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Angelo State University
Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work
SWK4321 Domestic Violence
Course Dates, Time, and Location
Summer I 2016: June 6th through July 7th
M-F: 10:00 – 11:45AM
Academic Building, Room 219
Instructor Contact Information
Ingrid A. Russo, M.S.W., LCSW
Field Education Director
Clinical Assistant Professor
Academic Building, Office 104G
Office Phone: 325-486-6126
E-Mail: Ingrid.Russo@angelo.edu
Office Hours:
MW
9:00 am - to 10:00 am
Course Description: Description: This course is a general introduction to domestic violence.
Course participants will be exposed to various models of defining domestic violence; the effects
of domestic violence; intervention and treatment methods of domestic violence; as well as
community response models.
Course Introduction: This course is designed to provide the student with a broad knowledge of
issues and methods relevant to domestic violence (spousal violence; intimate partner violence).
The course content is designed to provide the participant with a foundation of understanding of
domestic violence dynamics and a knowledge base for working with those affected by domestic
violence on a micro, mezzo, and macro level as a generalist social worker.
Student Learning Outcomes/Course Competencies: Social Work Knowledge, Values, and Skills
EP 2.1.1 -- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
Students will continue gaining the skills necessary to identify as professional social workers and
conduct themselves accordingly in their behavior, appearance, and communication (written and
oral). Students will gain knowledge by learning the process of personal reflection and selfcorrection to assure continual professional development through class activities.
(The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus throughout the semester if necessary.)
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EP 2.1.2 -- Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
Students will recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to
guide practice. Students will begin to learn the skills of applying their professional values to the
social work profession’s ethical standards of practice. Students will gain knowledge of the
professional values of the social work profession and work to recognize their personal values in
relationship to the professional values of the social work profession. Students will adhere to the
social work values continuously in class and in other environments.
EP 2.1.3 -- Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
Students will gain knowledge of what critical thinking is and how it can be applied to human
behavior in the social environment. Students will learn the value of critical thinking as it relates to
scientific inquiry, reasoned discernment, and its importance to competent social work practice.
Students will practice their critical thinking skills in written and oral class assignments.
EP 2.1.4 -- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
Students will gain knowledge of how culture, social organization, and personal values may
oppress, marginalize, alienate, or unjustly create power or privilege for certain groups. Students
will recognize their own personal values and biases when working with diverse groups in efforts to
respect the dignity and worth of every person and promote social justice in practice. Students will
gain skills in recognizing and communicating differences between people. They will begin to gain
skills in recognizing clients as informants about various areas of diversity.
EP 2.1.6 -- Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Students will gain knowledge of how to use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry by
learning the person-in-environment assessment based on knowledge of human behavior in the
social environment. Students will gain skills in writing a term paper by using research evidence to
inform practice.
EP 2.1.7 -- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
Students will gain knowledge of human behavior and how behavior is affected by the social
environment. Students will learn skills by utilizing the person-in-environment conceptual
framework to guide the process of assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals.
EP 2.1.9 -- Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Students will gain knowledge of the dynamic nature of social work practice including the evolving
organizational, community, and social context.
EP 2.1.10(a)–(d) -- Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities.
Students will gain skills by learning the Person-In-Environment (PIE) assessment system and
applying it to a confederate client. Students will gain knowledge of how to engage clients, through
empathy and other interpersonal skills learned in their Social Work Practice I course. Students will
also gain skills through assessment of an individual, by collecting/interpreting client data and
(The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus throughout the semester if necessary.)
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assessing client’s strengths and weaknesses. Students will gain knowledge of how to work ethically
with clients in their environments.
