Human Services (HSRV) 476

Overview

Human Services 476: International Social Work in Canada provides a comprehensive examination of international social work, emphasizing its applications within Canadian contexts as well as abroad. Students will explore the roles and responsibilities of human service and social workers when engaging with diverse individuals, communities, organizations, and systems. Adopting an inquiry-based learning approach, the course encourages student engagement and growth through critical analysis and reflection. Students will be expected to analyze how neoliberal policies and global forces shape social work practice at local, national, and international levels, with a focus on understanding the implications for service delivery, social justice, and human rights. In particular, the course will be rooted in critical and Indigenous perspectives, which challenge Eurocentric conceptualizations of human services, social work, and social justice. This includes integrating Indigenous perspectives, such as two-eyed seeing methods, to provide students with a nuanced understanding of reconciliation and culturally competent practice with Indigenous populations, examination of postcolonial theories to understand how colonial legacies continue to impact social welfare systems, eligibility criteria, cultural competence, and service provision. Students will explore how these theories inform engagement with migrant populations, displacement, and settlement processes.

Outline

HSRV 476 is divided into seven modules:

Module 1: What Is International Social Work?

Module 2: International Social Work in the Context of a Postcolonial World

Module 3: Diversity and Oppression: Implications for Human Rights and Social Justice

Module 4: Anti-Oppressive Practice: An Intersectional Approach to International Social Work

Module 5: Social Work with Migrants

Module 6: Environmental Justice and Social Work

Module 7: Moving Forward

Learning outcomes

Upon the completion of HSRV 476, you should be able to

• analyze the distinct characteristics of major ideologies influencing contemporary perspectives in international social work and community development;
• evaluate the effects of neoliberalism and globalization on the practice of social work and human services across local, national, and international contexts;
• contrast Eurocentric frameworks in international social work with Indigenous and critical approaches, highlighting differences in conceptualization and application;
• apply theoretical frameworks related to social policy and social justice to analyze complex social issues and propose informed interventions; and

• evaluate the repercussions of social policies on various demographic groups, demonstrating a critical understanding of their impact on diverse populations.

Evaluation

To receive credit for HSRV 476, you must complete four graded assignments and achieve an overall course composite grade of D (50 percent) or higher. The weightings for each assignment are as follows.

Materials

This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.

All materials are available online.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the HSRV 476 challenge registration, you must complete all required components and achieve an overall grade of at least D (50 percent).

Important links

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• Support services at AU