Critical Imagination in Social Work

Catalog description

This course is inspired by the classic statement of the American sociologist C. Wright Mills in his book The Sociological Imagination. The foundation for the course introduces students to the conceptual understanding of the differences between personal troubles and public issues. Social work as a profession and social workers as practitioners are essential in providing services to individuals, families, communities, and organizations in the present moment and the immediate future. As such, imaginative and innovative approaches must be developed to fulfill the mission of the profession in the areas of health, Page 257 Catalog 2025 - 2026 mental health, poverty, discrimination, climate change, and food insecurity. The approach will allow students to conceptualize these challenges by developing an understanding of the intersection of history and biography and create novel and innovative interventions that identify the processes to advance the biopsychosocial well-being of client systems into the future. Pre-requisites of SWK 810, 820, and 850 are required.