Graduate Prerequisites: (SSWCP759 & SSWCP770 & SSWCP771 & SSWCP772) or permission of department chair. - This is a three credit, advanced practice course which will employ affirmative models of social work practice with LGBTQIA+ individuals, families, and communities. The course builds on CP755 and CP757 (which are recommended but are not prerequisites for this course) in helping students refine their assessment and intervention skills with this particular population. Further, this course helps students apply knowledge of Narrative, trauma-informed, harm reduction, psychodynamic, and self-in-relation approaches to LGBTQIA+ populations. The ecological, Liberation Health, minority stress and strengths-based approaches will provide the theoretical framework for this course, as well as queer theory and constructionist ideas. Course content will be organized within the following five domains: (1) postmodern perspectives on gender and sexual identity and orientation; (2) developmental models for identity development; (3) affirmative social work practice with LGBTQIA+ populations; (4) intersectionality, race and ethnicity, families, youth, and aging; and (5) specific challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ communities such as trauma, intimate partner and community-based violence, substance misuse, HIV/AIDS, and how to make agencies safe for LGBTQIA+ clients and staff. Material for this course will include theoretical readings, relevant research, first person narratives, movies, and expert speakers representing human service agencies serving LGBTQIA+ individuals and families.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.