Abolition Social Work Certificate
This four-course certificate will engage both working professionals and degree-seeking students in a deeper understanding of the history and values of the social work profession. Participants will apply abolitionist theories and strategies to create a more transformative and equitable social work field.
About the Program
- All courses offered online (both synchronous and asynchronous)
- Synchronous courses have meeting times convenient for working professionals
- Consists of four 8-week courses offered during Alverno’s academic schedule in fall, spring and summer semesters
- The certificate is comprised of four graduate-level courses covering general practice in abolitionist social work:
- SW 630: Social Work Towards Abolition
- SW 720: Prisons, Policing, Surveillance
- SW 721: Abolition Feminism Now
- SW 722: Dreaming a New World – Collectivist Abolition Lab
- Cost (non-credit): $2,000
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Coursework
You will examine your positionality, assess the history and values of the social work profession and apply abolitionist theories and strategies to create a more transformative and equitable social work field. You'll explore the ways in which feminism can undermine state violence and transform communities intersectionally, and will apply abolition feminist theory to critically analyze carceral logic and systems as well as attempts at reform. Learning culminates in the Future Building Lab which facilitates students’ collective work of engaging with, assessing and developing new abolitionist social work interventions at all levels.
At completion, you will have engaged with, assessed and developed new abolitionist social work interventions at all levels; you will also be able to quickly demonstrate learning in system thinking as well as the ideas of mutual aid, community partnerships and alternative ways of punishment to colleagues, clients and employers.
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