Brown School

BSDC 8000 Introduction to Advanced Research

This course provides an introduction to the basic and central concepts in social scientific research. It also addresses the skills needed to conceptualize and plan a research project. The research process is presented as a means to scientifically and systematically advance social work and social science knowledge. This course also examines some of the current issues concerning scientific research. Students prepare a framework for a critical review of research in a selected area and prepare a full research proposal, suitable for submission to external funders.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8001 Conceptual Foundations of Social Science Research

This is an introduction to the conceptual and philosophical foundations of social science research. Through readings and in-class exercises, students will explore a diversity of topics integral to doctoral level scholarship, including reliability and validity, causal inference, research epistemology, the nature of social phenomena, the role of agency, rationality and its consequences, and other assumptions inherent in the conceptualization of, and study of, social phenomena.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8002 Seminar in Social Work Theory and Knowledge

Properties of theories, other knowledge formulations, and strategies for knowledge development are considered in relation to their role in informing accountable practice and generating practice-relevant research. These same criteria are used in review of epistemological and methodological debates in our profession. Relationships between formal properties of knowledge statements, practice-relevant research, accountability criteria, and utilization of knowledge in practice will be explored.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8003 Foundations of Data Analysis

This course provides some of the mathematical and conceptual tools essential to data analysis in social science research. A wide range of statistics are covered. The focus of the course is principally upon the development of arithmetic and conceptual tools needed for advanced work in research design, model development, model fitting and estimation, hypothesis testing, and interpretation of data. The course revolves around the systematic establishment of scientifically meaningful comparisons and relationships. The course will evolve from simple bivariate to more complete multivariate forms of data analysis. Basic principles are illustrated through exercises.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8004 Foundations of Data Management

This course focuses on the practical skills of data management that the PhD student will need to complete their dissertation and early career research. The course will cover techniques in importing data from commonly used platforms into statistical packages, data manipulation, variable creation, and documentation. This didactic course includes syntax-based learning and the analysis of case study examples of actual data management challenges.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8005 Applied Linear Regression Analysis

This course is a seminar in multiple regression (MR) analysis. There is an emphasis on both conceptual and procedural aspects of MR. Conceptually, multiple regression is approached as a general model with extensive applications in social work research and knowledge building. The procedures of multiple regression are understood as extensions of simple regression and correlation. Statistical formulas for various facets of multiple regression are presented; examples from the literature are critiqued; and experience in working with multiple regression is gained through computer exercises.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 8006 Generalized Linear Models

Generalized linear models are a collection of statistical methods used to analyze categorical and limited dependent variables. In this course, students will learn fundamental concepts and skills to conduct generalized linear models, and know how to apply these techniques to social, behavioral, and health research. The course covers the following topics: the Nelder and Wedderburn framework of generalized linear models and the key concept of link function, maximum likelihood estimator, a review of logistic and probit models, multinomial logit model, ordered logistic regression, Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, quasi-likelihood functions, and model fit/validation. This course is designed to fulfill part of the core quantitative methods requirements for doctoral students at the Brown School. Prior enrollment in BSDC 8005 Applied Linear regression Analysis or a similar course is encouraged.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8008 Structural Equation Modeling

This course introduces the analysis of general structural equations. Topics include causal models and path analysis structural equation models with observed variables, confirmatory factory analysis, consequences of measurement error, the relation between latent and observed variables, and combined latent variable and measurement models. Linear Structural Relations (LISREL) software will be learned.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8009 Interpretive Methodology in Social Research

This course provides a doctoral-level introduction to interpretive methodology in social research. The course will begin with an introduction to social research that recognizes multiple epistemological and ontological perspectives on social inquiry and scientific methods. We will then situate the interpretive paradigm with respect to this philosophical landscape and consider the aims of social work, public health, and social justice-oriented research. The course will highlight dominant interpretive methodologies used to conceptualize, design, and carry out research using qualitative data and attention will also be given to mixed methods research design. Students will have opportunities to consider issues in the generation of interview-based and observation-based data, to learn how to use qualitative data analysis software, and to analyze qualitative data firsthand. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to seek out and critique interpretive-qualitative research in a substantive domain of their choice.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8010 Multilevel and Longitudinal Modeling

This course is an advanced statistics seminar intended for graduate students in social work, public health, health or social sciences. This course covers hierarchical linear modeling techniques that are used to build and test multilevel and longitudinal statistical models. This course will be of interest to anybody who wants to know how to analyze contextual, ecological, and longitudinal data. The course will review both the conceptual issues and methodological issues in using hierarchical linear modeling by working with several real public health and social science data sets. Topics include: fitting and testing two-level and three-level models; evaluating model fit; generalizing multilevel models to binary and other special data; building simple longitudinal models; advanced error covariance structures. Prior enrollment in a graduate level regression or general linear modeling class in strongly encouraged.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 8011 Propensity Score Analysis

Propensity score analysis is a relatively new and innovative class of statistical methods that has proven useful for evaluating the effects of treatments or interventions when using nonexperimental or observational data. This PhD course focuses on three closely related, but technically distinct propensity score methods: (1) Propensity score matching and related methods, including greedy matching, optimal matching, propensity score subclassification, and propensity score weighting using Stata psmatch2, pweights and R optmatch; (2) Matching estimators using Stata nnmatch; and (3) Propensity score analysis with nonparametric regression using Stata psmatch2 and lowess. The examination of these methods will be guided by two conceptual frameworks: the Neyman-Rubin counterfactual framework and the Heckman scientific model of causality. The course also covers Heckman's sample selection model and Rosenbaum's approaches of sensitivity analysis to discern bias produced by hidden selections. The course uses Stata software to demonstrate the implementation of propensity score analysis. PhD students enrolled should be familiar with descriptive and inferential statistics. Students not meeting this prerequisite should contact the instructor to determine their eligibility to enroll in this course.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8017 Mixed Methods Research: Foundations and Applications

Mixed methods research is becoming critically important for the fields of social work, public health, medicine, and behavioral health. This diverse methodology focuses on pragmatically conceptualizing, collecting, analyzing, and mixing quantitative and qualitative data and approaches in a single or series of studies (Creswell & Clark, 2007). The fundamental strength of mixed methods designs is that using and mixing quantitative and qualitative approaches can produce a better and more comprehensive understanding of the area of study than using a single method. Mixed methodologies are also suitable for capturing the multi-faceted and dynamic complexities of social phenomena and have the potential to advance the generation of knowledge and actions to find practical and sustainable solutions to real-world problems. This doctoral-level course introduces students to the fundamental elements, characteristics, debates, approaches and designs of mixed method research and its applications to real-world problems. In this course students will develop and apply skills to critically appraise the quality and rigor of mixed methods studies and write a mixed method grant proposal.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8018 Designing for Dissemination, Implementation & Sustainability: How to Maximize Impact & Equity

This course will introduce students to modern concepts in design thinking and how they affect dissemination, implementation, and sustainability of health interventions in clinical and public health translational research practice. This course will provide students with methods in all stages of the design thinking process: 1) empathize; 2) define; 3) ideate; 4) prototype; and 5) test. The goal of this approach is to ensure that the products of research (interventions, materials, and findings) are developed in ways that match well with the needs, resources, workflows, and contextual characteristics of the target audience and setting to maximize impact and equity.

Credit 3 units.

BSDC 8020 Issues and Directions in Intervention Research

Addresses methodological issues in conducting and evaluating behavioral intervention research in the student’s area of interest through writing a systematic review. Emphasis will be on evaluating the strength of the evidence and methodological rigor of the interventions. Course products will include a conference abstract and a draft of a publishable manuscript.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8021 T32 Seminar in Mental Health and Addictions Services Research

This seminar focuses on methodological issues in mental health services research and on components of a quality research proposal.

