Introduces human behavior and development as it influences and is influenced by multiple factors in the social environment, including individual genetic and biological composition, race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, geographic location, physical appearance, and ability. How these factors operate throughout the life cycle. Provides a knowledge base and perspective to understand a client's behavior, attitude, and values in relation to the attitudes and values of the social work professional and the larger society.

This course provides an overview of behavioral health and wellbeing through a social justice lens. While students will learn about the traditional approach to behavioral health including the diagnosis and assessment of ?mental illness?, they will also explore contemporary perspectives that view our behavioral health as inseparable from our bodies, families, communities, and other social determinants of health.

Introduces methods and practice. Basic principles, values, and ethics, interviewing skills, problem assessment, and contracting of social work practice with individuals and families are studied. Skills training in lab sessions.

The course will explore the social construction of individual and group racial and ethnic identities and their relationship to oppression, prejudice, discrimination, and powerlessness in social and interpersonal contexts and their impact on individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Students will have an opportunity to examine their own experiences of both privilege and oppression. Students will learn to critically examine theories, concepts, and models of practice for racial and cultural bias.