The master of social work (M.S.W.) curriculum is divided into the professional foundation (30 credits) and the advanced curriculum (30 credits). A total of 60 credits is required 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 (3)
19:910:504 Social Welfare Policy and Services (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)
19:910:___ General Elective (3)
All students are required to meet the statistics prerequisite before they register for advanced courses.
Advanced Curriculum
The advanced curriculum consists of a concentration in a method of advanced practice, 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.
Students without an introductory statistics course may not enter the advanced program until they complete such a course.
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 clinical social work or nonprofit and public management. Students must select a concentration prior to entering the advanced curriculum. Either concentration requires two advanced-practice methods courses (6 credits) and a minimum of 6 credits of advanced field instruction.
Clinical Social Work Concentration. The concentration in clinical social work 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 clinical social work field practicum, are:
19:910:511 Clinical Social Work I (3)
19:910:512 Clinical Social Work II (3)
Nonprofit and Public Management Concentration. 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 a nonprofit and public management field practicum, are:
19:910:535 Management and Practice Theory (3)
19:910:536 Program and Strategic Planning (3)
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 specific.
During two semesters, students take 6 credits of advanced fieldwork in
the concentration of their choice. The advanced
field practicum must be taken concurrently with the appropriate
advanced practice course.
Elective Courses. All students must complete a minimum of 9 credits of electives.
Advanced Distribution Requirements.
All students are
required to complete one Advanced Practice Distribution Requirement (3
credits) and one Advanced Human Behavior Distribution Requirement (3
credits).
Gerontology Certificate
The
Gerontology Certificate is a special program within the School of
Social Work for graduate students who seek focused training in aging.
The program does not require students to complete any additional work
beyond the credit requirements of the core M.S.W. program curriculum; instead, it requires students to focus
activities that fulfill general requirements of the M.S.W. curriculum
specifically on gerontology.
In addition to the benefit of the
educational experiences that the certificate program facilitates,
students who complete the certificate program receive a document that
certifies their completion of the program. The receipt of this
certificate can be listed on students' résumés and is acknowledged at
graduation. The certificate also allows students to affiliate with a
professional network in gerontological social work within the school,
university, state, and beyond. This network provides key resources that
support dynamic careers in aging, particularly within social work.
Students
in any of the school's graduate programs, including the advanced
standing and two- or four-year programs, may earn the certificate. The
program is open to students in both clinical social work and nonprofit and public management concentrations and to students at any of the three Rutgers campuses,
including Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick.
Requirements for Completion of the Gerontology Certificate
- One
field placement in a setting relevant to aging in the advanced program
year, for example in a nursing home, hospital, hospice, or county
office on aging, or any other setting where students will spend at
least half of their hours working with or on behalf of older adults.
- Completion
of the course 19:910:542 Social Welfare Policy and Services II: Health
and Aging (3), using the older population as the primary focus for
papers, class presentations, case analyses, etc.
- Completion
of the course 19:910:572 Aging and Gerontological Services as an elective. Students are
strongly encouraged to enroll in this course as their general elective
in their foundation year.
- Completion of another
approved graduate elective related to aging within the School of Social
Work or a related academic unit such as 19:910:562 Chronic Illness and Disability.
Students should
declare their intention to work toward the certificate before the
beginning of their advanced program year to ensure their ability to
meet the certificate's requirements. In order to pursue the
certificate, students should complete an enrollment form for the
certificate and submit it to Professor Emily Greenfield at 536 George
Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, or by email to
greenfield@ssw.rutgers.edu.
Violence Against Women and Children Certificate
Through its Center on Violence against Women and Children (VAWC),
the Rutgers School of Social Work is pleased to offer a certificate
program for M.S.W. students. The certificate
program is intended to offer students the opportunity to specialize
their advanced year learning about issues of violence against women and
children in order to be prepared to enter the field upon graduation.
Students accepted for the certificate program will receive notation of
completion of the certificate program on their transcripts.
Requirements for Completion of the VAWC Certificate
Students interested in completing the VAWC certificate program must
be entering their advanced year in the M.S.W. program and must complete
the following requirements:
-
Complete the following required VAWC coursework (12 credits)
- HBSE II: Violence and Abuse in Adulthood or HBSE II: Violence and Abuse in Childhood
- Two electives related to violence against women and children, as approved by VAWC staff
- Advanced Social Welfare Policy and Services II: Violence Against Women and Children
-
Fieldwork
must be at a VAWC-related placement that focuses on key areas related to
violence against women and children, including prevention, practice, nonprofit
management, and policy. This will be arranged in conjunction with the field office and
VAWC.
Application
Students interested in applying for the VAWC certificate program
should contact the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at vawc@ssw.rutgers.edu.
Area of Emphasis
Students
in the M.S.W. program must choose a
concentration before they begin the advanced program, the second half
of the M.S.W. curriculum. Students must choose either the clinical social work
or nonprofit and public management concentration.
In addition to the
requirements for their concentration, students may also wish to develop
an area of emphasis. M.S.W. students may opt to complete an area of
emphasis as they complete their course requirements. An area of
emphasis focuses on a student-identified and student-driven topic,
population, or specialization. An area of emphasis involves three
relevant courses and a field placement. The courses may include a
combination of electives, advanced distribution requirements, and an
advanced social policy course. These courses also count toward general
academic requirements.
Students may also opt to enroll in
relevant graduate-level courses from another Rutgers University
graduate/professional school. Students are encouraged to seek prior
approval from the School of Social Work's Office of Student Services
for courses taken from other departments to ensure that courses will be
applied toward their M.S.W. degree. An area of emphasis is optional.
Areas of emphasis are not predetermined by the School of Social Work.
Students are able to develop their own individual, unique area of
emphasis. Specific information about the policies and procedures for the
area of emphasis
will be provided at new student orientation.
