SWK 475: Social Work Seminar 3

Course Description

This is the third seminar course for Practicum Education. The weekly seminar course allows students to process their practicum experiences. This course is designed to integrate theory with practice, to gain information about community resources, to monitor student progress in the agency, and to process these experiences on practical, conceptual, and ethical levels. A strong emphasis is on engaging students to support one another's personal-professional growth in understanding their roles as leaders and change agents in the social work profession. Additionally, a fundamental understanding of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Code of Ethics will be integrated with course discussions. (2 credits)

Prerequisites

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2
  • SWK 372: SWK Practicum Experience 2
  • SWK 373: SWK Practicum Seminar 2
  • SWK 415: Macro Social Work Practice*
  • SWK 474: Social Work Practicum Experience 3*

* Must be taken concurrently.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Analyze knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as interprofessional conceptual frameworks to engage clients and constituencies.
  2. Demonstrate empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to engage in culturally responsive practice with clients and constituents.
  3. Implement knowledge of human behavior and person-in environment and other culturally responsive interprofessional theoretical frameworks when assessing clients and constituencies.
  4. Use respect for client self-determination during assessment process by collaborating with clients and constituencies in developing mutually agreed upon goals.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) / Competencies

  1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  4. Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  5. Engage in Policy Practice
  6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Knowledge Checks (Weeks 1-13)

15%

Weekly Seminar Participation* (Weeks 1-15)

15%

Video Quizzes & Helper Studio (Weeks 1-13)

20%

Discussions (1-15)

20%
Client Role Play Presentation (Weeks 14 & 15)

30%

Total

100%

*Weekly Seminar Participation is required from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday of each week via Blackboard Class Collaborate Ultra.

  • Note: Absence from 2 or more consecutive weekly seminar sessions will result in course failure

 

Required Textbook

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Summer, N., (2025). Fundamentals of Case Management Practice: Skills for the Human Services – with MindTap Access. 6th ed.

Additional Resources

  • Additional reading materials, assignments or activities can be determined by Practicum Agency.  For example, Agency training about documentation and client files.

Course Schedule

Week

PLOs

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,6,7

1,2

Topic: Case Management: Definition and Responsibilities

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 1
    • Chapter 1 PowerPoint
  • Review Course Materials
  • Review Course Policies
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 1: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 1: Video Quiz

2

1,6,7

1,2

Topic: Ethics and Other Professional Responsibilities

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 2
    • Chapter 2 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 2: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 2: Video Quiz

3

3,6,7

2,3

Topic: Facilitating a Social Unity in a Diverse Society

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3
    • Chapter 3 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 3: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 3: Video Quiz

4

3,6,7

3,4

Topic: How People Change

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 4
    • Chapter 4 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 4: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 4: Helper Studio

5

6,7

3,4

Topic: Applying the Ecological Model.

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 5
    • Chapter 5 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 5: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 5: Video Quiz

6

1,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Attitudes and Boundaries

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 6
    • Chapter 6 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 6: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 6: Video Quiz

7

1,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Bringing up Difficult Issues

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 10
    • Chapter 10 PowerPoint

 

  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 10: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 10: Video Quiz

8

1,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Addressing and Disarming Anger

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 11
    • Chapter 11 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 11: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 11: Video Quiz

9

6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Communicating for Change

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 12
    • Chapter 12 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 12: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 12: Video Quiz

10

2,6,7

1,2,,3,4

Topic: Documenting Initial Inquiries

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 13
    • Chapter 13 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 13: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 13: Helper Studio

11

2,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: The First Interview

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 14
    • Chapter 14 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 14: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 14: Video Quiz

12

2,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Social Histories and Assessment Forms  

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 15
    • Chapter 15 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 15: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 15: Video Quiz

13

1,2,3,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Using the DSM 

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 16
    • Chapter 16 PowerPoint
  • Review assigned chapter
  • Review assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned NASW link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 16: Knowledge Check
    • Chapter 16: Video Quiz

14

1,3,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Client Role Play Presentations

  • Readings:
    • Review Chapters 12-15 PowerPoints
    • Review Practicum Agency Intake and Assessment Documentation
  • Review PowerPoints
  • Review Practicum Agency documents
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Participate in Client Role Play Presentation
  • Submit Client Role Play Presentation documents

15

1,3,6,7

1,2,3,4

Topic: Client Role Play Presentations (Continued)

  • Readings:
    • Review Chapters 12-15 PowerPoints
    • Review Practicum Agency Intake and Assessment Documentation
  • Review PowerPoints
  • Review Practicum Agency documents
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Participate in Client Role Play Presentation
  • Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.