Description of Social Work Courses for the Social Work Profession
Becoming a social worker requires the completion of a number of graduate level courses. In order to become a certified or licensed social worker, it is vital to have an understanding of the fundamental concepts of social work. The most common courses for the social work profession are human behavior, research methods and statistics, psychoanalytic theories, ethnocultural issues and practical classes for social work with individuals and groups.
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Human Behavior
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Human behavior courses are widely available and often focus on incorporating the bio-psycho-social perspective with learning concepts of human behavior and development. Courses start with the individual as he progresses from birth until death, and the psychological, biological and social stressors that may impact functioning throughout life.
Research Methods and Statistics
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Research methods and statistics courses provide a foundation for social workers to understand scholarly publications and the research methods and statistical structures used to develop theories on specific social work topics. Basic introductions to logic, issues of empirical research and statistical techniques are generally provided, and in recent years, statistical software for social work research has been incorporated into many classes.
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Psychoanalytic Theories
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Psychoanalytic theories courses focus on providing a basic grasp of the most important theories of the major psychoanalysts. Different courses may focus on a particular school of thought such as object relations, or may focus on a specific analyst such as Sigmund Freud or Melanie Klein. The development of critical thinking skills is heavily emphasized in these courses.
Ethnocultural Issues
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In recent years, courses in ethnocultural issues have become increasingly popular at schools of social work. Ethnocultural issues classes focus on issues of race, gender, sexuality and other cultural differences. Students are encouraged to explore their own ideas and challenge preexisting concepts or ideas they may have on selected topics.
Practice with Individuals and Groups
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Some schools of social work separate this course into two distinct courses: one for practice with individuals and one for practice with groups. The courses provide a foundation for students to begin working with human subjects and to understand how to effectively provide services such as counseling or advocacy. Students learn how to lead group and family counseling sessions and how to provide intervention and counseling to individuals.
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References
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