Programs
Courses of Instruction
The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is a leader in social work and nursing education and research. These MSW graduates celebrate in front of Tommy Trojan. Photos by Wallis Photo LLC.
The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers programs of study leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctorate of Social Work (DSW), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in social work as well as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). These programs provide the student a broad background of knowledge about health and welfare problems, the meaning of programs past and present that have been established to meet them, and current issues and policy trends in the field.
At the same time, the student is helped to become a professional person through development of a philosophy in harmony with that of the profession: to prevent and mitigate severe social problems that challenge the viability of culturally diverse and complex urban settings; to build on the strengths of individuals, families, and communities; and to lead the scholarly search for innovative, efficacious and just solutions.
Montgomery Ross Fisher
Building 214
Main: (213) 740-2711
Admissions: (213) 740-2013
FAX: (213) 740-0789
Email: sswadm@usc.edu
dworakpeck.usc.edu
Administration
Sarah Gehlert, PhD, Dean
Concepcion Barrio, PhD, Interim Executive Vice Dean
Michael Hurlburt, PhD, Director, Doctoral Programs
Charles Kaplan, PhD, Associate Dean, Research
Joshua Watson, EdD, Assistant Dean, Student Services
Leslie Wind, PhD, Chair, MSW Program
Janet Schneiderman, PhD, Chair, MSN Program
Faculty
Chinese-American Golden Age Association/Dr. Frances Wu Endowed Chair: Iris Chi, DSW
Dean’s Professor of Social Work and Business: Michàlle E. Mor Barak, PhD*
Frances L. and Albert G. Feldman Endowed Professorship in Social Policy and Health: Lawrence Palinkas, PhD
Frances G. Larson Professor of Social Work Research: John Brekke, PhD*
John Milner Professor of Child Welfare: Jacquelyn McCroskey, DSW*
David Lawrence Stein/Violet Goldberg Sachs Professor of Mental Health: Marleen Wong, PhD
Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development: Suzanne Wenzel, PhD
Professors: John Brekke, PhD*; Iris Chi, DSW; John Clapp, PhD; Yuri Jang, PhD; Jacquelyn McCroskey, DSW*; Michàlle E. Mor Barak, PhD*; Lawrence Palinkas, PhD; Avelardo Valdez, PhD; Suzanne Wenzel, PhD
Associate Professors: Cleopatra Abdou, PhD; Maria Aranda, PhD*; Concepcion Barrio, PhD; Devon Brooks, PhD; Carl Castro, PhD; Julie Cederbaum, PhD; Alice Cepeda, PhD; Jeremy Goldbach, PhD; Benjamin Henwood, PhD; Michael Hurlburt, PhD; Helen Land, PhD*; Karen Lincoln, PhD; Ferol Mennen, DSW*; Eric Rice, PhD; Dorian Traube, PhD; Shinyi Wu, PhD; Ann Marie Yamada, PhD
Assistant Professors: John Blosnich, PhD; Robynn Cox, PhD; Jordan Davis, PhD; Daniel Hackman, PhD; Elizabeth Kim, PhD; Jungeun Olivia Lee, PhD; Hans Oh, PhD; Monica Perez Jolles, PhD; Rebecca Rebbe, PhD
Clinical Professors: Eileen Abel, PhD; Rafael Angulo, MSW; Margarita Artavia, MSW; Judith Axonovitz, MSW; Annalisa Enrile, PhD; Stephen Hydon, EdD; Anne Katz, PhD; Paul Maiden, PhD; Murali Nair, PhD; Tyan Parker Dominguez, PhD; Renee Smith-Maddox, PhD; Doni Whitsett, PhD; Marleen Wong, PhD
