The M.S.W. curriculum is divided into two levels: the professional foundation and the advanced curriculum. The first level requires 30 credits and the second level requires 30 credits to complete a total of 60 credits for graduation. Included in these 60 credits are both coursework and fieldwork.
Professional Foundation
All students, except those with baccalaureate degrees from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, are required to take all of the foundation courses. These courses contain a body of knowledge, values, and skills essential for social work practice. This common base is transferable among settings, population groups, and problem areas. The foundation curriculum consists of courses in generalist social work practice with corresponding field instruction; human behavior and the social environment; psychopathology; introductory social research methods; social welfare policy and services; and a course focused on diversity and oppression. Successful completion of the foundation program is required before beginning the advanced curriculum.
The required foundation courses are:
19:910:500,501 Social Work Practice I,II (3,3)
19:910:502 Human Behavior and Social Environment I (3)
19:910:504 Social Welfare Policy and Services I (3)
19:910:505 Methods of Social Work Research I (3)
19:910:506 Diversity and Oppression (3)
19:910:507 Psychopathology (3)
19:910:508,509 Field Practicum I,II (3,3)
General Elective
Students admitted on conditional status (without an introductory statistics course that covers descriptive and basic inferential statistical procedures) may not enter the advanced program until they complete such a course with a grade of C or better.
Advanced Curriculum
The advanced curriculum consists of a concentration in a method of advanced practice, a specialization in a substantive area, an advanced research course, advanced field instruction, and electives. Only after successful completion of the professional foundation courses can students begin the advanced curriculum. Students must select a concentration and a specialization.
Students admitted on conditional status without an introductory statistics course may not enter the advanced program until they complete such a course with a grade of C or better.
Concentrations. Concentrations build on, are related to, and extend the professional foundation. A concentration focuses on advanced methods of social work practice by size and type of client system. Concentrations are designed to develop greater depth in knowledge and skills building upon the generalist foundation. Students may concentrate in direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, or nonprofit and public management. Students must select a concentration prior to entering the advanced curriculum. Both concentrations require two advanced-practice methods courses (6 credits) and a minimum of 6 credits of advanced field instruction.
Direct Practice. The concentration in direct practice prepares students to conceptualize, provide, and supervise the delivery of social work services to individuals, couples, families, and small groups. Emphasis is on developing competence in those helping processes used to prevent problems and to enhance, develop, and restore social functioning. Courses required for the concentration, which must be taken concurrently with a direct practice field practicum are:
19:910:511 Advanced Direct Practice I (3)
19:910:512 Advanced Direct Practice II (3)
Nonprofit and Public Management. The concentration in nonprofit and public management is designed to prepare social workers to perform administrative functions or planning, organizing, and policy functions within organizations, communities, and in the larger society. Courses required for the concentration, which must be taken concurrently with an nonprofit and public management field practicum are:
19:910:535 Management and Practice Theory (3)
19:910:536 Program and Strategic Planning (3)
Specializations. A specialization is an organized program of study that focuses on a specific problem area and/or population at risk. It consists of a specialization-related policy course, an elective, and a specialization-related field placement that is coupled with the student's concentration. Specializations combine substantive knowledge of social problems and issues and populations at risk with social work practice methods. Currently, two specializations are offered: children and families (C&F) and health, mental health, and aging (HMHA).
Children and Families. The children and families specialization addresses the special needs of families and children. Students learn the skills and knowledge necessary to attempt to prevent and remedy the social problems of this population. Opportunities to focus on child welfare and school social work are provided. Advanced field placement opportunities are available to direct practice and nonprofit and public management students.
Health, Mental Health, and Aging. Health, mental health, and aging provides students with the opportunity to obtain knowledge of health, mental health, and aging concerns. Students will be able to tailor their learning to working with, and on behalf of, the aging, the developmentally disabled, the chronically mentally ill, or those with health problems. Advanced field placement opportunities in HMHA are available to direct practice and nonprofit and public management students.
Gerontology Certificate. Students enrolled in the health, mental health, and aging specialization receive a Certificate in Gerontology if: (1) they focus on aging in all course requirements, such as policy analysis, papers, class presentation, case presentation and analysis, etc., and in 19:910:587 Issues in Social Policy; (2) they have a second-year field placement in a setting offering experience relevant to aging--such as in a nursing home or a county office on aging; (3) they complete 19:910:572 Gerontology as an elective; and (4) they complete another approved graduate level elective related to aging within the School of Social Work or a related field.
Advanced Research. All students take an advanced research course that builds upon the basic knowledge acquired in the foundation research course. Major emphasis is on the evaluation of practice models, individual practice, and agency programs.
Advanced Field Practicum. The advanced field practicum is concentration and specialization specific. During two semesters, students take 6 credits of advanced fieldwork in the concentration and specialization of their choice. The advanced field practicum must be taken concurrently with the appropriate advanced practice and specialization courses.
Elective Courses. All students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of electives.
