SWKM 5425Foundations of Justice

Catalog

Prerequisite(s): Formal acceptance into the MSW Program. Corequisite(s): SWKM 5400 Learners in this foundation year course will explore the foundations of justice, using a generalist practice lens. Beginning with a journey through historical, often unexamined, narratives and contributions from diverse voices to contextualize contemporary social work values and practices and encourage a re-imagining of social work futures. Learners will understand how diversity and difference characterize and shape human experience and are critical to identity formation. Learners in this course will understand that, because of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. As well as exploring their own privileged and oppressed identities through a critical lens that incorporates elements of their own socialization, intersectionality's, and biases. In addition, learners will recognize the importance of approaching social work from an integrated lens that acknowledges influences at the individual, family, group, organizational, and community system levels. Learners will discuss and strategize ideas designed to eliminate oppressive structural barriers to ensure that social goods, rights, and responsibilities are distributed equitably, and that civil, political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural human rights are protected as they work toward promoting multicultural humility.