MSU School of Social Work

Created & Instructed By John Sougstad, Ed.S., A.C.S.W.
E-mail: sougsta2@pilot.msu.edu

Prerequisite

This course is designed for social workers with prior training and/or experience in school social work wanting to update their knowledge and skills. This course may also meet some continuing professional development education units required by some accreditation standards that you would need to obtain approval for directly from the particular agency or institution you are working with.

For those who have met the educational requirements for school social worker temporary approval in the State of Michigan more than five years ago and have not met the requirements of employment, this course will serve to renew your status of having met the educational requirements for " temporary approval" for another five years. This course is not intended to meet all of the initial educational competency requirements stipulated by the State of Michigan. If you have not met the educational requirements for " temporary approval" in the State of Michigan and would like to do so, the completion of a Masters degree in Social Work and demonstration of competency in four areas is required. You can find out more about these requirements at the following link: http://www.ssc.msu.edu/~sw/. If you would like to preview the competency-based, three course series offered at Michigan State University addressing these areas of competency please follow these links

SW 873: Social Work in Educational Settings:
http://vu.msu.edu/preview/sw873

SW 874: Assessment and Testing in school Social Work:

http://vu.msu.edu/preview/sw874

SW 875: Children with Special Needs:
http://vu.msu.edu/preview/sw875

You should know that the title, "School Social Worker" is a regulated title in at least 32 states that I am aware of, including Michigan. Each state has their own requirements for holding this title so I encourage you to contact the states you might be interested in working to find out more about minimum requirements.

Course Description

The content of this course will evolve and change from one session to the next, to address timely issues and keep participants abreast of the most current knowledge available in the field of school social work. The course provides a review and update of school law issues, home-school-community assessment & intervention strategies, school social work practice skills as well as differential diagnosis and treatment of a variety of child & family based special needs.

The Summer 2002 session of this course will consist of Four Modules:


Updating legal and policy issues


Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and Functional Assessment and Interven tion Planning (FBAP & FBIP)


Crisis/Trauma Response Assessment and Interventions


Differential diagnosis and educational treatment of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

About the Instructor

John Sougstad, Ed.S., A.C.S.W.

John is the Coordinator of the School Social Worker Training and Professional Development Program via the Internet at the School of Social Work, Michigann State University. He has been teaching MSU courses relevant to social work in educational settings for several years while also delivering services in school settings. John has worked in school districts as a school social worker, a school psychologist, a special education supervisor and as a private consultant. John is an Approved School Social Worker, a Certified School Psychologist, a Certified Clinical Social Worker, as well as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. John is currently working toward completion of a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in School Psychology from the MSU College of Education. John's research interests include the development of school-based interventions for children's behavior and learning problems, home-school collaboration, technology applications in professional development.

Method of Instruction

All course content is delivered to students via the Internet. The Instructor is available to provide assistance via E-mail and is available for on-campus meetings upon request. In addition the MSU Virtual University Staff maintains a Toll Free Help-Line at: 1-800-500-1554 to provide students with technical assistance. Once you have enrolled in the course you will be given permission to enter the course site. Once you have entered the site you will be located at the Main Page of the course. From this location you will be able to enter all components of the course. Students will gain information and skills from their assigned readings provided to them on the Internet, the Instructor's lecture notes, discussions with classmates and the Instructor, and case studies. Course concepts are described and reinforced by reading notes posted by the Instructor. Students participate in discussions about various course conceptss/issues and cases in a manner similar to that of a classroom setting, except that students post their comments at their own convenience and read other's comments within a particular dialogue each time they enter (asynchronously). Discussions are posted within different course modules that correspond to course content and case studies.

Course Assignments & Grading

Participants will demonstrate their competency on the materials covered in the four modules of the course by participating in web-based discussions about the content and case study connected with each module, as well as successful completion of four quizzes that include multiple choice and short answer items that you may print out and refer to as you are doing the readings, and participating in the lecture /discussion portions of each module.

About University Credits, Fees and Registration

Enrollment in this course may be completed in one of two ways.

  1. You may enroll as a Lifelong Education student for noncredit, and upon completion of the course you will receive written documentation from the MSU School of Social Work verifying your successful completion of the training once you have finished all the modules. Please note that enrollment in the course as a lifelong education student for noncredit is less expensive however, you will not receive any notation on an official university transcript for completing this course. To register as a lifelong education student, you can either contact the Michigan State University Outreach Office at (517) 353-0791 or by E-mail at outreach@msu.edu or visit the following web page at " http://www.reg.msu.edu/schedulepages/Lifelongeducationstatus.asp"

  2. You may enroll in the course for 2 graduate level credits under the course number SW 890, section 730 that will result in a grade denoted on an official university transcript (contingent upon yourr performance on course assignments) at the conclusion of the semester you enrolled in. You may be able to enroll in this course for credit through the Virtual University web site http://vu.msu.edu/enroll.htm or by contacting the MSU Registrar's Office.

Last modified: Tuesday, 30-Nov-2004 10:24:41 EST
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