SOWK 424: Organizational and Policy Practice
Prerequisites: Admission to SOWK Major
This course advances the student鈥檚 knowledge of policy practice and introduces organizational theory and practice. This course integrates the student鈥檚 knowledge base in Human Behavior in the Social Environment with specific skills needed for working with and within communities, agencies, and institutions.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
I. Community organization including concepts of structure, function, and frameworks
of communities and skill development in problem solving and organization.
II. Facilitating purposive change - concepts of census and difference.
III. Development of practice skills in systems, function, and analysis of community
organizing.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
I. Students integrate knowledge base in working with large communities through small
group experiential exercises, written and oral presentations, and group discussions.
II. Format - This course will use a combination of the following:
Lectures, discussions, in-class exercises, experiential learning projects, and examinations.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
1.Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice;
2.Describe how the organizational characteristics of human and social service agencies influence professional practice with individuals, families, communities, institutions and agencies;
3.Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies; and
4.Identify an agency-level intervention to improve agency culture, climate, or practice.
Assessment Measures
Student progress in achieving course goals and objectives may be measured in a variety of ways, including participation in small groups, written and oral presentations.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
Revised, April 23, 2013
February 2005 Updated Steven Culver