RSSW 180 Integrating Social Justice into Professional Practice (3)
This course examines the ways that various professional disciplines address social justice theories, concepts, and strategies across systemic perspectives, including individual action, sociopolitical forces, policy, advocacy, reflexivity, ethics, and collective action. This interdisciplinary course engages students in the analytical tools to understand patterns of social change, resistance to change, and emancipatory and transformative change-producing processes across key professional domains. Open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Offered fall and spring semesters.
RSSW 190 Community Engagement (1)
This is a service based course that requires a minimum of 35 hours per semester (about 2.5 hours per week for full semester, about 5 hours per week for 8 Week 2) of volunteer work in public or nonprofit organizations that provide service to the community. In addition to volunteering, the course requires the development of learning goals, reflection on service experience and additional required documents. Open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. S/U graded.
RSSW 200 The Functioning of American Social Systems (3)
Students are provided with an overview of the functions and relationships of various systems within contemporary American society. The configuration of values underlying system activities is examined, including methods of changing human systems. A social systems perspective is used as the theoretical framework for the course.
RSSW 210 A Critical Examination of Power, Privilege and Oppression (3)
This course introduces students to social welfare and social justice issues in the U.S. while considering cultural contexts and implications of power, privilege, oppression, and the isms. Students will critique social problems and formulate solutions to improve the individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities through a social welfare and social justice lens. Students will explore intersectionality and its role in the unique experiences of marginalized groups. This course provides a broad overview social justice, social policies and programs, and the use of activism to confront injustice. Open to freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Offered in fall and spring semesters.
RSSW 230 Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice (3)
(Formerly RSSW 360) This course looks at how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help or hurt efforts to create a more just society. AI has the potential to improve many areas of life, like education, healthcare, and criminal justice, by helping with decision-making. However, while it’s mostly used to solve problems, AI can sometimes overlook important issues or even make them worse. For example, AI might not do enough to address problems like segregation or the challenges faced by historically marginalized communities, which can harm social justice. In this course, we’ll study how AI affects social justice in areas like poverty, law, education, child welfare, and housing. We’ll look at both the positive changes AI could bring and the ways it might make things worse, especially through the way data is collected, designed, analyzed, and shared. Students will learn about AI, discuss how it can be fair or unfair, and understand how to use AI thoughtfully to help promote social justice. Prerequisite(s): sophomore, junior, or senior status.
RSSW 290 Community and Public Service Program (3)
This is a service based course that requires a minimum of 100 hours per semester (about 7.5 hours per week full semester; about 12.5 hours per week for 8 Week 2) of volunteer work in public or nonprofit organizations that provide service to the community. In addition to volunteering, the course requires the development of learning goals, reflection on service experience and additional required documents. Prerequisite(s): at least second semester freshman and permission of instructor. S/U graded.
RSSW 291 Human Service in the Community (2)
This is a service based course that requires a minimum of 60 hours per semester (about 4.5 hours per week full semester; about 7.5 hours per week for 8 Week 2) of volunteer work in public or nonprofit organizations that provide service to the community. In addition to volunteering, the course requires the development of learning goals, reflection on service experience and additional required documents. Prerequisite(s): at least second semester freshman and permission of instructor. S/U graded.
TSSW 295 Community Change in a Globalizing World (3)
Community Change in a Globalizing World is an undergraduate social work course (honors) designed to explore and critically evaluate a range of ways that groups work toward community change - domestically, transnationally, and globally. The course is concerned with endeavors initiated by grassroots organizations and non-governmental/non-profit organizations; some of the principal actors are low-income people, students, neighborhoods, identity groups, and community change professionals. Throughout the course, students work to define what community means, explore the implications of globalization, and analyze their own social standpoint as global citizens. Open to Honors College students only.
RSSW 301 Human Behavior and The Social Environment (3)
Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment as a basis for generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Includes theoretical and empirical knowledge about the range of normal bio-psycho-social development and the nature and impact of oppression and discrimination on individuals and families throughout the life course. For majors and minors only. Only offered in Fall semester.
RSSW 305 Social Work Practice I (3)
This course is designed to introduce the student to general social work practice. Topics include: a definition and overview of generalist social work practice; the history, values and ethics of social work practice; the roles of social work; the generalist intervention model in a systems framework; self-awareness and professional use of self; introduction to basic communication skills and social work practice skills with diverse clients; effects of oppression and social injustice; and a basic understanding of theories utilized in practice. For majors only.
RSSW 306 Social Work Practice II (3)
This course is a continuation of RSSW 305: Social Work Practice I. Students will be introduced to the generalist helping processes of engagement and assessment with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; the integration of theory that informs engagement and assessment; evidence based and informed practices that guide engagement and assessment; basic social work and professional skills in engagement and assessment with diverse clients; and the effects of oppression and injustice in engaging and assessing populations at risk. Prerequisite(s): grades of C or higher in RSSW 301 and 305.
RSSW 322 Introduction to Socially Just Research Methods (3)
This course provides a foundation for knowledge, skills, and values for the implementation of social justice principles in social science research. The course will aim to train learners in the basic process and methods of quantitative, qualitative, and community-engaged research methods. Students will learn to collect and analyze data, as well as apply social justice lenses, for interpretation of research studies. Statistical skills are not required for taking this course. Social Welfare majors and minors and Social Justice Studies minors only. Offered in Spring only.
