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This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://calendar.carleton.ca.

Social Work (SOWK) Courses

SOWK 5000 [0.5 credit]
Theoretical Foundations of Social Work: A Critical Perspective

History of social work and progressive social work. Introduction to critical theories and approaches informing contemporary social work in Canada: structural, anti-racist, Indigenous, anti-oppressive, queer, critical disability, post-structural, and political economy.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.

SOWK 5001 [1.0 credit]
Interpersonal Practice in Social Work: Ethics, Knowledge and Skills

Theoretical exploration of the values, ethics, and historical development of direct social work knowledge and skills for practice. Focus on student skills development for beginning practice, including building therapeutic alliance, differential use of interviewing skills, contracting, biopsychosocial assessment, goal setting, and treatment planning.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.

SOWK 5003 [0.5 credit]
Policy Context of Social Work

Historical context, theories and approaches to social policy analysis, development, and practice in Social Work. Examination of federal, provincial, municipal and organizational policies. Focus on processes for policy development, consultation, collaboration, political struggle, and challenges of bridging policy with individual services.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.

SOWK 5004 [0.5 credit]
Group Work

History, theories, and models of social work practice with groups. A range of group practice approaches, including task-focused, mutual aid, psychoeducational, and process-oriented therapeutic groups.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 5000 and SOWK 5001.

SOWK 5011 [0.5 credit]
Social Work and Social Justice

Relationships between social work professionals and social justice movements. Indigenous, anti-racist, queer, disability, trans, class, and feminist knowledge, politics, and activism informing social work practice in Canada.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of MSW program.

SOWK 5012 [0.5 credit]
Social Work Research Foundations

Foundations of social work research with a focus on understanding evidence-based practice. Students will learn how to understand research to inform social work practice, and how to use research in social work practice.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of MSW program.

SOWK 5013 [0.5 credit]
Community-Based Participatory Research

Using community-based participatory research approaches, students will assist community organizations using qualitative and/or quantitative techniques to address research questions with a social justice focus. Emphasizes an understanding of different research paradigms, ethics, and the importance of self-reflection and integration.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of MSW program.

SOWK 5014 [0.5 credit]
Social Policy

Advanced study of social work contributions and strategies for policy development and analysis. Focus on policy change and negotiation within the contemporary context and the impact on clients' lives and social work practice. Attention to alternative policy processes, e.g., Indigenous, and social justice practice.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5015 [0.5 credit]
Indigenous Knowledge and Theory for Social Work

Exploration of Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous approaches to social work. Understanding history of social work with Indigenous peoples in Canada and strategies for reconciliation.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5016 [0.5 credit]
Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families

Biopsychosocial theories and practice models (i.e., psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, narrative) for working with individuals and families in a contemporary practice environment. A critical approach to theories and models.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5017 [0.5 credit]
Advanced Organizational Administration and Practice

Theories of organizational behaviour, approaches to management, skills for developing funding proposals, program development, managing budgets, program evaluation and creating organizational change.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5018 [0.5 credit]
Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Clinical concepts for relationship-based, theoretically and empirically grounded, social justice-seeking practice, e.g., reflexive use of self, transference/countertransference, and navigating power. Focus on development of one's individualized clinical practice framework.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5020 [0.5 credit]
Social Work in Health Care Settings

Social work practice in a range of health-care settings with a focus on health-care policy practice and direct intervention in various areas of health care.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5021 [0.5 credit]
Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities

Focus on practice with groups and communities, particularly implementing approaches reviewed in undergraduate programs and/or Foundation Year, dealing with tensions in practice, critical reflection, advanced practice techniques and evaluation.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.

SOWK 5302 [0.5 credit]
Mental Health

Historical development, legislative framework, institutional and service structure, and practice issues related to mental health services in Canada. The interface between mental health and sexual abuse, family violence, racism, corrections, aging and immigration.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 5502 [0.5 credit]
The Transformation of Social Responsibility in Canada

Development of social welfare in Canada from the 19th century to the present. Federal and provincial state formation and colonialism, imperialism, class, and racism. Transformations in the politics of struggle for social and economic justice.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the School of Social Work.

SOWK 5504 [1.0 credit]
Directed Studies

Individual exploration of selected theoretical perspectives for social work practice under the direct supervision of a member of faculty or visiting scholar.

SOWK 5506 [0.5 credit]
Directed Studies

Individual exploration of selected theoretical perspectives for social work practice under the direct supervision of a member of faculty or visiting scholar.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 5606 [2.0 credits]
Practicum I

Integration of academic and practical aspects of social-work education. 450 hours of guided learning in a community-based setting. Field seminar required.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): registration in MSW Foundation Year (Year I); completion of SOWK 5000, SOWK 5001, SOWK 5003, and SOWK 5608; and completion of or concurrent registration in SOWK 5004.


SOWK 5607 [2.0 credits]
Practicum II

450 hours integrating advanced social work theories and practice in clinical, policy, research or other settings. Field seminar required. Offered spring/summer of advanced or second year.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): BSW or completion of MSW Foundation Year (Year l); completion of SOWK 5011, SOWK 5012.


