Social Work (SOWK) Courses
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.
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.
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.
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.
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.
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.
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.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of MSW program.
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.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of MSW program.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.
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.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or Foundation Year of the MSW program.
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.
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.
Directed Studies
Individual exploration of selected theoretical perspectives for social work practice under the direct supervision of a member of faculty or visiting scholar.
Directed Studies
Individual exploration of selected theoretical perspectives for social work practice under the direct supervision of a member of faculty or visiting scholar.
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.
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.
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.
Prerequisite(s): BSW or completion of MSW Foundation Year (Year l); completion of SOWK 5011, SOWK 5012.
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.
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MSW Foundation Year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
Thesis
Prerequisite(s): registration in MSW Advanced Year (Year II).
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.
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?.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Practicum in Advocacy Research
Student will engage in projects that integrate research and community while contributing to change. Graded Sat/Uns.
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.
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.
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