Social Work, Diversity, and Vulnerable Populations

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Students will apply the NASW Code of Ethics when reflecting on their work with diverse and/or vulnerable populations.
• Students will use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain ethical and professional behavior when interacting with diverse and/or vulnerable populations.
• Students will apply their understanding of client and/or community positions of power, privilege, oppression, diversity, vulnerability, and strengths related to social, economic and environmental justice and human rights.
• Communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
• Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences.
• Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
• Students will identify how policies related to social justice, such as human rights and environmental policies, affect vulnerable populations.
• Students will reflect on ability to engage with individual clients, organizations, and/or communities comprised of diverse and/or vulnerable populations.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Introduction	20%
Self-Assessment	25%
Toolbox Project	15%
Class Participation	10%
Critical Reflection on Community Engagement	30%
Total	100%

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
95% - 100%	A
90% - 94%	A-
87% - 89%	B+
83% - 86%	B
80% - 82%	B-
77% - 79%	C+
73% - 76%	C
70% - 72%	C-
67% - 69%	D+
63% - 66%	D
60% - 62%	D-
59% and below	F

Attendance/Participation:

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, arrive on time, and be prepared for class by reading the text and other assigned readings. It is expected that students will contribute actively to the overall classroom learning experiences through significant class participation. Since most social work classes meet only once a week, students should not regularly miss classes. Students are allowed two excused absences for any reason (i.e. illness, emergencies, etc). After the two excused absences are used, additional absences will impact the student’s final grade in the following way:

3 days absent = 5 points off final grade

4+ days absent = Decrease in letter grade.

Students who miss three or more days may be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students need to be mindful of how many classes they are missing and that the BSW Program Faculty reserves the right to administratively withdraw students who have missed three or more days.

Arriving 15 minutes late or leaving 15 minutes early will result in no points being awarded for the day. Please communicate with the instructor before the weekly classes if you have technology issues or any health concerns that might affect your class attendance.

Please review the UNCG Attendance Policy for more information and guidance

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.