MSW612 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Culture, Economics, and Social Justice (3 cr.)

Prerequisite(s): MSW610  
Human Behavior in the Social Environment II investigates the impact of culture, race, economics, and discrimination across a range of intersectional privileged and marginalized identities, and how this relates to human development, behavior, and interactions within society. This investigation utilizes previously introduced developmental theories and conceptual frameworks and presents new theories and models designed to embrace human diversity and promote social justice

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Articulate a fundamental understanding of the strengths, challenges, and lived experiences of individuals marginalized in society (due to culture, race, ability, age, economics, gender, sexuality, religion, privilege, etc.). (G2a)
2. Examine the privileged narratives and ideologies in society, as well as personal judgments, attitudes, and beliefs, and how those can foster implicit bias within all levels of social work practice.  (G2b)(G2e)(G2f)
3. Identify current and historical patterns of socially-sanctioned bias and injustice embedded with social structures, social policies, and systems of social welfare and control.  (G2b)(G2f)
4. Assess the impact of positional and cultural power and privilege when engaging within marginalized communities.  (G6b)
5. Identify the underlying context of assumptions, ideologies, history, and values as it relates to the theoretical framework of human behavior in the social environment. (G7c)
6. Evaluate the suitability of each theoretical framework to assess the strengths and needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities whose assumptions, ideologies, history, and values differ from the framework’s foundational assumptions, ideologies, history, and values. (G7c)(G2c)
7. Examine social work practices developed within the socio-cultural context of specific marginalized populations. (G9b)
8. Analyze the positive and negative impact of individual social work practices and policies on the communal health and functioning of marginalized client groups. (G9b)(G2c)