Credit 0.5 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8022 Mental Health Services Research

This course will cover the history and trends in public and private mental health services, seminal studies in mental health service, and such methodological issues as measurement of services, operationalization and measurement of mental health service intervention, and alternative data sources. Particular attention will be directed to methodological issues and knowledge needs with regard to service needs of special populations, including the elderly, children, adolescents, the poor, and ethnic minorities. Research methods for investigating the organization and financing of mental health services will also be addressed. Course reading will include published studies and government documents addressing methodological issues.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 8023 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling

This is an advanced (PhD-level) seminar providing an introduction to and hands-on experience with agent-based computational modeling (ABM), a prominent complex systems science methodology. The course will draw on examples of the application of ABM from public health and social policy. Topics will include the background and history of ABM, the multiple roles ABM can play as part of a broader research agenda, core concepts in the design and application of ABM, best practices for using ABM effectively, an introduction to software packages commonly used for ABM work, and the use of ABM as a tool to inform policy and intervention design.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8024 Introduction to Dissemination & Implementation Science

This course will introduce students to modern concepts in design thinking and how they affect dissemination, implementation, and sustainability of health interventions in clinical and public health translational research practice. This course will provide students with methods in all stages of the design thinking process: 1) empathize; 2) define; 3) ideate; 4) prototype; and 5) test. The goal of this approach is to ensure that the products of research (interventions, materials, and findings) are developed in ways that match well with the needs, resources, workflows, and contextual characteristics of the target audience and setting to maximize impact and equity.

Credit 3 units.

BSDC 8025 Survival Analysis

Survival analysis is a collection of statistical methods used to address questions that have to do with whether and when an event of interest takes place. It is the analysis of data that correspond to the time from a well-defined time origin until the occurrence of some particular event or end-point (Collett, 1994). In this course, students will learn fundamental concepts and skills to conduct survival analysis, and know how to apply these techniques to social, behavioral, and health research. The topics covered by this course include types of censoring mechanisms, descriptive methods for survival data including the life table and Kaplan-Meier methods, the discrete-time models, the Cox proportional hazards model, the parametric regression models, competing risks survival analysis, and multivariate analysis of autocorrelated time-to-event data. Students taking this course are assumed to have taken statistics courses on inferential statistics and regression analysis, and know how to run Stata or SAS software package to perform statistical analysis.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 8026 Developing and Evaluating Implementation Strategies in Health and Social Services

Internationally, there is a substantial gap between the establishment of effective interventions and their delivery in routine practice. Implementation research has emerged as a means of addressing that gap. It is defined as the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of research findings and other evidence-based practices to improve the quality of service delivery in routine care settings (Eccles & Mittman, 2006). It includes the study of influences on professional and organizational behavior that impact implementation effectiveness. This course focuses on developing and evaluating implementation strategies or the methods and techniques that are used to enhance the adoption, implementation, sustainment, and scaling up of effective interventions. It is intended for graduate students, postdoctoral students, staff, and faculty in public health, social work, medicine, and other areas of health science who are interested in developing and/or testing strategies to promote improved implementation of effective health and social service interventions.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 8500 Independent Study I

Doctoral students only

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 8501 Independent Study II

Doctoral students only

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 8502 Independent Study III

Doctoral students only

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 8800 Professional Development Seminar I

Acquaints PhD students with school and campus resources, allows them to get to know school and university faculty, and prepares them for next steps in selecting advisors, teaching, and research practicums.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall

BSDC 8801 Professional Development Seminar II

This seminar furthers specific skills related to teaching and preparation of academic products (e.g., understanding authorship, how to design an effective lecture, grant applications, etc.) for PhD students.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring

BSDC 9000 Practicum in Research I

This course provides doctoral students with hands-on research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Credit 2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9001 Practicum in Research II

This course provides doctoral students with hands-on research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Credit 2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9002 Practicum in Research III

This course provides doctoral students with hands-on research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Credit 2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9003 Practicum in Teaching I

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9004 Practicum in Teaching II

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9005 Practicum in Teaching III

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9500 Mentored Assistant Teaching Experience

Students assisting in the course instruction under the supervision of the course instructor.

Credit 0 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 9501 Mentored Independent Teaching Experience

Eligible doctoral students teach independently with the guidance of faculty.

Credit 0 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 9502 Area Statement and Qualifying Exam

Second-year doctoral students enroll in this course and successfully pass the area statement and qualifying exams before August 1 of their fourth year.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research

This zero-credit course allows students to continue research with advisors or engage in new research with other faculty mentors to build skills & working relationships. Students are expected to engage in mentored research experience with faculty through the entirety of their doctoral studies.

Credit 0 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

BSDC 9901 Doctoral Nonresident

This zero-credit course allows students to continue research with advisors or engage in new research with other faculty mentors to build skills & working relationships. Students are expected to engage in mentored research experience with faculty through the entirety of their doctoral studies.

Credit 0 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SPGN 5009 Foundations of Field Education - MSP

This workshop is designed to provide students with the information needed for the practicum/internship search, interview, and selection process. Students will learn the steps for securing a practicum/internship. In addition, they will create a personal rubric for choosing a practicum site. Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions of members of the field education team. After the workshop, students will be required to follow up with a field advising appointment to discuss their practicum/internship search process. This is a required course for all students prior to entering practicum.

Credit 0 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SPGN 6014 Policy and Advocacy in the Three Branches of Government

This course focuses on the advocacy, development and implementation of policy knowledge and practice skills in all three branches of government, producing policy professionals who will be ready to create solid change. This is a hands-on course with direct applicability to policy practice. Grading for Law Students is modified pass/fail: HP (3.94), P, LP (2.98), F (2.50).

Credit 3 units. Law: LCU

Typical periods offered: Spring

SPGN 6016 Benefit-Cost Analysis

This course prepares students to design, interpret, and conduct a fundamental type of economic evaluation for a variety of policy settings: the benefit-cost analysis (BCA). Students also compare BCA with other common techniques of economic evaluation, including cost-effectiveness, cost-utility analysis, and budget impact analysis.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SPGN 6019 Political Negotiation and Strategy

Students will be introduced to the finer points of negotiation, one of the vital tools in policy work.  Students will learn the core skills for successful negotiations: 1) theoretical understanding; 2) interpersonal and intrapersonal awareness; 3) planning; 4) drafting; and 5) reflection. This course provides students with a set of conceptual frameworks and practice experiences that will enhance understanding and skill level in these areas, preparing them for real world policy negotiations.

Credit 2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SPGN 6021 Economics of Social Welfare

Examines the economic aspects of social welfare policy, problems, and programs. Micro and macro economic theories are applied to understanding the behavior of individuals and the government in the context of social welfare.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SPGN 6022 MSP Internship I

The MSP internship is an essential component of the social policy degree program. The internship is designed to provide authentic practice situations in which theoretical knowledge and concepts from the classroom and literature can be applied to the concrete demands of the social policy setting. The learning that occurs in this context complements academic courses with the application of theories and concepts. The 3-credit-unit internship is designed to allow students to gain practical experiences involving policy making. Students will experience the application of policy in the environment.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SPGN 6025 Statistical Analysis for Social Policy

The purpose of this course is to give students the knowledge of basic statistical logic and statistical analysis, while also providing students with an understanding of ethical data practices and effective policy communication approaches. Students will be encouraged to develop their own social policy research questions, conduct independent analyses of those questions, and to identify ways of communicating their findings to different policy audiences and stakeholders.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SPGN 6026 Management and Leadership for Policy and Practice

Policy management work, like in many other professions, requires skills in communications and leadership to be successful. The purpose of this course is to prepare students in the knowledge and with the application of skills in the broad policy arena. Students will be encouraged to develop, practice and revise their own leadership philosophies and managerial styles based upon the vision of their professional role in the policy ecosystem.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SPGN 6028 The Politics of Food: A Policy Ecosystem Approach

This course examines U.S. food policy and politics through a policy ecosystem framework, which includes legislative, executive, judicial, advocacy, evaluation, lobbying, negotiation, strategy, elections, and community arenas. Students will explore how food security, nutrition programs, and food justice debates move across these arenas and how power is exercised and influenced to shape outcomes. Utilizing food and food security as the primary areas of focus, the course introduces formal government processes and informal political practices that can apply to numerous policy areas and issues, preparing students to engage with and influence policy debates that directly impact communities.

