Summer 2026 MSW Credit Course Electives

Current UB School of Social Work students: Register through the HUB Student Center in the same manner that you register for all other classes.

Not a current UB School of Social Work student? Non-degree or non-matriculated students: Apply for non-degree status prior to registration. This requires proof of immunization status if not already on file at UB.

Billing is sent electronically to your buffalo.edu email address. Paper bills are no longer mailed by UB. If you do not check your buffalo.edu email and pay your tuition bill on time, you will be charged late fees by UB.

Review the in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees.

Practicum Educators with SUNY Tuition Waivers may use the waivers to pay for tuition costs. Waivers do not cover standard course fees or the non-degree application fee. For more information, contact the Practicum Education Office at 716-645-1234 or sw-field@buffalo.edu.

• The Buffalo Niagara Summer Institute courses are considered non-standard courses. Please refer to the Office of the Registrar's non-standard session dates for add/drop dates. 
• Full attendance is required for credit. 
  

This course focuses on the origin, theory, components, research and application of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a treatment method originally developed for treating trauma and now being applied to a range of client problems. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to utilize this method appropriately and effectively with diverse client populations and problems. Such use is based on an understanding of the theoretical bases of EMDR, client safety issues, integration with a comprehensive treatment plan, and supervised practice with the components of EMDR as well as its various applications. Prerequisite: Participants should be either students who have completed at least the first year of a graduate level professional human-services degree program (e.g. MSW foundation year) or licensed/ certified mental health professionals.

Students MUST attend orientation prior to being enrolled in the class. Orientations will be held via Zoom on: 

March 4th at 12:00 PM EST
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89911078344?pwd=5FrqL7eb48ecubtClANA63Imc4okXL.1
Meeting ID: 899 1107 8344
Passcode: 710115

April 30th at 12:00 PM EST
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86368054329?pwd=C3dXQFzWJtR4IOXccCTsebXBA1ZTqA.1
Meeting ID: 863 6805 4329
Passcode: 995578

This course will explore working with clients from a Parts Work perspective influenced by Internal Family Systems and contemporary psychoanalytic theory. Parts work and self-state theory will then be applied to treating trauma and adversity utilizing Presence Psychotherapy trauma treatment model techniques. Theory and techniques will be learned and practiced through didactic presentation, live session demonstrations, and experiential break-out room activities. Given the experiential nature of this course, it is recommended that students taking this course have a willingness to grow both personally and professionally.

This course focuses on attachment wounds that occur in childhood and explain why our clients struggle in therapy. This course will offer interventions for use with adults and children to help repair the wounds.

Do you want to know why your adult clients struggle with?

• Difficulty forming close emotional relationships
• Extensive conflict with spouse, children, family and friends
• Rigid, inflexible and struggles to have fun and relax
• Seek other adults or inappropriate activities to soothe
• Others “disappoint” them and client has a hard time trusting
• Clinical interventions have very little impact and progress is slow
• Regressive behaviors to a younger age with behaviors such as a temper tantrums
• Multiple diagnoses from many providers

Do you want to know why your child clients struggle with?

• Exhibit severe behaviors including stealing, lying, arguing, defiance, and aggression
• Act like two different children: nice and sweet, enraged and defiant
• Sexualized behaviors
• Hoarding food and overeating
• Meltdowns for hours at a time
• Multiple diagnoses including Reactive Attachment Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, ADHD, and Conduct Disorder

This is a skill focused course on how to assess and respond to adults with psychiatric emergencies where there is a risk of lethality (suicidal/homicidal/self-harm). It will include identification of high risk factors and how to conduct lethality assessments for individuals, including those who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and/or under the influence of substances. Participants will learn the levels of lethality; how to use lethality assessment tools and rating scales; how to complete documentation of services which reflect clinical assessments in accordance with the most current evidence and best practices; how to create an intervention plan for identified lethality, and when it is appropriate in professional social work practice to break confidentiality based on a current lethality assessment.

This course will focus on using Dialectical Behavior Therapy theory and interventions to assess and intervene with problematic behavior patterns including behaviors associated with suicidality and self-harm, substance use, and impaired functioning. Marsha Linehan’s theory, psychoeducational material, and phases of treatment will be reviewed and practiced with didactic and experiential methods.