Clinical Associate Professors: Rosamaria Alamo, PhD; Jane Allgood, PhD; Estela Andujo, MSW; Juan Araque, PhD; Kathleen Becker, DNP; Karra Bikson, PhD; David Bringhurst, PhD; Nikki Cavalier, MSW; Ruth Cislowski, MSW; Tory Cox, EdD; Kimberly Finney, PhD; Terence Fitzgerald, PhD; Pamela Franzwa, MSW; Kim Goodman, MSW; Bianca Harper, DSW; Suh Chen Hsiao, DPDD; Maria Hu, DSW; Dawn Joosten-Hagye, PhD; Seth Kurzban, PhD; Terri Lee, MSW; Jennifer Lewis, PhD; Omar Lopez, MSW; Martha Lyon-Levine, PhD; Shannon Mayeda, PhD; Renee Michelsen, MSS; Sam Mistrano, JD; Sharon O’Neill, JD, DNP; Christina Paddock, MSW; Elizabeth Phillips, PhD; Michael Rank, PhD; Erik Schott, EdD; Michal Sela-Amit, PhD; Melissa Singh, EdD; Candace Smith, EdD; Fred Stone, PhD; Ruth Supranovich, EdD; Vivien Villaverde, MSW; Benita Walton-Moss, PhD; Deborah Waters-Roman, EdD; Eugenia Weiss, PsyD; Ruth White, PhD; June Wiley, PhD; Leslie Wind, PhD; Lisa Wobbe-Veit, MSW; Beverly Younger, PhD; Kristen Zaleski, PhD; Michelle Zappas, DNP
Clinical Assistant Professors: Danielle Brown, MSW; Steven Bush, EdD; Laura Cardinal, MSW; Gabriel Crenshaw, PsyD; Kerry Doyle, MSW; Josephine Fava-Hochuli, DNP; William Feuerborn, DSW; Umeka Franklin, EdD; Susan Hess, MSW; Janett Hildebrand, PhD; Harry Hunter Jr., PhD; Jane James, JD; Wanda Jewell, PhD; Tracie Kirkland, DNP; Stacy Kratz, PhD; Brittani Morris, MSW; Jan Nissly, PhD; Jennifer Parga, MSW; Holly Priebe Sotelo, MSW; Cynthia Sanchez, DNP; Sara Schwartz, PhD; Andrea Witkin, PhD; Kathleen Woodruff, DNP
Senior Lecturers: Marco Formigoni, MSW; Laura Gale, EdD; Iris Gonzalez-Thrash, MSW; Robert Hernandez, DSW; Cheryl Macon-Oliver, MSW; Sara McSweyn, MSW; Richard Newmyer, MSW; Aimee Odette, DSW; Cynthia Rollo-Carlson, MSW; Lily Ross, MSW; Shane’a Thomas, MSW
Lecturers: Cassandra Fatouros, MSW/MBA; Lisa Kabot, MSW; Jessica Klein, MSW; Debbie Murad, MSW; Dorothy Nieto Manzer, MSW; CarolAnn Peterson, PhD; Stephanie Wander, MBA; James Wind, MBA
Research Professor: Charles Kaplan, PhD
Research Associate Professors: Donald Lloyd, PhD; Janet Schneiderman, PhD
Research Assistant Professors: Hazel Atuel, PhD; Sara Kintzle, PhD; Sonya Negriff, PhD; John Prindle, PhD; Harmony Rhoades, PhD; Sherrie Wilcox, PhD, Hsin Yi Hsiao, PhD
Emeritus Professors: Howard J. Parad, DSW*; Rino Patti, DSW*; Barbara Solomon, DSW*
Emeritus Field Education Faculty: Rhoda G. Sarnat, MA
*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.
Degree Programs
The Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers the Master of Social Work (MSW), the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the Doctorate of Social Work (DSW), the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the dual Master of Social Work/Doctor of Philosophy, Social Work (MSW/PhD) degrees. In addition, the school offers dual degrees with the schools of business, gerontology, law, medicine, public policy and the Hebrew Union College.
Dual Degree Programs
The Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work currently offers dual degree programs with several other USC professional schools. In addition, the school maintains a dual degree program at Hebrew Union College located adjacent to the USC campus.
