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SWK 2207 Anti-Oppressive Social Work

Anti-Oppressive Social Work focuses not only on cultural competence but also emphasizes our professional mandate from the National Association of Social Workers for Social and Political Action. In this course, students will learn about cultural competence but do so through a lens that promotes humility and action. Students will engage in exercises that develop empathy and an understanding of how intersectionality influences the way they and others interact with the world around them. They will assess for their own implicit biases, and for systemic barriers within education, healthcare, and politics. Students begin to understand the roles that both privilege and oppression play in their own lives and the lives of those around them. Though this is an introductory class, students will begin to gather tools for future practice that will help them recognize and dismantle oppressive forces through their professional and ethical obligation as social workers. Forty-eight-hour field placement observation required. This course has no textbook costs.

Division: Liberal Arts, Communication and Social Sciences
Department: Social Work
Repeatable Credit: No
Offered Online: No

Prereqs: NONE  

Outcomes

  • Demonstrate ability to align social work standards for cultural competence to own values in alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and CSWE (2022).
  • Demonstrate knowledge of diverse groups in the United States as aligned with the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and CSWE (2022).
  • Describe history and social location of diverse groups and understand past and present forms of oppression and discrimination that impact ability to meet basic needs and quality of life in alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and CSWE (2022).
  • Articulate importance of cultural competence and cultural humility within the profession and be self-aware of level of competence and areas that need continued improvement in alignment NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and CSWE (2022).
  • Discuss and articulate strategies for advocacy to advance social and economic justice and evaluate the effectiveness of using these strategies in alignment with NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and CSWE (2022).
  • Demonstrate professional communication through writing and oral skills commensurate with NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and CSWE (2022).

Credit Hours: 3

Classroom Hours: 3