Columbia University School of Social Work
T7113 Advanced Clinical Practice in a Field of Practice
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Overview and Rationale
The overall purpose of T7113 is to reinforce and sharpen the student's practice skills, to enhance the capacity to make informed choices and decisions in direct practice with clients, and to further develop critical understanding of the nuances and complexities of social work practice. The course will emphasize differential assessment and interventions with vulnerable populations in a range of contexts and how they are informed by various theories and research findings within a specific field of practice. The content builds on and elaborates first year learning regarding the processes and methods of social work practice.
The unifying concept and distinguishing feature of this course rests in the "fields of practice" context and the application of evidenced-based social work practices with vulnerable populations over the life course. Fields of practice reach beyond individual social programs and services to encompass the essence of professional practice as it has developed across settings. The view assumes a common foundation of practice knowledge and methods applicable to all fields. T7113 builds on T7100, T7102 and T7103 by acquiring advanced knowledge and skills that consider the opportunities and constraints of clinical practice within a field of practice and elaborates on previously taught life course and ecosystems perspectives. |
Learning Outcomes
In this course, students will learn to . . .
- Analyze specific client issues from a multi-systemic and strengths-based perspective grounded in current theories that explain their causes.
- Identify and confront ethical dilemmas typically encountered in the targeted field of practice.
- Identify current empirically-based assessment and evidence-based intervention and prevention strategies, and best practices for psychosocial problems faced by individuals, families, groups and communities in the context of the targeted field of practice.
- Identify and address a broad range of variables (e.g., age, ethnicity, culture, immigration status, race, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, ability, disability) that affect the person seeking help, the service provider and the helping relationship.
- Describe the environmental context of social work practice in community and organizational settings and the ability to assess and intervene when environmental constraints impinge on clinical practice.
- Systematically plan, implement, monitor and evaluate clinical interventions in context.
- Apply professional use of self.
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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.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
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Core Content Themes
- Advanced engagement, assessment, and intervention skills
- Agency-based clinical practice
- Assessment of risks and resiliency
- Best practices
- Competence in working with diversity
- Differential use of the professional relationship
- Ethical dilemmas
- Evidence-based social work practice
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Practice monitoring and evaluation
- Strengths-based practice
- Skill development
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