SOWK 555: Death, Dying, and Grief
Credit Hours: (3)
Cross-Listed: SOWK 455
Catalog Description
This course will prepare students to examine the multidisciplinary approaches to the death and dying process across the lifespan among diverse populations. It will also examine issues of grief and loss associated with death and dying. We will explore attitudes and perceptions about death and dying, historical and cultural perspectives of death, ethical implications associated with the dying process and bereavement.
Throughout the course, we will expore your own personal perceptions and beliefs about death and dying.
Content
Course Content Areas
Attitudes about Death – Death Attitude Profile
Experiences and Perceptions about Death
Perspectives on Death: History& Culture
Policy Implications
Ethical Implications: End of Life Issues and Decisions
Advance Directives
Bereavement, Grief and Mourning Theories of Grief
Grief Work with Clients Across the Lifespan
Funerals, Cultural Displays of Mourning
Spirituality and End of Life Issues
Implications for Clinical Practice
Course Assignments
Journal (4) 20 points
Discussion Boards (4) 24 points
Engagement Activity 36 points
Class Participation 10 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100 points
Journal
This journal will provide an opportunity for you to explore and critically reflect on your awareness and attitude towards “death” as you learn about it during the semester. You may discuss the assigned readings, your own feelings and thoughts about death, dreams which seem to have to do with death, articles from newspapers and magazines which discuss death and dying, poems, stories, plays and works of art and music which express your feelings and ideas about death, special readings of books on the subject which you may find, dramas you attend or on television or in movies that include scenes or thoughts about death or dying, and any experiences that occur in your life during the semester that remind you of death. You are expected to have one journal entry for each week of class (except for week 1). Journals will be submitted four times during the semester in the D2L dropbox.* For undergraduate students, each journal entry should be at least one page (size 12 font). For graduate students, each journal entry should be at least 1. 5 pages (size 12 font).
Discussion Boards
Students will participate in various online class exercises and discussions. This includes but is not limited to: article critiques, podcast reflections, and instructor/classmate interaction. One discussion board will be focused on advanced directives. *Graduate students will be required to create an additional video sharing a role play example of how they would discuss advance directives with clients in a medical setting.
Engagement Activity
Students will choose one of the following activities and it is due as stated in the course outline (please note we will also share our engagement activities during our last class session). *Graduate students will complete two engagement activities (D- the assessment and treatment plan is required; the second activity can be selected from options A-B)
A: Interview- Conduct an interview lasting 30 to 45 minutes with a professional outside of social work that frequently interacts with individuals who experience grief and loss (examples: nurses, doctors, funeral home director, coroner, religious leader, emergency responders). Questions should be submitted to the instructor ahead of time for approval, 10-15 questions are required. Write a process recording of the interview and a 1-page summary of what you learned from the interview and what questions remain. The purpose of the interview is for you to gain a better understanding of death and grief through the lens of another profession. Questions can address: personal perspectives on death and grief, how their profession supports individuals who are grieving, multicultural perspectives of death and grief, professional self-care.
B: Book Review, Children and Grief: Find and read 4-5 children’s books that are written to help children learn about grief and loss. Critically analyze these books and the strengths and limitations of these resources. Please consider the following: would you use this book in your practice, is terminology age appropriate, does the book include multicultural perspectives on death and grief, does the book contain any euphemisms about death that may be confusing for children. Write a 3-page reflection of the books that you reviewed or create a 10-minute PowerPoint Presentation to share these books and your analysis with the class.
C: Music Analysis: Select 4-5 songs from different artists (during different decades) that you think focus on the topic of grief and loss. Analyze some lyrics that you find impactful and how they could relate to your clinical work with clients or how they influence your own perspectives on death, dying, and grief. Include a reflection on multicultural perspectives that are addressed in these lyrics/music. Write a 3-page reflection of the songs/lyric that you analyzed or create a 10-minute PowerPoint Presentation to share these songs and your analysis with the class.
D: Biopsychosocial Assessment: Find a movie in which a main character experiences grief and loss. Conduct a biopsychosocial assessment and devise a SMART treatment plan to address their grief. Write a 2-3 page biopsychosocial assessment of the person and a 1-2 page treatment plan for that person (5 pages total). Use references as appropriate, especially for the treatment plan to support evidence-baesd interventions (at minimum, three peer-reivewed articles are required).
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course is organized around student-centered learning principles, experiential activities, films/videos, lecture, case studies, guest speakers, and individual and group investigation of the issues. There will be some self-paced instruction utilized in this course.
Student Learning Outcomes
Understand the process of death& dying and identify opportunities for social worker learning and growth.
Examine cross-cultural perspectives of death& dying to enhance the social worker’s understanding of the issues when engaging with clients in the dying process and/or when working with survivors experiencing the loss. Critically evaluate ethical dilemma’s that arise in real-life death& dying situations and apply social work values and ethics to assess and intervene. Demonstrate knowledge and clinical practice skills in working with diverse client systems experiencing loss.
Evaluate the application of grief and loss theories in clinical practice. Reflect on life-experiences, attitudes, values and perceptions of death and dying in such a way that it integrates personal and professional use of self as a social worker.
Assessment Measures
Assessment measures may include a range of strategizes such as student presentations, discussion boards, quizzes, exams, and papers (professional writing and personal reflection).
Other Course Information
Textbook
DeSpelder, L.,& Strickland, A. (2019). The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying (11 th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill
Reviewed and approved
June, 2023