About SWSS 1040 A
Provides students an interdisciplinary, entry-level opportunity to learn about the social construction of refugees, the experiences and circumstances of people who become refugees and the apparatus set up to support them using social work/social justice approach.
Notes
SWSS majors only or instructor permission. PACE students by permission and override. Contact Program Coordinator with questions.
Section Description
This course provides students with an interdisciplinary, entry-level opportunity to learn about the social construction of “refugees” and the experiences and circumstances of people who, “owing to a well-founded fear of persecution…” become refugees. We will also examine the national and internationalapparatus set up to support refugees in the context of an exploration of a social work- and social justice approach to service and human service agencies. Using existing literature, invited speakers, and films students will gain an understanding of how refugee status is constructed and applied throughout the world, learn about the changing geopolitical, global economic, and climate-based forces that give rise to
refugee movements, as well as the forces that are challenging the traditional construction of refugee status within the historical development of the international and national response to refugees. Students will gain a more in-depth understanding of the strength, resilience, and challenges faced by the 1% of refugees worldwide who are eventually resettled in a third country, as well as those perched precariously in asylum for decades, and those repatriated to their home countries. The new frontier of refugee movements, climate change, and environmental degradation, will also be discussed.
This course is an active intermingling of the basic introduction to human service agencies, and the knowledge, skills, and values social workers employ in these settings. It provides a broad overview of how social workers, other human service professionals, and their organizations serve refugees. This course also offers an opportunity for students to learn about community social services providers who work with people of refugee and immigrant status. This course is intended to enable social work students to assess their interest and commitment to working with people in a variety of settings, as well as expose students to the social work approach to working with refugees. SWSS 1040 will support students in learning about and deepening their awareness about their personal values, human rights, social justice, and the strengths perspective as they relate to readings, guest presenters, films, and practices using the
lens of the social work profession. The service-learning component of the course is designed as a learning laboratory through which personal values are explored and assessed in the context of the social work approach – a rich mix of values, knowledge, and skills. This course satisfies the D2 and GC2 Catamount Core requirements.
Section Expectation
Greetings. As a threshold matter, please plan to be fully present for our full three-hour Tuesday session each week (4:35–7:35 PM). Class time will vary week to week and may include short lectures, discussion, guest speakers, in-class work time, films or clips, and reflective journaling, with ample breaks built in. As a starting point for our community agreements: give what you can and take what you need. We’ll build out shared norms together as a group. This is an interdisciplinary service-learning course, delivered by and with Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP; http://www.vaapvt.org), a Vermont access to justice partner. Our work draws from legal practice and advocacy while centering social work ethics and ethos—including dignity and worth of the person, self-determination, confidentiality, cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and a commitment to social justice—in how we show up for clients, communities, and one another. Welcome to Working with Refugees!
Evaluation
Class attendance: 23%
Pre-Class Journals: 23%
Post-Class Reflections: 23%
Midterm Self-Review: 5%
Final Self-Review: 5%
Learning Contract: 2%
Service Learning is embedded in the course.
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.
| Last Day to Add | |
|---|---|
| Last Day to Drop | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 50% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 25% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw |
Resources
Remind Me Form
Remind yourself about SWSS 1040 A.
We'll send you a reminder before Fall 2026 registration begins.