SW 360K Experiential Leadership I

Wednesday evenings 6-8pm SSW 1.214 and Gregory Gym

Due to popular demand, The School of Social Work is again offering a series of two interdisciplinary courses in collaboration with the Experiential Learning and Opportunities Program (ELOP) through the Division of Recreational Sports. The courses bring together the combined expertise of Recreational Sports in experiential learning, outdoor leadership and therapeutic recreation with social work expertise in group work, social justice, community engagement and social change. In the first course, students will progress through a series of classroom lectures, discussions, activities, prominent guest speakers and experiential exercises (e.g. high and low ropes course) along with civic engagement service learning projects to facilitate the development of ELOP core competencies: Social Responsibility; Leadership; Problem Solving and Decision Making; and Group Facilitation. This first course prepares students for the spring course, Experiential Leadership II, although students are not required to take the second course in this series. The spring course will involve more advanced recreational leadership skill building activities (e.g. indoor rock climbing and an overnight adventure trip), peer group facilitation, community service learning projects that will involve the application of skills learned, and additional certification opportunities.

These courses will be co-taught by Chris Burnett, Senior Associate Director of Recreational Sports, Outdoor Recreation and Community Outreach and Mary Beer, LCSW. Both Chris and Mary are adjunct professors in the School of Social Work. Chris brings his years of experience teaching Outdoor Wilderness Leadership courses and his expertise in experiential learning and therapeutic recreation and Mary brings her expertise in group work, leadership and social justice to the course. This creative faculty collaboration will offer a dynamic, challenging and meaningful learning experience that will provide students with valuable skills to bring to their future careers as well as numerous opportunities for personal growth.

There will be approximately two service learning events in the community that will occur outside the regular class time. An additional course fee will be required for this class.

Class size will be limited due to the experiential nature of the course ands permission to register for the course requires an interview. Interviews will be scheduled during the week of 4/18-4/22.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Chris Burnett at: Chris Burnett  burnett@austin.utexas.edu