The goal of these programs is to encourage graduate students to gain a recognized competence in another discipline that has direct relevance to the roles filled by social workers in society. Dual degree programs are based on the premise that some topics covered in the school are also addressed in the curricula of other departments, so that some credit toward an MSW degree may be given for specific courses in the cooperating department. Similarly, these departments have recognized that some credit toward their corresponding degree may be awarded for work completed in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. For this reason, students enrolled in dual degree programs can obtain both degrees with a reduced number of total units. Students wishing to enroll in dual degree programs must apply for and be admitted to both schools.
Master of Social Work/Master of Science, Gerontology
The MSW/MS Gerontology dual degree offers the student interested in direct service or community organization the credentials most valued in clinical and therapeutic practice. Students enrolled in this dual degree receive an MSW as well as an MS in Gerontology. This dual degree requires completion of 73 units: 32 units of work in the Davis School of Gerontology and 41 units in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. The course work is usually completed over a 24-month period for full-time students.
Students must complete MSW course work in foundation, foundation field instruction and core courses specific to the AMHW or SCI departments.
See the Master of Social Work/Master of Science, Gerontology (MSW/MS Gerontology) in the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology for course requirements.
Master of Social Work/Master of Public Administration
The Master of Social Work/Master of Public Administration (MSW/MPA) dual degree program provides those students interested in careers as administrators of social service agencies the opportunity to combine preparation in the substantive field of social work with the acquisition of the administrative capabilities necessary in the public sector. Students must complete 82 units: 54 units in social work and 28 units in public administration.
Dual degree students must complete MSW course work in foundation, field and core courses specific to the AMHW, SCI or CYF departments.
Most students complete both program requirements in 24 months for full-time students. See the USC Price School of Public Policy for course requirements.
Master of Social Work/Master of Urban Planning
The Master of Social Work/ Master of Urban Planning (MSW/MUP) dual degree program between the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the USC Price School of Public Policy offers unique opportunities for students who want to devote their professional careers to social policy, social planning or social services delivery.
Students must complete 83 units, including 51 units in social work and 32 units in urban planning. They must also select a community organization, planning, and administration concentration in the second year of their social work program.
There are six concentrations available in the Master of Urban Planning program. Please see Urban Planning (MUP) for the concentration descriptions and course lists.
Master of Social Work/Juris Doctor, Law
The Master of Social Work and Juris Doctor (MSW/JD) dual degree program with the USC Gould School of Law is a four-year program in which students complete a total of 121 units. This includes 45 units in social work and 76 units in law.
To earn the JD, all students (including dual degree students) must complete 35 numerically graded law units at USC after the first year. The associate dean may make exceptions to this rule for students enrolled in law school honors programs. Students must apply to both programs prior to matriculation. The program of study is as follows:
First and Second Years: Complete both the first-year JD program of study and MSW course work in foundation, field and core courses specific to the AMHW, SCI or CYF departments.
Third Year: Complete the second year JD program.
Fourth Year: Complete the remaining required core department and field courses and one semester of field instruction and the final semester of the JD program in the spring.
The law school gives credit for the third semester in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. At the same time, the latter recognizes law courses as substitutions for a one-semester practice course, special topics courses, the third semester of social policy and one semester of field instruction (for which a clinical law semester is substituted).
Master of Social Work/Master of Business Administration, Business
The MSW/MBA dual degree develops knowledge and skills in working with individuals, families and groups, as well as organizational dynamics, marketing, decision sciences, accounting, and human relations. Students interested in working in the management of human services and not-for-profit organizations will develop knowledge of human resources, philanthropic and corporate social responsibility, organizational development, and information management.
Prospective students must apply to both the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the USC Marshall School of Business .
The MSW/MBA requires completion of a total of 96 units: 48 in the Marshall School of Business and 48 in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
Students must select the Department of Social Change and Innovation (SCI). Dual degree students must complete MSW course work in foundation, field and core courses specific to the SCI department.