SOWK 5608 [0.5 credit]
Community Practice

Exploration of history, theory and practice of community work in social work. Engagement, assessment, and interventions with communities will be explored using a variety of community-based approaches including: Indigenous community change, and critical approaches to community work.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.

SOWK 5700 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Social Policy

The School will offer courses on substantive topics related to social administration and policy. Topics vary depending on the interests of faculty and students and the availability of instructors. Students outside of the School may register with permission from the School.

SOWK 5701 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Direct Intervention

The School will offer courses on substantive topics related to direct intervention including community development. Topics vary depending on the interests of faculty and students and the availability of instructors. Students outside of the School may register with permission from the School.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 5702 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Social Work

The School will offer lecture courses on substantive topics related to social work and social welfare. Topics will vary each year depending on the interests of faculty and students. Students from outside the School of Social Work may register with permission of the School.

SOWK 5703 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Social Work

The School will offer lecture courses on substantive topics related to social work and social welfare. Topics will vary each year depending on the interests of faculty and students. Students from outside the School of Social Work may register with permission of the School.

SOWK 5903 [1.0 credit]
Independent Research Studies in Social Work

Individually-arranged independent research study. Requires a written proposal that outlines a research project with clear learning objectives, and practice objectives (where relevant).
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 5904 [0.5 credit]
Independent Research Studies in Social Work

Individually-arranged independent research study. Requires a written proposal that outlines a research project with clear learning objectives, and practice objectives (where relevant).
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 5909 [2.0 credits]
Thesis

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): registration in MSW Advanced Year (Year II).

SOWK 6101 [0.5 credit]
Theoretical Foundations

A focus on human rights and social justice that explores the dynamic tensions of life in an advanced capitalist, globalized political economy and the relevance for social work practices. This course will assist students in developing the theoretical frameworks for their dissertations.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 6100 (no longer offered).

SOWK 6102 [0.5 credit]
Ethical Foundations

This seminar examines notions of the subject and subjectivity, and the attendant concept of the other in the context of ethics in social work practice. What is the ethics of our social doing? What are we advancing and for whom?.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 6100 (no longer offered).

SOWK 6201 [0.5 credit]
Theory and Methods

Theories and methods from the social sciences and humanities as applied in social work research. Emphasis on theories and methods most consistent with structural approaches. Through engagement with the research literature, students acquire skills in assessing and comparing research approaches.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6202 [0.5 credit]
Research Design

Building on SOWK 6201, this course supports students in learning how to design a critically-oriented research project, including how to ensure methodological coherence, ethics, rigour, timeliness and relevance to the field of structurally-informed social work.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6301 [0.25 credit]
Ph.D. Seminar

Students engage in scholarly discussion with the goal of developing mutual, collegial support and skills in critical scholarship. Students will present, discuss and critique their own papers and research; and discuss presentations by social work faculty and other university scholars.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6302 [0.25 credit]
Ph.D. Seminar

Students engage in scholarly discussion with the goal of developing mutual, collegial support and skills in critical scholarship. Students will present, discuss and critique their own papers and research; and discuss presentations by social work faculty and other university scholars.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6303 [0.25 credit]
Ph.D. Seminar

Students engage in scholarly discussion with the goal of developing mutual, collegial support and skills in critical scholarship. Students will present, discuss and critique their own papers and research; and discuss presentations by social work faculty and other university scholars.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6304 [0.25 credit]
Ph.D. Seminar

Students engage in scholarly discussion with the goal of developing mutual, collegial support and skills in critical scholarship. Students will present, discuss and critique their own papers and research; and discuss presentations by social work faculty and other university scholars.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6401 [0.5 credit]
Critical Pedagogy

Application of educational theory, models, practices, design and technology for post-secondary education. Theory and practice of critical pedagogy, curriculum development, teaching methods, skills and strategies.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6405 [0.5 credit]
Directed Studies

Individually-arranged independent exploration of selected areas of inquiry that are offered subject to the availability of faculty. Requires a written proposal with clear learning objectives and study plan.

SOWK 6406 [0.5 credit]
Directed Studies

Individually-arranged independent exploration of selected areas of inquiry that are offered subject to the availability of faculty. Requires a written proposal with clear learning objectives and study plan.

SOWK 6600 [0.5 credit]
Practicum in Advocacy Research

Students will work collaboratively with a community agency to create a social justice oriented project that will be completed for the agency. The project work will be guided by the student's advisor. Graded Sat/Uns.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

SOWK 6800 [0.5 credit]
Qualifying Examination

A critical assessment and demonstration of mastery in an area of inquiry related to the research project, involving theoretical, methodological and substantive components. Requires a proposal to the Exam Committee, the successful completion of a Qualifying Exam paper and an Oral Qualifying Exam.

SOWK 6909 [0.0 credit]
PhD Dissertation

An original scholarly research contribution constituting a significant contribution to the field of social welfare and the profession of social work. Dissertation must meet standards including a formal oral defense governed by the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca