SER 225 : Social Work Issues: Diversity and Oppression
Social Workers promote social justice and social change, are responsive to cultural diversity and address all forms of oppression and discrimination. This course introduces the student to the life-long learning process of (1) addressing issues of power and privilege and (2) developing culturally competent social work practices. We will explore issues related to working with diverse groups of people locally and globally with regard to gender, ethnicity, race, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic level, ability status, age, and faith. Emphasis will be placed on defining and developing skills for culturally competent social work generalist practice through students' self-reflection, experiential learning, and critical analysis of privilege and social inequalities. This course aims to ground students in a strengths-based/ empowerment model and to support students in their work towards a more socially just world. Prerequisite: SER 101. Three lecture hours per week.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify and analyze diversity, and difference in practice
2. Identify and analyze social, economic and environmental justice
3. Evaluate how to advance human rights
4. Evaluate policy practice
5. Analyze and evaluate interaction among individuals and within families, groups, organizations and communities