Course requirements in the Marshall School of Business include all required courses in an MBA program and graduate business electives sufficient to bring the total units completed in the Marshall School of Business to at least 48. Dual degree students may not count courses taken outside the Marshall School of Business toward the 48 units. For MBA admission and degree requirements, visit USC Marshall School of Business .
The MBA and the MSW degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of all program requirements.
Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services
The Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services, located in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, serves as the administrative umbrella for the school’s centers of research excellence. These centers of interdisciplinary research include the areas of aging, behavioral health, child welfare, homelessness, severe mental illness, veterans and military families, and management and policy. The center hosts seminars and colloquia, which are open to the university and community.
Research projects are supported by federal, state, county and school resources. The center engages faculty in research, demonstration, and application in building and testing theory, developing research instruments, testing models of service and treatment modalities, and evaluating programs and service policy. The center also provides opportunities for doctoral students to acquire research training through ongoing and newly initiated faculty research projects. Doctoral students are encouraged to apply to participate in such projects, which often lead to dissertation possibilities. Predoctoral fellowships and/or research assistantships for projects conducted at the center are sometimes available to incoming and ongoing doctoral students. The center also enables doctoral students to conduct their own research through the auspices of the center, including their dissertation research. All doctoral students are encouraged to attend and participate in the center’s colloquia and programs to enhance their involvement with and skills in research and knowledge development.
Minor
Master’s Degree
Dual Degree
Doctoral Degree
Nursing
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NURS 500 Bridge Course
Units: 2
Key concepts from chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, metabolism, microbiology, and immunology in an 8-week format. Successful completion of this unique preparatory course is expected to position students for success in the graduate level pathophysiology and pharmacology courses.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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NURS 501 Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Units: 4
Advanced physiology/pathophysiology including general principles that apply across the lifespan.
Recommended Preparation: Recent (within five years), satisfactory completion of undergraduate courses that include Organic Chemistry, Nutrition, Anatomy and Physiology. It is expected that enrolled students have reviewed their undergraduate course work in human anatomy and physiology, and possess a working knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry, nutrition, and human genetics at the undergraduate level.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 502 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span
Units: 3
Development of advanced critical thinking and clinical judgement skills through comprehensive health assessment. Health promotion and health maintenance content is utilized to assess health status and evaluate health risk among individuals and groups.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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NURS 503 Theory: Clinical Management of Adult Patients
Units: 3
The scope of practice and responsibilities of the family nurse practitioner in prevention of disease, health maintenance, and the diagnosis and management of patients with common illnesses are explored.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 504 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing
Units: 3
Advanced pharmacology including pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 505 Clinical Practicum: Management of Adult Patients
Units: 3
Primary health care to patients throughout the life cycle with a focus on the prevention of disease, health maintenance, and the diagnosis and management of patients with common illnesses.
Prerequisite: NURS 503
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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NURS 507 Theory: Clinical Management of the Childbearing/Childrearing Family
Units: 3
Diagnosing and managing childbearing women from preconception through uncomplicated pregnancy and postpartum periods and providing primary care to children and their families from newborn through adolescence periods.
Prerequisite: NURS 503
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 600 Theory: Clinical Management of Adult Patients with Complex Medical Issues
Units: 3
The scope of practice and responsibilities of the family nurse practitioner in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute, complex and chronic illnesses are explored.
Prerequisite: NURS 503 and NURS 507
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 601 Clinical Practicum: Management of the Childbearing/Childrearing Family
Units: 3
Clinical practicum is intended to prepare FNP students to provide primary health care to childbearing/childrearing families from preconception through adolescent phase of the life cycle.
Prerequisite: NURS 507
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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NURS 602 Research/Analytical Methods
Units: 3
Understanding and applying commonly used research methodologies and data analysis techniques in healthcare research.
Recommended Preparation: statistics
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 603 Transforming Research Evidence into Practice
Units: 3
Preparing the advanced practice nursing student to critically evaluate knowledge, research and evidence for implementation of best practices in healthcare in order to deliver safe, ethical, culturally sensitive evidence based care for patients in diverse settings.
