MSW Curriculum Components

The MSW curriculum coursework and field education has two components:

Foundation Curriculum
The foundation curriculum is made up of nine courses and a generalist field practicum. These must be successfully completed before moving on to the concentration curriculum.

In the courses you are introduced to social work as a profession and will learn both historical and contemporary theories, issues, and practice methods relating to both the individual and the environment.

The generalist field practicum requires 420 hours completed concurrently with your enrollment in two integrative fieldwork seminar courses (SWK 530 and 535). The full foundation curriculum is required of all students, with the exception of those admitted with advanced standing.

Concentration curriculum
The concentration curriculum is made up of nine courses and an advanced field practicum in one of two concentrations:

Family Practice Concentration:
As a growing number of family-related challenges face society, there is an ever-increasing need for highly trained professionals. In this concentration, you will concentrate on promoting empowerment of the family-nurturing systems from a developmental and holistic perspective.

Program Development, Policy, and Administration:
This concentration was developed in response to the growing demand for leadership and administration. You will learn the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and achieve needed change, and to develop, lead, guide, and administer programs that serve diverse people in a variety of settings.

In the concentration curriculum, you will apply this advanced knowledge of theories and practice methods in the 500-hour concentration field practicum experience, which is completed concurrently with your enrollment in two field seminar courses.

Summative Evaluation project
As a capstone to your MSW program, all students will apply knowledge and skills from the foundation and concentration curricula in completing a final project designed to study social work efficacy. Students will conduct and present this advanced research project during their year of study.

Master's Thesis
Students have the option of completing a thesis, building upon but separate from the summative evaluation project. Course credit is given for this option as an elective. Students work with a thesis adviser to develop more in-depth research skills contributing to social work knowledge.

Degree requirements
To be conferred with the MSW degree, students must achieve successful completion of the following within four years: