SPRn4476 Critical Social Work and Social Change

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Roman Baláž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Magda Tesárková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Magda Tesárková, Ph.D.
Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Roman Baláž, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 14:00–15:40 U53
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to understand the social and theoretical foundations of Critical Social Work. Familiarity with the main principles and concepts and the ability to apply them in practice.
This includes understanding Critical Social Work in the context of radical, postmodern, or feminist social work, anti-oppressive approaches, or critical reflection. It also aims to understand the differences in how the interactions and goals of interventions are articulated by these different approaches.
Emphasis is also placed on the development of critical thinking.
Learning outcomes
After completion of the course, students will be familiar with the social and theoretical foundations of critical social work. They will be able to independently apply the principles of critical social work at the level of individual, group, and community work with clients, but also at the level of the organization and in contact with other institutions. Students will be able to use critical thinking to locate and evaluate various sources of data and information and reflect on their own assumptions.
Syllabus
  • 1) Critical thinking
  • 2) Definition of Critical Social Work
  • 3) Principles of CSW: Structural Context
  • 4) CSW Principles: Social Change
  • 5) CSW Principles: Reflection on Knowledge Sources
  • 6) Empowering, Participatory, and Political Practice
  • 7) Examples of CSW in practice
Literature
    required literature
  • Healy, Karen 2014: Social Work in Context. Creating Framework for Practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Healy, Karen 2000: Social Work Practices. Contemporary Perspectives on Change. London: Sage Publications.
  • Fook, Jan 2002: Social Work. Critical Theory and Practice. London: Sage Publications.
  • PROKOP, Daniel. Slepé skvrny : o chudobě, vzdělávání, populismu a dalších výzvách české společnosti. První vydání. Brno: Host, 2019, 253 stran. ISBN 9788075779915. URL info
  • ROSLING, Hans, Ola ROSLING and Anna ROSLING RÖNNLUND. Faktomluva : deset důvodů, proč se mýlíme v pohledu na svět - a proč jsou věci lepší, než vypadají. Translated by Eva Nevrlá. Vydání první. Brno: Jan Melvil, 2018, 352 stran. ISBN 9788075550569. URL info
    recommended literature
  • Fook, Jan, Bob Pease (eds.) 1999. Transforming Social Work Practice. Postmodern Critical Perspectives, Lodon: Routledge.
  • Thompson, Neil 2006. Anti-discriminatory Practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Adams, Robert 1996. Social Work and Empowerment. London: Macmillan.
  • HILL COLLINS, Patricia and Sirma BILGE. Intersectionality. First edition. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2016, x, 249. ISBN 9780745684482. info
Teaching methods
These objectives will be achieved through the lecturer's explanation in lectures, presentations prepared by students, independent reading, and subsequent written preparations that lead students to think about new information in the context of their existing knowledge and experience. New knowledge and its application in practice will also be the content of discussions in the seminars. The learning process is supported by the feedback that students receive on their written preparations from the teacher but also from each other.
Teaching takes the form of lectures and seminars, focusing on the social and theoretical foundations of critical social work and examples of their application in practice. A substantial part of the teaching is also devoted to students' discussions and presentations of subtopics.
Assessment methods
Participation in the class is compulsory. One absence per semester is possible without apology. In the case of a second and subsequent absence, students agree with the teacher on the form of compensation.
During the semester, students are required to prepare written preparations and submit them to the IS Submission Room by the deadline. If a student submits a paper after the deadline, he/she will agree with the instructor on the form of the make-up assignment.
All information on the organization of the course and the written preparations is in the interactive course syllabus.
The course concludes with an oral examination in which students demonstrate their ability to apply the theoretical underpinnings of critical social work to concrete examples from practice. Specific assignments for the oral exam will be specified by the instructor during the semester.
The final grade is based on the quality of written preparation, presentation, oral examination performance, and active course participation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2022/SPRn4476