SW 7130 - Epistemological and Theoretical Perspectives for SW Research

This doctoral seminar focuses on the philosophical foundations of knowledge building with a particular emphasis on social science and social work research. This course will introduce students to major perspectives concerning ontology, epistemology, and theory for research and knowledge building in social work within social and historical context. We will explore questions such as: What is knowledge? How is knowledge acquired and justified in social research? and how and why do we come to know what we know? The course will challenge students to question some of the assumptions that social science researchers hold about reality, truth, and knowledge building. In additional, students will be encouraged to examine their own epistemology and consider course content in relationship to their areas of interest and future scholarship within the field of social work.