HSM4310 - Building Practice Wisdom in Social Welfare

Leader: Margaret Lynn

Offered

Gippsland Second semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit surveys and analyses the epistemological foundation of social welfare. It deconstructs orthodox conceptualizations of "knowledge" that predominantly inform social welfare practice, and contrasts these with postmodern and post-structuralist interpretations. Particular emphasis is placed on a critical examination of the power of knowledge and its relationship to practice wisdom in social welfare.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Grasp the nature of, and interrelationships between "knowledge", "theory" "research" and "practice" in social welfare;
2. Understand the epistemological foundations of social welfare practice;
3. Recognise and articulate the process by which personal knowledge and theories are constructed;
4. Appreciate the particular and relative merits of "practice wisdom" and examine its contribution to the development of social welfare work;
5. Prepare and deliver an oral defence of the subject of their dissertation;
6. Enunciate and address personal learning objectives.

Assessment

Viva (3500 words): 20%
Learning contract (1000 words): 20%
Research paper (6000 words): 60%

Prerequisites

HSM4301 and HSM4302

Prohibitions

SCW4310