Prerequisite: NURS 602
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 604 Clinical Practicum: Management of Adult Patients with Complex Medical Issues
Units: 3
Application of theoretical concepts studied in NURS 600. Comprehensive assessments, formulation of differential diagnoses, and the development of plans of care to manage acute and chronic complex in a variety of practice settings.
Prerequisite: NURS 600
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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NURS 605 Professional Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing
Units: 2
The professional role and legal responsibilities of the nurse practitioner at entry to clinical practice and throughout a career are explored.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 606 Health Policy Principles in Changing Health Care Contexts
Units: 2
Foundation for leadership in interprofessional collaborative endeavors to address health policy that prepares learners to analyze and influence health policy and explores the role of nurse practitioners in the creation and modification of health policy.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 607 Theory: Family Primary Care
Units: 2
Capstone course draws on material and concepts learning throughout the FNP program and explores additional complex issues including management of pain, caregiver burden, palliative care, and end of life.
Prerequisite: NURS 503 and NURS 507 and NURS 600 and NURS 602 and NURS 603
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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NURS 608 Clinical Practicum: Family Primary Care
Units: 3
Prepares the family nurse practitioner student for entry into practice in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute, complex, and chronic illnesses in the primary care setting.
Corequisite: NURS 607
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Nursing
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
Social Work
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SOWK 200xm Institutional Inequality in American Political and Social Policy
Units: 4
Historic and philosophical roots of inequality for minority groups in the United States and implications for public policy.
Credit Restriction: Not available for major credit.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 304 Children and Families in Urban America
Units: 4
Gateway to the minor in Children and Families in Urban America. Provides foundation for principles on the conditions of children, families and communities, partnerships between families and human service professionals, and interprofessional practice in urban American communities.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 305L Children and Families in Urban America Integrative Seminar
Units: 2
Introduction to human service professionals, agencies and institutions in the greater Los Angeles area which serve children and families who reside there.
Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab Required
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 324 Juvenile Justice in America
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
The historical and current context of America’s juvenile justice system and its influence on children, youth and families.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 350 Adolescent Gang Intervention
Units: 4
The incidence of gangs (particularly in the Los Angeles area), gang interventions, and policies developed to address the growing gang situation.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 390 Special Problems
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4
Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 417 Introduction to Substance Use Disorders and Recovery
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Casual exploration of substance related and behavioral addictive disorders. Evidence-based and practice informed treatment models for vulnerable individuals, groups and families.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 424 Community Experience in Juvenile Justice Environments
Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp
Provides in-class and on-site community experiences to increase knowledge and understanding of youth experience in a range of social environments focused on juvenile justice.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 499 Special Topics
Units: 2, 3, 4
Max Units: 8.0
Selected topics in various specialty areas within social work.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 506 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
Units: 3
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 the former SOWK 503 and SOWK 505 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 535 Social Welfare
Units: 3
Structure and operation of current American social welfare programs (social policy analysis).
Prerequisite: the former SOWK 534 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 536 Policy and Advocacy in Professional Social Work
Units: 3
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 the former SOWK 534 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 544 Social Work Practice With Individuals, Families, and Groups
Units: 3
Principles underlying generic social work practice with emphasis on working with individuals, families, and groups.
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 543 and SOWK 545 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 546 Science of Social Work
Units: 3
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 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 588 Integrative Learning for Social Work Practice
Units: 2
Integrative learning organized as a small group educational environment that incorporates field experiences, case vignettes, and dialogical inquiry through a Problem Based Learning framework.
Duplicates Credit in former SOWK 587a and SOWK 587b.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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SOWK 589a Applied Learning in Field Education
Units: 3
Supervised field education where students learn and apply evidence-based interventions and clinical skills in practice labs and social work settings.
Concurrent Enrollment: SOWK 544 .
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 586a .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In Progress/Credit/No Credit
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SOWK 589b Applied Learning in Field Education
Units: 3
Supervised field education where students learn to apply coursework concepts while practicing in a field setting that aligns with students’ academic department.
