Social Work Practice I foundation course exposes learners to a generalist practice perspective for social work practice with individuals. Learners learn and practice skills in engagement, assessment, intervention, and endings and transitions within a micro context. Learners explore the nature of professional relationships characterized by mutuality, collaboration, and respect. Learners are expected to demonstrate competent use of the following skills: attending, establishing rapport, reflecting, summarizing, exploring, questioning, contracting, establishing clear well-formed goals, and addressing ethical dilemmas. Content and experiential activities emphasize privilege, oppression, and human diversity in the context of skill development for practice with populations at risk and from differing social, cultural, racial, religious, spiritual, and class backgrounds, at the micro level. Learners will examine their personal values and beliefs and the impact of personal values on professional values so that professional practice standards can be upheld.

Prerequisite: Admission to MSW Program.