Course Syllabus

SOW5132 - Diverse Client Populations
Dr. Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Spring 2016 Syllabus

Course Policies | Course Schedule | Social Work Competencies

Course Instructor

Course Information

Course Description

This course is designed to foster understanding of difference in the areas of gender, race, ethnicity, class, ability, religion and sexual orientation. Upon completion of this course students will have an understanding of the strengths, needs, risk, resources, and community of diverse client populations. In addition, this course will provide opportunities to foster cultural competence – the development of awareness, knowledge, and skills that allow individuals (and agencies) to increase their abilities to provide effective cross-cultural services.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of the term, students should be able to:

1. Identify and constructively utilize diversity in social work practice (PB 7, 8, 11, 14, 15).
2. Discuss why issues such as racism, sexism, classism, ableism, heterosexism, ageism and other isms need to be considered as special targets for social work intervention (PB 7, 8, 11, 14, 15).
3. Articulate ethical considerations in regard to working with diverse populations (PB 7, 8).
4. Discuss the relation between "private troubles" of those who are marginalized and the "public issues" of institutional discrimination. (PB 11, 14, 15, 17).
5. Assess the impact of oppression and discrimination on the social functioning of marginalized populations (PB 7, 8, 11, 17, 22).
6. Utilize a systems framework that encompasses the Dual Perspective as well a generalist perspective to better understand selected minority client systems on a micro and a macro level. (PB 11)
7. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving ability to identify strategies for empowering marginalized clients through using client strengths with a variety of micro and macro interventions. (PB 7, 8, 11, 17, 22)
8. Demonstrate application of theory in assessing diversity and discriminatory practices. (PB 2, PB 18, PB 19, PB 20)
9. Critically evaluate research and evidence-based interventions with historically oppressed groups (PB 12, PB 22)
10. Demonstrate skills for empowering diverse under-represented clients in social work practice (PB 17, 19, 20).
11. Assess and acknowledge the strengths and resiliency in historically oppressed groups (PB 14, 16, 18, 19).

 Course Textbooks

1. Sue, D.W. and Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. seventh edition. Hoboken: Wiley and Sons, Inc. (Required)

2. Marsiglia, F. and Kulis, S. (2015). Diversity, oppression and change. Chicago, IL: Lyceum. (Recommended)
3. Locke, Don C. and Bailey, D. F. (2013). Increasing multicultural understanding. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. (Recommended)

Additional Information

Please be sure to read the Course Policies, Course Schedule, and Social Work Competencies.