Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Assumed Prior Knowledge
It is recommended that students complete Social Work with American Indians (SWK 5343) prior to this course. If students have not taken Social Work with American Indians, then students need to review the lecture videos and other resources from Social Work with American Indians. See the Assumed Prior Knowledge page in the Start Here module for essential information for American Indian Behavioral Health.
Course Materials
- Duran, E. (2019). Healing the soul wound (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College Press. ISBN-13: 978-0807761397
- The most recent APA manual is required in every social work course. The current manual (2009) ISBN is: 978-1433805615
- Additional readings will be provided in each Canvas module
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness |
Using the medicine wheel and supporting information from the module, students will reflect upon their personal experiences and write about their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. |
10% |
| Evidence-Based Intervention (group) |
Students will be divided into groups and each group will be given an evidence-based practice, tribal evidence-based practice, or promising practice to research and create a presentation based on their findings. |
30% |
| Case Conceptualization & Treatment Planning |
Based on an assigned video regarding the life of an American Indian/Alaska Native person, students will write a case formulation describing the circumstances, a treatment plan, and a reflection with Indigenous understanding. |
40% |
| Reflection x3 |
Short writing assignments that students to react to the readings and other content, and consider how the topic would impact their professional practice. |
10% |
| Participation |
|
10% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Wellness
Using the medicine wheel and supporting information from the module, students will reflect upon their personal experiences and write about their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
This assignment is designed to increase awareness of personal values regarding wellness and how those values compare to traditional indigenous orientations to wellness with the goal of demonstrating self-regulation in the management of personal values to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
Evidence-Based Intervention
Students will be divided into groups and each group will be given an evidence-based practice, tribal evidence-based practice, or promising practice to research and create a presentation based on their findings.
The purpose of this assignment is to gain knowledge and skills related to practice issues and evidence-based practice in American Indian behavioral health.
Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning
Based on an assigned video regarding the life of an American Indian/Alaska Native person, students will write a case formulation describing the circumstances, a treatment plan, and a reflection with Indigenous understanding.
The case conceptualization refers to a clinician’s collective understanding of the client’s presenting problems as viewed through a particular theoretical orientation; as defined by the biological, psychological, and social contexts of the client; and as supported by a body of research and practice that links a set of co-occurring symptoms to a diagnosis and, ultimately, a treatment plan. This assignment is intended to give students the experience in using evidence from a client’s history, presentation, and self-report to create a singular working hypothesis or explanation and use that to introduce the choice of treatment.
Course Policies
Communication
My preferred method of contact is via email lbyers@ou.edu. For more timely responses, please download the Group Me texting app and provide me with your preferred cell phone number. The Group Me texting app allows for quicker responses and also connects you to other students. Your fellow students are a resource and support. My goal is to respond immediately to your texts. When this is not possible, I commit to responding within 24 hours M-F.
Late Policy
If an assignment is not completed and uploaded to Canvas by the due date and time, it is considered late and will receive a five-point deduction. Five points will be deducted for each additional 24 hours that the paper is not completed and uploaded to Canvas.
Attendance
In an online class environment, attendance is inherently tied to a timely presence in the discussion boards, as well as actively participating in the Live Sessions. There will be three Live Sessions throughout this course. Please make plans to attend and engage. If you are unable to attend any of these sessions, a recording will be posted afterward, and an alternative assignment will be provided in order to gain credit. Students are responsible for all information presented, regardless of an absence.
Social Work Competencies Alignment Table
| Competencies | Course Content |
Dimensions(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Competency 2: Engage diversity and difference in practice |
Assignment 1: Wellness Assignment 2: Presentation of an Evidence-based or Promising Practice for AIANs Assignment 3: Case Conceptualization and Clinical Treatment Planning |
|
| Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice |
Assignment 2: Presentation of an Evidence-based or Promising Practice for AIANs Assignment 3: Case Conceptualization and Clinical Treatment Planning |
|
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
Assignment 2: Presentation of an Evidence-based or Promising Practice for AIANs Assignment 3: Case Conceptualization and Clinical Treatment Planning |
|
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
Assignment 2: Presentation of an Evidence-based or Promising Practice for AIANs Assignment 3: Case Conceptualization and Clinical Treatment Planning |
|
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
Assignment 2: Presentation of an Evidence-based or Promising Practice for AIANs Assignment 3: Case Conceptualization and Clinical Treatment Planning |
|
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|