Plan of Study – Grad Cert School Social Work

Note: A Semester Hour (s.h.) is a unit of academic credit representing an hour of class (such as lecture class) or three hours of laboratory work each week for an academic semester. Most courses are two, three or four semester hours.

Grad Cert School Social Work

Certificate Requirements (Minimum of 9 semester hours required.)

LD 5350 Psychological Issues in Learning Disabilities (3 s.h.)

Review of current psychological research on P-12 grade students with learning disabilities in speech/language, academic skills, attention, fine motor skills, and other functions. Emphasis on stage-related issues in several developmental domains: neurological, cognitive, and socio-emotional. Implications for development and learning are considered within the contexts of culture/ethnicity, family systems, and gender. Psychologically-based service delivery models for teaching and related professions are also discussed.

SW 6550 Interventions in School Social Work (3 s.h.)

Advanced knowledge and skills critical to providing quality school social work interventions. Students learn evidence-based prevention and intervention approaches to working with stakeholders and communities to enhance personal, educational, and community growth. Current school- and evidence-based practices through a social justice lens with an emphasis on interventions to support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional Impairments, and other disabilities identified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students learn techniques to enhance collaboration between teachers, families, and school personnel and intervention strategies for promoting a positive, inclusive, and supportive school climate. Students will acquire the skills necessary to practice as a school social worker.

SW 6560 Social Work in School Settings (3 s.h.)

This course will focus on the provision of social work services in schools utilizing an ecological approach with students, families, schools, and communities. The content areas will include: social-political influences, educational policies, advocacy with marginalized populations, disability services, mental health services, violence prevention, crisis intervention, family engagement, group work, interdisciplinary collaboration, and role of social workers in enhancing educational outcomes. Emphasis on school social work standards, values, ethics and cultural competence. Students will become familiar with traditional and changing social work roles and practices in schools as well as with larger systemic trends.