Social Welfare - HmnRghts Soc Rac Econ Env Just

Catalog description

The course lays a human rights-centered foundation for students' social work education, elevating the pursuit of social, racial, economic, and environmental justice as a core dimension of social work practice. The course familiarizes students with the global human rights framework, exposes them to key human rights challenges in the current landscape, and engages them in countering these challenges and promoting opportunities for human rights. Students critically examine the state of human rights in the US and also expand their lens to consider social work as a global enterprise, where lessons are to be learned and contributions made in diverse transnational contexts. While emphasizing human well-being as a core aim of the profession, the course emphasizes the importance of restoring and protecting the natural world, as an end in itself and an essential precondition for human thriving. Students develop human rights literacy, learning the history of human rights governance, the mechanisms for protecting individual and group rights--and the limitations of these tools. They demonstrate empathy with those experiencing threats to their human rights, drawing on their commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They take responsibility to act as global community members committed to the dignity and worth of every person. Equipped with this complement of knowledge, skills, and values, students are prepared for generalist practice from a human rights-based perspective. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the School of Social Welfare. Successful completion of SW 510, 512 and 540.