Foundation Year
The foundation year of the curriculum emphasizes the foundations of social work practice. During the foundation year of the curriculum, students perform the following:
- Demonstrate the essentials of multi-level generalist practice
- Employ the planned change process with systems of any size
- Identify and report cases of child abuse according to New York State guidelines
- Integrate the history of social work and social welfare policy in practice
- Apply the NASW Code of Ethics to ethical dilemmas and learn how to critically appraise current policy and legislation
- Demonstrate knowledge related to the lifespan, culture, and behaviorist theories
- Demonstrate basics and advanced techniques of the research process allowing them to evaluate their own practice and the effectiveness of agency programs
Furthermore, students will utilize evidence based interventions with systems of any size. Students will also be concurrently enrolled in courses and a generalist field placement that will reflect basic practice. The above mentioned knowledge, skills and abilities are needed to understand and comprehend the demands of the advanced specialty training year.
Concentration Year
The Advanced Concentration year curriculum builds upon the foundation courses taught in the first year of the two-year program. The concentration year field of practice focuses on one of the the most challenging areas of social work practice, children and families. Students will take one concentration course each semester and they will be assigned to placements where they will gain valuable experience in working with children and families in a clinical setting. Students will take clinical courses to learn the dynamics of working with children and families with clinical concerns. Also, students will take courses in Crisis Management, Advanced Clinical Practice, Psychopathology and a host of electives to support the clinical concentration.