Master of Social Work - Advanced Standing
Advanced Standing Degree Option
The Advanced Standing degree option may be selected if a student has earned a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and meets other admission criteria. If admitted, the full-time student can complete the MSW degree in as little as 3 terms, or 30 credit hours of graduate work. Baylor BSW students may complete the program in as little as 2 terms.
Curriculum Content
The program offers two areas of specialized practice. Students acquire advanced practice skills and knowledge in each specialization that build on the standard curriculum. Two areas of practice define the program’s specializations: Clinical Practice and Community Practice. Students complete the Advanced Internship in a setting that allows them the opportunity to prepare for practice in these areas. Students are expected to refine their learning in their chosen specialization using electives.
Students must have completed all standard requirements before enrolling in the advanced social work practice courses. These courses are designed to provide an intensive experience of applying learning in the standard curriculum and advanced practice methods and principles in the specialization to actual practice situations. Students will learn the skills for advanced practice in their specialization, assess their practice, and establish ongoing professional development.
Students will enroll in 2 advanced internship seminar courses while completing the Advanced Internship (see degree plans). Advanced Internship consists of social work preparatory practice in a setting appropriate to the student’s specialization for a minimum of 225-275 hours per term.
During the final term of the specialized year, students engage in a capstone experience, during which they prepare a practice-oriented workshop to present to colleagues and professional social workers, including a faculty evaluator. The Colloquium presentation takes place the last week of the trimester.
Brief Description of Master of Social Work Areas of Specialized Practice
Clinical Practice
The clinical practice specialization prepares students for advanced, direct practice with individuals, families, and groups in various clinical settings. Students learn to apply evidence-based practice theories and methods of intervention that reflect a person-environment orientation and a strengths perspective. Specific philosophical frameworks include humanism, positivism, and evidence-based methods. The program is based on the development of an eclectic method that offers the opportunity to investigate more specific practice models. Some examples include cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative approaches, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), structural family therapy, therapeutic use of play, and dialectical behavior therapy. Assessment tools and techniques, especially focusing on the DSM, are critical to the program.
Community Practice
The community practice specialization prepares students for advanced practice with public and/or nonprofit organizations, neighborhoods, communities, congregations, and religiously affiliated agencies. Students learn a variety of professional community practice models that serve to strengthen and enrich communities in local and global settings. Communities can be defined as geographic (e.g., neighborhoods) and relational (e.g., ethnic communities). The central models are rooted in professional literature, research, and theory, and they include advanced skills in community development, community organizing, and community planning.
The advanced model of development is asset-based community development, which recognizes community struggles but responds most centrally to community assets. Asset mapping is a key skill learned when studying this model.
The advanced model of organizing is consensus-based. Consensual organizing is rooted in consensus-building rather than building on the potential conflict. Negotiation and facilitation are key skills learned with regard to this model.
The advanced model of planning is emergent-based. While most planning requires a rational approach to planning (e.g. the logic model), the emergent model allows for greater flexibility and adaptability when working in diverse contexts. Engagement of stakeholders is a key skill here.
All Advanced Standing degree plan options can be found below. Please review your plan of study options with your student success advisor.
Advanced Standing: 2 Term- Clinical Specialization (Baylor BSW Only)
Phase 1/Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
SWO 5V80 | Advanced Special Topics 1 | 1 |
SWO 5338 | Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work | 3 |
SWO 5370 | Clinical Social Work Practice I | 3 |
SWO 5323 |
Organizational Leadership & Management or Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families or Health Practice & Policy |
3 |
SWO 5382 | Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
Hours | 17 | |
Term 2 | ||
SWO 5380 | Clinical Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SWO 5377 |
Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 2,3 or Organizational Leadership & Management or Health Practice & Policy or Advanced Special Topics |
3 |
SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Hours | 13 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
This course is a 1-hour course titled Introduction to Graduate Studies; students must choose 1 hour for the course when registering.
- 2
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 3
You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.
