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.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing is an application category open to those with a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW), accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Advanced standing applicants may seek waivers for up to six of the following foundation courses: Human Behavior and the Social Environment, History of Social Welfare Policy, Practice Methods 1 and 2, and Integrative Field Work Seminars 1 and 2, which include 420 field practicum hours. Advanced standing applicants must offer an equivalent BSW course for each with a grade of B (3.0) or higher in order to receive a waiver.
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:
- 18 MSW courses (13 for advanced standing), with no more
than two courses with a grade of 2.0 or 2.5, and with a
cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher;
- 920 hours of approved field
practica (500 hours for advanced standing);
- Submission of
the summative evaluation project.