Credit 2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWCP 6000 MSW Concentration Practicum I

Concentration practicum builds on foundation skills and prepares students for advanced practice in concentration areas.

Credit 1-5 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWCP 6001 MSW Concentration Practicum II

Concentration practicum builds on foundation skills and prepares students for advanced practice in concentration areas.

Credit 1-4 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWCP 6002 MSW Concentration Practicum III

Concentration practicum builds on foundation skills and prepares students for advanced practice in concentration areas.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWCP 6003 MSW Concentration Practicum IV

Concentration practicum builds on foundation skills and prepares students for advanced practice in concentration areas.

Credit 1-2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWCP 6004 MSW Elective Concentration Practicum I

Elective concentration practicum is available only after students have completed concentration practicum.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWCP 6005 MSW Elective Concentration Practicum II

Elective concentration practicum is available only after students have completed concentration practicum.

Credit 1-2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWCP 6006 MSW Elective Concentration Practicum III

Elective concentration practicum is available only after students have completed concentration practicum.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWCP 6007 MSW Concentration Practicum V

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer

SWEL 8000 Independent Study I

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWEL 8001 Independent Study II

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWEV 6000 Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation

Evaluates the effectiveness of various state and federal policies regarding health, mental health, child welfare, aging, and income maintenance.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWEV 6001 Evaluation of Programs and Services

Examines issues and methods for evaluation of programs and services in both organizational and community contexts. Strengths and weaknesses of various evaluative models are discussed. Concurrent enrollment with Developing Programs In Health and Social Service Settings is NOT allowed due to extensive applied learning assignments in both courses.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWEV 6002 Human Services: Design and Evaluation for Impact

In this course, students will gain understanding, knowledge, and skills in ambidextrous modes of program design, implementation, and evaluation to lead and sustain high-performing human service organizations-be they nonprofit, for-profit, government, or hybrid organizations-dedicated to addressing some of the most challenging problems facing the world today. This requires applying a variety of processes, tools, and techniques such as a) Identifying underlying needs and conditions in the community through quantitative and qualitative data collection; b) designing an organization's mission, theory of change, and strategy in order to deliver social results; c) determining and implementing key core processes and performance management systems for learning and quality improvement at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels; and d) developing performance measurement systems for the evaluation of outcomes and practice effectiveness, impact reporting, and external accountability to diverse stakeholders.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWFN 5001 Research Methods with Statistical Applications

Focuses on the basics of social work research including developing a statement of the research problem and a literature review, specifying research questions, identifying the sample and measures, conducting data collection and analysis, and interpreting findings. Attention will be given to understanding the ethical issues and guidelines in human subjects research.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWFN 5002 Human Behavior

Focuses on understanding, explaining, and predicting human behavior in relation to the social environment by examining human development and lived experiences through theoretical frameworks. The course assesses several influences on life course development and human behavior including: biology, psychology, spirituality, cognition, genetics, family history, community dynamics, societal influences and cultural contexts. The impact of age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, physical and mental ability, and other identities will be emphasized. The underlying values, strengths, and challenges of different theoretical perspectives will be critiqued based on empirical evidence, cultural relevancy, and practice applicability.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWFN 5003 Social, Economic and Political Environment

Focuses on the dynamic relationship between individuals and society and explores history, theories, ideologies, and evidence concerning the social, economic and political forces that impact human well-being and the practice of anti-oppressive social work.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWFN 5004 Social Justice and Human Diversity

Focuses on knowledge and skills for social work practice with economically disadvantaged and oppressed groups, particularly people of color, women, people with disabilities, gay men and lesbians, and other at-risk populations.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWFN 5005 Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups

Focuses on the introductory knowledge and skills needed for social work practice with individuals, families, and groups, with an emphasis on the development of helping skills that are relevant to work with diverse populations. Familiarizes students with evidence supported assessment and intervention approaches utilized in social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. Introduces students to the Brown School's FLAIR model of evidence-based practice and how this model supports effective social work practice. Explores and applies the values and ethics that characterize the profession.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWFN 5006 Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities

Focuses on the knowledge, skills and values needed for effective social work practice within community settings and organizational structures. Beginning with a strong foundation of the professional values and guiding principles of practice, students will gain an understanding of the relationship between direct practice and the mezzo and macro interventions that needed to improve client well-being. Grounded in an equity framework, the course is structured around the Planned Change process to build skills needed to holistically engage, assess, and plan interventions accounting for organizational capacity and community assets and needs. Emphasis is placed on skill building and problem solving through group work, case studies, relevant social research, and experiential assignments in the community and within the student's practicum site. Students should expect integration with professional experiences in humans service settings for assignments.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring, Summer

SWFN 5007 Social Welfare Policies and Services

Presents a historical view of social work practice and explores historical and contemporary developments in social welfare policies within the U.S. social welfare system. Students gain insights into how political and social conditions, as well as values and ideologies influence the articulation of social problems, the policy development process, and the implementation of social welfare policies. Students also acquire skills to comprehend the impact of these changes in the lives of marginalized populations.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWFN 5008 BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown

The course is designed to give BSW graduates a refresher on important concepts from Research Methods; Social Justice and Human Diversity; and Social, Economic and Political Environment as well as to introduce them to the Brown School's FLAIR model of evidence-based practice.

Credit 4 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWFN 5050 MSW Foundations of Field Education

Foundations of Field Education is a three-hour workshop designed to provide students with the information needed for the practicum/internship search, interview, and selection process. Students will learn the steps for securing a practicum/internship. In addition, they will create a personal rubric for choosing a practicum site. Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions of members the field education team. After the workshop, students will be required to follow-up with a field advising appointment to discuss their practicum/internship search process. This is a required course for all students prior to entering practicum.

Credit 0 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer

SWFN 5051 MSW Foundation Practicum I

In practica, students will translate the theories and skills learned in the classroom into real-world practice.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWFN 5052 MSW Integrative Foundation Field Seminar

This seminar provides an opportunity for students to integrate theoretical and research-based knowledge gained in the classroom with the applied knowledge gained from social work practice. It is designed to provide additional integration of coursework and daily practice, enhance student knowledge and provide a safe and supportive environment for students to debrief on practice challenges and ethical issues.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWFN 5053 MSW Foundation Practicum II

In practica, students will translate the theories and skills learned in the classroom into real-world practice.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWFN 5054 MSW Foundation Practicum III

In practica, students will translate the theories and skills learned in the classroom into real-world practice.