Prerequisite: SOWK 589a .
Concurrent Enrollment: SOWK 588 .
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 586b .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: In Progress/Credit/No Credit
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SOWK 590 Directed Research
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Credit/No Credit
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SOWK 599 Special Topics
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4
Max Units: 13.0
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 601 Advanced Theories and Interventions with Children and Adolescents
Units: 3
Advances students’ knowledge and clinical skills working with children and adolescents. Emphasis on problems affecting children, including developmental derailments and disruptions.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 602 Advanced Theories and Clinical Interventions with Families
Units: 3
Advances students’ knowledge and clinical skills working with diverse urban families experiencing various stressors. Exploration and application of a range of family therapy models.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 544 or SOWK 545 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master’s Social Work students
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 605 Human Development and Mental Health
Units: 3
Understanding problem-producing behaviors and their ramifications on individuals, families and groups that comprise the clientele in mental health settings. Required for students in Mental Health concentration.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 607 Feminist Theory, Social Action, and Social Work: Philippines
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
Understanding and awareness of the political, economic, social, and cultural contexts through a feminist perspective, using the Philippines as a case study.
Prerequisite: SOWK 505 , SOWK 535 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 608 Research and Critical Analysis for Social Work with Children and Families
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 .
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 603 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 609 Introduction to Social Work Practice with Children, Youth and Families
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 610 Social Work Practice with Children and Families Across Settings
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Other
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 611 Leadership and Management in Social Work
Units: 3
Methods and principles of leadership and management applied to social work practice, understood as policy, management and clinical practice in the non-profit sector, health and human service organizations, and non-traditional social work settings.
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 612 Assessment and Diagnosis of Mental Disorder
Units: 3
Assessment of mental disorders, and the rationale and organization of the system for diagnosis. Emphasis is on developing differential diagnostic skills.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 613 Social Work Practice with Children and Families in Early and Middle Childhood
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 614 Social Work Practice in School Settings
Units: 3
Based on ecosystems perspectives, this course examines policies, theories and principles of social work practice in school settings.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 615 Brief Therapy and Crisis Intervention
Units: 3
Theory and multimodal approaches for brief therapy and crisis intervention with diverse clientele in a range of mental health and health settings.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 616 Clinical Practice with Older Adults
Units: 3
Developmental tasks of adulthood and later life, as well as assessment and intervention for problems and disorders associated with aging.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 617 Substance Related and Behavioral Addictive Disorders and Recovery
Units: 3
Causal exploration of substance related and behavioral addictive disorders. Evidence-based and practice informed treatment models for vulnerable individuals, groups and families.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 618 Systems of Recovery from Mental Illness in Adults
Units: 3
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
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.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 619 Social Work in Public Child Welfare Settings
Units: 3
This advanced seminar will provide tools to enhance the practitioner’s response to the special challenges (substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence) in public child welfare.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 620 Social Work Practice With Transitional Youth
Units: 3
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Students will be introduced to policies affecting transitional youth and use a biopsychosocial perspective to work with them on macro, meso, and micro levels.
Duplicates Credit in former SOWK 525.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 621 Social Work Practice with Adolescents, Young Adults and their Families
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 608 and SOWK 609 and SOWK 610
Registration Restriction: Open only to Masters students in Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 622 Threat Assessment and Management
Units: 3
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Provides an overview to students with an interest in violence prevention and crisis response.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 623 Social Work in Early Care and Education Settings
Units: 3
Provides tools to enhance social work practice skills supporting young children and their families, and preparation for leadership in early care and education settings.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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SOWK 624 Social Work in Juvenile Justice Settings
Units: 3
Provides orientation to the context and operations of juvenile justice systems, and advanced skills for social work practitioners working with youth, families and communities.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 625 Evaluation of Research: Mental Health
Units: 3
Range of research conducted in mental health; evaluation of selected research reports and their application to social work practice. Required for students in Mental Health concentration.
