Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Social Work Field Education

Abstract

This course aims to facilitate critical, inclusive, and decolonizing Social Work practice and field approaches to build the capacity of emerging practitioners as social change agents in helping individuals and communities attain health, wellbeing and just societies. Learners will engage in practice-oriented critical reflection to explore field-related interventions and discussions on social inequities and various forms of oppression such as colonization, racism, anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, ableism, classism, sexism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, etc.

This course will engage in challenging conversations to support students who are emerging social workers in developing deeper understanding of key concepts and frameworks as well as historical and philosophical bases about equity, diversity, inclusion, and critical reflexivity grounded on the social work value of pursuing social justice. These concepts and frameworks for social change and social work interventions are contextualized in the sites of social work practice and for students within their field learning or practicum settings where practitioners are expected to continually integrate theory and practice.

This course is organized in six modules that introduce concepts and frameworks about social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and critical reflexivity in relation to social work values. The modules also delve into application of these ideas discussed on the practice level in field education (micro, mezzo, and macro levels).

Modules include conceptual, practical, case-based discussions and exercises that guide students through their application of EDI principles to understand the structural sources of injustice and inequities and apply appropriate approaches and strategies in field education and social work practice.

This is an asynchronous online course where students can complete all readings, learning activities, and assessments online. Students are asked to interact with each other in small groups and in larger ‘Community Spaces for Dialogue’ with the whole class. Graded assessments include online discussions, workbook reflections, a critical inquiry exercise, a case study analysis, and two group assignments (developing an EDI Strategic Plan and a Policy Brief). Detailed information about each assessment is included in the course materials.