Professionals to Link with University Social Work Course to Earn Continuing Education Credit

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Registration is open for a two-module series that allows working professionals to gain continuing education by tapping in to a University of Arkansas social work course via the Internet.

Professionals can learn about anxiety disorders in youth from Tuesday, March 27, through Thursday, April 5, and mood disorders in youth from Tuesday, April 17, through Thursday, April 26.

The continuing education series “Dealing with Challenging Youth” allows practicing professionals the opportunity to participate in the online university course Advanced Practice with Individuals. The modules include readings, Internet postings and online, interactive class sessions. Topics will benefit social workers, rehabilitation counselors, educators and students.

The cost is $89 per module, and registration is available at http://globalcampus.uark.edu/register.

Michael Collie, who will teach the modules, is a licensed, certified social worker and is a visiting assistant professor in the School of Social Work in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. He will explain how to identify the multiple systems at work during the development of a child, observe the development of disorder effects, understand the etiology within six disorders, and employ effective strategies to work with a young person with some or all of the disorders discussed.

"The two online modules will provide current information concerning assessment and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders,” Collie said. “I will be utilizing my 25 years of practice experience and current journal articles to relate information and interact with participants concerning how these disorders manifest and are treated at different ages and phases of development from children and adolescents to young adults.”

The first module dealing with the anxiety disorders asks participants to read material and post discussions March 27 through April 2 and to join the social work class via Internet from 6 to 8 p.m. April 3 and 5. The second module dealing with mood disorders provides time for readings and postings from April 17 through April 23 and requires online class participation April 24 and 26.

Participants who satisfactorily complete the requirements for each module will receive a certificate of completion from the Global Campus and the School of Social Work for 4 hours of distance education and 4 hours of interactive or live education via video interaction with Collie. Participants can use the certificates to satisfy requirements for continuing education hours in social work. Applications for continuing education hours for rehabilitation counselors, licensed professional counselors, and kindergarten through 12th-grade educators have been submitted and pre-approvals are pending.

For registration information, contact Judith Tavano at jtavano@uark.edu. For information about the class content, contact Collie at mecollie@uark.edu.

The Global Campus (School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach) plays its part in the university’s land-grant mission by providing service to the state through outreach programs and dissemination of knowledge. This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the establishment of the land-grant system.

The Global Campus partners with other university units, businesses and organizations to offer innovative learning solutions for people seeking to maintain professional certification, boost their skills, or obtain undergraduate or graduate degrees online or off-campus. The school also offers media services, conference services and facilities, and technology and pedagogy support. Visit http://globalcampus.uark.edu to learn more.