Course Descriptions

Prepares students for the generalist social work policy practice as they learn to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social, economic and environmental justice and to collaborate with colleagues, clients and constituencies to carry out effective policy action. Course is offered concurrent with the Alaska Legislature session.

Prepares practitioners for developing policies and programs in a political economy.  Examines contemporary social needs in a diverse and inequitable society.  Emphasizes role of research and evaluation in the policy process.

Students use practice knowledge to inform and complete an applied research study or program evaluation. The course involves the conceptualization, design, implementation and dissemination of results. 

Preparation for work in a variety of social service settings in which clients may be coping with problems related to mental disorders and/or addiction. A research based analysis of addictions and mental disorders as they are manifested independently and in combination; and the impact of those disorders upon clients involved in a variety of service systems such as child welfare, corrections and domestic violence.

Prepares graduate students and practitioners for social work supervisory management roles. The course provides a theoretical framework for supervisory management methods and processes and will address essential knowledge, values and skills in these professional functions.  Issues of gender and race as it relates to supervisory management will also be explored.

Explores a range of theories to inform social work practice with families and couples.  The course traces the evolution of family systems theories and other perspectives with emphasis upon development of skills to apply evidence based interventions with diverse families in need.

Focuses on knowledge and skills related to leadership and decision-making for potential leaders of social service organizations.  Emphases include leadership theory and analysis of leadership styles, decision-making theory and techniques.  Issues of gender and race as they relate to leadership and decision-making will also be explored.

Focuses on the budgeting process and how it relates to social service program planning, accounting methods and procedures, financial evaluation, and financial accountability. Values and ethics relating to financial administration in the nonprofit sector are emphasized.  Gender and race and their interpersonal/social influences on the financial management process are explored.

Focuses on the nature, role and relevance of social sector marketing, the nature of public relations activities, the major concepts and tools to analyze an organization’s markets, and potential strategies/guidelines for the development and implementation of marketing programs.

Explores the planning, conducting, and evaluation of fundraising activities, the development of mission-based fundraising, donor identification and relations, spectrum-wide fundraising (in-kind support, private support, private/public grants), social entrepreneurship and fundraising ethics and accountability.

Preparation for clinical work with children, adolescents and their families. Review of fundamental issues in child and adolescent development will provide the groundwork for development of effective assessment and treatment skills.  Emphasis will be placed upon understanding the child/adolescent within the family, community and cultural context, incorporating these factors into treatment approaches and planning.

Prepares students for advanced clinical social work in a variety of settings with adults suffering from behavioral disorders and problems coping with environmental stressors.  Focus upon skills for assessment, application of evidenced-based interventions and evaluations.

Equips students with theoretical and practical knowledge to differentially implement group interventions in a variety of settings with diverse populations. This course focuses on professional practice with groups.

Explores the reciprocal relationships of individuals and systems on family growth and development across the life cycle. Examines the impact of individual family members, extended family, community, cultural group and larger society on family development.

Equips students with knowledge and skills to independently practice clinical group therapy. Theoretical concepts and scientific findings will be applied to understand the practice of clinical group therapy that is short-term, structured and theme-centered.

Prepares students for the application of family and couple therapy in clinical settings.  Theoretical concepts, assessment methods and intervention technique will provide students the ability to formulate interventions with families and couples.

Develops the knowledge, skills, and values needed for effective social work practice with older adults and their families. Students will have the opportunity to develop the capability for accurate multidimensional assessments and effective interventions with and on behalf of older adults and their families.

Focuses on the assessment of families and the process of family therapy through an examination of classic and contemporary family therapy theory, models, research, and practice. A variety of therapeutic approaches will be presented. students will identify their own theoretical style of family therapy.

Focuses on the assessment of couples and the process of couples therapy through an examination of classic and contemporary theory, models, research, and practice. A variety of therapeutic approaches will be presented. Students will identify their own theoretical style of couples therapy.

Seminar. Students will conduct site visits to various agencies serving the mental health needs of children and families, participate in class discussions, interact with guest speakers, and present cases from their various mental health disciplines. Instructors will facilitate discussion coordinate guest speakers, provide case examples, and deliver lectures.

Provides an overview of telehealth with an emphasis on telebehavioral health in Alaska. Includes topics on the history of telehealth and current legal, technical and logistical considerations to prepare leaders in the expanding field of telehealth technology and clinical exercises.

Explores the multiple roles practiced by social workers who provide social work services in a school setting with emphasis on practice with populations at risk and culturally diverse students and families. Provides a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of providing social work services in a school setting.

Provides an in depth knowledge and understanding of providing social work services in school settings in Alaska. Explores the multiple roles of social workers who provide services in rural and urban schools in Alaska.

Focus on current topics related to social work with various system levels (individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations),fields of practice, and settings. Special note: May be repeated with a different subtitle for maximum of 9 credits.

Introduces systems of care as a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized, multidisciplinary, in partnership with youth and family, and address the cultural and linguistic needs of families in order to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs.

Students use practice knowledge to inform and complete an applied research study or program evaluation. The course involves the conceptualization, design, implementation and dissemination of results.