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 626 Social Conflict, Empowerment and Creative Practice in Israel
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
The summer global immersion program in Israel focuses on understanding social problems and alleviating them through empowerment approaches and the utilization of expressive practices.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 627 Policy and Macro Practice in Child, Youth and Family Services
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 629 Research and Evaluation for Community, Organization and Business Environments
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 630 Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice
Units: 3
Introduction to diversity and social justice in the context of social work practice. Enhance cultural competence by raising awareness of one’s own values/assumptions/biases.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 631 Advanced Theories and Clinical Interventions in Health Care
Units: 3
Evaluation of theory, best practices, emerging issues, and skill development in health settings; interaction among cultural, socioeconomic, and organizational factors.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 544 or SOWK 545 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 633 Life in the US Military: Foundations of Practice in Military Social Work
Units: 3
Examines the experience of military service, including challenges and theoretical and empirical foundations of military social work clinical practice.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 634 Violence Against Women: A Transnational Perspective
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 589a
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Duplicates Credit in former SOWK 522
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 635 Research and Evaluation for Social Work with Adults and Older Adults
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Registration Restriction: Open only to masters students in Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 637 Assessing Wellness to Improve Recovery in Integrated Care
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 638 Policy in Integrated Care
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 .
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 636 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 639 Policy Advocacy and Social Change
Units: 3
Analysis of efforts to improve local human services organizations and agencies with consideration of political, social, demographic and organization contexts.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 640 Clinical Practice with the Military Family
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 641 Clinical Practice with Service Members and Veterans
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 643 Social Work Practice in Integrated Care Settings
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: SOWK 544 and SOWK 637
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 644 Explanatory Theories of Health and Mental Health
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 645 Clinical Interventions: Evidence Based Practice in Health and Mental Health Settings
Units: 3
Social work processes from intake to termination; emphasis on clinical skills required for social work practice in a broad spectrum of health and mental health settings.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 647 Advanced Practice with Complex Social Work Cases
Units: 3
Introduction to advanced practice concepts essential to understanding engagement, assessment and diagnosis with complex social work cases from a meta-framework perspective.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 635 and SOWK 637 and SOWK 638 and SOWK 643 and SOWK 644
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 648 Management and Organizational Development for Social Workers
Units: 3
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 650 Military and Veteran Policy and Program Management
Units: 3
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.
Prerequisite: SOWK 534 or SOWK 536
Registration Restriction: Open only to Masters students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 651 Clinical Psychopharmacology for Social Workers
Units: 3
Understanding major psychoactive drugs used in treatment of psychological and behavioral disorders in behavioral and primary care medical settings. Theoretical/practical approaches to treatment are examined.
Prerequisite: SOWK 546 or SOWK 562
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 652 Social Work Practice in Workplace Settings
Units: 3
Social Work services designed to improve and/or maintain the productivity and healthy functioning of individuals in the workplace.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Registration Restriction: Open only to Masters Students in Social Work
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 671
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 653 Social Work with Older Adults
Units: 3
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Integrates foundation and advanced knowledge and skill for practice with and in behalf of older adults.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 654 National Immersion in Washington, DC: Child Development and Social Policy
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Sp
A short study in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, addressing the development and change of Federal social policy concerning child development, especially as it pertains to local programs and services for children and their families. Priority enrollment given to currently enrolled MSW students.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 655 Global Immersion in Military Culture: U.S. Forces Abroad
Units: 4
Terms Offered: Sm
This course will enhance students’ understanding of the delivery of human services on overseas military installations.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 656 National Military Immersion in Washington, DC: Military and Veterans Policy and Practice
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Sp
A short study at the campus, online, and in Washington, DC addressing policies and programs for military members, veterans, and their families. Priority enrollment given to currently enrolled MSW students.
Prerequisite: SOWK 536 and SOWK 544
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 657 Social Work Practice with Native American Children, Families and Communities: National Immersion
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Sp
Understanding and applying social work practice with Native American children, families and communities through a community immersion experience on Indian Reservation.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 658 Organizational Practice and Development in Business Environments
Units: 3
Prepares students for organizational practice and program development in business environments, emphasizing organizational change initiatives, employee program development and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 .