Credit 1-2 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWLM 6000 Management & Leadership of Organizations

Examines organizational behavior and the management of human service organizations. Students study a variety of theories, concepts and functions including organizational structure, organizational culture, human resource and financial management, leadership and strategic planning. The course provides a foundation for all management practice courses.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWPM 6001 Addressing and Preventing Intimate Partner Violence in Practice

Explores social work practice to understand, address, and prevent the incidence and impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on individuals, families, communities, organizations, and society with a focus on the intersection of IPV with other forms of oppression.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6002 Child Maltreatment Prevention

The purpose of this course is for students to develop an understanding of transdisciplinary perspectives and apply systematic problem solving approaches to the prevention of child maltreatment.  Answers to complex questions about child maltreatment requires a transdisciplinary problem-solving approach with public health, social work, and medical practitioners analyzing perspectives from diverse fields, and coming together to integrate knowledge across these disciplines.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6003 Clinical Interventions in Health and Integrated Health Settings

This course will familiarize students with practice methods such as cognitive behavioral, psychosocial, applied group work and behavioral therapy with a special focus on health services. Special emphasis will be given to developing crisis intervention, brief therapy, decision-making, negotiation, advocacy, and teamworking skills.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6004 Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Emphasis on the acquisition of direct practice skills using case examples, video and role-plays, with patients with depression, anxiety and personality disorders.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6005 Dialectical Behavior Therapy

An introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), an evidence based practice.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6006 Interpersonal Psychotherapy

This course will help students gain knowledge and basic skills in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), an evidence-based treatment for depression. The course will include theoretical underpinnings of IPT, understanding the use of IPT in specific populations, and adaptations across cultures and psychiatric disorders. The course will review IPT techniques, common issues, and therapeutic skills. Specific opportunities to practice skills and techniques will be provided throughout the course.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6007 Applied Group Work Practice

Builds on the theoretical foundation and focuses on the basics of group work practice, including how to select members, how to begin and terminate group sessions, and how to evaluate group member outcomes.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6008 Principles of Clinical Interventions in Behavioral Health

This course expands generalist practice competencies of engaging, assessing, intervening, and evaluating individuals in mental health settings and practice.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWPM 6009 Principles and Practices of Differential Diagnosis

This course will explore and extend generalist social work assessment skills to include the differential diagnosis process, with a specific focus on contextualizing behavior within sociocultural contexts.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWPM 6010 Harm Reduction Community Practice

This course will focus on the systems, policies, and programs essential for implementing harm reduction in community settings. The course will explore the rationale for implementing harm reduction services, the role of community organizing to support harm reduction services, and essential public policy changes needed to save lives and foster client self-determination through harm reduction policies and practices.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6011 Global Mental Health

This course aims to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the current debates that are shaping Global Mental Health (GMH) in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). It examines the history of GMH, its key principles, policies and practices alongside the challenges inherent to their implementation in some of the most challenging contexts. Using practical examples of GMH interventions in the area of stigma, depression, trauma and the mental health of marginalized populations, students will be encouraged to critically engage with concepts relevant to, social work, public health, sociology and anthropology so as to reflect on the design, applicability and relevance of such interventions. Furthermore, the course will examine several key issues inherent to the field, such as the cultural validity of modern psychiatric diagnosis, as well as its research methods and assessment techniques. Guest speakers will include individuals working on the forefront of GMH application. The course is designed to compel future social workers to think globally but act locally when debating and addressing mental health issues in an international context.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6012 Contemporary Family Therapy

Addresses contemporary family therapy, theory and practice, along with the therapists use of self. Approaches include the work of Susan Johnson (Emotionally Focused Therapy), Dan Wile (Collaborative Couple Therapy), John and Julie Gottman (Sound Relationship House) and other newer family therapy systems approaches. This course prepares students to work with families in all ages and stages of life.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6013 Social Work Practice in Early and Middle Childhood

This course focuses on child development, major intervention approaches used with children, beginning practice skills for working with children, and the assessment and treatment of major psychosocial problems experienced by children.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6014 Social Work Practice with Youth in Families

Focuses on social work with youth, including assessment, relationship-building and intervention skills. Areas of conceptual emphasis include adolescent development, adolescent peer relations, and relationships with parents.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6015 Social Work Practice in Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention

This course will provide the critical knowledge and skills relevant to understanding, engaging, assessing, intervening, and developing programs with individuals and communities at risk for suicidal behavior. The course begins by laying the theoretical groundwork by reviewing and synthesizing leading theories in suicidal behavior, ultimately landing on a behavioral definition of suicidal behavior. Additionally, identification of at-risk populations and exploration of how risk and protective factors transact to generate risk profiles will set the stage for comprehensive suicide risk assessment and management procedures, including best-practice guidelines and documentation of risk and safety planning. Guidelines for working with clients who present with suicidal ideation, including frequent and chronic suicidality will be explored. Finally, a review of evidence-based prevention and postvention programs will provide students with a strong understanding of the spectrum of suicidal behaviors and broad-based interventions available.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6017 International Child Welfare

This course aims to provide students with knowledge and skills about child well-being, child development and child care from an international perspective. The historical context of child and family services in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and low and middle income countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America will be covered. Students will gain knowledge about the UN Convention of Child Rights and its role in bringing child-centered approaches and policies to the forefront in international child welfare. The importance of international perspectives of child development from both a system-centered and life span perspective will be highlighted. International approaches related to child safety and security, and child protection will be analyzed. Ways in which poverty, war, disasters, and globalization affect the lives of children will also be considered. How international policies, laws and programs facilitate or hinder children achieving optimal development will be discussed. Furthermore, the role of state, international non-government organizations and local agencies will be examined.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6018 Principles, Practices and Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

This course explores evidence-based principles, practices, and services in substance use disorder treatment.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6020 Indigenous Mental Health Practice

This course aims to provide an understanding of Indigenous mental health conceptualizations, delivery systems, programs and interventions available to those working with Indigenous populations. Students completing this course will learn competencies in conducting culturally inclusive psychosocial assessments, case conceptualization, treatment planning, progress monitoring and termination.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6022 Practice with Refugees and Immigrants

Familiarizes students with the basic knowledge and skills for social work practice with refugees and immigrants. An historical view of international refugee policy and immigration is presented as context for present day issues. Recent policies impacting immigrants presented as basis for advocacy and social and economic justice. Systems thinking, with an emphasis on application to multicultural oppressed and disadvantaged populations are discussed. Special emphasis given to the development of ethnographic assessment and intervention skills for practitioners relevant to empowerment, capacity building and social change with refugees and immigrants.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6023 Intervention Approaches to Address Gender-Based Violence

Focuses on nonsexist ways to counsel women. Explores power and politics in the therapeutic relationship. Examines treatment modalities and skills for working with women.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6026 Sex, Society and Social Work: Issues and Interventions

Researchers and theorists identify sexuality as a significant problem and important human potential across the life course but note it remains an infrequent area of intervention for social workers. While this course studies rape, sexual assault and coercion, incest, double standards, sexism, heteronormativity, trans- and homophobia as tools of oppression, it also examines sexual pleasure as a source of empowerment. Drawing on strengths-based developmental theories, models of health belief, literary hermeneutics, and principles of experiential and transformative learning, this course focuses on developing skills in designing and implementing positive sexuality interventions at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The course introduces principles and best practices in sexuality counseling, education, and therapy, while theoretical, empirical, and literary knowledge about sexuality provide a transdisciplinary problem solving perspective. Interventions aim to counter sexual oppression by transforming clients' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior and by shifting community perspectives toward greater sex/gender inclusiveness.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6027 Sexual Health Across the Life Course

