This course introduces the growing field of international social work. It addresses the impact of globalization on social work practice, provides an overview of the social work profession around the world, and considers current challenges and suggested ways social workers can contribute to solutions. Human rights and globalization are dominant themes underlying international social work and serve as unifying concepts for examining various global issues. The focus of the course is on global social issues with particular attention to human rights, development, racism, status of women and children, climate change, immigrants and refugees, HIV/AIDS, and aging populations. Linkages between international and domestic social work practice are emphasized, making the course relevant to all students and their future practice.

Basic concepts, theories, and skills of social work practice. Lectures and discussions, readings and written exercises, and laboratory and practice sessions. Students use the experiential parts of the course (laboratory and interview simulations) to apply the conceptual and theoretical knowledge.

Continuation of Social Work Practice I with the further aim of introducing students to social work with groups and communities as models of social work practice.

In this course, students learn about behavior and development and its context across the lifecycle. The semester addresses growth and development from the prenatal period through the end of life using social systems theory/person-in-the-environment as a conceptual framework. The different systems that impact individual development including family, community, and larger systems are examined. Human worth and social justice themes permeate course materials, class discussions, and activities.