SOWK 615 - Faith Perspectives on Social Work Practice (3)

This course examines the role of religion and spirituality in social work practice. The following topics are examined in the course: the role of spirituality and religion in the establishment of the social work profession, the profession’s historical and current relationship to religion and spiritualty, understanding religion/spirituality as a metanarrative for some clients, use of spiritual interventions, empirical support for spiritual interventions, toxic faith, spirituality/religion as a protective factor, areas of religious/spiritual tension in social work practice, potential ethical dilemmas related to faith integration, spiritual/religious perspectives on clinical social work, and faith-based approaches to community development. Offered: Fall and Summer.