Using a biopsychosocial perspective, this course will trace sexual development across the life course, examining sexual issues typical in childhood through the ninth decade. Looking at the ways sexuality is used oppressively will be balanced with views of sexuality as a source of empowerment. While rape, sexual assault and coercion, gender stereotyping, homophobia, and transphobia will be addressed, so will sexual sources of pleasure and agency. Students will familiarize themselves with tailoring sexual history taking and interventions to fit clients' identities, strengths, and vulnerabilities. A spectrum of sexualities will be studied, including straight, bi, intersexed, asexual, queer, gay, lesbian, transgendered, and fluid. The course also considers how disability, race, class, ethnicity, and other statuses intersect with sexualities. Theoretical articles, films, short stories, newspaper articles, and explicit material serve as catalysts for learning and classroom discussion. Tools and techniques studied include narrative therapies, motivational interviewing, asset and needs mapping, the sexual genogram, the sexual ecosystem questionnaire, solution focused therapy, coaching, photovoice, intravention work, and critical incident analysis. Students examine how developing skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to discuss and work with sexuality are critical to personal freedom, human rights, social work ethics, and social work practice. This course is designed for the social work professional either preparing for a specialization in sexuality education and/or therapy or wanting to address sexual health issues in other social work specialties.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6029 Designing Sexual Health Education Curriculum

In this course, students will design and implement holistic, gender-neutral/gender-inclusive sex education sessions for individuals who wish to deepen their knowledge on sexuality. The class is designed to improve sexual self-efficacy, as well as to develop expertise in teaching sexuality education. It will provide participants with opportunities for engaging in intergroup dialogue, expanding knowledge of sexuality, developing skills in creating learning experiences, clarifying values and attitudes toward sexuality and gender, and enhancing shared social support around positive sexuality. Students will adapt evidenced-based sexuality education programs to the populations with which they will be working. The first few weeks of the semester, students will concentrate on developing skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to teach sexuality education and peer counseling. While continuing their own study in sexuality education, during the following weeks, students will facilitate small groups of undergrad students. The course involves three hours of class time and up to two hours of practice teaching time each week. Students and their participants will read articles, journal, and participate in brief homework exercises weekly. Students may also enroll for supervision hours for American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists ​(AASECT) certification as sexuality educators.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6035 Core Components and Skills for Trauma-Informed Practice

This course facilitates students' acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to effectively use 12 common trauma-informed practice elements in interventions for and the treatment of traumatized children and their families. The course conceptualizes a trajectory of intervention that considers the impact of trauma, intervention objectives, and the practice elements needed to facilitate the intervention objectives. This course is taught using an inquiry-based learning (IBL) pedagogy to enhance students' engagement and learning using full-length cases to exemplify a range of different clients a clinician might encounter. In addition to the course hours, students will be expected to complete an asynchronous 11-hour online training and accompanying assignments. The cost is $35.00.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6037 Social Work Practice with LGBTQIA+ Populations

Focuses on developing the knowledge and practice skills necessary for effective, evidence-based practice with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and ally/asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+) persons and their families. Covers five major domains of practice with LGBTQIA+ persons: (a) theoretical and empirical knowledge to understand LGBTQIA+ persons across the life span; (b) the unique psychosocial concerns and issues of LGBTQIA+ clients and their families of choice/origin. Particular attention paid to issues of race/ethnicity, culture, age, disability, religion, and class as they impact sexual minority populations; (c) identification and implementation of capacity-building interventions with LGBTQIA+ persons; (d) social work values, ethics and social justice concerns surrounding LGBTQIA+ population; and (e) intervention strategies for building inclusive agencies, organizations, and institutions. Student actively examine their own values and attitudes and their professional use of self in their practice with LGBTQIA+ populations.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6038 Leading and Managing Employees, Volunteers and Teams

This course will examine paid and volunteer personnel at the micro level including concepts of motivation, engagement, morale, satisfaction and the impact of organizational level factors such as structure, culture and compensation strategy on performance. Students will develop knowledge of key legal issues, best practices and skills in each aspect of the human resource management cycle from job design to supervision and performance evaluation. Students will develop knowledge, self-knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead and manage individuals, groups and teams, including skills in decision-making, conflict resolution and meeting management.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6039 Financial Management

This course provides an understanding of accounting (non-profit and for-profit), financial reporting, budgeting processes and financial management. Students will learn to read and interpret financial reports, to prepare and manage line, functional and program budgets, and to conduct assessments of financial health. Students will learn best practices regarding financial controls, cash management, risk management, auditing, and the roles of key financial players. Students will become familiar with financial management tools.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6040 Special Topics: Brown Consulting

This is an integrative experience for qualified MSW Management Specialization students and others with permission of the instructor. Working as a consulting team with group and individual assignments, students perform a broad and detailed leadership, management and organizational assessment of a local St. Louis human service organization; and present recommendations for change or improvement to the client's governing board. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6043 Leadership and Management of Human Service Organizations

Building on the required theory and practice courses, this course will explore a series of functions and processes central to the management and leadership of human service organizations, especially nonprofits. Content will cover organizational strategy and strategic planning, organizational capacity and strategic management, change management, board governance and board-staff relations, policy practice and external relations, ethics, and key issues facing the sector.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6044 Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurs use innovative, market-based tools and responses to solve social and environmental problems. This interdisciplinary class attracts students from all disciplines to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set to apply to local and global issues. Through readings, lectures, local and international guest speakers, case studies, classroom debates, and lean startup and business model canvas techniques, students will gain meaningful insight into how to create and capture social value. Students will develop the skills to develop and pitch a social venture that fits their passions and interests in the Olin Big Idea Bounce Pitch competition that brings students together across campuses to share their ideas and compete for prize money. In addition, students will explore the role entrepreneurship and social impact investing play in the social and economic development of healthy communities both nationally and internationally.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6046 Social Innovation

Social innovation focuses attention on the ideas and solutions that create social value, as well as the processes through which people generate and capture them. This year's theme is community wealth building: cooperatives, collective entrepreneurship, worker-owned businesses, and trusts. Community wealth building is a bottom-up approach to economic development based on greater democratic ownership, participation, and control that we can begin to develop and scale. The goal is to create a democratic economy and displace the extractive economy. We will review the latest literature and policy documents then meet with practitioners and communities driving this work forward across our St. Louis region. We will learn and apply innovation methods like design thinking, Google sprints, and asset mapping. Graduate students from across campus (MSW, MPH, MBA, MSP, and more) will work together as teams to develop a pitch or policy brief applying community wealth building and shared prosperity approaches to the Greater St. Louis area.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6049 Developing Programs in Health and Social Service Settings

This course will focus on the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to develop client-need driven programs within a broad array of health and social service agency settings. Includes applied learning experiences.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6050 Revenue Development and Communication

This course will explore and develop skills in the full range of revenue development strategies, from fees-for-service models to those fully funded by government or philanthropy. Students will understand the strengths, weaknesses, and implications of varied revenue streams and how to assess the market feasibility of any particular revenue strategy. Students will develop skills in grant writing, individual solicitation, and the development of effective case statements and presentations. The course will also explore how the public relations, marketing, and branding functions support revenue development.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6052 Community Development Practice: Basic Concepts and Methods

Community Development Practice studies the intersection of social work at mezzo, and macro-levels, by working with community residents and supportive stakeholders to develop and enhance community assets needed to make communities livable, equitable, and sustainable. Our goal is to recognize residents as leaders positioned to lead change, thrive, and actualize their vision for an equitable community with a focus on anti-racism and equity. The course utilizes applied learning techniques requiring students to engage with community stakeholders-residents, service providers, and developers to understand the skills and abilities needed for effective practice. The course validates a participatory process that elevates learning by listening to the community. While the course focuses on St. Louis, its principles apply to community development practice in rural and international settings.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6053 State Level Lobbying

