Smith College: School for Social Work


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COURSE LISTINGS

The following courses represent the Smith College School for Social Work's curriculum over the past five years. The School reserves the right to withdraw or modify courses as necessary. Course numbers and titles are listed by academic session. Courses are offered over a five-week term; those listed with two course numbers (e.g., 101/102) use a 10-week syllabus.

The typical course meets twice a week in classes of two hours each and provide two quarter-hours of credit each term. Courses that meets six hours a week provide three quarter-hours of credit each term. Master's students need 131 credits to graduate.

	Course descriptions by Sequence >
	The BSW Advanced Standing Course Curriculum >

Click on the course numbers below to read descriptions of individual courses. Use your browser's Back button to return to this list.

Academic Session I

In Session I students are required to take the following courses:

101/102. Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (Practice), 6 cr
130. Theories of Individual Development (HBSE), 2 cr
131. Problems in Biopsychosocial Functioning (HBSE), 2 cr
132. Family Theory for Clinical Social Work Practice (HBSE), 2 cr
133. Sociocultural Concepts (HBSE), 2 cr
160/161. Introduction to Social Welfare Policy (Policy), 4 cr
190. Group Theory and Practice (Practice/HBSE), 2 cr
191. Agency and Community Practice (Practice/Policy/HBSE), 2 cr

Academic Session III

The following courses are required of all students during Academic Session III, along with three elective courses.

301/302. Clinical Social Work Practice (Practice), 4 cr
331. Comparative Psychodynamic Theories for Clinical Social Work Practice (HBSE), 2 cr
330. Child Development from Infancy to Adolescence in its Social Context (HBSE), 2 cr
- or -
333. Developmental Deviations in Childhood and Adolescence (HBSE) (by petition), 2 cr
334. Racism in the United States: Implications for Social Work Practice (HBSE), 2 cr
380/381. Social Work Research Methods (Introductory), (Research), 4 cr
-or-
382/383. Social Work Research Methods (Intermediate) (Research)*, 4 cr
- or -
384/385. Social Work Research Methods (Advanced) (Research)*, 4 cr

(*Placement sections are based on the prior background and experience students bring to the program.)

Academic Session V

During Session V, students are able to focus on specific populations or issues by selecting from the rich offering of elective courses. Students may take as few as seven or as many as ten elective courses. In total, students are required to take one elective from each of the following five categories: Field of Practice Policy (coded "F"), Oppressed Populations (O), Advanced Social Theory Option (A), Multi-Person Modality (M), and Social Welfare (S). No course with multiple designations may count for more than one elective option (that is, a course designated O/S may only count for O or S, not both).