Advanced Standing: 2 Term - Community Specialization (Baylor BSW Only)
Phase 1/Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
SWO 5V80 | Advanced Special Topics 1 | 1 |
SWO 5335 | Theoretical Frameworks for Community Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWO 5375 | Community Social Work Practice I | 3 |
SWO 5323 |
Organizational Leadership & Management or Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families or Health Practice & Policy |
3 |
SWO 5384 | Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
Hours | 17 | |
Term 2 | ||
SWO 5378 | Community Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SWO 5377 |
Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 2,3 or Organizational Leadership & Management or Health Practice & Policy or Advanced Special Topics |
3 |
SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Hours | 13 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
This course is a 1-hour course titled Introduction to Graduate Studies; students must choose 1 hour for the course when registering.
- 2
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 3
You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.
Advanced Standing: 3 Term - Clinical Specialization
Phase 1/Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
SWO 5V80 | Advanced Special Topics 1 | 1 |
SWO 5338 | Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work | 3 |
SWO 5370 | Clinical Social Work Practice I | 3 |
SWO 5323 |
Organizational Leadership & Management or Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families or Health Practice & Policy |
3 |
Hours | 10 | |
Term 2 | ||
SWO 5380 | Clinical Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SWO 5377 |
Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 2,3 or Organizational Leadership & Management or Health Practice & Policy or Advanced Special Topics |
3 |
SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
Hours | 10 | |
Term 3 | ||
SWO 5382 | Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Hours | 10 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
This course is a 1-hour course titled Introduction to Graduate Studies; students must choose 1 hour for the course when registering.
- 2
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 3
You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.
Advanced Standing: 3 Term - Community Specialization
Phase 1/Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
SWO 5V80 | Advanced Special Topics 1 | 1 |
SWO 5335 | Theoretical Frameworks for Community Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWO 5375 | Community Social Work Practice I | 3 |
SWO 5323 |
Organizational Leadership & Management or Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families or Health Practice & Policy |
3 |
Hours | 10 | |
Term 2 | ||
SWO 5378 | Community Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5377 |
Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 2,3 or Organizational Leadership & Management or Health Practice & Policy or Advanced Special Topics |
3 |
Hours | 10 | |
Term 3 | ||
SWO 5382 | Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Hours | 10 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
This course is a 1-hour course titled Introduction to Graduate Studies; students must choose 1 hour for the course when registering.
- 2
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 3
You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.
Advanced Standing: 5 Term - Clinical Specialization
Phase 1/Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
SWO 5V80 | Advanced Special Topics 1 | 1 |
SWO 5338 | Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work | 3 |
SWO 5370 | Clinical Social Work Practice I | 3 |
Hours | 7 | |
Term 2 | ||
SWO 5380 | Clinical Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SWO 5323 |
Organizational Leadership & Management or Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families or Health Practice & Policy |
3 |
Hours | 6 | |
Term 3 | ||
SWO 5382 | Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
SWO 5377 |
Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 2,3 or Organizational Leadership & Management or Health Practice & Policy or Advanced Special Topics |
3 |
Hours | 6 | |
Phase 2/Year 2 | ||
Term 4 | ||
SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
Hours | 4 | |
Term 5 | ||
SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Hours | 7 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
This course is a 1-hour course titled Introduction to Graduate Studies; students must choose 1 hour for the course when registering.
- 2
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 3
You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.
Advanced Standing: 5 Term - Community Practice
Phase 1/Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
SWO 5V80 | Advanced Special Topics 1 | 1 |
SWO 5335 | Theoretical Frameworks for Community Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWO 5375 | Community Social Work Practice I | 3 |
Hours | 7 | |
Term 2 | ||
SWO 5378 | Community Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SWO 5323 |
Organizational Leadership & Management or Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families or Health Practice & Policy |
3 |
Hours | 6 | |
Term 3 | ||
SWO 5384 | Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
SWO 5377 |
Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 2,3 or Organizational Leadership & Management or Health Practice & Policy or Advanced Special Topics |
3 |
Hours | 6 | |
Phase 2/Year 2 | ||
Term 4 | ||
SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
Hours | 4 | |
Term 5 | ||
SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Hours | 7 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- 1
This course is a 1-hour course titled Introduction to Graduate Studies; students must choose 1 hour for the course when registering.
- 2
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 3
You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.