Course Syllabus
Instructor Contact Information
Lead Faculty Information
This course was designed by Professor Amanda Clark-Andrejkovics. There are numerous sections of this course with varying faculty. This course may contain videos and content designed by another faculty to be used by all sections of this course.
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
The only prerequisite is graduate standing.
Course Materials
- Beder, J. (Ed.). (2012). Advances in Social Work Practice with the Military (1st ed.)
- Scott, Diane L., Whitworth, James D., & Herzog, Joseph R. (2017). Social work with military populations.
- American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th Ed. (2020)
Course Format
This course is divided into 8 modules, and students will have 1 week to complete each module.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|
| Weekly Module Assignments | 35% |
| Film/Book Reflection | 10% |
| Social Worker Interview | 15% |
| Military Mental Health Paper | 20% |
| Military Mental Health Presentation | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Weekly Module Assignments
Each week you will have a variety of Discussions, Reflections, Quizzes, and other smaller activities. These will relate directly to the content presented in each module. A running theme in some of these activities will be the collection and evaluation of local resources that are available to assist military families needing support. You will leave the class with a concise collection of relevant resources pertaining to this aspect of the profession.
Film/Book Reflection
Students will watch a film or read a book and consider issues relevant to deployment, military service, veterans, the war experience, and so on that might affect the main characters. Using the issue presented in the film/book, students will then identify 3-5 local resources that are available to assist military families needing support in this area.
Social Worker Interview
This assignment utilizes a modified interview format. Using questions submitted by the class, the instructor will facilitate a panel discussion where students will hear from live, practicing Social Workers about their careers and views on military-related topics. Students will demonstrate active listening skills and the ability to gather information in an interview format. Students will then compose a written paper based upon the panel discussion and will respond to the prompts provided by the instructor.
Military Mental Health Paper & Presentation
In this assignment, students will discuss the intersectionality of military issues and race, gender, sexuality, class, and/or religion. Students will use this paper to create and record a presentation for their classmates.
Course Policies
Communication
The best way to communicate with me is through email. If you have a question, I will respond as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours, other than over the weekend. If you would like to schedule a call, send me an email, give me a few dates and times that work with your schedule and I will confirm a time that works for me as well.
Late Policy
Assignments should be turned in when they are due, electronically on Canvas by the stated time. Late submissions will be reduced by 10% for each day they are late and will not be accepted at all after 3 days. Extensions are granted only in emergencies and on a case-by-case basis. Extensions must be arranged in advance and will not be granted after the due date has passed. Communicating your needs in a manner suitable for the workplace is also a part of the professionalism competency.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use in the MSW Program
Unless otherwise specified by a professor for a course or assignment, the following AI policy applies across the program:
Positive Uses (not considered academic misconduct):
AI should be a “cleat” to enhance effort, not a “crutch” to replace effort.
- Prioritize original thought; use AI as a learning tool: The core objective of graduate education is to develop analytical thinking and communication skills. AI tools should supplement, not replace, your intellectual effort. For example, consider using AI as a “devil’s advocate,” “critical advisor,” or “red team” to identify potential weaknesses in your writing or arguments so that those weaknesses can be remedied through original work.
- Prepare for real-world AI integration: Graduate-level work often involves complex problem-solving and generating novel insights. Consider experimenting with AI use effectively and ethically, which may benefit your current and future career. For example, using AI to edit the clarity and flow of your original work draft is (usually) acceptable.
Prohibited Uses (considered academic misconduct):
Results in sanctions, including dismissal from the program.
- Fake references. You may not submit fabricated sources. All submitted references will be checked by professors who are deeply familiar with the leadership and behavioral sciences literature. The submission of any fabricated source or reference (so-called AI “hallucinations”) is academic misconduct and will result in sanctions.
- Plagiarism. You may not submit AI-generated content as your own original work. This prohibition includes summaries, discussion posts, essays, reports, or any other assignment where the primary intellectual effort is expected from the student. Students must give credit to large language models whenever they are used, even if only to generate ideas rather than usable text. For disclosure guidance on the use of AI, please refer to APA Journals Policy on Generative AI
- Cheating on quizzes and exams. You may not use AI tools to generate answers for quizzes, exams, or other assessments where independent thought and direct knowledge recall are expected.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|