Electives - (updated each winter prior to registration) Those in [brackets] will not be offered in the upcoming summer. The letters following the sequence designation correspond to the elective options as described above. Each elective is worth 2 credits.
[304. Beginning Treatment of Children (Practice; free)]
[305. The Adolescent in Context: Dynamics and Treatment Issues (Practice; free)]
306. Couple Therapy (Practice; M)
307. Family Therapy: Narrative Approaches to Social Work (Practice; M)
308. Clinical Practice with Families: Dialogic, Feminist, and Narrative Approaches (10-week elective: see Electives for important registration information; Practice; M)
309. Group Therapy: Theory and Practice (Practice; M)
311. The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Clinical Social Work (Practice; free)
313. An Introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Practice (see Electives for important registration information; Practice; free)
[316. Clinical Practice with Traumatized Children and Families (Practice; free)]
317. Group Treatment for Children and Young Adolescents (Practice; M)
318. Managing Ethnicities: A Socio Legal History of Immigration to the U.S. (Policy/Practice; A/O/S)
[319. Self Psychology (Practice; free)]
320. Collective Trauma: The Impact of Intercommunal Violence on Individuals, Communities, and Cultures (HBSE/Practice; free)
322. Beyond Combat: Clinical Social Work Theory and Practice Models (Practice/HBSE; M; see Supplement)
323. Aging in America: Social Work Practice with Older Adults within the Context of Family and Society (Practice/Policy; A; see Supplement)
324. Social Work Treatment with Adolescents in Culture and Context (Practice; M; see Supplement)
325. Social Work in American Health Care and Implications for Cross Cultural Practice (Practice; A; see Supplement)
326. Social Work and the Schools: Making the Marriage Work (Practice; M; see Supplement)
327. Clinical Social Work with Children (Practice; free; see Supplement)
328. Clinical Approaches to Addiction: How to Motivate, Reduce Harm and (Eventually) Sober Up Your Clients (Practice; M; see Supplement)
329. Work with Youth and Families: Evidence-Based Multitheoretical Approaches (Practice; free; see Supplement)
335. Crisis Intervention (HBSE/Practice; free)
[336. Role of Culture in Contemporary Attachment Theory: "In Search of Security" (HBSE; free)]
337. Neurobiology and Clinical Social Work (HBSE; free; see Supplement)
360. Mental Health Policy and Services (Policy; F/S)
361. Families and Social Policies (Policy; F)
362. Health Policy and Services (Policy; F)
363. Child Welfare Policy and Services (Policy; F)
364. LGBTQ Identity and Social Policy (Policy; F; see Supplement)
[368. Law and Social Work (Policy; S)]
371. Family Law (Policy; S)
372. International Welfare Policy (Policy; F/S)
373. Lobbying and Grant Writing (Policy/Practice; S)
375. Social Justice and the Law: Public Policy and the Civil Rights Laws of the U.S. (Policy; O/S)
376. International Human Rights and Social Work Practice (Policy; O/S; see Supplement)
390. Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Identities: Developmental and Treatment Considerations (see Electives for important registration information; Practice/HBSE; O)
397. Race and Ethnicity in Psychodynamic Clinical Practice (HBSE/Practice; O)
[398. Palliative and End of Life Care for Children and Families (Practice; free)]
503. Senior Clinical Seminar: Populations at Risk (Practice; O/3rd Sum)
[504. Advanced Treatment of Children (Practice; free)]
506. Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy (Practice; free)
[507. Advanced Family Treatment: Narrative and Feminist Approaches (Practice; M)]
[509. Advanced Group Process Seminar (Practice; M)]
[514. Knowing, Not Knowing, and Muddling Through (Practice; 3rd Sum)]
520. Boundaries, Boundary Violations, and Management of Intense Affect (Practice; free)
533. Senior Integrative Seminar (HBSE/Policy; 3rd Sum; depends upon instructor) (see Supplement)
534. Attachment and Mastery in Contemporary Ego Psychology (HBSE; free)
536. Culture and Development Across the Life Course: An Anthropological Perspective (HBSE; A)
537. Violence: A Systemic Approach to Assessment and Intervention (HBSE; free)
[539. Advanced Comparative Psychodynamic Theories (HBSE/Policy/Research; free]
540. Death and Bereavement Over the Life Cycle (HBSE; 3rd Sum)
[541. Advanced Normal Child Development (HBSE)]
[545. Feminist Psychodynamic Theory and Practice (Practice/HBSE; free)]
560. Comparative Perspectives on Disability and Disability Policy (HBSE/Practice/Policy; O/S)
[561. Substance Abuse Policy and Services (Policy; F/O/S)]
562. Women and Social Policy in a Postmodern World (Policy; F/S)
581. Writing for Professional Publication (Research; 3rd Sum)
590. HIV/AIDS: Practice and Policy Perspectives (Practice/Policy; O/S)
[591. Clinical Practice in Low-Income Communities (Practice/Policy; O/S)]
592. Severely and Persistently Mentally Ill Clients and Their Families: Treatment and Social Policy Perspectives (HBSE/Practice/Policy; O/S)
[593. Human Sexuality (HBSE/Practice; free)]
[594. Private Troubles and Public Issues: The Social Construction of Assessment (Practice/HBSE; A)]
[596. Aging: Individual, Family, Community, and Policy Perspectives (Policy/HBSE; F/S)]
597. Theory and Clinical Practice with Addicted Clients: Dual Diagnosis (HBSE/Practice; free)
599. Clinical Social Work and Social Action: Bridging the False Dichotomy (Practice/HBSE; A/S)
[5534. Advanced Studies in Race and Racism: Trends and Challenges for Social Work Theory and Practice (HBSE/Practice; O/A)]
5535. Gender Studies (HBSE; A)
5536. Mental Health Responses to Disasters in a Community Context (Practice/Policy; S)
0001. Independent Study

Course Listing Supplement

Mission Statement

BSW Advanced Standing

Program Goals and Objectives

Degree Requirements
& Academic Policies

MSW Handbook

Master's Thesis

Recent Thesis Titles

Community Project Requirements

Research Internship Opportunities

Academic Calendar (SSW)

Admission to the
MSW Program