Community Practice Specialization: Macro Social Work
The Community Practice specialization prepares students for working with public and/or nonprofit organizations, communities, congregations, and religiously affiliated agencies. Those in the Community Practice specialization focus on the systems and policies that affect groups of people and how to think through bettering these systems and policies for everyone. Students learn to apply evidence-informed and asset-based community practice frameworks and methods of intervention to develop responsive human resource systems, sustainable physical and social environments, and just public and institutional policies.
Download Competencies and Practice Behaviors
Learn about the Community Practice specialization from Dr. Gaynor Yancey
Learn about—
Planning, organizing and development theories and practice
Practice skills implementation through team-based learning
Assets and needs assessment and intervention
Community-based research and advocacy
Negotiation and facilitation
Engagement of stakeholders, and more
Develop skills to work in—
Public, nonprofit organizations and NGOs
Child and elder social service agencies
Refugee and immigration centers
Neighborhoods and communities
Religiously affiliated agencies and congregations
Government, and more
A sampling of social work courses for Community Practice students
5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice
This course provides foundational content to better understand how diversity and difference shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity. Dimensions of intersectionality are explored and examined considering privilege and marginalization. Students will learn to identify structural mechanisms of oppression as well as strategies for interrupting systems of power to create equity and inclusion in professional and community contexts.
5363 Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations
This course prepares students for ethical and effective social work practice with communities and organizations. Students will learn models and skills that relate to macro social work Practice. A grade of B or better must be received in this course to complete the requirements for the master’s degree.
5322 Social Policy for Social Work Practice
Introduces the historical context of social policy and services in the United States, the analysis of current developments, and how social work influence social welfare policy and provide social services.
5375 Community Social Work Practice I
Prepares advanced practice social workers to promote community problem-solving and development. Emphasizes community assets; leadership development; and change strategy selection, enactment, and evaluation. Focuses on congregations and religiously affiliated organizations as agents of community change.