Interviewing Skills for Social Work Practice (S.W.
2630)
Syllabus
Spring 2007
MWF 9:10 – 10:05 am; JUB 202
John Sanborn
898-2685; Peck Hall 356
Course Description
Interviewing Skills for Social Work Practice is a three credit course. It is an introduction to principles and processes of social work practice including interviewing and developing relationships. It permits an integration, at the beginning level, of material from the social, behavioral and biological sciences to the value and knowledge bases of practice. The course introduces the student to the relationship between values, knowledge, and practice skills. It presents principles for skill-development, especially with regard to communication and relationship skills. Students are required to complete in-class role-playing assignments demonstrating the concepts discussed. Leadership of and participation in class discussions are required. Interviewing Skills is a prerequisite for Social Work Practice I and Field Instruction I.
Course Objectives
The numbers in parentheses refer to the MTSU Social Work Program educational outcome which is relevant to the course objective. Any student interested in the entire list of educational outcomes may obtain it at the Social Work Program office.
At the end of this course students will be able to:
1. utilize analytical and
critical thinking skills which will permit a beginning ability to evaluate and
improve their interpersonal communication and relationships in scholastic,
work, and personal experiences. (1)
2. demonstrate social work values in class discussions
and role-playing assignments, reflecting an understanding of the value of
cultural diversity.(2)
3. understand and personally incorporate the
professional use of self and of the helping relationship as the primary tools
for effective social work practice. (3)
4. further understand personal and cultural processes which
serve to oppress various populations in our society and how this oppression
affects the helping relationship. (4)
5. understand the concept of generalist practice and
to utilize skills which permit a beginning ability to practice as a generalist.
(6)
6. utilize communication skills to develop a beginning
ability to work with a variety of client populations. (10)
Course Requirements
1. There are two required textbooks for the course. These will be read in
full, as indicated
in the "Assignments" section below. These are:
a. Johnson, David W. Reaching Out (Ninth
Edition).
b. Kadushin, Alfred and
Goldie Kadushin. The Social Work Interview (Fourth
Edition).
2. There are three exams and three graded role-playing assignments. These six will be averaged equally in determining the course grade. They will be scheduled as indicated in the material below. Specific dates will be announced in class.
3. There will be a class attendance bonus. Your course average may be raised by as much as five points by good attendance. This process will be explained in class. There is a university policy that students who stop attending classes are to be reported to the records office. If any student is absent for two consecutive weeks without informing me of the reason, I will report that student as no longer in attendance. Most importantly, I want you to come to class because you find it interesting and valuable and hope that you will enjoy attendance and participation.
4. The course grade will be computed on the basis of the percentages described above. The numerical result of this process will result in the assignment of a letter grade on the following basis:
|
95% or above = A |
80 - 84.9% = B- |
70 - 72.9% = C- |
|
90 -94.9% = B+ |
77 - 79.9% = C+ |
60 - 69.9% = D |
|
85 - 89.9% = B |
73 - 76.9% = C |
Below 60% = F |
A grade of C- or better is required to
graduate as a social work major with a BSW degree.
Any student needing to make arrangements for special considerations in graded assignments due to disabilities, including learning disabilities, are encouraged to discuss these arrangements with the instructor.
Course Topics and Assignments
1. Introduction: the relationship of values, knowledge, and skills to social work practice.
2. Introduction to the importance of effective worker-client contact in
social work practice. (
3. The importance of interpersonal skills to social work practice. (
4. Self-disclosure, trust, and their relationship to the helping process. (
5. A helping process for generalist social work practice.
a. preparation;
b. assessment (Kadushin, 6);
c. contracting;
d. intervention (Kadushin, 7, 8 & 9);
e. evaluation/termination (Kadushin, 10).
The first exam will be given following this material. It will be a traditional closed-book, in-class exam.
6. Principles of communication skills central to helping processes:
a. listening (Johnson, 4; Kadushin, 3 & 11);
b. attending (Kadushin, 12;
c. the use of feelings (Johnson 5 and 6);
d. client-centered responses (Johnson 7);
e. worker-centered responses.
The first role-playing exercises will be completed in class following this material. The second exam will follow the role-playing exercises. It will be a take-home exam.
7. Principles of communication skills for the first contact with clients or
constituents. (
8. Principles of communication skills for resolving interpersonal conflicts.
(
The second role-playing exercises will be completed in class following this material.
9. Principles of communication skills for work with diverse populations. (
The third role-playing exercises will be completed in class following this material.
9. Course summary and evaluation.
Final exam: open-book, open-notes, exam as scheduled for final, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Office Hours
Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday: 1:45 – 2:45 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 – 9:30 am; 12:30 –
4:30 pm
Thursday: 8:30 - 9:30 am; 12:30 – 1:30
pm
There will be
exceptions to these due to meetings and other life events. It is best to make
an appointment to be sure. I can also be available at other times. Please
contact me if you need to make an appointment at some time other than these
hours. My office phone is 898-2685. You may call me at home if absolutely
necessary.
My home phone is 563-8050.
Bibliography
These books are available either in the MTSU library or on loan from Prof. Sanborn. Most of them can be found in the 361.3 section of the library or farther on in the 361's. These books provide additional information and perspectives on helping relationships and interviewing skills. They are not required, but should be helpful to anyone interested in social work or any of the other helping professions.
Benjamin, Alfred. The Helping Interview (Third Edition).
Bessell, Robert. Interviewing and
Counseling.
Brew, Leah and Michael K. Altekruse. Building the Relationship: Common Errors in Helping. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006.
Brill, Naomi I. Working With People: The
Helping Process (Fourth Edition).
Combs, A. W. and D. M. Gonzalez. Helping
Relationships: Basic Concepts for the Helping Professions (Fourth Edition).
Epstein, Laura. Talking and Listening: A Guide to the Helping
Interview.
Garrett, Annette. Interviewing: Its Principles and
Methods (Second Edition).
Hill, Clara E. and Karen M. O'Brien. Helping Skills: Facilitating Exploration, Insight, and
Action.
Ivey, Allen E. and Mary Bradford Ivey. Intentional Interviewing and Counseling (Sixth edition).
Keefe, T. and D. E. Maypole. Relationships
in Social Service Practice.
Lecca,
Pedro J., Ivan Quervalu, Joao V. Nunes,
and Hector F. Gonzales. Cultural Competency in
Health, Social, and Human Services.
McHenry, Bill and Jim McHenry. What Therapists Say and Why They Say It. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.
Meier, Scott T. and Susan R. Davis. Elements of Counseling (Fourth Edition).
Perlman, Helen Harris. Relationship: The
Heart of Helping People.
Samovar, Larry A. and Richard E. Porter. Intercultural
Communication: A Reader (Seventh Edition).
Sevel,
Judith, Linda Cummins, and Cesar Madrigal. Social Work Skills
Demonstrated.
Shebib, Bob. Choices: Counseling Skills for
Social Workers and Other Professionals.
Rubenstein, H. and M. H. Bloch. Things That
Matter: Influences on Helping Relationships.
Thomson Brooks/Cole Social Work Texts
Lyceum Social Work Book Titles
Important Dates
|
Tuesday, January 16 |
First day of class |
|
January 16 - 17 |
Late registration |
|
Monday, January 29 |
Last day to drop without a grade |
|
March 5 - 10 |
Spring Break: no classes |
|
Monday, March 5 |
Last day to drop with grade of "W" |
|
Wednesday, April 25 |
Last day of classes |
|
April 27 - May 3 |
Final exams |
|
Saturday, May 5 |
Last day to remove
"I" grades for May Grads. |