Offers an opportunity to investigate the practical application of such beliefs, explores how social workers can use community organizing, coalition building and lobbying to relate personal problems to public issues, link individual change to social change, and apply some of the problem-solving skills learned for working with individuals to addressing the larger political and community concerns of groups.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6054 Community Development with American Indian and Other Indigenous Communities

Student will become familiar with conceptual models for community development. The course will focus on the study and assessment of impoverished communities: their physical, social and institutional characteristics. Students will gain skills in application of Geographical Information Systems. Study will include the development of a conceptual framework for community analysis, move to an overview of conceptual models for intervention, and then will focus on the strategies and tactics specifically related to Indian reservation and other impoverished rural communities.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6056 Fundamentals of Community Organizing

This course will draw from Gamaliel's curriculum to provide students an understanding of the basics of community organizing. Students will learn to plan effective meetings, discern their own and others' self-interest, make a one-to-one fundraising ask, and create a plan to develop a team of leaders. Students will complete a power analysis on an issue of choice and create short-term tactical and longer-term strategic campaign plans.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6057 Financial Capabilities and Consumer Protections

This course will provide a skills-focused overview of financial capability and asset building policy and practice strategies, with a particular emphasis on consumer services and protections. Financial capability and asset-building practice include anti-poverty strategies, personal household finance, and financial access. Course content will cover how financial capability and asset building strategies are delivered in programs and services to families and communities. Case studies will be employed to help students understand the unique challenges that people of color and low-income families encounter on their journey to financial well-being, caused in part by credit discrimination and predatory lending.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6059 Development Practice in International Settings

Building on topics covered in International Social Development and Domestic Social Development Policy courses, this course focuses on international development practice. Students will gain a deep understanding of contemporary approaches in the field such as participatory development and community driven development, and related interventions in a range of substantive fields and contexts.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6060 Social & Economic Development, Redevelopment: East St. Louis Seminar

This course provides a theoretical and experiential understanding of the basic forces, factors, and institutional dynamics that interact and persist to keep low-income people in poverty, generationally. Students will learn the “nuts and bolts” of how to build a depressed area and rise it to the status of an economically and socially sustainable community. Students will be taught to function in multiple roles, from consultants to city managers, and to engage with neighborhood community groups as advocates and facilitators where that need is so urgently present.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6063 Race, Inequality and Social Justice in American K-12 Education

This course exposes students to racial injustices in the K to 12 education system in the US. In this course, students will learn how to use a critical racial lens to understand the educational experiences of children, youth, and families in the US. Students will learn to center critical research on racism that involves drawing on a social science lens to provide a theoretical, historical, and empirical overview when developing interventions, curriculum, and engaging in community organizing efforts. Students will also learn how to address the needs of marginalized and oppressed children, youth, and families in the K to 12 education system. This course is intended to prepare students to think critically about how racism impacts children, youth, and families when working with stakeholders who serve this population.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6066 Equitable Economic Development

How can we create a more just economy: one that offers equitable opportunities for economic mobility and wealth creation? Toward that goal, this course will support skill-building in the field of economic development practice. Students will be introduced to the a set of local economic development tools, including workforce development, support for co-ops and small businesses, and investment in the green economy.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6074 Community Based System Dynamics

This course introduces students to community based system dynamics (CBSD) as an approach for engaging communities, organizations, and trans-disciplinary teams to understand and represent complex social, health, and policy problems through the diagramming conventions of system dynamics.  The course introduces students to the background and theoretical foundations of community based system dynamics; qualitative causal mapping; the practice of group model building for working with organizations, communities, and teams through structured small group exercises or “scripts”; tools for designing, facilitating, and evaluating CBSD interventions; and techniques for managing group dynamics involving power, interpersonal conflicts, and working with marginalized stakeholders.  Learning is structured around problem-based and experiential approaches, including simulated group model building exercises, facilitation practice, case study activities, and guest presentations by CBSD practitioners working in the field. The course draws on methods being developed and used by the Brown School's Social System Design Lab and explores current CBSD applications in both domestic and international settings.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6076 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the Applied Social Sciences

This course will familiarize students with the basic knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) and their application to social work practice and research. The course is organized around three primary areas: 1) conceptual; 2) technical; and 3) data management. A conceptual overview of GIS is presented to provide students with foundational knowledge about the theory, purpose, function, and applicability of GIS in practice and research settings. Students will develop critical thinking skills necessary to devise research questions appropriate for a GIS, to develop a GIS, interpret the findings, and to evaluate the spatial relationships between variables.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6077 System Dynamics Modeling for Strategic Design

This class focuses on the application of model-based systems thinking and system dynamics simulation modeling for strategy development in social work, public health, and social policy for the design of programs, interventions, and organizations. The course supports students to apply mathematical simulation modeling as a pragmatic tool for the design of program and policy interventions as well as organizational strategies.  The course covers the foundations of the systems thinking perspective; problem scoping and definition; model structure formulation, the role of mixed methods to build confidence in models, and model-based analysis to inform design options.  Application areas include organization and community practice, with examples from domestic and international settings. The course draws on methods being developed and used by the Brown School's Social System Design Lab and explores current CBSD applications in both domestic and international settings.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6078 Social Work Practice Across Systems Serving Children, Youth and Families

Social workers who support children and youth are likely to work in a variety of community-based systems, including child welfare, family support, K-12 education, health, and juvenile justice settings. This course familiarizes students with trauma informed and cross-systems collaboration frameworks as well as introduces them to a number of evidence-based practice models that are applicable in two or more child, youth, or family service system settings.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWPM 6081 Foundations of Psychedelic Healing in Clinical Social Work

Though psychedelic plants and compounds have been used in a wide spectrum of healing practices throughout human history, they have quickly been gaining recognition and acceptance in conventional western healthcare in recent years, along with a growing popularity of underground and international ceremonial plant medicine work. With the prevalence of ketamine practices, anticipated rescheduling of MDMA and psilocybin, state-level legalization efforts, and increased access to underground communities, a high-demand for psychedelic therapists has been projected by leaders across the field. This course is designed to provide foundational knowledge of contemporary psychedelic healing and integration practices, as is relevant to clinical social work.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWPM 6082 Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

Psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD have all received a “Breakthrough Therapy” designation from the FDA, with anticipated rescheduling in the near future. Additionally, the prevalence of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy practices and increased access to these medicines overall make it important for social work clinicians to be familiar with Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) practices. This course offers an in-depth overview of PAT practices and protocols, including session types, best-practices, safety, and consent. This will include the use of PAT in work with specific diagnostic presentations and in conjunction with other clinical interventions. In addition, this course will examine models of community-based healing and peer-support. This course is designed for students who are planning to use PAT in their clinical practice.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWPM 6083 Environmental Justice & Macro Mental Health

Students in this course will develop praxis (a theory-based approach to practice) for a sustained, collective commitment to ecological stewardship and environmental justice. Employing a “macro mental health” lens, the course will provide practical tools for developing individual- and community resilience, including nature-based practices for healing and care. Part I of the class will address affective issues such as climate anxiety that may deter individuals’ involvement in environmental work. We will examine the environmental movement’s historical use of fear-based messaging and consider more productive and evidence-based framing strategies. Part II of the class will draw from a variety of disciplines to envision communities of care in the service of environmental justice. Central themes will include ethics of stewardship and maintenance, place attachment and ecological connectedness, and anticolonial paradigms. In Part III of the class, students will apply these concepts and strategies in hands-on, outdoor activities in partnership with one or more local organizations. Accessible and inclusive opportunities could include ecological stewardship in the form of tree maintenance or urban gardening, and/or nature-based mindfulness activities. Readings in this section of the course will discuss the on-going history of environmental racism and anti-racism in our St. Louis context.
 

