USC Schedule of Classes

The person-in-environment, bio-psycho-social perspective is the lens through which theories of personality, family, group, organization, community, culture and their interactions are explored. (Duplicates credit in SOWK 503 and SOWK 505)

A study of the complex and interconnecting systems of policy, programs and communities that directly and indirectly impact Social Workers' clients lives. (Duplicates credit in SOWK 534)

Principles underlying generic social work practice with emphasis on working with individuals, families, and groups. (Duplicates credit in SOWK 543 and SOWK 545)

Introduction to the role of scientific inquiry in advancing social work goals. Inspires students to include science in their social work identity and professional decision-making. (Duplicates credit in SOWK 562)

Integrative learning organized as a small group educational environment that incorporates field experiences, case vignettes, and dialogical inquiry through a Problem Based Learning framework. Graded CR/NC. (Duplicates credit in former SOWK-587ab)

Critical analysis and application of various data, information, and evidence to understand client problems and service needs, identify appropriate interventions, and evaluate practice decisions. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546. (Duplicates credit in SOWK 603)

Understanding development of children and families from birth to adolescence and the developmental difficulties from an ecological perspective. Assessment/engagement of families and Interventions are introduced. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Theory and principles underlying social work in host settings and non-specialty sector settings with a primary emphasis on working with Children, Youth, and Families. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Assessment of mental disorders, and the rationale and organization of the system for diagnosis. Emphasis is on developing differential diagnostic skills.

Provides understanding of the development of problems in early childhood, and skills for engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of effectiveness for treatment of these problems. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Based on ecosystems perspectives, this course examines policies, theories and principles for social work practice in school settings.

Theory and multimodal approaches for brief therapy and crisis intervention with diverse clientele in a range of mental health and health settings.

Causal exploration of substance related and behavioral addictive disorders. Evidence-based and practice informed treatment models for vulnerable individuals, groups and families.

Focus on the multi-level impact of mental illness on adults and families. Evidence-based interventions promoting increased quality of life and stability are emphasized.

Intervention with adolescents, young adults and addressing their developmental problems, challenges and solutions. Engagement and evidence based intervention in working with youth will be covered.

Provides tools to enhance social work practice skills supporting young children and their families, and preparation for leadership in early care and education settings.

Provides orientation to the context and operations of juvenile justice systems, and advanced skills for social work practitioners working with youth, families and communities.

Provides context and preparation for social work practitioners holding policy, management and macro practice roles in communities and organizations serving children, youth and families. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Research/evaluation skills and critical analysis of data information systems to inform decision making to improve effectiveness of social work practice in community, organizations and business. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Broad understanding of violence against women within a global context, moving beyond the examination of violence as a phenomenon in order to effect social change.

Critical analysis and application of health and mental health research evidence to inform, enhance and strengthen social work practice with adults and aging populations with a focus on evaluating published research, identifying and interpreting available sources of data, appraising practical measures/ assessments and selecting appropriate evidence-based interventions.

Assessing and promoting wellness and recovery, interacting systems of mind, brain, and body. Evidence-based integrated care interventions in a new era of health care reform.

Analysis of policies and health care delivery with focus on implications for social workers and their clients in settings with adults, families, and older adults. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546. (Duplicates credit in SOWK 636)

Analysis of efforts to improve local human services organizations and agencies with consideration of political, social, demographic and organization contexts. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Theoretical and practical approaches to clinical practice with military families. Overview of common social issues in the military system and demands on the family dynamic.

Needs of service members/veterans within the context of their families/communities. Approaches to treatments with goal of advancing knowledge of best practices and current evidence-based models.

Social work processes and skills required for the implementation of short-term interventions in medical, behavioral health and integrated care settings with individuals, families and groups.

Behavioral health theory course that integrates theories of health and mental health and builds on the content from the Human Behavior and Social Environment course. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Introduction to advanced practice concepts essential to understanding engagement, assessment and diagnosis with complex social work cases from a meta-framework perspective.

Methods and principles of management focusing on health and human service organizations, including strategic management, financial analysis, and innovative project development in social work. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Understanding the development and implementation of military and veteran policy and programs including family advocacy, prevention of sexual assault, suicide, alcohol/substance use and homelessness.

Grant writing and program development that are generalized to any settings and relevant to direct and macro social work practice expertise.

Recognition of domestic and intimate partner abuse and examination of effective intervention measures and preventive methods.

Examining the roles social workers play in business, how their skills integrate and support business practice, and how the profession can impact internal/external business environments. Prerequisite: SOWK 506, SOWK 536, SOWK 544, SOWK 546.

Advanced practice course focusing on interventions with and treatment of complex family systems where the effects of child maltreatment are the presenting problems.

Working effectively within marginalized, underserved populations and diverse community settings on their wicked, consistent, and complex issues by providing innovative and sustainable solutions.

Examines theoretical, empirical and practice-based literature on school violence including how students' physical well-being, academic functioning, social relations, and emotional and cognitive development are affected.

Focus on the experiences of loss, death and bereavement as it is viewed by individuals, families and loved ones.

Focus on group therapy for clinical social workers as practiced in various mental health settings. The entire process of group development is examined.

Advanced integrative learning that incorporates field experiences, evidenced-based interventions, case vignettes and dialogical inquiry through a Problem Based Learning framework.

Advanced integrative learning builds on 698A by incorporating field experiences, case/best practices consultations, and dialogical inquiry on micro, mezzo, and macro practice levels. Concurrent enrollment: SOWK 699b. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Grand Challenge initiatives and interventions from diverse perspectives are explored. Multidisciplinary strategies of innovation are analyzed to effect broad-based opportunities and barriers to change.

Leading public discourse for the purposes of increasing civic engagement and public participation, building broad based public support and enabling competencies.

Examining large scale national, state and local intervention programs as well as modeling potential organizational redesign to improve service delivery strategies.

Senior financial management and planning in human service organizations, emphasizing fiscal approaches that focus on strategy, including how to maximize revenue, control costs, allocate resources, improve decision-making and support successful social programs and disruptive social change.

Integrates design thinking with a norms-driven approach for social innovation. Students will diagnose social norms and apply design-thinking techniques to develop design criteria.

Introduction to doctoral level research and evaluation, introducing concepts of effectively using literature, formulating a problem for research and effectively identifying a research or evaluative approach.

The Leader/Maestro Concept enlarges the student from a virtuoso perspective - individual performance - to include an organizational performance in leading, creating and measuring change.

Explores how communication and new information technology influence decision-makers and the general public to address the Grand Challenges in the interest of the public good.

Practical introduction to using quantitative administrative data to identify trends, track performance, evaluate programs and drive decision making.

Continues the exploration of design thinking and norms-driven innovation. Students will design and test innovative solutions through the creation of prototypes and design labs.

Design and develop an innovative, feasible, and defensible Capstone Project focusing on a selected Grand Challenge for Social Work. Credit granted on acceptance of capstone project.

Refine a fully implementable, innovatively designed Grand Challenge Capstone Project. Future-focused on garnering support, piloting and launching students capstone prototype. Credit granted on acceptance of capstone project.

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.