•	Acquire knowledge of the terminology, history, and 
political underpinnings of social work in health care settings.
•	Investigate the multidimensional nature of illness 
and the interplay among biological, psychological, social, and 
spiritual aspects of development.
•	Advance understanding of illness and the way it 
manifests in everyday life through application of theories of
health behavior.
•	Demonstrate understanding of the impact and meaning of 
illness, health, and well-being within diverse cultural and 
racial/ethnic groups.
•	Explore health care policies and practices and how 
they relate to cultural diversity, social/economic justice, and
disenfranchised populations. 
•	Identify issues in collaborative and interdisciplinary
teamwork, including the key role of the social work 
profession.
•	Utilize web-sites, libraries, and professional 
journals to keep abreast of new developments in health care and
in worker self-care.
•	Examine ethical dilemmas and legal issues/concerns in 
health care.

•	Course Overview
•	Defining Medical Social Work
•	Social Work Roles in the Health Care Setting
•	State of Health Care in the U.S. and Georgia
•	Health Disparities
•	Theories of Health Behavior
•	Public Health Social Work
•	Community and Health
•	Social Determinants of Health
•	Neighborhoods and Health
•	Health Policy, Health Care Reform
•	Physical and Mental Health
•	Trends in Health Care Social Work
•	Communications in Health Care
•	Medical Terminology
•	Health Care Teams
•	Ethics and Social Work in Health Care
•	Health Literacy
•	Cultural Sensitivity
•	Evidenced-Based Practice (EBP) in the Health Professions
•	Child and Adolescent Health
•	Families, Health, and Illness   
•	Medical Social Work and Gerontology
•	Aging and Caregiving
•	Chronic Health Conditions
•	Disabilities and Secondary Conditions
•	End-of-Life Care and Issues
•	Grief and Loss
•	Complementary and Alternative Medicine
•	Religion, Spirituality, and Health
•	Course Wrap-Up