Faculty of Health Sciences · Social Work · Undergraduate
Course Objective
The primary objective of this course is to contribute to the professional identity development of students by deeply examining the universal values and ethical principles upon which the social work profession is based. It aims to equip students with the competency to recognize, analyze, and resolve complex ethical dilemmas encountered during professional practice by utilizing ethical decision-making models. Thus, the course intends to train social workers who can translate theoretical knowledge into practice and possess a highly developed sense of professional responsibility.
Course Content
This course covers the relationship between the philosophical foundations of morality, ethics, values, and the social work profession. The core values of social work (human dignity, social justice, service, integrity, competence) and national (TSHU) and international (IFSW/IASSW) professional ethical codes are detailed. The course content includes fundamental ethical responsibilities such as confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, client self-determination, and professional boundaries. Additionally, ethical decision-making models used for analyzing ethical dilemmas are introduced, and applied analyses are conducted through contemporary case studies regarding different client groups (children, elderly, disabled, etc.) and the use of technology.
Required Resources
Cevizci, A.(2018). Etik: Ahlak Felsefesi. Ankara: Say Yayınları
Reamer, F.G: (2018). Sosyal Hizmet Etiği ve Değerleri. Ankara: Nika Yayınevi
Artan, T. & Zubaroğlu Yanardağ, M. (2020). Sosyal Hizmet Etiği. Ankara: Nika Yayınevi
Recommended Resources
Frederic, Reamer. Sosyal Hizmet Etiği ve Değerleri. Nika Yayınları
Rules
Regular attendance is very important. Students whose absenteeism exceeds 70% will not be allowed to take the final presentation.
Please do not knock on the door when entering the class. You may enter the classroom directly at any time.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, you cannot sign for the first hour.
If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, you cannot sign for the second hour.
These rules have been established to ensure that classes are conducted and followed in an orderly manner.
Not being able to sign the attendance sheet does not prevent you from attending the class. Students who arrive outside these time limits may attend the class without signing and may leave the class whenever they wish.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Identify and exemplify the difference between social work "values" (abstract ideals) and "ethical principles" (concrete practice rules).
- Formulate observed events in their environment, institutions, or civil society as "ethical problems" and attempt to analyze them.
- Define the concepts of ethics, morality, and values; explain the debates on the sources of morality (religion, society, philosophy) and the philosophical distinctions between ethics and morality.
- Distinguish the hierarchy and differences between universal ethics, local/cultural ethics, and professional ethics.
- Grasp Descartes' concepts of "Provisional" and "Definitive" morality and discuss the nature of professional ethics through these philosophical distinctions.
- Analyze controversial bioethical and social issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and animal testing from a theoretical and applied ethics perspective rather than personal judgment.
- Define the concepts of positive and negative liberty and evaluate their reflections in Turkish/global politics and their relationship with human rights.
Core Area Distribution
Teaching Methods
Assessment & Evaluation
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 15 | 3 | 45 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 15 | 5 | 75 |
| Midterm | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Assignment | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 10 | 10 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ethics and professional ethics | Participation |
| 2 | Professional values and ethical principles of social work | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 3 | Approaches values and ethics of social work | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 4 | Ethical issues in social work | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 5 | Social worker's ethical responsibilities for applicant | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 6 | Social worker's thical responsibilities for his colleague and other employees | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 7 | Social worker's ethical responsibilities for practice field | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 8 | Mid-term exam | Ara Sınav |
| 9 | As a profession social worker's ethical responsibilities and social worker's ethical responsibilities for professional of social work | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 10 | Social worker's ethical responsibilities for community | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 11 | Process of decided to ethical dilemma | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 12 | Rank of ethical responsibilities | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 13 | Ethic at social works theories | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 14 | Relationship between social and ethical | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 15 | A general evaluation of the term | Repeating the topics covered in earlier week. |
| 16 | Final Sınavı | Final Sınavı |