SW 714 International Social Work

3 credits

The purpose of this course is to examine critical global social issues, policies and social welfare institutions in different regions the world with special attention to human rights and the process of globalization and its effect on social welfare and human need. Specific topics covered include women in developing countries, child welfare and child labor, migration and refugees, and the impact of HIV in the developing world. The role of international organizations, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations (UN) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), in shaping international welfare policy and services is also explored. The underlying premise and values within the course is the need to strengthen and enhance social welfare systems in the face of globalization, to recognize social work as a global profession, to associate human rights with social welfare and social work practice, and to recognize value conflicts that influence global and international social interventions.