NGO Education Survey

SSS 101 Introduction to Social Work

An overview of the profession of social work within the institution of social welfare. Basic definitions, historical development, trends in social welfare and social work. May include guest lecturers. Twenty-four (24) hours of volunteer experience during the semester is required. 

SSS 208 Eco-Social Justice: A View from Appalachia

The West Virginia Immersion Course explores the intersections of social, economic, and environmental injustices in rural America through a case study of Appalachia. Students will explore the current problems in this region, seeking to understand both root causes of injustice and the lived experiences of people who bear the burdens. The combination of both classroom and experiential learning provides an important opportunity for expanding and synthesizing social science knowledge and skills while also cultivating humility, compassion, and solidarity with the people and the ecosystems of Appalachia. ***Immersion Trip During Spring Break Is Required

SSS 223 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I

Using a person in the environment perspective, explores normal and abnormal development and functioning across the life cycle by examining theories that lie at the biological, psychological, cognitive, interpersonal, and moral levels of human behavior. Prerequisite SSS 101. Concurrent with ENG 326-Special Section for Social Work Majors.

SSS 225 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II

Examines the development and operation of functional dysfunctional systems that lie at the group, organizational, community and societal levels of behavior. Focuses on how systems behave and impact the individual. Prerequisite SSS 101; Preferred SSS 223 

SSS 99 Service in the City

This course is designed for students interested in serving people to learn more about the profession of social work and the opportunities to learn about professional service at the Catholic University of America. The course is based on connections between the history of the nation's capital and service performed in Washington, D.C

PLCY 510 - Public Policy for the Common Good

Public Policy for the Common Good Interdisciplinary course that builds a rigorous picture of the human person based on biology, psychology, sociology, economics, philosophy, and theology. Then with a robust understanding of the human person, it casts of vision of what the common good looks for humans as they are. Finally, the course explores the role that public policy plays in pursuing the common good.

PLCY 511 - Introduction to Public Policy Process

The course introduces the foundational concepts, theories, and frameworks that structure the field of Public Policy, with a focus on the theories of the public policy process and their application to concrete cases. Topics include the stages of the public policy cycle and their interactions with political processes, institutions, actors, and rules, in different policy areas. Students learn how to apply the diverse frameworks in order to understand, analyze, and strategically act in real world policy-making and implementation situations, obtaining a global view that helps structure the skills and competencies they acquire in the program.

PLCY 520 - Professional Skills 1: Innovative Thinking

The course challenges students to think creatively and innovatively through engagement with performing arts, lateral thinking techniques, and other interactive activities.

PLCY 521 - Professional Skills 2: Technical Writing

The course introduces students to writing techniques that are valuable for drafting technical reports, policy briefs, research papers, and other documents relevant for the work of public policy professionals.

PLCY 522 - Professional Skills 3: Strategic Communication

The course introduces students to oral presentation skills, the art of rhetoric, and effective communication of policy ideas.

PLCY 523 - Leadership and Statesmanship

Leadership and Statesmanship provides students with an introduction to great leaders. Using these leaders, students will study the virtues and character traits that lead to effective and transformational leadership and statesmanship. Students will be encouraged to cultivate these virtues with an eye towards their career as policy leaders.

PLCY 530 - Strategic Public Policy Management

Strategic Public Policy Management explores advanced topics in the management of the public policy process.

PLCY 599 - Public Policy Capstone

3 credit hour course taken by students who will complete and defend their capstone project in the semester in which they are enrolled in the course. The course has no meetings, however, any student enrolled in the Capstone course will work with their capstone advisors to complete their project and will defend their capstone project before a panel of MPP faculty members.