation to mental health, addictions, substance use and concurrent disorders. The continuum of services, including community-based and institutional care perspectives will be presented, along with "best practice" models for the future.

Focusing on social work practice, policy and research, the course examines issues of aging such as health, economic changes, role transition, family dynamics and losses. The course also looks at implications of societal issues and the influence of recent Canadian research in the field of aging. Current innovative and traditional programs will be examined for their relevance for future work with populations of older adults.

This course provides a framework for understanding a developing country through a comparative study with Canada. The collective responses of citizens in meeting community needs in the context of colonial legacies and contemporary global influences are highlighted in both settings. The international learning experience usually takes place during Reading Week and is complemented by three days of pre-trip learning focusing on Canadian realities and one post-trip day to reflect upon the comparative analysis.