This course is offered through the Department of Social Work at Rutgers University - Newark  under the course code 21:910:347 and can be used to satisfy elective credits towards our Social  Welfare Minors. The curriculum is designed to address the nine Social Work Core Competencies  developed by the Council on Social Work Accreditation (CSWE) and outlined in the 2022  Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). These core competencies include:  

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior 
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice 3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice 
3. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice 5. Engage in Policy Practice 
4. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 
5. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 

Curriculum also responds to the core values of the Social Work profession as outlined by the  National Association of Social Workers (NASW), including:  

1. A focus on providing Service; 
2. Attention to issues of Social Justice and addressing social injustice; 
3. Recognition of the Dignity and Worth of the Person;  
4. Recognition of the Importance of Human Relationships;  
5. A commitment to act with Integrity; and, 
6. Competence 

Additionally, primary objectives of this course include:  

1. Helping students recognize that cultural celebration is an ongoing and necessary for  competent of effective and ethical practice;  
2. Helping students develop self-awareness of their own privilege, power, oppression, or  disenfranchisement and how these can affect their work with clients and communities  from similar and dissimilar backgrounds;  
3. Helping students increase their cross-cultural knowledge of the history, traditions,  values, family systems, artistic expressions, etc. of other cultural groups;
4. Teaching students a broad range of skills and techniques for working with diverse  groups within micro, mezzo, and macro contexts;  
5. And, helping students learn how to communicate more effectively across diversity and  potential challenges, including language differences and means of communication  (reading, writing, speaking).  

While this course is open to all students, Social Work Majors are eligible to receive up to 60  hours towards their Senior Practicum internship. This internship component is supervised by the  Department of Social Work Practicum Director, Prof. Lana Church, and includes a pre-trip meeting to discuss the Practicum Learning Contract, which must be signed by students looking  for practicum credit; 1-hour of supervision per week during the trip; and, the submission of a  timesheet documenting adherence to the learning contract objectives following the completion  of travel. A sample learning contract is included at the end of this application.