Course Syllabus
Instructor Contact Information
Lead Faculty Information
This course was designed by Tiffany Adamson, MSW, LCSW. 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 in Social Work
Course Materials
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)
- Full text available via OU Libraries with the link above. You may need to sign in with your OU 4x4.
- American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.)
- The most recent APA Manual (2020) is required for all courses in the Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work Online MSW Program.
- National Association of Social Workers (2021) Code of Ethics for Social Workers
- Additional materials will be posted in Canvas.
Course Format
This course is divided into 8 modules, and students will have 2 weeks to complete each module.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|
| Discussion Post x2 | 10 points (x2) |
| Quiz x2 | 20 points (x2) |
| Mock Case Presentation | 10 points |
| Diagnostic Exam | 30 points |
| 100 points |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Discussion Posts
Initial Post: You will be asked to respond to a posted topic. My expectations are that you start your own thread with a thoughtful, thorough response to the question asked, at least 3 days before the discussion responses are due. Your original thread should be approximately 100 words long and should include evidence that you have spent time thinking about the material, and have formed a meaningful response to the prompt. Thoughts and opinions will need to be supported by reliable sources.
Responses to Peers: Then, you are to respond to at least two other posts from your classmates. As graduate students, posts like “Great point, I agree” are not sufficient. Instead, I expect you to thoughtfully contribute to a discussion with your classmates with a meaningful response of at least 50 words each.
Your posts should also make it clear to me that you have learned from the material and sources must be cited using APA (7th ed.) formatting.
Quizzes
Students will be asked to complete two objective quizzes online through Canvas. The first quiz includes the materials covered in the first three modules. The second quiz covers the materials from modules four through eight. It is acceptable to look at the materials you have been provided in Canvas while you are taking the quiz, but you may not discuss the quiz or consult with each other either during or after you take the quiz.
Mock Case Presentation
During the scheduled Live Sessions, the class will be broken into small groups and work like a diagnostic team and report their group’s analysis/findings of the case/client to the larger group. These points are literally class participation points.
Diagnostic Exam
This final exam will consist of a series of case studies for you to analyze and answer questions about. This exam must be completed by you alone, but you can use your notes, books, and the materials that were in the Canvas course. This exam can be completed at your own pace and turned in through Canvas. Again, you may not discuss the exam or consult with each other as this is an independent exam.
Course Policies
Communication
If you have any general questions about assignments, class logistics, due dates, etc., please post a question in the Course Help Board in the Start Here Module. You can post questions about the course to the Course Help Board throughout the semester. Your classmates may be able to answer your questions.
For all other questions, 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.
Late Policy
Assignments should be turned in when they are due, electronically on Canvas, by the assigned due date. For quizzes and exams, 1 point will be deducted per day for late submissions. Discussion board assignments cannot be turned in late as a late entry will not be reviewed by your peers, defeating the purpose of discussion.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is 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.
School of Social Work Anti-Racism Statement
“The 2022 Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) affirms and strengthens the enduring commitment of social work education to principles of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The 2022 EPAS supports social work programs in developing a workforce of social workers who are knowledgeable about the ways positionality, power, privilege, and difference affect practice areas, and how social workers challenge systems of oppression that affect diverse populations.” - Excerpt taken from the CSWE Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards
Course References
The resources on the Course References page were used in the development of this course and are recommended supplemental reading for your professional practice.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
In brief, "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." - Excerpt taken from the OU Land Acknowledgement Statement
Students are encouraged to explore where they live to identify those Tribal and Indigenous people whose lands are being occupied due to colonialist oppression.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. 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.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report 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.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
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. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
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 your instructor 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.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
All OU online students have access to 24/7/365 mental health counseling and support through TELUS Health.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|