Columbia University School of Social Work
 
T7102 Direct Practice with Individuals, Families & Groups

Overview and Rationale

The focus of T7102 is on the knowledge and processes of direct social work practice generic to all theoretical perspectives and modalities of helping. The purpose of the course is to extend and deepen the direct practice knowledge and skills to which students are introduced in the first foundation course (T7100). It is expected that by the second semester of study, students who have completed 300 hours of a field practicum are more able to observe, direct, and monitor their use of self in the intervention process and to begin reflectively analyzing their practice. Emphasis is placed on selecting, carrying out, and evaluating appropriate interventions based on differential assessment of the person/situation dynamic. In addition to the core themes below, several framing commitments are essential aspects of T7102. These include but are not limited to:

  • Evidence-based practice
  • Critical thinking and decision making
  • Cultural competence
  • Social work practice ethics

Although the content of T7102 may reiterate some material introduced in T7100, the focus of learning in the second semester is conceptual, practical and analytic, rather than basic familiarity with course content. This represents a progression of learning related to the overall program goals and objectives of the master's curriculum, in which T7102, along with its companion course, T7103; build on ideas and concepts introduced in the first semester. At the core of this progression of learning in the second semester is the development of critical thinking and decision-making skills that can be applied in all aspects of practice.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will learn to . . .

  1. Apply theory to practice with disadvantaged social work populations at the individual, family, or group level.
  2. Think critically about one's own practice and articulate decision-making skills in a conscious, ethical manner that addresses social and structural inequality.
  3. Articulate and apply knowledge and evidence to practice.
  4. Evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in relation to the problem and to the strengths, needs, and resources of the client system and of systems in the larger environment.
  5. Demonstrate self-observance, cultural competence, and self-analysis within all dimensions of direct social work practice.

Council on Social Work Education Core Competencies

This course contributes toward mastery of the following core areas of social work competency identified by the Council on Social Work Education.

Social workers . . .

  • Identify as professional social workers and conduct themselves accordingly.
  • Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
  • Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
  • Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  • Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
  • Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
  • Respond to contexts that shape practice.
  • Engage individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Core Content Themes

  • Modalities of helping—individual, family, and group
     
  • Linking assessment and intervention, including:
     
    • Introductory differential diagnosis utilizing the DSM-IV TR
    • Introductory psychopharmacology for social workers
       
  • Theoretical frameworks and their application to social work practice
     
  • Practitioner self-awareness and self-evaluation