RSSW 390 Community and Public Service Program II (3)
This is a service based course that builds on prior community service experience by asking students to think critically about their community service experience through the lens of relevant scholarly literature. Requires 100 hours of service at a not-for-profit or public organization. In addition to volunteer service, each student is required to read selected articles and reflect on their experience by responding to discussion questions and completing a reflective writing assignment centered on personal leadership assessment and development. Prerequisite(s): RSSW 290 or RSSW 291 and permission of instructor. A-E graded.
RSSW 400 Field Instruction in Social Welfare I (3)
Internship in an affiliated social welfare agency where, under a qualified social work practitioner, students are assigned tasks which enable them to apply, integrate and extend the social work practice theory learned in the classroom. Assignment to a specific agency is made according to each student's educational needs. Students are in field 16 hours per week supervised by approved field instructors. For majors only. Prerequisite(s): grades of C or higher in RSSW 301, 305, 306, 322 and by permission of instructor. Concurrent with RSSW 401 and RSSW 405Z. S/U graded.
RSSW 401 Integrative Field Seminar (1)
This seminar focuses on the professional and practice issues and concerns of students entering baccalaureate field instruction. The seminar provides learning opportunities that will enable students to compare practice experiences, integrate classroom learning with practice, and increase their critical thinking skills. Prerequisite(s): course may be taken by Social Welfare majors only. Grade of C or better in: RSSW 301, 305, 306, 322 and by permission of instructor. Corequisite(s): must be taken concurrently with RSSW 400 and RSSW 405Z.
RSSW 405Z Social Work Practice III (3)
This course is a continuation of RSSW 306: Social Work Practice II. The focus of this course is the intervention phase of the generalist helping process, including goal setting, contracting and basic interventions with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; intervention skills with diverse client systems; the applications of theory to practice with basic interventions; the use of critical reasoning in the basic intervention process, and the effects of oppression and injustice when intervening with populations at risk. This course is a writing intensive course. Therefore, much attention will also be given to the demonstration of critical reasoning through self-reflective and professional writing as it applies to the field of social work, and more specifically, basic interventions with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. For majors only. Prerequisite(s): grade of C or better in RSSW 306. Concurrent with RSSW 400 and RSSW 401.
RSSW 406Y Social Work Practice IV (3)
This course is a continuation of RSSW 405Z: Social Work Practice III. The focus of this course is the generalist helping process of advanced intervention, evaluation and termination with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; specialized social work and professional skills in intervention, evaluation and termination with diverse clients; application of theory and research to practice in advanced intervention, evaluation and termination; application of knowledge and skills to practice in concurrent field placement; effects of oppression and injustice in intervening, evaluating and terminating with populations at risk. In addition, this course meets the oral discourse requirement at UAlbany. Prerequisite(s): grade of C or better in RSSW 405Z. Concurrent with RSSW 410.
RSSW 408 Organizational and Community Theory (3)
An introduction to social work practice at the organizational and community levels, with emphasis on oppressed populations. Includes the history of communities, organizations and macro-practice in social work; major approaches to organizational behavior and community dynamics; the nature of non-clinical social work; the organizational and community contexts for the provision of social services; and skills for working in organizations and communities. For majors and minors only. Prerequisite(s): RSSW 210. Only offered in Fall semester.
RSSW 409 Introduction to Policy Analysis for Social Justice (3)
This class provides foundation knowledge and skills for policy practice, including democratic representation, policy development, advocacy, electoral justice, and policy analysis in the US context. Principles of social and economic justice are used in analyzing social policies and programs with emphasis placed on competencies needed to influence policies and services for populations who are at-risk or oppressed. Open to Social Welfare majors and minors and Social Justice Studies minors. Prerequisite(s): RSSW 210. Spring semester only.
RSSW 410 Field Instruction in Social Welfare II (3-4)
Continuation of RSSW 400. Internship in an approved social welfare agency. Hours per week are set to meet acceptable professional standards. Must be taken concurrently with RSSW 406. Prerequisite(s): grade of C or higher in RSSW 401, 405Z and 408; grade of S in RSSW 400. S/U graded.
RSSW 411 Integrative Field Seminar II (1)
This seminar is a continuation of the fall term field seminar and will focus on more advanced professional and practice issues and concerns of students entering baccalaureate field instruction. The seminar provides learning opportunities that will enable students to compare practice experiences, integrate classroom learning with practice, and increase their critical thinking skills. Must be taken concurrently with RSSW 406 and RSSW 410. Prerequisite(s): grade of C or higher in RSSW 401, 405Z and 408; grade of S in RSSW 400 or by permission of instructor.
RSSW 450 Independent Study in Social Welfare (1-3)
Independent reading or research on a selected experimental, theoretical, or applied problem is planned under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): written permission of instructor and chair of undergraduate program.
RSSW 499 Special Areas of Social Welfare (3)
Consideration of a topic or issue in the field of social work knowledge or practice is selected on the basis of faculty and student interest. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.