Course Syllabus
Instructor Contact Information
Lead Faculty Information
This course was designed by Professors Gena Roberts-Massey and Raina Leckie. 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
Graduate standing and enrollment in the online MSW program
Course Materials
- Gehlert, S. & Browne, T. (Eds.) (2019) Handbook of Health Social Work, (3rd ed.). Jossey Bass.
- National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics for Social Workers (most recent version)
- The most recent APA manual is required in every Social Work course. The current manual (7th edition, 2019)
- Additional readings will be pulled from multiple sources and linked in the "RESOURCES" section of each course module
Course Format
This course is divided into 8 modules, and students will have 1 week to complete each module.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Policy Research Paper |
|
25% |
| Decision Case Paper |
|
25% |
| Simulation |
|
25% |
| Participation |
|
25% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Health Policy Research Paper
The purpose of this assignment is to further develop your understanding of the healthcare delivery system & factors (social & political) that impact our healthcare system, patients and families.
Decision Case Paper
The purpose of this assignment is the application of cross-cultural knowledge of NASW Standards of conduct in juxtaposition with workers' compensation statutes, alongside the evaluation of a myriad of factors and interventions including, but not limited to, critical thinking, problem-solving, religious and spiritual traditions and rituals as methods of healing. Furthermore, this assignment allows for the demonstration of cross-cultural skills in the delivery of social work services within the hospital setting.
Simulation
Paid actors playing the role of a patient will give pertinent feedback to students in a safe space. Your one-hour simulation will take place via Zoom and will include a guided reflection in small groups, also via Zoom.
Participation
The participation grade will include the weekly Discussion Board prompts, occasional, shorter Reflection assignments, and attendance and engagement in two Live Sessions. Our Discussion Boards provide space for a low-pressure exchange of ideas, similar to an in-person classroom conversation. Some posts may require analysis & synthesis and the use of professional writing with supporting evidence. In addition, scoring of the discussion boards will require responses to your peers. We will have one Live Session featuring an industry round-table with professionals in the field.
Course Policies
Communication
Students should use their OU e-mail or Canvas to communicate with the instructor. They can expect a response usually within 48 hours Monday-Friday. For any reason communication will be delayed beyond that, it will be communicated to the students in advance. Professional communication is an expectation.
Feedback
Students can expect feedback and grades on their activities and assignments within two weeks. Any exceptions to that will be communicated by the instructor in advance.
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.
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.
Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act Statement (HIPAA)
In line with the new HIPPA regulations concerning protected health information, it is important that you understand that any client information that you share, either verbally or written, will need to be de-identified. This means that any information that would allow another to identify the person needs to be changed or eliminated. This includes obvious things like names and birth dates but may also contain other information that is so unique to the person that it could allow for identification, including, but not limited to diagnosis, race/ethnicity, or gender. If diagnosis, race/ethnicity, or gender is directly related to the case presentation, it can be included if it will not allow for identification.
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 |
|---|---|---|