Duplicates Credit in SOWK 673 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 659 Pathways to Immigration: Global Immersion to Mexico
Units: 3
Terms Offered: Sp
Understanding of immigration issues in Southern California via an immersion experience to expose students to the realities that immigrants from Mexico and Central America face.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 660 Health Care Delivery Systems: Planning for Health and Social Services
Units: 3
Evaluating health care delivery systems in the U.S. and internationally including community social capital, health disparities, access to care, and policy implications for diverse populations.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 663 Clinical Practice with Couples
Units: 3
Examination of major models and diverse intervention strategies to ameliorate common presenting problems of couples.
Prerequisite: SOWK 503 , SOWK 505 , SOWK 534 , SOWK 535 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 664 Consultation, Coaching and Social Entrepreneurship
Units: 3
Expanding roles that social workers play within both non-profit and for profit corporations.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 503 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 534 or SOWK 536 ) and (SOWK 535 and SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 665 Grant Writing and Program Development for Social Workers
Units: 3
Grant writing and program development that are generalized to any settings and relevant to direct and macro social work practice expertise.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 503 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 534 or SOWK 536 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 666 Domestic and Intimate Partner Abuse
Units: 3
Recognition of domestic and intimate partner abuse and examination of effective intervention measures and preventive methods.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 534 or SOWK 536 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 668 Social Work and Law
Units: 3
Examination of roles, opportunities, and concerns for the practice of social work in the structures and procedures of the law.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 503 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 534 or SOWK 536 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to master’s students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 669 Managing Change and Organization Development
Units: 3
Conceptual framework and practical skills needed to design, implement and evaluate effective change and organization development programs.
Prerequisite: SOWK 503 , SOWK 505 , SOWK 534 , SOWK 535 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 670 Global Dimensions in Social Policy and Social Work Practice
Units: 3
Exploration and critique of how political, economic, cultural, religious and environmental factors impact social welfare policies, social work practice, and social development globally.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open to Masters Students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 672 Social Work and Business Settings
Units: 3
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
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 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 674 Human Sexuality in Clinical Social Work Practice
Units: 3
Explores physiological, psychological, and sociocultural variables associated with sexual identity, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior to increase student understanding and appreciation for human sexual behavior.
Prerequisite: SOWK 505 , SOWK 535 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 675 Play Therapy in Social Work with Children and Adolescents
Units: 3
Advances student theoretical knowledge and clinical practice skills in working with children, adolescents, and their families and explores the process of child psychotherapy.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 503 and SOWK 543 and SOWK 545 ) or (SOWK 506 and SOWK 544 )
Registration Restriction: Open only to Master Students in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 676 Psychopharmacology for Therapists and Counselors
Units: 1
Terms Offered: FaSpSm
Overview of various classes of basic psychotherapeutic medications. Useful to social workers, counselors, therapists, and other individuals who counsel and treat mentally ill patients.
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 677 Mental Health Practice with Children and Adolescents
Units: 3
The assessment and treatment of children with serious emotional disturbance, including the service delivery models and policies that influence service delivery.
Prerequisite: (SOWK 505 or SOWK 506 ) and (SOWK 535 or SOWK 536 )
Registration Restriction: Open to master’s students in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 678 Child Abuse and Neglect: Intervention and Treatment
Units: 3
Advanced practice course focusing on interventions with and treatment of complex family systems where the effects of child maltreatment are the presenting problems.
Prerequisite: SOWK 505 , SOWK 535 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
-
SOWK 679 Organizational Group Behaviors and Interventions
Units: 3
Emphasizing group and organizational dynamics, this course provides an understanding of human behavior in work-related environments, and prepares students for mezzo practice in these settings.
Prerequisite: SOWK 506 and SOWK 536 and SOWK 544 and SOWK 546 .
Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter
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