Course Materials
Required Text:
K. J. Wilson (2005) When Violence Begins at Home; A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding
and Ending Domestic Abuse. Alameda, CA. Hunter House
Grading Information
Grading Scale:
90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
59 or Below = F
Point Values, Description of Assignments and Examinations, and Associated Practice
Behaviors:
Professional Performance
10%
This is relevant to attendance; engaging in class activities, including frequency and
quality; professional presentation; and so forth. An expectation of a professional social
worker is that they are present in their practice setting. The expectation for students in a
social work program is that they are motivated to learn and have a sense of dedication to
their studies. Thus, my expectation of you is that you will be present in class. Class
begins and ends at the scheduled time. Students are to be present for the duration of
class. It is expected that all other demands of your time- work, family, appointments,
other courses, etc. will be negotiated with this in mind. Student’s full presence in class,
physical and intellectual presence, is expected. Use of electronic devices such as tablets,
cell phones, notebooks, is strictly prohibited. Any student using these devices will be
asked to leave class and will receive an unexcused absence for that class period.
For this class:
There is no grade penalty for the one absence (this is not an invite to miss class).
Any additional absence will result in a loss of 10 points off of your total grade.
The 5th absence results in a failing grade for the course. Please refer to ASU policy
regarding class attendance.
Being more than 5 minutes late for class will count as an absence.
(The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus throughout the semester if necessary.)
Group Presentation
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35%
Students will present (as if to a professional audience, symposium, or advocacy
group) regarding an aspect of domestic violence. This project will be a group project.
“Teams” will consist of 4 - 5 members, which will be picked by the instructor. The students
will conduct research on the issue and develop a presentation on the issue. The presentation
must include handouts for the class and i n s t r u c t o r . The presentation n e e d s t o include a
PowerPoint presentation, outline, and other resources. The presentation should be
approximately 30-40 minutes in length. Presentations will be scheduled T h u r s d a y June
16th, 23rd, 30th, and July 7th.
Group Work
15%
Students will work with a group assigned by their instructor regarding an aspect that they
learned from the weeks lecture, a case study, and/or speaker (from the previous Friday).
Everyone in the group must participate and will be a group leader.
Weekly Exams
40%
There will be four (4) take home examinations in this course. Each of these examinations is
worth 10% of your total course grade.
Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities which may warrant academic accommodations must contact the Student
Life Office, Room 112 University Center, in order to request such accommodations prior to their
being implemented. You are encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that
appropriate arrangements can be made. Additional information can be found at:
http://www.angelo.edu/services/student_life/disability.html
Course Schedule
Week/Dates
Week 1
June 6-June 10
Lecture Topics/Readings/Assignments
Reading-Text Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Lecture on Chapters 1-4
Group Work
Pick Topic for Group Presentations
June 10th--Guest Speaker: Trista Johnson and
Isaac Lopez--CPS
(The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus throughout the semester if necessary.)
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Week 2
Jun 13-17
Reading: Text Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
Lecture: Chapter 5-8
Group Work
June 17th -Guest Speaker—Rape Crisis Center—Crystal Ward
Exam 1: Due June 17th, Chapters 1-4
Week 3
June 20-24
Reading Text Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12
Lecture: Chapters 9-12
Group Work
June 22—Group Presentation—Group 1
June 23—Group Presentation—Group 2
June 24th—Guest Speaker—Pamela Gabriel—Adult Probation
Exam 2: Due June 24th—Chapters 5-8
Week 4
June 27July 1
Reading Text Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Lecture: Chapters 13-16
Group Work
June 29th—Group Presentation—Group 3
June 30th—Group Presentation—Group 4
July 1—Guest Speaker—New Bridge Family Shelter—Donna Solis
Exam 3: Due on July 1st —Chapters 9-12
Week 5
July 4-- Holiday
July 5-July 7
Reading Text Chapters 18, 19, 20
Lecture: Chapters 18-20
July 5th—Group Presentation—Group 5
July 6th --Group Presentations—Group 6
July 7—Guest Speaker—CIU—Rita Guthrie
Exam 4: Final Due on July 7th —chapters 13-20
(The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus throughout the semester if necessary.)