Course subject: Social Work (SWK)

This course examines practice models and multi-level methods of intervention for effective social work practice in health care, including health promotion, disease prevention, assessment treatment, rehabilitation, continuing care, and discharge planning within the context of social, economic, environmental, and cultural variations. The distribution and determinants, as well as psychological and behavioural aspects of health and disease across the life span are addressed. Practice models incorporate competence and empowerment as central themes. Different practice models of care are explored within the context of socio-cultural factors that inform health and well-being. Differences between the concepts of illness and disease are explored within the healthcare narrative. Resource allocation in the management of chronic and complex health conditions is examined, and interventions that support individual and family capacity to adapt to health crises or chronic health conditions are considered. (Note: This is an online course).

This course introduces students to theoretical and practical aspects of program evaluation. Students learn about the application of data collection skills to all phases of developing a health or human services program or service innovation, from needs assessment to analysis of findings to implementation of changes based on results. Students learn to appreciate how these skills can be used as practical tools for identifying health and human services problems, for developing and implementing programs including taking a reflective practice approach, ensuring equity and fairness in program delivery (i.e., combating disparities), and generally promoting health and human services through effective and efficient programming. (Note: This is an online course).

The goal of this course is to deepen students' knowledge of the ways in which research can be produced, used, and disseminated in social work practice. The course will address research ethics, theories, and methods, and examine how different approaches can influence relationships and practices across community and health care settings. Students will develop their abilities to assess existing research studies, and will explore how they can engage in new research as social workers. Activities include literature reviews, interviews, surveys, and knowledge dissemination strategies. Particular attention will be paid to program evaluation and knowledge mobilization, and to how these may be used to improve services and further social justice in students' own organizations and communities. (Note: This is an online course).

This course aims to equip students to provide sensitive and effective help to clients by presenting material concerning a range of mental health problems, assessment and treatment. The course considers clinical social work approaches across the continuum of mental health and addiction. Attention is focused on how social workers assess, document, support and intervene with consideration of the client, their family and social environment. (Note: This is an online course).

This elective course provides graduate students with an introduction to the field of psychosocial oncology. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and interpreting the experience of cancer informed by theory, evidence and illness narratives. Case based learning in small interprofessional groups will allow students to explore a variety of key learning themes relevant to psychosocial oncology including distress assessment, depression, anxiety, adjustment and coping, sexuality, loss and grief. Small group work will allow students to develop a rich understanding of the cancer experience and competency in psychosocial oncology assessment, interprofessional collaboration, and cultural safety. Attention to diversity will be integrated throughout the course.

Cancer causes wide-ranging impacts on sexual health and well-being and numerous studies have identified that people affected by cancer want support, education and counseling in this area. While health professionals consistently acknowledge that sexuality is within their scope of practice, few health professionals consistently assess or intervene in sexual health problems in cancer settings. This course is designed to provide graduate students in the health professions with the knowledge and skills to intervene with the sexual problems that arise in cancer.

This interdisciplinary course is intended to engage and advance knowledge and practice in Indigenous health with a focus on social justice. Students will learn about health inequities that face First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples in rural and urban contexts within Canada as well as Indigenous Peoples internationally who have been impacted by processes of colonization. The course will critically examine how health status indicators are measured and used as well as link determinants of Indigenous Peoples' health to historical and ongoing colonial priorities and practices. Some of the disparities in health and social issues, access to care, and systemic challenges including racism experienced by Indigenous Peoples in different regions and contexts will be shared as points for discussion. An intersectionality lens will be applied in consideration of the unique health experiences among Indigenous Peoples, including Indigenous women, youth, and Two Spirit people. Innovative approaches to healing and community-based ethical practices will also be profiled in social work and health care delivery, research, policy, and programming. The perspectives of Indigenous Peoples will be highlighted in this course, through a variety of readings, film and other arts-based narratives, including Indigenous scholars and community activists in the delivery and discussion of course materials.

This is a multi-module course that introduces students to key topics in social work and health through a critical lens (e.g., gerontology, mental health, community health, etc.). Students have the option of choosing 3 modules (topics), each being 4-weeks in duration. The common theme across the modules is the critical theories that frame the examination of each module topic. Students will further develop understanding of critical theoretical frameworks and their application to contemporary health discourses and health services and systems. Each module will underscore how the critical framing of health discourses and health services and systems are engaged as a method of identifying and responding to health inequities and diverse understandings of health and illness. (Note: This is an online course).