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSL 6000 Skill Lab: Grant Writing: Foundation Grants

This course will provide the knowledge and specific skills to prepare a foundation grant proposal. It will examine how grantmakers operate, trends in foundation giving, the different types of foundations, how to research their interests and priorities, basic writing skills, how to build a working relationship with a foundation, elements of a strong grant proposal and customizing a grant proposal to various types of foundations.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWSL 6001 Skill Lab: Grant Writing: Government Grants

This course will provide the knowledge and specific skills to research and prepare a grant proposal to a local, state or federal government funder. It will examine the different types of government funders, how to research their interests and priorities, basic writing skills, how to build a working relationship with funder staff, elements of a strong grant proposal and customizing a grant proposal to various types of government funders.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSL 6003 Skill Lab: Motivational Interviewing Fundamentals

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical method to help people resolve ambivalence about change by evoking intrinsic motivation and commitment. This course will review the basic spirit, principles, and strategies of MI, particularly ways to evoke change talk and handle resistance. Students will be given the opportunity to practice the skills in the classroom setting. The use of MI in conjunction with other counseling styles and interventions will also be discussed.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWSL 6004 Skill Lab: Cognitive Processing Therapy

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. This course will provide students with a basic working knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of CPT, the structure of the treatment, and the empirical support for the protocol. Students will be given the opportunity to practice the basic clinical skills in the classroom.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring, Summer

SWSL 6008 Skill Lab: Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure Therapy is an evidenced-based intervention shown to be effective in addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the anxiety, depression, and/or anger that PTSD often causes. Students in this skills lab will learn about current theories explaining the development and maintenance of PTSD, how to diagnose PTSD in children, youth and adults, and the broad spectrum impact of exposure to traumatic events. Prolonged Exposure as a viable treatment option for PTSD will be introduced and students will learn about Emotional Processing Theory upon which this cognitive and behavioral intervention for PTSD is based, the specific component of PE, and how to implement this with clients.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSL 6010 Skill Lab: Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy

This skills lab will provide an understanding of when and how to use exposure and response prevention (ERP), an evidence-based exposure therapy that is useful for addressing anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The course will consider current research support for ERP. We will explore implementing ERP as in vivo exposure, imaginal exposure, and interoceptive exposure. Implementation with specific diagnoses such as OCD, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder will be considered.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSL 6011 Skill Lab: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based behavioral treatment for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, psychosis, and numerous other psychological problems and stressors. It teaches people to accept difficult thoughts, feelings, sensations, and memories, build mindfulness skills, identify core personal values, and commit to behaviors that are consistent with those values. Participants will learn about the model of psychological flexibility, upon which ACT is based, and engage in basic skill development in the implementation of ACT.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Summer

SWSL 6014 Skill Lab: Self-Care for Helping Professionals

The Self-Care for Helping Professionals skills lab will provide students with knowledge of the occupational risks of the helping professions, provide opportunities to explore four domains of self-care, including physical, social, spiritual, and mental as means to mitigate the occupational risks. Students will examine obstacles to practicing self-care and practice strategies to overcome said obstacles. Also, students will consider self-care across the lifespan, including individual self-care and self-care in an organizational/institutional context, with skills to advocate for wellness within workplaces.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring, Summer

SWSL 6015 Skill Lab: Managing and Leading Teams and People

This course will provide the basic skills and best practices in managing people and leading teams. It will focus on task supervision include designing jobs and job descriptions, selecting and orienting job applicants, motivating and supporting employees, measuring work performance. It will provide best practices in building effective, empowered engaged teams.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Summer

SWSL 6017 Skill Lab: Program & Project Management

This course focuses on key program and project management competencies and principles that are critical to executing successful projects. Students will learn about planning, scheduling, organizing, and controlling projects and will apply these concepts using case studies and small group projects.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Summer

SWSL 6019 Skill Lab: Fundraising Design and Management

This course will provide skills in developing and implementing a strategic fundraising program, including setting goals, choosing fundraising techniques, interfacing with staff and volunteers, data management and evaluating results.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Summer

SWSL 6020 Skill Lab: Budget Management

This course will provide skills in budgeting, budget management and reporting, using commonly available software. It will include both line item and program budgeting models, and the basics of grant reporting. It will connect budgeting to the overall process of financial management.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSL 6023 Skill Lab: Strategic Planning and Execution

This course will help students gain knowledge and basic skills in strategic planning and execution. The course will include an examination of models of strategic planning; assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. developing a vision, goals, and strategies for mission achievement and then translates them into action plans, dashboards, staff and board responsibilities.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWSL 6031 System Dynamics Applied Practice I: Designing Responsive Community Based System Dynamics Approaches

This course focuses on supporting students to apply concepts, skills, and tools of SWPM-6074: Community Based System Dynamics to applied community contexts. Students are invited to bring a dynamic problem related to their ongoing community-based work as an input to course activities. The course will focus on skill building in identifying community priorities and concerns; translating narratives and research evidence into preliminary model structure; and on skills of designing community-specific and culturally relevant group model building workshops. This course applies a strength based, resource-based view of individuals, organizations and communities through reflective work on individual practice and through design of approaches to engaging communities and organizations. The course is structured as a group independent study; specific meeting times and frequency will be determined based on student and instructor schedules.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSL 6032 System Dynamics Applied Practice II: Simulation Model Translation and Adaptation

This course focuses on supporting students to apply concepts, skills, and tools of SWPM 6077 System Dynamics Modeling for Strategic Design to applied community contexts. This course will help students learn how to identify relevant system dynamics model structures and adapt those models for use in new problem domains to support community-based planning and dialogue. The course will focus on skills in development of model structure from equations; identification of generic structures; model confidence building, sensitivity analysis and critique; parameter estimation and model calibration. The course is structured as a group independent study; specific meeting times and frequency will be determined based on student and instructor schedules.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSL 6033 System Dynamics Applied Practice III: Developing Interactive Model Interfaces

This course will help students learn and apply techniques for model analysis and translation of insights to new audiences. Specific attention will be on using model analysis to explore structural explanations for policy and program behavior, and on developing interactive model interfaces to communicate system insights. The course is structured as a group independent study; specific meeting times and frequency will be determined based on student and instructor schedules.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSL 6034 Introduction to System Dynamics for Advancing Equity

This course exposes students to a systems approach to understanding equity in health, education and general well-being in complex social systems spanning individuals and families to organizations, communities, and the global context. The course covers the foundations of system dynamics: endogenous or feedback perspective, accumulations, rates of changes, and the role of computer models to understand systems. The course introduces students to causal loop diagramming, stock and flow representations of systems, system dynamics modeling software tools, and the distributional and structural inequalities in social systems.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSL 6046 MSW Research Seminar I

This seminar is for Research specialization students only.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWSL 6047 MSW Research Seminar II

This seminar is for Research specialization only.

