There is also a final paper, which is worth 100 points. As in all social work classes, the active engagement and participation of students is essential for critical analysis of academic content. Students will be assessed on attendance and active participation in class discussion with 20 points. An oral presentation assignment will be worth 30 points. This unit will focus on the critical thinking and analytical skills and frameworks necessary for the evaluation of theoretical and empirical knowledge.
Critical analysis emphasizes the person in environment perspective and transactional viewpoints.
This unit will examine various perspectives and theories that are used in social work practice. AppLication of various theories to client populations and problems will assert critical thinking skills. Particular attention will focus on the applicability or goodness of fit of theories to populations of diversity and vulnerable populations. Critical thinking regarding the values and ethics of theories will be emphasized. Particular theories discussed include the system perspective, the conflict perspective, the rational choice perspective, the social constructionist perspective, the psycho dynamic perspective, the develop mental perspective, the social behavioral perspective, and the humanistic perspective.