Foundation Courses

In your first and second semester, you will build the foundations for  successful social work careers, focusing on human behavior and the social environment, social policy, practice courses, and the foundation practicum. You will be  required to complete the Professional Seminar in the first semester. 

Read more your foundation courses down below.

1.5 credits. Required for students in the five-term International Students Program. This seminar addresses a wide range of issues, including acculturation and adaptation to academic study and field education in the United States and New York City; preparation for practicing social work upon return to one’s home country after graduation; cultural competence in practicing with diverse client populations and working with diverse colleagues in the United States; and study skills.

3 credits. (NM) Course can be waived by examination. If waived, the student will need 3 additional credits in policy-related graduate-level coursework. This course provides students with an overview and assessment of current domestic social welfare policies and programs, and the factors that influence their development. Special attention is given to income maintenance, personal social services, and in-kind benefits.

3 credits. Students will learn introductory knowledge and skills in generalist social work, including direct practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.Emphasis is placed on self-awareness, the development of professional identity, cultural competence, practice with diverse populations, and the integration of social work values and ethics in practice. Field practice is integrated into classroom content and discussion.

(Must be taken concurrently with T6010 Field Education or T6011 Reduced Residency Seminar.)

3 credits. Prerequisite: 7100. This course builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in T7100. Students learn to critically examine, select, apply, and evaluate major theoretical models of direct social work practice with individuals, families, and groups in a culturally competent manner. Particular emphasis is placed on the linkage between assessment and intervention, the critical evaluation of self in one’s own practice, and the use of empirical knowledge to guide practice decisions.

(Must be taken concurrently with T6010 Field Education or T6011 Reduced Residency Seminar.)

3 credits. Prerequisites: T7100, T6801. Students will learn to (1) critically analyze and assess organizations, communities, social policies and political systems; (2) develop interventions, advocate for, and work collaboratively to achieve change and build capacity in organizations and communities and to influence social policies and political processes, and (3) extend their understanding of distributive justice, human and civil rights and the dynamics of oppression, and the role of advocacy and social change action in pursuing social and economic justice. 

(Must be taken concurrently with T6010 Field Education and T7102, or T6011 Reduced Residency Seminar. RRP students may request an exception to take this course in the Summer,when not enrolled in T6011.)

3 credits. (NM) Students are required to complete six credits in the Human Behavior and Social Environment Area. The first semester course adopts a developmental life-course and social systems framework in an examination of environmental historical influences, current social movements, societal belief systems, social structures, and political processes affect bio-psycho-social aspects of human development. The course focuses on the application of these theories in tandem with a scholarly examination of social forces that shape human agency, opportunity, health and behavior. The second semester course requires students to select two “mini” courses on a range of topics all of which have a pronounced focus on issues of power, privilege, oppression, identity, and social justice.

3 credits. (NM). Course can be waived by examination. If waived, student will need 3 additional credits in graduate-level coursework. Students will understand and appreciate a scientific, analytic approach to building knowledge for practice and for evaluating service delivery in all areas of practice. Different theoretical bases and methodological procedures for social work research are addressed, as are basic statistical procedures and technological advances in quantitative and qualitative designs. Ethical standards of scientific inquiry are emphasized with attention to protecting and promoting the well-being of vulnerable and oppressed populations. Ultimately, students are expected to be able to access, critically evaluate, and appropriately use empirical research to inform and evaluate their practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

For the first term, all Two-Year Program students are registered for: T660A Human Behavior and the Social Environment-A, T6501 Social Work Research, T6801 Social Welfare Policy, T7100 Foundations of Social Work Practice, T6010 Field Education.

In the second term, you are required to register for: T660B Human Behavior and the Social Environment-B, T7102 Direct Practice II, T7103 Advocacy in SW Practice T6010 Field Education. Students in the Social Enterprise Administration (SEA) Management Fellows Program or Accelerated Policy Program have slightly different requirements in their first year.

For more details, go to sample study plans for Two-Year Program students in our Student Handbook.