This course intends to equip the students with the understanding of the theory construction, the philosophical, moral and ethical premises inherent in different theories. The students will learn to critically analyze constructs, concepts, and guiding principles for practice theories, as well as to evaluate the professional utility of different theories.

Schedule and Content:
9/18 Preview
9/25 The Context and Construction of SW Theory
Payne 1 & 2, Healy 1, and 宋 1
10/2 Issues in SW Practice Theory
Payne 3, Healy 5 and 宋2
10/9 Psychodynamic Perspectives
Payne 4, Healy 2, and 宋 3
10/16 Crisis Intervention and Task-centered Models
Payne 5, Healy 6, and 宋 6 & 7
10/23 Cognitive-behavioral Theories
Payne 6 and 宋 4
10/30 Systems and Ecological Perspectives
Payne 7, Healy 7, and 宋 8 & 9
11/6 Social Psychology and Social Construction
Payne 8, Healy 3, and宋 5
11/13 Humanism, Existentialism and Spirituality
Payne 9 and Healy 4
11/20 Social and Community Development
Payne 10, Healy 8, and 宋10
(Mid-term Due)
11/27 From Radical to Critical Perspectives
Payne 11, Healy 9, and宋11
12/4 Feminist Perspectives, Anti-discrimination, Cultural and Ethnic Sensitivity
Payne 12, 13, and 宋12
12/11 Empowerment and Advocacy
Payne 14, Healy 10, and宋13
12/18 Creating Frameworks for Practice
Healy 11 and宋14, 15.
12/25 & 1/1 Final Paper Presentation
1/8 Final Paper Due