Credit 2 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSL 6049 Pharmacology for Social Workers

Acquaints students with the major categories of pharmacological agents used in medical practice. Emphasizes the mechanism, action, and common side effects associated with the administration of specific medications and the parameters used to monitor the clinical progress of disease and drug therapy.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6002 American Indian Social Welfare Policies and Administrative Practices

Studies United States policies on American Indian education, health, and mental health from early treaty provisions to the present. Discusses the impact of policy on service delivery and implications for the future.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6003 Policy and Services for Children and Youth

Explores social policies and practice affecting the development and delivery of social services to children and youth. Explores limitations in current programs and points to the development of alternative policies and services.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6004 Social Policies, Services and Programs in Aging

In this course, we will cover issues related to aging societies—particularly in the U.S. but with flexibility to pursue issues in other countries and regions—and explore how social and organizational policies and programs can influence the health and well-being of current and future older adults. This course reviews foundational knowledge regarding Social Security and retirement savings programs, healthcare and health insurance, employment, housing, and more. Students will develop skills relating to retirement income planning, policy analysis, and strategic communication and advocacy. Throughout this course, we will focus on the intersectionality of age with gender, race, ethnicity, and class, among other factors. Students from all fields of practice and degrees are welcome, as older adults play an important role in the lives of people throughout the lifespan.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6005 Regulating Sex: Law, Policy and Advocacy

This course focuses on the historical and current implications of policy and legal principles related to the regulation of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and reproductive health in the United States. With subject matter grounded in constitutionally based rights, students will explore how ideals of liberty, equal protection and freedom of expression are expanded or contracted. Active review of current statutes and bills, case law, administrative regulations and ballot initiatives is at the forefront of class content and discussion. By understanding laws and cases, students will learn the nuances of policy practice and advocacy to preserve human rights and individual health and well-being.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6008 Domestic Social and Economic Development Policy

Focuses on selected topics in development policy in the United States at local, state, and national levels, emphasizing implications of alternative policy approaches.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSP 6009 International Social and Economic Development Policy

Focuses on selected topics in international development policy emphasizing implications of alternative policy approaches.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWSP 6010 Human Rights Policy

In this course, we will explore the history, key theoretical debates, policy implications, and advocacy strategies related to the human rights movement. The class will approach human rights issues and situations from the perspective of a social worker. We will examine the different formal and informal institutions that work to promote, as well as hinder, the realization of human rights using case studies. Finally, the class will explore the effectiveness of different advocacy tools to address human rights violations in various contexts.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6011 Substance Use Policy

This course will provide an overview of drug policies in the United States ranging from the criminalization of drug use through sanctions and mandated services, the policies behind the drug treatment system in the United States, and evolving drug law reforms reflecting settings at the local, national and global levels. The course will cover the historical contexts of criminalization of drug use through the passing of laws that were unevenly enforced. Students will apply policy analysis skills to better understand the consequences of policy decisions surrounding drug treatment and enforcement of drug interdiction laws in the United States on health and social equity.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWSP 6012 Behavioral Health Policies and Services

Acquaints students with current state and national laws and regulations that affect mental health service delivery. Future trends in mental health policy are also examined.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWSP 6013 Local and Municipal Policy and Advocacy

This course is designed to bridge knowledge of the technical workings of local and municipal governmental structures with the skills needed to influence policy making decisions at this level. Students will initially focus on the different aspect of the policy making process including creation of local ordinances, budgets and administrative regulations. Progressively, students will gain skills in locally focused advocacy, such as coalition building, lobbying, and testimony, as well as long term community relationship building.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6017 Washington D.C. Lab: Advocacy in the Federal Ecosystem

Students must apply and be accepted at sa.wustl.edu. Students are responsible for travel to D.C., housing, meals, and public transportation. Scholarships are available for travel for Brown School students. Good social welfare policy involves professionals working in all aspects of the policy ecosystem, including advocacy, evaluation, implementation, strategy and negotiation. This laboratory class will expose students to the people doing this work in the U.S. federal government and enable students to participate in advocacy. The course take place in two phases. Phase one takes place in the classroom in St. Louis where we will learn federal policy advocacy skills and prepare for our trip. The second phase will be an immersive learning experience in Washington, D.C., where we will meet with policy professionals, including many of our alumni. The class will culminate with a trip to the Hill for you to advocate with legislators, allowing you to make an impact on an issue that matters to you.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWSP 6018 Health Administration and Policy

This course provides an overview of the structure and functions of the U.S. Health Care System, the relationship between the health care delivery system and public health, and an overview of the health care policy process in the United States. The existing and evolving financing, organizational structures, and delivery systems are described along with alternatives that have been discussed and developed domestically and internationally. The course also introduces key concepts in health care management. Finally, the course provides students with the tools necessary to evaluate and analyze health policy and health care systems in the U.S.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWTH 6000 Theoretical and Empirical Bases for Practice with Children, Youth and Families

This course exposes students to theoretically based, empirically supported interventions that guide the assessment, treatment planning, intervention selection, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes in social work practice with children, youth and families (CYF).

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWTH 6001 Theoretical Approaches to interpersonal Violence Across the Life Course

This course examines theoretical approaches to understanding interpersonal violence across the life course in the United States. The course uses a multidimensional theoretical approach to explore: the causes of interpersonal violence; the impact of interpersonal violence on the individual (both victim/survivors and perpetrators), families, communities, and society; how theory informs intervention and prevention approaches to interpersonal violence; and evaluation of intervention and prevention approaches. The course will also examine the prevalence of interpersonal violence, risk and resiliency factors, the impact of polyvictimization, the connections between interpersonal violence and suicide, and the intersection of power and oppression in the experiences of interpersonal violence, focusing on marginalized identities. After a review of key theories and perspectives, students will apply theoretical lenses to examine experiences of interpersonal violence across the life course including child abuse, bullying, sexual harassment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. Students will also apply theoretical lenses to understand evidence based individual interventions and macro level policies that address interpersonal violence across the life course. Consideration will be given to various trauma and strategies to promote sustainability in the field.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

SWTH 6002 Contemporary Perspectives on Aging

Examines the theoretical and service issues connected to the study of the elderly from the multidisciplinary approach of gerontology. Considered are the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging, and the nature and extent of service delivery systems for the aged and their families.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWTH 6003 Health Behavior and Health Promotion

The purpose of this course is to present fundamentals of social and behavioral science as a framework for using evidence-based approaches in addressing individual, families, and population health issues. Students will learn the role of social determinants of health problems, and theoretical approaches to guide the design and evaluation of health interventions.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SWTH 6006 Poverty and Inequality in America

Focuses on the extent and causes of poverty in the United States, the effects of poverty on individuals and families, and the search for solutions.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWTH 6009 International Social and Economic Development Theory

A comparative study of international social development, including patterns and issues in cross-national collaboration, selected problems in international social development, and a conceptual framework for analyzing social change.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWTH 6010 Theories of Racial, Social and Economic Justice

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of theories of racial, social, and economic justice in advancing equitable outcome of communities throughout the U.S. This course will explore the intersections of social, political, and economic structures, systems, and institutions that promote or inhibit people's abilities to thrive. This course will approach topics through theory, policy, and practice with an emphasis on dismantling white supremacy and promoting an anti-racist lens. Students will (un)learn and challenge theories, policies, and practices that are harmful to marginalized and oppressed populations.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWTH 6011 Contemporary Theories and Issues in Behavioral Health

This course examines a range of theories and contemporary issues in mental health that relate to social work practice in mental health.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

SWTH 6012 Human Service Organizations: Theory, Concepts & Issues

This course provides the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of the concentration. It will examine the landscape and current state of the organizational system to achieve social impact, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as the manner in which legal, social, economic and cultural forces shape organizational behavior. It will introduce the meaning, scope and rationale of the four interlinked concentration foci (leadership, management, innovation and entrepreneurship) and introduce key theories, concepts and frameworks that inform the entire curriculum, in particular organizational and leadership ambidexterity.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

SWTH 6013 Indigenous Knowledge, Values and Cultures

Surveys several major themes in the history and modern evolution of American Indian societies, cultures, values, and laws. Examines indigenous societies and cultures before the arrival of Europeans. Explores the history of American Indians and Indian nations in the US and their treatment by the US. Examines modern Indian governments, and legal systems, and the status of Indian nations as sovereign political entities within the US.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring