Skip to content Where Legends Are Made
School of Social Work Apply to UA Make a Gift
a group of students talking on the quad

Social Justice Courses

BSW Courses

SW 351 Oppression & Social Injustice

This course examines issues related to the oppression of people on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, race, culture, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, age, religion, and national origin. It is designed to introduce the student to a range of issues of oppression and social and economic injustice pertinent to the field of social welfare and to the profession of social work. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.

3.000 Credit hours

SW 355 Honors Oppression & Social Injustice

SW 355 is open to all students in the Honors College at the University. This course will meet the Oppression and Social Injustice requirement for all social work majors. This course critically examines issues related to the oppression of people on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, race, culture, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, age, religion, and national origin. It is designed to introduce the student to a range of issues of oppression and social and economic injustice pertinent to the field of social welfare and to the profession of social work. Students will also be introduced to various theoretical approaches to oppression and injustice. Specific emphasis is placed on critical and reflective thinking, and an exploration of the mechanisms of privilege and disadvantage embedded in racism, sexism, classism and other forms of systemic oppression. This course has the University Core Curriculum ‘W’ designation. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.

3.000 Credit hours

SW 419 International Social Work

For students interested in international issues of social welfare and social justice, the course introduces international social work. The course is open to Social Work students as well students from other disciplines. The purpose of this class is to expose students to a wide range of internationally focused issues regarding human well-being and human rights along with contemporary debate on those issues. In this class, students will gain a deeper understanding of international social work and social development issues including global health development, governmental and non-governmental development agencies, role of social work in development, environmental politics, empowerment versus handout, along with resource sharing issues associated with poverty, world hunger, land use, and costs of globalization.

3.000 Credit hours

SW 443 Seminar in Generalist Practice

Required course designed to accompany field placement. Seeks to assist students in integrating foundation content with field experience, with emphasis on generalist practice. Offered only in the fall semester.

1.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours

MSW Courses

SW 526 “Isms” & Advocacy In Social Work

Introduction to various forms of oppression, social injustice, and advocacy to prevent and intervene.

3.000 Credit hours | 3.000 Lecture hours

SW 590 Field Education I-A

The first of two foundational practica designed to prepare students for generalist social work practice. Building on a liberal arts background, Field Education IA offers students supervised opportunities to apply knowledge, skills, and values learned in foundation social work practice, social welfare policy, human behavior in the social environment, and social work research classes. Students will have an opportunity to work in agencies that provide services to diverse populations using individual, family, group, and community interventions.
1.000 TO 9.000 Credit hours

Levels: Graduate

Schedule Types: Field Experience

DSW Courses

SW 700 Advanced Theories on Oppression and Disparities

This course will provide an in-depth exploration of ideological, institutional, interpersonal and internal contexts of oppression, discrimination, and disparities at the macro, mezzo, and micro levels. Students will learn a number of theoretical frameworks related to privilege and oppression, including critical race theory, feminist theory, Marxism, queer theory, and health behavior theories. Students will also learn approaches to assessing institutions and policies using these theories as an analytical lens and will also learn techniques for developing new policies, programs, and interventions using these theories to promote social justice in health and human service delivery for populations that are diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other characteristics.

3.000 Credit hours

SW 705 Advanced Advocacy Policy Practice

Globalization, social media, and changes in social and political landscapes have all shaped how people approach advocacy strategies. This course will present historical theoretical foundations and current critical issues related to client, community, and policy advocacy, as well as the importance of thorough evaluations of policy in order to develop effective advocacy strategies. In addition to exploring advanced approaches to policy advocacy with public policymakers, the course will also present strategies used of developing social movements and methods for developing advocacy leadership within organizational settings. The course will examine and evaluate historical and current practices in advocacy for social justice, as well as contemporary social movements. The course will also examine and apply theoretical frameworks for communicating about policy advocacy with a variety of stakeholders.

3.000 Credit hours

Levels: Graduate

Interim Special Topics Global Perspectives

SW 457/SW 557 Social Services in Mexico 

This course will expose students to social services as delivered in the Mexican culture. Supporting of the mission of the School, the course will focus on services to poor and underserved. The purpose of the course is to prepare students to work with the fastest growing immigrant population in the United States. Students will live with Mexican host families, participate in Spanish language classes, seminars on Mexican culture, social services, and other important social aspects, such as the influence of religion in the culture. Services across the lifespan will be examined. 

3.000 Credit Hours